Having a good physique can get you a fairly long way in the professional wrestling world, as many times over the years wrestlers have been signed and even booked well based on their looks alone rather than their actual talent between the ropes. In AEW, looks and physique are not everything, though it still does help to have a muscular build.

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There are several examples of muscular and larger competitors over the course of AEW history who may have had a larger build and looked good, but have ultimately failed. Whether it be their own talent and ability or a failure in terms of booking, these following wrestlers didn’t end up succeeding in AEW in the long run.

10 Andrade El Idolo’s Improved Look Didn’t Bring Him Success

Andrade El Idolo & AEW Was A Relationship Which Did Not Work

Length Of AEW Run

Notable AEW Accomplishments

2021-2023

N/A

When Andrade El Idolo signed with AEW following his disappointing WWE run, fans had high hopes that he would become a star. Andrade quickly grew in terms of muscle mass, looking like an absolute world beater with his physique.

Unfortunately, AEW failed to book him like a star, and he got involved in several dead-end storylines. Some backstage controversy led to it being only a matter of time before the company parted ways with him. AEW and Andrade didn’t renew his deal, and his time there can be judged as nothing other than a failure.

9 Trench Had A Good Look But Nothing Else

The Mogul Affiliates Member Left AEW Quickly

Length Of AEW Run

Notable AEW Accomplishments

2022-2023

N/A

Trench was an unknown entity when he appeared on AEW programming, but one thing that stood out immediately was his size and look. He certainly had some sort of presence, but it soon became obvious that he had nothing else.

Swerve Strickland’s Mogul faction replaced Trench quickly, and without even having a match in AEW, he was soon gone from the company.

8 Miro’s Time In AEW Has Soured Greatly

For The Most Part, Miro Has Failed In AEW

Length Of AEW Run

Notable AEW Accomplishments

2020-present

TNT Championship

Miro’s time as TNT Champion was fantastic, and he looked like one of the most unstoppable forces in AEW history. Everything outside of that has been a disaster. The “Best Man” stuff was awkward, his storyline with CJ Perry has made no sense, and his long hiatuses have been jarring too.

It is a shame given that Miro is one of the most muscular men on the roster and has an absolutely fantastic look. He has improved his physique from his WWE days and his in-ring work quality hasn’t lessened. Unfortunately, his creative hasn’t been good.

7 Nyla Rose Has Become A Forgotten Member Of AEW’s Roster

Nyla Rose Should Have Been A Monster Heel

Length Of AEW Run

Notable AEW Accomplishments

2019-present

AEW Women's World Championship

At first, it looked as though AEW were maximizing on Nyla Rose’s muscle and size, as she was quickly pushed to become a monster heel AEW Women’s World Champion. After a disappointing reign she fell down the card and has never really truly recovered.

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Rose is now someone who is there for a rising star to defeat on their way up the card. Even with a title reign under her belt, Rose’s time in AEW must be considered a failure when looking at how downright bad her booking has been for years.

6 Brian Cage Should’ve Been A Much Bigger Star In AEW

Despite A Lot Of Talent, Brian Cage Is Just Another Guy

Length Of AEW Run

Notable AEW Accomplishments

2020-present

FTW Championship

Brian Cage immediately made a splash in AEW as he was pushed to an AEW World Title opportunity. From there, he became a solid member of Team Taz but a babyface turn led to him being taken off TV for a long time.

He was not used for a stretch but was brought back as a background member of the Mogul Embassy - a fairly decent role but one that does not use Cage to the best of his ability. There are not many men of Cage’s size and muscle mass who can move like he does, but his AEW run has been underwhelming overall.

5 Jade Cargill Had A Good Run But Her Booking Was Ruined In The End

Jade Cargill Was A Surefire Star Who AEW Fumbled

Length Of AEW Run

Notable AEW Accomplishments

2020-2023

TBS Championship

There is no woman in AEW history who has a build as striking as Jade Cargill. Despite being green, Cargill was clearly a star and AEW initially pushed her as such. Even though she went undefeated for two years and had a long reign as TBS Champion, the quality of her booking suffered.

Cargill didn’t have a single memorable feud during her title reign, and AEW didn’t convince her to stay as she left for WWE. There were positives, but her time in AEW must be considered a failure with how it ended up.

4 Lance Archer Could’ve Been A Major Monster Heel

Lance Archer Lost Too Many Big Matches In AEW

Length Of AEW Run

Notable AEW Accomplishments

2020-present

N/A

Lance Archer stands taller than the majority of AEW’s roster and he has a lot of muscle to add to his size too. However, despite his great look, intensity, and presence, Archer has been one of AEW’s biggest losers.

He has been booked to lose almost every big match he’s been involved in, and ended up losing his aura and legitimacy in AEW, which is a shame given his talents.

3 Kiera Hogan Has Been Underused By AEW

Hogan Has A Great Build But Hasn’t Been Booked Well

Length Of AEW Run

Notable AEW Accomplishments

2021-present

N/A

Kiera Hogan might not be the tallest, but she has a great muscular physique which makes her one of the more imposing females on the roster. However, AEW has squandered her thus far.

The booking of The Baddies and their break-up was horrendous, and instead of capitalizing on Hogan, she was sent off to ROH which is very under the radar, with not as many fans tuning in to see what she is doing. Hogan has a great look and a lot of talent which isn’t being realized.

2 Wardlow’s Momentum Was Completely Wasted By AEW

AEW Dropped The Ball With Wardlow

Length Of AEW Run

Notable AEW Accomplishments

2019-present

TNT Championship x3

Simply put, Wardlow has the look of a star. He has a great build matched with strong in-ring ability, and a proven connection to the audience. However, despite all these positives, AEW has failed him.

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His momentum in 2022, where he was red hot, was squandered, and his character was stripped of all personality. Fans slowly cared less and less, and despite multiple TNT Title reigns, he has failed to find any momentum since.

1 Parker Boudreaux Was Not Ready For The Spotlight In AEW

Parker Boudreaux Was A Wasted Signing

Length Of AEW Run

Notable AEW Accomplishments

2022-present

N/A

Another member of the Mogul Affiliates who had a great muscular physique was Parker Boudreaux, but much like Trench, he ended up failing.

Boudreaux’s look and size was compared to Brock Lesnar, but unfortunately he’s closer to Luther Reigns in terms of personality and talent. He could not hang in AEW and was ultimately taken off TV, not being seen since.