Best-Kept Secrets of WWE and AEW Rosters

It is hard to imagine that with all the television programming WWE and All Elite Wrestling produce every week that many performers are flying under the radar, but the industry has never been more chock full of talent.

The independent wrestling scene remains strong, feeding Raw, SmackDown, Dynamite and Collision the next generation of talent. With that said, some current performers deserve more credit for their stellar in-ring and character work.

Here are the best-kept secrets in WWE and AEW.

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Chad Gable

No wrestler in the industry deserves more credit, better storylines and ample TV time than Chad Gable.

In every secondary comedy storyline he endures, the Olympian has not only excelled but also stolen the show with his wit and timing.

It's easy to forget Gable was part of American Alpha, one of the best tag teams in recent memory and a huge part of NXT's success in the mid-2010s. His in-ring work is unquestionable and his strength is freakish for a man his size.

Couple his wrestling skills and charisma, and there is no reason the 37-year-old shouldn't be in a role similar to Kurt Angle on a week-to-week basis. Once he's done being a highlight of Raw in a silly storyline with Otis and Maxxine Dupri, he should move to a title scene.

With the red brand being represented by the new World Heavyweight Championship and Seth Rollins, giving Gable a deeper character and better storyline that leads to an eventual feud with the titleholder is precisely what Raw needs.

Gable remains one of the most underutilized and underappreciated performers in all of wrestling, but a new character with a real edge and a series of matches against The Visionary for the top belt on Monday nights could bring him back to prominence and prove he deserves a spot at the top of the card.

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Emi Sakura

For casual fans, AEW's Emi Sakura may not be a household name, as she predominantly wrestles on Rampage, Ring of Honor and formerly Dark. However, anyone who has seen her perform understands just how talented she is.

When given the chance, she has shined in championship matches against Willow Nightingale, Athena and Jamie Hayter this year, putting over her challengers by creating magic in the ring every time she steps between the ropes.

Sakura deserves a chance to shine on Dynamite and Collision.

Tony Khan and his creative team love stables, and the 46-year-old should be utilized as a workhorse for a group, enacting pain on her opponents through her immense technical mastery, similar to Arn Anderson's role with the Four Horsemen.

Sakura teaching the other women behind the scenes and guiding them in the ring is best for the talent on the roster.

Regardless of how AEW gets it done, the company owes it to the fans to find a way to get the legendary trainer and performer on television more often.

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AR Fox

While Khan is giving AR Fox more opportunities to shine in Ring of Honor and during random six-person tag team matches, the 35-year-old needs a dedicated storyline and the proper character development to take advantage of his raw talent.

As seen in Lucha Underground when he portrayed Dante Fox in a battle against Killshot (Shane Strickland), he can be an integral part of AEW programming when given an angle that fans can get behind.

There was never any doubt Fox would excel when given opportunities in the ring, allowing his high-flying style to steal the show with the likes of Zack Sabre Jr., Claudio Castagnoli and Chris Jericho in recent months.

Performing on Ring of Honor has allowed him to keep his skills sharp, but he has proved time and time again that he has the talent to get a great match out of anyone when on Dynamite.

With the addition of Collision to AEW programming, Fox deserves to become a staple on television for the rest of 2023 and beyond.

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