WWE and AEW, the two prominent wrestling promotions on national television, have showcased their talent in distinct manners, resulting in varying degrees of success for different wrestlers.
Some former WWE stars, such as Swerve Strickland, Toni Storm, and FTR, have thrived in AEW, while Cody Rhodes, Jade Cargill, and CM Punk have established themselves as key figures on WWE’s main roster following their time with AEW.
Booker T, a WWE Hall of Famer, recently shared his thoughts on his “Hall of Fame” podcast, emphasizing that the effectiveness of a wrestler often hinges on how a company utilizes them.
He highlighted the contrasting journeys of wrestlers who transitioned between AEW and WWE, noting one success story and another who has not met expectations.
“Ethan Page was not particularly relevant in AEW, but upon joining ‘NXT,’ he really emerged as a star,” Booker explained. “Everyone is familiar with Ethan Page now; he’s making a remarkable impact.
Meanwhile, take Adam Cole, who was incredibly popular in WWE’s ‘NXT.’ I once labeled him as the next Shawn Michaels, but after moving to AEW, he seems to have faded into the background and isn’t featured prominently.”
The “WWE NXT” commentator pointed out that while Cole has been sidelined with injuries, his absence has contributed to his diminished presence in AEW. He concluded by stating that WWE is highly focused on developing stars, whereas AEW appears content with simply having wrestlers on their roster.