In a surprising revelation, it’s been uncovered that a considerable number of current WWE superstars once plied their trade in All Elite Wrestling (AEW) before making the transition to the world of Vince McMahon’s empire. While it’s not uncommon for wrestlers to switch between promotions, the discovery that 15 members of WWE’s current roster started their journey in AEW first has sent shockwaves through the wrestling community.

The criteria for this eye-opening revelation are stringent, ensuring that only those who truly made their mark in AEW before moving to WWE are counted. Firstly, the wrestlers must have been under a WWE contract as of May 2024, and secondly, they should not have been under WWE contract at any point before their first appearance in AEW. This stringent filtering eliminates names like Sha Spears, Andrade, and The OC, who had already been signed to WWE before their AEW stints.

Let’s delve into the list of 15 WWE stars who started their journey in AEW:

1. **Brian Pillman Jr.**: The son of the late great Brian Pillman, Jr. debuted in AEW in the Casino Battle Royale at Double or Nothing 2019 before signing full-time with AEW in July 2021. He joined WWE in July 2023, debuting on NXT as Lexis King.

2. **Ben Carter (Nathan Fraser)**: Carter impressed on AEW Dark before facing visa issues. He then joined WWE, competing as Nathan Fraser on NXT.

3. **Dragon Lee**: Lee, known for his Lucha Libre prowess, worked briefly in AEW before joining WWE’s NXT.

4. **Javon Evans**: Signed with WWE in January 2024 after brief appearances on AEW Dark.

5. **Sa’Quon Sugar (Lucky Ali)**: Sugar wrestled as Lucky Ali in AEW before transitioning to WWE’s NXT.

6. **Maddy Rourke (Ren Sinclair)**: Competed extensively in AEW before joining WWE’s NXT.

7. **KL Fredericks (Eddie Ford)**: Fredericks represented New Japan Pro Wrestling on AEW Dark before joining WWE’s NXT.

8. **Fallon Henley (Tesha Price)**: Henley appeared in AEW before joining WWE’s NXT.

9. **Thea Hail (Nikita Knight)**: Hail worked two matches in AEW before joining WWE’s NXT.

10. **Lorenzo D’Angelo (Channing Staxx)**: D’Angelo appeared briefly on AEW Dark before joining WWE’s NXT.

11. **Cory Jade (Elaina Black)**: Jade wrestled as Elaina Black in AEW before joining WWE’s NXT.

12. **Priscilla Kelly (GG Dolin)**: Kelly had two appearances in AEW before joining WWE’s NXT.

13. **Kiana James (Xtina K)**: James wrestled as Xtina K in AEW before joining WWE’s NXT.

14. **Blair Davenport (B. Priestly)**: Davenport appeared in AEW before joining WWE’s NXT UK.

15. **Jade Cargill**: Cargill dominated in AEW before making waves in WWE’s main roster.

This revelation underscores the fluidity of talent movement between wrestling promotions and hints at the evolving landscape of the industry. As fans eagerly await more surprises and signings, one thing is clear: the lines between AEW and WWE continue to blur, promising an exciting future for professional wrestling.