Tossing Salt Presents:
Stay or Go: An In-Depth Analysis of the Full Rosters of AEW & The WWE
AEW Men: M-Z
November 12. 2022
DougMaynard.com

Over on YouTube on the Jim Cornette podcast, The Jim Cornette Experience, the esteemed wrestling historian and legend, Mr. Jim Cornette, along with co-host Brian Last, took a very detailed look at the entire roster of All Elite Wrestling. They tried to determine, one by one, if the talents on the roster were worthy of being part of AEW and having a wrestling contract for a national promotion. It was a very insightful and interesting listen and you should go check it out.

And it got me wondering. I’m no Jim Cornette, but I’ve been told I’m a good judge of talent and have a good mind for the business. If I was to take a look down the line at the AEW roster and each talent, what would I do with them? Keep them? Fire them? Teach them how to do the Twist. Well, there is only one way to find out. So starting now and over the next few days, we’re going down the lists of the AEW and WWE rosters. I will look at each person and give my take, in a few words, as to the potential they have and if I would suggest keeping them, letting them go, finding a different role for them, or what. This should be fun.

So buckle up the safety belts and get ready for a wild ride. We’re finishing with the men of AEW and then will move on accordingly. So are you ready? Let’s do this. And away we go.

AEW Men’s Roster (M-Z)

Matt Sydal: A good wrestler to be sure, but has he meant anything since becoming a part of AEW? Truthfully, I had forgotten he was even part of the roster. He’s gone.

Max Caster: One-half of one of the most entertaining teams currently on the roster. He’s still green in many ways, but he’s getting better every week, and unless many of his coworkers, he gets it. He stays.

Miro: Miro should be getting a strong push and be near the top of the roster. The role of the monster is something he was very good at and could/should be good again. He stays.

MJF: No comments needed. He stays and gets the big push.

Nick Comoroto: Which one is he again? I’ve seen his name several times on YouTube shows, but I can’t put a face to the name. He’s gone.

Nick Jackson: Generation Me is Generation Pink Slip. He’s gone and good riddance.

Orange Cassidy: I like Orange personally, but he doesn’t belong in a major wrestling company on national TV. He’s gone.

Ortiz: A talented guy, but he just doesn’t stand out for me and unless his name is being placed next to Santana, there’s not a spot for him in my AEW. He’s gone.

“Tall” Paul Wight: Tall? Really? Really? Oy vey! He’s a former WWE star who was hired as an announcer, worked one match, and now is just sitting at home collecting a check. I think going back up North and being a WWE Ambassador would be a better role for him than anything he’s done in AEW so far. He’s gone.

PAC: A solid talent who is lacking size, but plays the role of tough guy so well, it doesn’t matter. I’d keep him.

Parker Boudreaux: Who? I had to use Google just to figure out who he is. He’s gone.

PENTA Oscuro: If AEW was a Lucha Wrestling company, this guy would be a must-have. AEW is not a Lucha company and is instead a company based in the United States and geared towards American audiences. He’s gone.

Powerhouse Hobbs: This guy has gotten in tremendous shape and has really improved so much over the past couple of years, he’s definitely a keeper for sure. He’s going to be a big star one day.

Pres10 Vance: Which member of the Dark Order is he? Some of the members of that faction have personalities and are interesting characters. Vance is not one of those members. He’s gone.

Pretty Peter Avalon: He would need total repackaging and maybe some extra training to earn his spot. I’d keep him, but it would be conditional.

QT Marshall: As a coach, working behind the scenes, there are few better than Marshall. He’s also a good talker and a solid performer. I’d keep him and use him in as many roles as possible. He’s a solid supporting character in every way that matters.

Rey Fenix: Look at what I said about PENTA. The same applies here. He’s gone.

Ricky Starks: Starks is a good wrestler, a good talker, and has that “it” that says he’s got the potential to be a big name and make lots of money. He would be kept and pushed to the moon.

Rush: Another Luchadore that has plenty of talent, is an international superstar, and has good matches, but doesn’t move the needle in the slightest on American TV. He’s gone.

Ryan Nemeth: This is Dolph Ziggler’s brother and if used correctly, could be every bit as big for AEW as Dolph once was for WWE. He just needs to be built correctly and used. He’s staying.

Sammy Guevara: Sammy needs to slow down, learn to pace himself, and cut back on the dangerous flippy stuff, remembering less is more. But that being said, he’s got a great look, talks well, and gets some great reactions from the fans, either good or bad. There is no in-between with Sammy. He’s money. He’s staying.

Santana: Santana is a solid worker, but unless his name is being followed by “and Ortiz”, I think his best days are over. He’s gone.

Satnam Singh: This guy is huge, but what else does he have going for him? Based on what I’ve seen so far, he makes WWE’s Omos look like Shawn Michaels in comparison. I’d give him six months of intense training to show me something before making my decision. If he doesn’t get better, he’s gone.

Scorpio Sky: A decent worker, but totally forgettable. I had forgotten he was even a part of the AEW locker room. He’s gone.

Serpentico: I think I’ve made my point on the Lucha wrestlers clear. If AEW was based in South America or Mexico, Serpentico would be among the top guys on the roster. But AEW doesn’t even run shows in Texas or Arizona, much less in Mexico so what’s the point with this guy? He’s gone.

Shawn Dean: If they would just let this guy show half of the personality on TV that he shows in the Sammy Guevera VLOG, he would be over like Rover. He’s good in that ring and a good talker, but AEW won’t give him the chance to show it. I’d keep him and give him a strong mid-card push to get over.

Shawn Spears: He’s got skills and ability. He’s a good talker and for that first year, working with Cody, he was getting over rather well. And then he got lost in the shuffle and has become an afterthought. As with so many others, he needs a reboot of sorts, but he can be saved in my opinion. I’d keep him around.

Slim J: Who? He’s gone.

Sonjay Dutt: Backstage as an agent or coach, absolutely. As part of the creative process, absolutely. As a wrestler? Nope. There is always a role for a man like Dutt and I’d keep him, but aside from appearances as an authority figure or coach, I’d keep him off the TV.

Sonny Kiss: I had forgotten that Kiss was still with the company. He shouldn’t be. I can’t take him seriously and neither can any real wrestling fan, not as a wrestler. As a manager or valet, he could be used, but as a wrestler? Nope. He’s gone.

Sting: It’s Sting. He;s 62 years old and works better than 85% of the roster. He stays. ‘Nuff said!

Swerve Strickland: He’s a good talker, a good wrestler, and he has a ton of charisma. Definitely a keeper.

Tony Nese: A very talented young man with an amazing body. I think WWE really dropped the ball with Nese and AEW is his chance for redemption. He’s a strong talent that could really be used for almost any role needed. He’s staying.

Trent Beretta: A good wrestler, but the whole Best Friends gimmick has killed any credibility he may have had at one time. He’s got potential, but for the time being, I’d send him away. Maybe in a couple of years, I’d give him another look, but as he is now, he’s gone.

Wardlow: AEW had lightning in a bottle and has totally blown it with this guy. He was so hot, so over, and now, he’s in a meaningless tag team with Samoa Joe. Oh wait, Joe turned on him this past Wednesday night. Yawn. I’d keep him but probably send him away for six months for repackaging before bringing him back to TV as a big surprise. He can be saved and be a big star, but a lot of changes in the current booking need to be made first.

Wheeler Yuta: A good wrestler who has that “It” about him. He’s not big on the personality, but like Bryan Danielson, he can do his talking in the ring. I’d keep him.

And there you go. That’s the end of the AEW Men’s Roster. Coming up next are the Women of AEW and the members of the AEW roster that haven’t been covered yet for whatever reason. And then it’s on to the WWE and their superstars. Damn you Cornette for starting me on this. But I’m in it to win it and committed now and will see it through. Believe that.

And with those words, it’s time to close up for now. My thanks for reading. Comments, thoughts, and any questions are welcome and very appreciated. Subscribe to the blog and share. That would be greatly appreciated as well. And with that, I’m out of here. Keep your eyes open for more as this epic journey continues. I’ll catch you later and see you at the matches.

Ubuntu!