10 Current AEW Stars That Would Have Thrived In WCW

You could argue that there are a number of parallels between AEW and WCW. AEW uses similar lighting to what WCW used and they also have more of a grassroots feel, like WCW did, at least at certain points in time.

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You could also argue the point that AEW's entire existence is at least partially thanks to WCW. WCW's Cruiserweight Division, for example, can draw a straight line to the in-ring style often favored in AEW. All Elite Wrestling is WWE's biggest competition since WCW, and many stars from the emerging company would find a proper home in the Georgia-based promotion. Without further ado, here's a look at 10 AEW wrestlers who would have thrived in WCW.

10 Sammy Guevara

Sammy Guevara is a slightly smaller wrestler, with amazing athleticism and a great deal of personality. Therefore, Guevara would have been a great fit for WCW's Cruiserweight Division. The idea of Sammy working with the likes of Rey Mysterio, Juventud Guerrera, or Eddie Guerrero is nothing short of a dream match scenario. Guevara could have been a standout in the Cruiserweight Division, thanks to his mic skills and charisma. It's hard to say if he would have ever been able to break into the main event scene, but Sammy Guevara would have certainly thrived in WCW.

9 Lance Archer

Due to his size and physical intensity, Lance Archer would have been a good fit for WCW. He would have made a solid addition to the nWo, for example. WCW also could have paired Archer with another monster, as a duo, as the company was known for favoring such teams. Because he has more of an unhinged edge to his personality that you don't typically find in WWE, Archer would have fit much better in WCW if he were active in the '90s. The visual of Lance Archer flourishing in WCW is quite conceivable.

8 Andrade El Idolo

It's safe to say that WCW was more successful and effective in marketing and promoting Hispanic wrestlers than the WWE has been. In fact, WWE's top Hispanic draws, first made their name in WCW. Andrade El Idolo's strengths would have been catered to in WCW. The climate in WCW would have allowed Andrade to rise up in the company a bit more quickly than he has in other promotions. It's easy to picture Andrade as a dominant mid-card champion in WCW, at the very least.

7 Keith Lee

Keith Lee would have likely blown the minds of the WCW audience, in the best of ways. He isn't an over-the top personality, so to speak, but Keith Lee possesses tremendous physical presence and unparalleled athleticism for his size. The idea of Keith Lee getting into the ring with Vader or a young Paul Wight is an intriguing concept. Much like Andrade, WCW would have been more effective in promoting Keith Lee than other promotions have. Keith Lee could have quite possibly been a main-eventer in WCW.

6 FTR

The farther you go back into WCW's history, as far back as The Crockett Promotions days, FTR would have been multiple time Tag Team Champions. It's been claimed that FTR are in some ways a xerox version of Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson, but their in-ring style is simply tailor-made for bygone eras.

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Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler cut their teeth on the type of wrestling that was commonplace in WCW, in its early days. To see FTR against Tully Blanchard and Arn Anderson, in the latter's prime, would be an instant classic. They would have also worked well against the likes of teams like The Midnight Express and The Rock 'n' Roll Express.

5 Wardlow

Wardlow likely would have thrived in any promotion at any point in time thanks to his size, look, and charisma. In this case, Wardlow would have fit perfectly in WCW, as he looks like a graduate straight out of their former training facility, The Power Plant.

A clash between Wardlow and Goldberg would have potentially done big business for WCW. He could and would have thrived during any era in WCW, pre or post nWo. As we watch Wardlow's star rise in AEW, we see just how timeless of a talent he truly is.

4 Powerhouse Hobbs

Powerhouse Hobbs might be the closest thing to a massive mainstream star AEW has at this moment. His charisma is genuine and effortless, and his ring work is as fundamentally sound as anyone else in the company. WCW would have allowed someone like Hobbs to find himself, and eventually break out as one of the top stars in the company. He could have been successful as a member of the nWo, or a powerhouse babyface, like Lex Luger. Like Wardlow, Hobbs would have thrived anywhere at any time.

3 Penta El Zero M

It's safe to say that in his current incarnation, Penta El would never be able to fully thrive in WWE. In WCW, Penta would have likely been incredibly over. Similar to La Parka, who got over well in WCW, Penta is able to project tremendous personality under a mask. He might have been a little too big to compete as a cruiserweight, but Penta would have made a great opponent for the likes of Glacier and Mortis or even Sting. Penta El Zero M would have likely been a big star in WCW.

2 Hangman Page

Before the nWo era in WCW, the company had a decidedly Southern feel to it, even after the company had been rebranded from Crockett Promotions. Hangman Page would have been a tremendous asset to WCW in its early days.

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Adam Page could have been the successor to Magnum T.A., as he has a similar look and build. The cowboy gimmick would have been a better fit for the climate of WCW and would have made for a convenient way to promote Page. Adam Page and WCW would have made for a happy marriage.

1 Rey Fenix

Imagine if Rey Fenix was a part of the WCW Cruiserweight Division in the late '90s. The mere idea of Rey Fenix against Rey Mysterio or Juventud Guerrera almost defies comprehension. Even by modern standards, Fenix is considered to be one of the most athletically-gifted stars in wrestling, today. If Rey Fenix would have existed during the age of WCW, it's highly likely that we would hold him in the same regard as Rey Mysterio. Rey Fenix would have truly thrived in WCW.