There are a lot of comparisons to be made between WCW and AEW. Both favored more realism in their wrestling shows when compared to their contemporary, and both showcased “pure” wrestling, not spectacles of sports entertainment. For the way AEW became the first major threat to WWE’s monopoly on pro wrestling in the last 2 decades, the promotion can be considered a spiritual successor to WCW. Some performers who competed in WCW are actually in AEW, such as Sting, Chris Jericho, and Tony Schiavone.
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What if, through the power of multiverses or time travel, the stars of WCW and AEW were able to go head-to-head? This is a list of dream matches, inspired by the complementary styles of certain wrestlers, as well as the influence some WCW stars had on current AEW wrestlers.
10 The Filthy Animals vs Santana and Ortiz
The Filthy Animals, the team composed of Konnan, Rey Mysterio, Billy Kidman, and Torrie Wilson, ran roughshod on WCW. With Kidman and Mysterio as the group’s high-flyers and Konnan as the trio’s powerhouse, they made a very dynamic and fun group to watch.
Konnan is also the mentor of Santana and Ortiz, and worked as their manager during his time in IMPACT over a decade after WCW closed. It would of course, be interesting to see how Santana and Ortiz fare against the younger version of the man who so heavily influenced their careers.
9 Juventud Guerrera vs Jungle Boy
The WCW Cruiserweight division was proof that wrestlers didn’t have to be big to wow an American audience. Juventud Guerrera was a 3-time cruiserweight champion. Like Jungle Boy, Juvi was known for his incredibly innovative offense and agility.
The two of them in the ring together would’ve bent the laws of physics to their breaking point.
8 Eddie Guerrero vs Swerve Strickland
Both Guerrero and Swerve are most known for their charisma. This is for good reason since both men are very captivating to watch. However, both are also very proficient technical wrestlers and skilled high-flyers.
Their combination of big personalities, along with their in-ring talent, would’ve made for a very exceptional feud.
7 Rey Mysterio vs Rey Fenix
This is undoubtedly a dream match for many fans of Lucha Libre around the world. Rey Mysterio is a living legend, and Rey Fenix is quite possibly a legend in the making. The chance to be able to see two all-time great luchadors go head-to-head while both in their primes would be a dream come true.
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Their dynamic is also made more interesting by the fact that it was Rey Mysterio who granted Rey Fenix the title “Rey,” the Spanish word for king. Rey Mysterio is a huge inspiration for the Mexaking, just like he is for hundreds of other luchadors across the globe.
6 Scott Steiner vs Eddie Kingston
To be honest, this match-up mostly made the list because of the idea of what a promo battle between these two would sound like. To be honest, they might not even need microphones if they get heated enough at each other.
Both are solid in-ring performers, so their match would be good, of course. However, the more interesting aspect of this match-up would undoubtedly be their clash in personalities. Both are loudmouths who are incredibly funny on the mic, sometimes without meaning to be. They're also both fan-favorites. A match between them would be entertaining, to say the least.
5 The Outsiders vs The Young Bucks
It’s very likely that without the NWO, the Bullet Club as we know it today wouldn’t exist. The original members of Bullet Club really idolized the Outsiders, and it’s very obvious they did when you look at how they carried themselves. They even replicated the Too Sweet hand gesture, something that got the Bucks a cease and desist notice from the WWE.
The Outsiders and the Young Bucks are without a doubt two of the most influential tag teams in wrestling history. This fact, combined with their near-opposite in-ring styles, would make this match-up incredibly interesting to watch.
4 Vampiro vs Darby Allin
Goth wrestlers have had a place in this business for a while, which makes sense since they make for very intriguing characters. Vampiro was especially entrancing, mostly due to his intimidating presentation and size.
While he was in WCW, he had a long-term rivalry and later formed a tag team with the Icon, Sting. This match would put Sting’s prodigy up against his Brother in Paint.
3 Vader vs Keith Lee
Sometimes pro wrestling is at its best when it's, in the words of a very wise man, “two big meaty men slapping meat.” Cruiserweights are amazing, of course, but sometimes the concept of an old-fashioned hoss fight is enough to get an audience’s attention.
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While Keith Lee is an example of a big man of the 2020s (i.e, a big man who can still match smaller opponents in agility and technical skill), Vader is one of the most iconic monsters in all of wrestling. This match would give Keith Lee a rare opportunity to be the underdog in terms of power, which would be an interesting situation to see him work through.
2 Dean Malenko vs Bryan Danielson
Bryan Danielson could very well be the best technical wrestler of his generation, and Dean Malenko could’ve very well been the best technical wrestler of his. The Man of a Thousand Holds was predictably a huge inspiration for Danielson.
This clash would almost certainly be a masterpiece in submission-style wrestling and would give wrestlers-in-training the perfect tape to study.
1 Bret Hart vs Kenny Omega
Bret Hart and Kenny Omega are two of the greatest wrestlers in the world, who both also happen to be Canadians. They’re both generational talents who will undoubtedly continue to influence wrestling well into the future.
One can only imagine how fantastic a match between them would be. This is a dream match that would probably surpass even the highest of expectations.
