It was almost like all the elements were coming together, and AEW seems to be doing that with the recent additions of CM Punk, Adam Cole, and Bryan Danielson. AEW has recruited talents with name value and, more specifically, an integral part of WWE’s Attitude Era.

Their commentary team features the voices of WWE Monday Night Raw and WCW Nitro in Jim Ross and Tony Schiavone. Without further ado, here are 6 Attitude Era Superstars and 1 WCW Legend still wrestling in AEW.

#7 Chris Jericho

Chris Jericho might be 50+ years old, but he’s still going strong. One of the first major AEW signings, Jericho, had proved his worth in many ways.

It’s striking to think that Jericho has done it all, being in ECW, WCW, WWE, and NJPW. There is nothing that Jericho hasn’t done. Jericho’s list of titles in WWE is staggering:

6-Time WWE World Champion9-Time WWE Intercontinental Champion2-Time WWE US Champion7-Time WWE World Tag Team Champion

It’s no wonder that he was made the first-ever AEW World Champion. Starting as a heel and creating his faction, The Inner Circle, Jericho proved to be one of the most compelling characters on AEW TV.

His ability to cut unscripted promos, willingness to put over young talent, and proving that he is one of the dynamic wrestlers of his generation have held him in good stead. Considering that he will be turning 51 soon, there’s no telling what’s in store in the future.

#6 Christian Cage

Remarkably, this former WWE Superstar is still wrestling despite his retirement in 2014. Christian appeared briefly during an unsanctioned match with Randy Orton and even appeared in the 2021 Royal Rumble match.

In 2021, Christian signed with AEW and had his first official singles match in several years, and Captain Charisma proved that he’s still a force to be reckoned with. c

Christian has a list of accomplishments that can only be marveled at like the others on the list. Christian is a:

2-time World Heavyweight Champion2-time ECW Champion4-time WWE Intercontinental Champion9-time WWE World Tag Team Champion

His experience is there for everyone to see, and it’s no wonder that he’s now the current Impact World Champion. Christian’s AEW contract is a long-term one, and the company’s treatment of him has proven fruitful, with lots of possibilities on the table.

#5 Paul Wight

Known as Big Show in WWE, this giant superstar was a surprise addition to the AEW Roster.

Paul Wight’s career started in WCW and continued in WWE at the Monday Night Wars’ height. Interestingly, Wight had never actively wrestled for an independent promotion, and his signing to AEW would mark only the third promotion he has ever worked for since his debut in 1995.

Though it should be noted that he wrestled Hulk Hogan at PMG Clash of Legends in 2007, it was a one-time-only deal.

Wight’s list of accomplishments speaks for itself.

2-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion3-time WCW World Tag Team Champion2-time WWE Champion1-time ECW Champion2-time World Heavyweight Champion8-time WWE World Tag Team Champion1-time WWE Intercontinental Champion1-time WWE US Champion3-time WWE Hardcore Champion

Wight left WWE because he was frustrated with his use and felt that he had more to offer, not just as a commentator but as an in-ring performer. While he indeed could have remained in WWE, he chose to move on.

At All Out 2021, Wight made his AEW in-ring debut, quickly dispatching QT Marshall. It’ll be interesting to see how Wight will be used in AEW now.

#4 Dustin Rhodes

Dustin Rhodes, a.k.a. WWE’s Goldust, is another AEW star with great matches. At 52 years old, Dustin can still fight with the best of them and was recently seen on Dynamite against Malakai Black. Moreover, he carries on a specific distinction, having wrestled across five decades in the 80s, ’90s, ’00s, ’10s, and now the ’20s.

Rhodes started his career in 1988 and has wrestled for WCW, AJPW, WWE, TNA/Impact Wrestling, and now AEW. While he may not have picked up many titles across his career, they are still note-worthy.

2-time WCW US Champion2-time WCW World Tag Team Champion9-time WWE Hardcore Champion3-time WWE Intercontinental Champion3-time WWE World Tag Team Champion

But in WWE, Rhodes would be known for his most famous character, “the bizarre one” Goldust. Before the Attitude Era began, Goldust was a sign of things to come. His character was miles apart from others at the time, being presented as androgynous.

Thanks to his incredible delivery, the character fits a friendly family audience. His first match in AEW was at Double or Nothing 2019 against his brother, Cody. The match was heavily praised and received accolades.

In AEW, Dustin Rhodes as ‘The Natural’ is still tearing it up with younger talent. He regularly puts newbies over and supports them backstage. Let’s wait and see what’s next for Dustin.

#3 Billy Gunn

‘The One’ Billy Gunn was a WWE mainstay for several years. His tenure in the company is famous thanks to his involvement with the D-Generation X. While Gunn was very active during the Attitude Era, it was in tag team wrestling where he enjoyed his most success.

Gunn is an 11-time WWE World Tag Team Champion; 6 of those were with Road Dogg. Gunn won the King of the Ring in 1999 and is a former WWE Intercontinental Champion and 2-time WWE Hardcore Champion. Given his experience, it’s no wonder that he was hired as a backstage producer/coach while serving as an active in-ring performer. In interviews, Gunn mentioned that he signed with AEW for Cody and hasn’t looked back since.

Gunn has been wrestling on AEW Dark with his two sons, Austin and Colton. The team seemingly turned heel when Billy Gunn laid out Paul Wight on Dynamite.

It’ll certainly be interesting what plans AEW has for The Gunn Club in the future.

#2 Matt Hardy

If there was one of the most thoughtful WWE acquisitions that AEW has made so far, it was the signing of Matt Hardy. It’s fair to say that Hardy’s most significant plus point is his ability to evolve and keep himself relevant.

He is arguably one of the most outstanding tag team performers of his generation, with Jeff and his brother, like The Hardy Boyz. The list of titles that he has held is certainly nothing to scoff at.

6-time WWE World Tag Team Champion1-time WCW Tag Team Champion1-time WWE SmackDown Tag Team Champion3-time WWE RAW Tag Team Champion1-time ECW Champion1-time WWE US Champion

Matt Hardy was even a 2-time TNA World Heavyweight Champion, where audiences came to know his character, “Broken Matt Hardy.” This character was intriguing, and Impact Wrestling provided him with the stage to do as he saw fit. It could be argued that Hardy was a pioneer of the Cinematic Matches that are used freely in AEW and WWE, with this creation of ‘The Final Deletion.’

While the brothers’ duo returned to WWE, Matt didn’t seem to find it creatively satisfying. When the AEW opportunity came along, Hardy brought his ‘Broken’ gimmick back. Though the character didn’t exactly take off, Hardy quickly changed, creating the Hardy Family Office stable and becoming a manager in the process.

Hardy’s creative juices are flowing freely in AEW, and there’s no telling what other things he can bring to the table.

#7 Sting

Sting, the man who resisted WWE for years, was the heart and soul of WCW. He was on the first WCW Monday Nitro and the last one as well. Many never thought Sting would be an active character on TV, let alone an in-ring performer. So far, his tenure in AEW pays homage to his past and the lineage that he brings with him.

One of Sting’s nicknames was “The Icon,” and there is truth in that on so many levels. Sting was Mr. WCW, becoming relevant in the days of Jim Crockett Promotions. The list of titles that he holds is staggering:

6-time WCW World Heavyweight Champion2-time WCW US Champion3-time WCW World Tag Team Champion1-time NWA World Heavyweight Champion1-time NWA World Television Champion

During his tenure in TNA/Impact Wrestling, Sting was a 4-time TNA World Heavyweight Champion. While WWE was always interested in bringing in Sting, he resisted as he felt they wouldn’t have treated him the right way, based on Booker T’s treatment.

Sting would eventually make his way to WWE when he debuted at Survivor Series 2014 and began a feud with Triple H. This resulted in the pair facing off at WrestleMania 31, with Sting losing. After suffering a legitimate neck injury, he challenged Seth Rollins at Night of Champions, becoming his final WWE match.

“The Icon” announced his retirement during his speech at WWE’s Hall of Fame ceremony. But AEW brought in Sting in 2020 to be a mentor for Darby Allin and even recently appeared in tag matches, fighting off many.

Sting is 62 years old, but there’s no telling when the sun will set on his career. Right now, he seems to be enjoying his position as a recurring character. There’s no telling how he will do in the future, but as long as Tony Schiavone says “It’s Stinggg,” fans will be in for something unique.

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