If there’s one thing All Elite Wrestling has done pretty well so far compared to the competition, it’s the promotion’s handling of legends. While WWE mostly brings back old guys for throwback episodes of Raw or SmackDown or a cute Royal Rumble spot, AEW seems to understand that wrestlers still have value as characters even if they can’t perform in the ring anymore.

RELATED: Every WWE Legend In AEW Today, RankedOver the past couple of years of AEW’s existence, fans have seen retired performers like Taz, Arn Anderson, and Jake Roberts as well as still-capable in-ring competitors like Sting and even Christian Cage take younger wrestlers under their wing. Let’s take a look at some other potential legends who could show up in AEW, and who they’d be best paired with.

10 Andrade El Idolo & Ric Flair

Andrade El Idolo & Ric Flair

Ric Flair departing WWE in 2021 was a bit of a surprise, but he hasn’t disappeared from the public eye, most recently accompanying his son-in-law Andrade El Idolo to the ring for his AAA Mega Championship match with Kenny Omega at Triplemania XXIX. It only makes sense for that relationship to continue into AEW since the iconic Flair and beloved Andrade are similarly overconfident heels who dress sharp. The only problem is that El Idolo already has a manager in Chavo Guerrero, but it wouldn’t be the first time Flair caused needless tension in pro wrestling.

9 Leyla Hirsch & Kurt Angle

Leyla Hirsch & Kurt Angle

Reportedly, Kurt Angle had already turned down an offer to return to the ring for AEW, but that doesn’t mean he can’t still take part and give the rub to a younger star. There’s no better choice for this treatment than Leyla Hirsch, who has a similar amateur background to the Olympic Gold Medalist. Hirsh is already pretty great, but the additional spotlight from Kurt Angle’s presence couldn’t hurt -- so long as they don’t make her Angle’s kayfabe illegitimate daughter.

8 Brian Cage & Scott Steiner

Brian Cage & Scott Steiner

Both freakishly muscular and freakishly athletic, Brian Cage already had a mentor in Taz, which did a good job establishing him as a heel as well as springboarding him into a face turn. The only problem with Cage is that he isn’t the best promo in the world, so he could use another legend in his corner -- one who’s the best promo in the world, kind of.

RELATED: 10 Funniest Things Scott Steiner Ever Said, RankedScott Steiner is also a muscular freak, and his promos are classic even though he doesn’t really say words correctly or in the right order. But it would be massively entertaining, as Cage could wear the chainmail hat and make surprised expressions when Steiner says something bizarre.

7 Abadon & AJ Mendez

Abadon & AJ Mendez (aka AJ Lee)

Even before CM Punk debuted for AEW, fans were speculating as to whether his IRL wife AJ Mendez (formerly known as AJ Lee) would follow. A spine injury forced her retirement, but she’s also one of the best talkers the WWE women’s division ever had, making her perfect manager material. As far as who she could manage, perhaps the answer is Abadon, the spooky women’s division performer who has the allure of being creepy and never talking.

6 Jungle Boy & Kevin Nash

Jungle Boy & Kevin Nash

Many die-hard fans are critical of Kevin Nash thanks to stories of backstage politicking, but he’s also legitimately funny and charming as an on-screen character. His work taking the entire Impact X Division under his wing led to some of the funniest segments in that promotion’s history, so he could work the same magic in AEW. Given that he played a character named Tarzan in Magic Mike, Big Daddy Cool should definitely force a mentorship upon Jungle Boy -- who’s too polite to turn him down -- much to the chagrin of the rest of Jurassic Express.

5 Penelope Ford & Lita

Penelope Ford & Lita

Penelope Ford is often in a weird position in AEW, as one of the few women who functions as both in-ring performer and valet. She’s good in the ring but could use a manager of her own to distinguish her as a singles wrestler. Since she’s got a lot of ‘tude, she’d be great paired up with Lita, beloved in the Attitude Era of WWE for her unique look and similar ‘tude. She could call herself “the original Superbad girl” or something.

4 Alex Reynolds & Bret Hart

Alex Reynolds & Bret Hart

Bret Hart has already participated in AEW, appearing on the very first show, Double or Nothing, to unveil the World Title. Considering that he was one of the top stars of the 1990s, Hart still feels like he has a lot to offer -- if he’s interested -- and shouldn’t just appear for the easy nostalgia pop. If he were to shepherd anyone in AEW, it should be Alex Reynolds.

RELATED: 10 Legends You Already Forgot Appeared In AEWA bit overshadowed by his partner John Silver, Reynolds appears to be at odds with his Dark Order family, and intent on cutting toxic elements out of his life. Bret Hart knows a thing or two about toxic elements (see: Stone Cold Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels) so they’d probably have a lot to talk about.

3 Mike Sydal & Diamond Dallas Page

Mike Sydal & Diamond Dallas Page

There’s probably no good reason to break up the Sydal Brothers or anything, but if there’s one thing that could set apart the more under-the-radar Mike Sydal from his brother Matt, it would be a pairing with a legend. Given that Mike Sydal is a yoga guy, it would be great to have him hang out with Diamond Dallas Page, the most famous yoga guy in wrestling. He’d be a great coach-type character and would probably lead to some pretty good comedy segments.

2 Fuego Del Sol & El Generico

Fuego Del Sol & El Generico

Indie wrestling legend El Generico hasn’t been seen since 2013, but there’s always a possibility the generic luchador could resurface and join his old Pro Wrestling Guerrilla buds in AEW. Should that ever happen, Generico would have to take Fuego Del Sol under his wing. Both are not only masked high flyers, but also beloved underdogs, with Fuego’s signing to AEW after a brutal loss to Miro being an emotional high for wrestling this year and Generico’s betrayals at the hands of Kevin Steen being some of the most engaging stuff to come out of the indie scene.

1 Adam Page & Steve Austin

Adam Page & Steve Austin

Adam Page is doing just fine on his own -- at least, as a successful and popular character -- but the possibility of Hangman Page and Stone Cold Steve Austin having any kind of on-screen relationship is way too tempting. Their characters aren’t similar, as Page is more of a cowboy and Austin is a crazed redneck, but their mutual love for in-ring intoxication is more than enough to unite them. Austin is likely too loyal to WWE to ever actually work for the competition, but it’s a nice dream.

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