10 Best Signings In AEW History, Ranked

Over the last five years, AEW has grown into the second biggest professional wrestling company on the planet, providing both fans and wrestlers alike with an alternative product. AEW fans have been treated with an array of signings and debuts who have brought a lot of success and quality to the company.

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Of course, everyone in AEW history is a “signing”, so this will look at those who were signed to AEW following the debut of AEW Dynamite in October 2019. This will differentiate the “AEW Originals” and those who then went on to sign with the promotion, avoiding this becoming a list of the best AEW wrestlers ever, rather than signings, so don’t expect to see MJF, Darby Allin, The Elite, Chris Jericho, Britt Baker, and Jon Moxley. These signings will be judged on their impact, quality, handling, and more.

10 Daniel Garcia’s Signing Is Steadily Paying Off In AEW

Daniel Garcia Signed In 2021

AEW (& ROH) Accomplishments	Best AEW Match
ROH Pure Championship	vs. Bryan Danielson (AEW Dynamite 08/17/2022)

There were some confused looks amongst fans when Daniel Garcia initially signed with AEW, with it feeling like Tony Khan was just signing anyone and everyone available. Garcia didn’t have much charisma, he was unproven, and hadn’t established himself yet.

However, Garcia has slowly become fine tuned, charismatic, mature in the ring, and has succeeded in pretty much every role he’s been given. Even with some questionable booking he has continued to thrive, and more than once he has developed a natural connection with the audience. He has a big future, and his signing paid off even though he was still not up to scratch as an overall performer when he arrived. A hugely smart signing in hindsight.

9 FTR Have Had Ups & Downs, But They’ve Helped Carry AEW’s Tag Team Division

FTR Signed In 2020

AEW (& ROH) Accomplishments	Best AEW Match
AEW (x2) & ROH World Tag Team Championships	vs. Bullet Club Gold (AEW Collision 07/15/2023)

There have been times when FTR have felt a little lost and creatively drained, but for the most part they have added so much quality to the tag team division, and being in AEW has allowed them to once more prove themselves to be one of, if not the best tag team on the planet.

They’ve had some of AEW’s (and ROH’s) best tag team matches ever, they’ve been given freedom to work elsewhere, and after years of waste on WWE’s main roster, they found their feet again. AEW’s tag team division has no doubt needed FTR over the last few years since they signed.

8 Jamie Hayter Was Plucked From Obscurity And Became AEW World Champion

Jamie Hayter Signed In 2021

AEW (& ROH) Accomplishments	Best AEW Match
AEW Women's World Championship	vs. Hikaru Shida (AEW Dynamite: Holiday Bash 2022)

When Jamie Hayter showed up in 2021 as a back-up to Britt Baker, she was pretty much an unknown to AEW’s audience. However, she proved her worth quickly, and even became the star of the act alongside Baker.

She became AEW Women’s World Champion, and was the most over female star in the company for some time. She is still fairly young and has years left to give, making her a great signing. She is already established, had some great matches, and is just 28.

7 Adam Cole Has Survived Setbacks To Become A Top AEW Name

Adam Cole Signed In 2021

AEW (& ROH) Accomplishments	Best AEW Match
ROH World Tag Team Championship & Owen Hart Cup	vs. MJF (AEW All In 2023)

After leaving NXT, Adam Cole turned up in AEW in a shock debut. His first few months were fun as part of The Elite and as an AEW World Title contender, though admittedly he did get a bit stale. His return after injury though brought out the best in Adam Cole.

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His babyface run was great in 2023, his storyline with MJF carried the company through one of its toughest periods, and he is now in line for a major push as a heel. It took some time to find his best iteration, but is no doubt one of the biggest stars in AEW today.

6 Samoa Joe Reignited His Career In AEW

Samoa Joe Signed In 2022

AEW (& ROH) Accomplishments	Best AEW Match
AEW World, TNT (x2), & ROH TV Championships	vs. Darby Allin (AEW Dynamite 02/01/23)

For all intents and purposes, those who watched Samoa Joe’s last few months in WWE would have thought him to be done and dusted in the ring. When he signed with AEW, there was some belief that this was a case of AEW signing someone who was past his best. This hasn’t been the reality though.

Joe has gotten better and better as time has gone on in fact, reigning as TNT Champion and now AEW World Champion, proving himself still be a world class performer, great character, and still great inside the ring.

5 Eddie Kingston Is One Of AEW’s Most Popular Wrestlers Ever

Eddie Kingston Signed In 2020

AEW (& ROH) Accomplishments	Best AEW Match
Triple Crown Champion & Continental Classic	vs. Bryan Danielson (AEW Rampage 10/27/21)

There was a push from fans at the time for AEW to bring in Eddie Kingston for Cody Rhodes’ TNT Title open challenge. Kingston maximized his minutes and earned himself a contract.

Whether it be at the bottom of the card, putting others over, competing in the tag team division, midcard, and even in the main event scene, Kingston has thrived in everything he has done. As both a face and heel, the fans have always reacted to him and everyone buys into what he does. He is a great representation of what AEW is all about, and is no doubt one of their best signings.

4 Toni Storm Has Helped Carry AEW’s Women’s Division

Toni Storm Signed In 2022

AEW (& ROH) Accomplishments	Best AEW Match
AEW Women's World Championship (x3)	vs. Jamie Hayter (AEW Full Gear 2022)

After getting her passion sucked out of her in WWE, AEW provided Toni Storm a platform to find her best. Her in-ring work in particular has been outstanding and provided so much quality to the division, but in 2023 her character work added so much more on top of that.

Storm has thrived in so many roles, but her development as “Timeless” Toni Storm has given AEW a kick in the behind when it comes to characters, creativity, and storylines in the division. Storm is one of, if not the most important female signing in terms of impact on the division.

3 Swerve Strickland Will One Of AEW’s Best Long-Term Projects

Swerve Strickland Signed In 2022

AEW (& ROH) Accomplishments	Best AEW Match
AEW World Tag Team Championships	vs. Adam Page (AEW Full Gear 2023)

AEW have picked up a lot of ex-WWE guys over the years, and Swerve Strickland was one of them. Fans didn’t know how things would turn out, and despite it being a slow build, he now looks like an absolute star.

He is someone who is a long-term project for sure, who has grown and grown in stature and looks set to become a world champion at some point in 2024. He is unique, has crossover appeal, and tremendous inside the ring.

2 Christian Cage Has Become AEW’s Greatest Ever Heel

Christian Cage Signed In 2021

AEW (& ROH) Accomplishments	Best AEW Match
TNT Championship (x2)	vs. Darby Allin (AEW WrestleDream 2023)

After coming out of retirement, Christian Cage landed in AEW. His first few months showed that he still had it in the ring, but it wasn’t until his heel turn that he really grew to become one of the best signings in AEW history.

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His heel character has been one of the most entertaining ever seen in the company, and feuds with Jack Perry, Darby Allin, and Adam Copeland have been excellent. His matches always deliver, his promos are incredible, and he has proved to be a wonderful acquisition.

1 Bryan Danielson Is AEW’s Best Ever In-Ring Performer

Bryan Danielson Signed In 2021

AEW (& ROH) Accomplishments	Best AEW Match
N/A	vs. MJF (AEW Revolution 2023)

There is no better signing in AEW history than Bryan Danielson. Not only is he a hugely notable name, but he is one of the best in-ring talents ever. Every match he has in AEW is a guaranteed show-stealer, offering up some of the best AEW matches ever.

Both behind the scenes and onscreen Danielson is a major asset and looks to be with the company for as long as it is around. For this reason, he is no doubt the best signing ever made by Tony Khan.

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