Plenty of eyes are on the AEW video game, as much like the All Elite Wrestling brand that it is based on, the project is looking like it could be some major competition for WWE. Thus far, the company has managed to accrue some incredible talent, with its roster of wrestlers being made up of industry icons like Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho. With other legends like the Big Show, Christian Cage, and Sting recently coming to the company as well, AEW’s collection of talent is only growing more impressive with time.
While the return of developer Yuke’s is a great reason to be excited about the AEW game, as the company’s experience with wrestling sims should be beneficial, the brand’s lineup of stars is even more promising. With playable legends like Taz, Bret Hart, and Jake “The Snake” Roberts all possible due to their association with the company, there should be plenty of content available in the game. With such a huge roster of talent, though, the choice of who to put on the cover of the game becomes a lot tougher — though there is a handful of options that would make the most sense. As such, assuming that AEW does not use the cover as another way to honor the great Brodie Lee, here are the best possible cover star choices.
Kenny Omega
While putting the current AEW world champion on the front cover of the box seems a bit obvious, there really is no better fit for this position than Kenny Omega. While he is a despicable heel in the current storyline’s, Omega is widely regarded as being one of the best wrestlers in the world today. Further, his love for video games is clear. Not only has he been vocal about AEW’s various gaming ventures, but his finishing moves are named after video games. The V-Trigger gets its name from Street Fighter, while the One Winged Angel is an excellent nod to Final Fantasy 7’s Sephiroth. With Omega also jumping to other wrestling companies like Impact, his popularity is unmatched.
Jon Moxley
The second AEW world champion, Jon Moxley gained major recognition for his work under the name Dean Ambrose in the always dominant WWE. While things ultimately did not work out between him and the massive wrestling company, Moxley quickly found himself on the indie scene and in AEW. Showing off a new character that is truer to who he is as a person, Moxley is a renegade. While he is considered a “face” or good guy, he pulls no punches regardless of who he is facing. Loved by fans and having a great reign as champion, Moxley’s current feud with Kenny Omega ensures that he will remain on top for some time to come.
Cody Rhodes
Much like how Kenny Omega has played an integral part in making the AEW game a reality, Cody Rhodes has been just as important to the formation of AEW as a whole. A huge reason for the company’s success, Rhodes has a major role behind the scenes. However, he is a phenomenal wrestler as well, as he can often be seen working matches that would make his late father Dusty Rhodes proud. While Cody Rhodes will likely be taking some time off from wrestling in the near future, as he is set to become a father very soon, his overall importance and genuine likability as a person would make him a strong candidate for the role of cover star.
Darby Allin
Recently making headlines due to his partnership with “The Icon” Sting, Darby Allin is another fine pick for a position on the AEW game’s cover. The current TNT champion, Allin lacks the body type of a traditional wrestler — something that would likely see him shunned within the WWE. Despite being thin and lacking the muscular build of other professional wrestlers, Allin makes up for his side with a reckless style that always sees him taking risks in the ring. Unique moves combine with his natural ability to sell his opponent’s attacks to make Allin a blast to watch, and with Sting serving as his mentor, he will likely only become a more popular attraction going forward.
Chris Jericho
Finally, there is Chris Jericho. A legend that has already appeared in the AEW game’s trailer, Jericho can still go at 50 years old, regularly putting on fun matches despite his age. Having an incredible personality that sees him shine whenever he is on the mic, Jericho quickly rose to the top in AEW, becoming the brand’s first world champion. Through numerous gimmicks and the addition of fresh moves, Jericho has reinvented himself for decades, and a game could capture many of these different styles. While an argument can be made that the cover star position should go to a younger talent to help give them a push, there is no denying that Jericho’s presence could help sell copies of the game. After all, with AEW fans singing Jericho’s self-performed theme song whenever he makes his way to the ring, it is impossible to deny his superstar status.
The AEW video game is currently in development.
