AEW’s next PPV, All Out, takes place on September 20.
Two things are virtually guaranteed from an AEW pay-per-view: the first is standout matches – and with a card featuring Hangman Adam Page vs Kyle Fletcher in the main event and Jon Moxley vs Darby Allin in a Coffin Match, that tradition looks set to continue.
The second is big debuts: over the years, All Out has been the site of some of AEW’s most impactful arrivals – 2021 famously saw both Adam Cole and Bryan Danielson make their first appearances for the company.
Here are six debuts that could take place this time around.
6. Andrade
While it would be a re-debut rather than a full debut, news emerged today that means Andrade could return to AEW.
Andrade was moved to the WWE roster page alumni section today, and is gone from the company.
He had a run with AEW from June 2021 to the end of 2023, in between his two WWE tenures.
The exact nature of his WWE departure is unknown, so it’s unclear if there’s a non-compete period attached, but an AEW return now seems possible.
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5. Dakota Kai
Dakota Kai was released from WWE in May and has yet to appear anywhere, with little currently known about her eventual destination.
This week returning to her Twitch channel, Kai admitted that while taking a break had been nice, she misses wrestling.
The 37-year-old has long been one of the best women’s wrestlers in North America and would be a hugely valuable addition to AEW’s roster.
Could we could even see her appear at All Out, perhaps announcing herself as Toni Storm’s next challenger for the AEW Women’s World Title?
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4. Zandokan Jr.
AEW’s partner promotion CMLL is currently experiencing one of the hottest periods in its 82-year history, selling out Arena Mexico week after week.
One of the company’s most over young stars is Zandokan Jr, whose pirate-themed gimmick and transcendent charisma have made him a can’t miss future main event star.
While he has yet to appear in AEW, Zandokan is not unfamiliar to its talent – on August 15 he battled MJF at Arena Mexico for the CMLL Light Heavyweight Title.
Given his star power, both AEW and WWE will have eyes on him, but with AEW’s partnership with CMLL, it seems likely his landing spot will be AEW – and we could even see him debut as soon as All Out.
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3. Karrion Kross
There was considerable speculation when Karrion Kross left WWE last month that it was an elaborate storyline, with many expecting him to quickly reappear for the company.
However, weeks have passed with no return and, indeed, no groundswell of fan demand, making it seem increasingly likely that his WWE run really is over.
If so, AEW could be a potential landing spot, particularly given that Kross appeared to have cultivated a large and vocal fanbase prior to leaving WWE.
Whether AEW is interested and whether he will appear at All Out remains to be seen, but he was at one point planned for an AEW debut match in 2022 before things fell through and he was replaced by Big Bill, so there has at least been interest and communication in the past.
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2. Karl Fredericks
Karl Fredericks was once a highly touted prospect in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, seemingly destined for a prominent spot on the card.
After departing NJPW in 2022 he joined NXT as Eddy Thorpe, but he was released earlier this year without making the main roster.
He returned to the ring on September 5, in a bout against Kevin Blackwood at standout indie West Coast Pro, showing flashes of the potential that made him a can’t miss performer.
Could AEW take a chance on Fredericks – and might we even see him debut on All Out’s pre-show Tailgate Brawl?
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1. Shayna Baszler
Shayna Baszler was another performer released by WWE earlier this year, and one whose ultimate destination still remains unknown.
That hasn’t stopped speculation of a move to AEW, something Baszler herself has said she would be open to.
As one of the Horsewomen of MMA alongside Ronda Rousey, Jessamyn Duke and AEW’s Marina Shafir, Baszler’s hard-hitting intense style would make her a natural fit for Shafir’s Death Riders faction.
A Baszler and Shafir tag team could be a valuable asset to AEW’s proposed women’s tag team division – but first Baszler needs to debut, which could very well happen at All Out.
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