Top 10 Greatest AEW Debuts

Ever since All Elite Wrestling opened its doors in 2019, it has quickly become many wrestling fans' favorite promotion to watch on TV with its exciting shows and pay-per-views.

Of course, with any wrestling event and with rumors going around, fans can often expect great surprises in the form of a professional wrestler's debut in the company. With that in mind, let's see which AEW debuts have excited fans the most since the company's creation.

The Top Ten

Jon Moxley

Jonathan "Jon" Good is an American professional wrestler and actor currently signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he performs under the ring name Jon Moxley. He also makes appearances for New Japan Pro‑Wrestling, where he has held the IWGP United States Championship. He previously wrestled for... read more

After leaving WWE, Jon Moxley, formerly known as Dean Ambrose, made his shocking debut at AEW's very first Double or Nothing pay-per-view in 2019, attacking Chris Jericho, Kenny Omega, and the referee after their main event match.
Moxley had his AEW debut match at the Fyter Fest event in June, where he defeated Joey Janela in an unsanctioned match.
Bryan Danielson

Bryan Lloyd Danielson (born May 22, 1981) is an American professional wrestler best known for his tenure in WWE under the ring name Daniel Bryan. He is a five-time world champion, having held the WWE Championship four times and the World Heavyweight Championship once. He headlined WrestleMania XXX in... read more

Bryan Danielson, also known as Daniel Bryan in WWE, made his surprise debut for AEW during the September 5, 2021, All Out pay-per-view at the end of the show. He then made his in-ring debut against Nick Jackson on AEW Rampage.
In the next few months, he has had matches regarded as all-time classics against the likes of Kenny Omega and "Hangman" Adam Page.
CM Punk

Phillip Jack "Phil" Brooks, also known by the ring name CM Punk, is an American comic book writer, actor, former mixed martial artist, and retired professional wrestler. He is best known for his career in World Wrestling Entertainment, where he held multiple championships and was the leader of the New... read more

CM Punk made his long-awaited return to professional wrestling, appearing on the August 20, 2021, edition of AEW Rampage to a huge ovation from the fans, some of whom were crying tears of joy.
Not a shocking return by any means, but it was a moment that did not need it. It was simply an awesome moment. Punk then made his in-ring debut for the promotion on September 5 against Darby Allin at the All Out pay-per-view.
Sting

Steve Borden, better known by his ring name Sting, is an American retired professional wrestler, actor, and author. He was also previously a bodybuilder. Sting is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time, with a career that spanned several decades in promotions such as... read more

The WCW legend made his electrifying AEW debut during AEW Dynamite's Winter is Coming event on December 2, 2020, when Darby Allin, Cody Rhodes, Dustin Rhodes, and Arn Anderson were getting beaten down by the members of Team Tazz.
He made his in-ring debut on Dynamite in a tag team match, teaming with Darby Allin against the team of 2.0 (Matt Lee and Jeff Parker).
Adam Cole

Austin Jenkins is an American professional wrestler and actor currently signed to WWE. He previously performed in WWE's developmental brand NXT under the ring name Adam Cole, where he led the faction known as The Undisputed Era alongside Kyle O'Reilly, Roderick Strong, and Bobby Fish. He holds the record... read more

Adam Cole made his debut during the September 5, 2021, All Out pay-per-view, minutes before Bryan Danielson, reuniting with his friends of The Elite: Kenny Omega, Matt, and Nick Jackson. He then made his in-ring debut on AEW Dynamite against Frankie Kazarian.
Saraya

Saraya-Jade Bevis is an English professional wrestler and actress. She performed in WWE under the ring name Paige.
On the November 20, 2017 episode of Raw, Paige returned alongside debuting wrestlers Mandy Rose and Sonya Deville, forming a faction called Absolution. She made her in-ring return... read more
Brodie Lee

The late Brodie Lee, formerly known as Luke Harper in WWE, made his debut for AEW on the March 18, 2020, episode of Dynamite, revealing himself to be the Exalted One, the leader of the Dark Order faction.
Sadly, he passed away on December 26, 2020, and since then AEW has taken every opportunity to honor him and help his family.
Christian Cage

Prior to WWE's annual Royal Rumble pay-per-view, fans thought they had seen the last of Christian Cage due to concussion-related issues. However, he made his shocking arrival in AEW during the Revolution pay-per-view on March 7, after AEW president Tony Khan announced a huge signing to the company, which was revealed during the show to be Christian Cage.
Malakai Black

Tom Budgen is a Dutch professional wrestler who gained recognition during his time in WWE, where he performed under the ring name Aleister Black. Before joining WWE, he wrestled in various promotions throughout Europe, the United States, and Japan under the name Tommy End. After his release from WWE... read more

Malakai Black, also known as Aleister Black in WWE, made his debut on the special July 7, 2021, episode of AEW Dynamite entitled Road Rager by interrupting a promo by Cody Rhodes and Arn Anderson and attacking both men.
His debut was especially shocking as fans believed he had a 90-day non-compete clause on his WWE contract after his release by the company. However, it turned out to only be a 30-day non-compete clause, as it was not modified in his contract. He made his in-ring debut in a match against Cody Rhodes.

He deserved better in WWE. I was so sad when he was fired from WWE.
FTR

Formerly known as The Revival in WWE, FTR made their AEW debut on the May 27, 2020, episode of Dynamite. They later won the AEW World Tag Team Championship the following September at AEW's All Out pay-per-view.

The Newcomers

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Toni Storm
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Wardlow

The Contenders

Chris Jericho

Christopher Keith Irvine (born November 9, 1970), better known by the ring name Chris Jericho, is an American-Canadian professional wrestler, rock musician, media personality, actor, author, and businessman. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he became the inaugural AEW World Champion in... read more

Chris is such a legend. He beat Steve Austin and The Rock on his debut, won 9 Intercontinental titles, and various other titles. Of course, he deserves some recognition.

I am so shocked he went to AEW, but he is having a better time in AEW than WWE.
Matt Hardy

Matthew Moore Hardy is an American professional wrestler currently signed to All Elite Wrestling under his "Big Money" moniker. In AEW, he leads the Hardy Family Office, a stable of allied wrestlers. He is also well known for his previous work in WWE, Impact Wrestling, and Ring of Honor.

Matt Hardy made his AEW debut with the Broken Hardy gimmick on the March 18, 2020, episode of Dynamite, where he confronted The Inner Circle.
On the May 6 episode of Dynamite, Hardy wrestled his first match with AEW, teaming up with Kenny Omega for a street fight against The Inner Circle's Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara.
Bret Hart

Bret Sergeant Hart, better known by his ring name Bret "The Hitman" Hart, is a Canadian-American writer, actor, and retired professional and amateur wrestler. He is a member of the Hart wrestling family and a second-generation wrestler. Hart is widely regarded as one of the greatest professional wrestlers... read more
Darby Allin
Ruby Soho
Hook
Maxwell Jacob Friedman
Samoa Joe

Nuufolau Joel "Joe" Seanoa, better known by his ring name Samoa Joe, is an American professional wrestler and actor. He is signed to All Elite Wrestling (AEW), where he is a member of The Opps and currently holds the AEW World Trios Championship. Joe is also a former three-time NXT Champion and has... read more
Kyle O'Reilly
Keith Lee
Swerve Strickland
Buddy Matthews

Matthew Adams is an Australian professional wrestler best known for his time in WWE, where he performed under the ring names Murphy and Buddy Murphy. He was released from WWE in June 2021. He has since competed in All Elite Wrestling under the ring name Buddy Matthews.
Brody King
Jeff Hardy

Jeffrey Nero "Jeff" Hardy (born August 31, 1977) is an American professional wrestler, singer-songwriter, painter, and musician. Alongside his brother Matt, he is a multiple-time WWE and TNA Tag Team Champion, a two-time WWE Intercontinental Champion, and a five-time world champion across WWE and TNA... read more