For years, the “Wednesday Night Wars” pitted WWE‘s NXT brand against AEW Dynamite. While AEW ultimately won the ratings battle, forcing NXT to move to Tuesdays, Tony Khan has seemingly won the war for the talent as well. Since the inception of his company, the AEW President has aggressively signed wrestlers who flourished under the creative direction of Paul ‘Triple H’ Levesque during the beloved “Black and Gold” era of NXT. With the recent debut of Tommaso Ciampa on Dynamite, the list of Triple H’s former “children” who have crossed the divide has grown even longer.
A Main Event Roster Built On NXT Foundations
The volume of talent that has transitioned from the Performance Center to AEW is staggering. It isn’t just mid-card talent looking for a fresh start; Khan has acquired former NXT Champions, North American Champions, and Women’s Champions who defined the brand for nearly a decade. Stars like Adam Cole, Samoa Joe, and PAC (formerly Neville) were the backbone of NXT’s golden years, and they now serve as pillars for AEW. The trend highlights a specific appreciation Khan holds for the work-rate-heavy style that Triple H cultivated in Orlando.
The acquisition of these athletes has shaped the identity of AEW. FTR (The Revival) arguably became the greatest tag team in the world after leaving, while Swerve Strickland (Isaiah “Swerve” Scott) and Mercedes Moné (Sasha Banks) have reached heights of stardom that were perhaps capped within the WWE system. The list includes technical wizards, high-flyers, and bruisers who have all found a new lease on life under the AEW banner.
The Full List of Triple H’s NXT Alumni Signed by Tony Khan:
- Adam Cole
- Athena (Ember Moon)
- Malakai Black (Aleister Black)
- Andrade El Idolo
- Big Bill (Cass)
- Bobby Fish
- Buddy Matthews (Murphy)
- Daddy Magic & Cool Hand Ang (Ever-Rise)
- FTR (The Revival)
- Keith Lee
- Kyle O’Reilly
- Lio Rush
- Mercedes Moné (Sasha Banks)
- PAC (Neville)
- Saraya (Paige)
- Ricochet
- Roderick Strong
- Samoa Joe
- Swerve Strickland
- Tay Melo
- Tommaso Ciampa
- Toni Storm
With Ciampa—often called “Mr. NXT”—now joining his former DIY partner Johnny Gargano (who has notably remained in WWE) on the list of guys who have worked for both major companies, the connection between the two eras remains strong. As contracts continue to expire and the wrestling landscape shifts, fans will be watching to see if any other “Black and Gold” originals decide to make the jump.
Make sure to follow us on social media by liking us on Facebook at WrestleStarz and subscribing to us on YouTube at WrestleStar YouTube.
About the Author
