5 AEW wrestlers who completely reinvented themselves

AEW is a company that prides itself on being completely different from WWE. All Elite wrestlers are free to rework their gimmick until they're portraying the kinds of characters they want.

Tony Khan's promotion has made a name for itself as being a place where wrestlers are able to completely reinvent themselves.

Since the company's inception, viewers have watched on as numerous talents experiment with new versions of their gimmick. Sometimes these gimmicks are a radical departure from their former characters. Other times, it will be a minor shift, such as becoming more comedic versions of their past selves.

No matter the change, Tony Khan's promotion encourages wrestlers to find a gimmick they're comfortable working under. It can take time for wrestlers to find the right character. But when these talents find the characters they enjoy playing, it's a joy to watch.

Here are a few wrestlers who underwent major gimmick changes in AEW.

#5. AEW's "Big Money" Matt Hardy

It's pretty crazy just how many different gimmicks Matt Hardy has had over his career. One moment, he's returning to his fan-favorite oddity, Broken Matt Hardy, and the next he's pulling out his similarly popular Version 2.0 gimmick. Hardy has proven himself capable of constantly reinventing himself in the ring.

While he initially debuted under his Broken gimmick, Hardy would eventually switch between several iterations of his character in Tony Khan's promotion. Although "Multifarious" Matt Hardy was entertaining, Hardy would settle on his Big Money Matt gimmick.

It was as Big Money Matt Hardy that he became the head of his own faction, The Hardy Family Office. Some might argue that the Big Money gimmick may have run its course, but Hardy's successful transition into the character shows his ability to constantly adapt.

#4. AEW's sinister Malakai Black

Since joining AEW, Malakai Black has been given ample opportunity to experiment with his character. While The Dutchman has always favored portraying a darker gimmick, he has been portraying a far darker version of his persona than ever before.

Since his debut on Dynamite, Black has utilized a more twisted and demonic presence than anyone else in AEW. In the past, Black has been publicly vocal in expressing the creative freedom he desires in portraying a more complex and unsettling character. As seen from his run in the company so far, it's clear All Elite has given him that freedom.

#3. The more comedic version of The Dark Order

Similar to Matt Hardy, the members of the Dark Order took time searching for the right kind of gimmick. Initially, they were portrayed as a mysterious, Scientology-esque cult, led by Brodie Lee.

After Lee unexpectedly passed away in December of 2020, the group became fan-favorites. As part of their new personas, they began displaying a much more lighthearted, comedic version of their past characters. Portrayed more as fun-loving underdogs, this new iteration of the Dark Order immediately won over fans. Their in-ring skills, coupled with their various comedic acts, were a far cry away from the generic cult stable they began as.

#2. AEW's Demo God, Chris Jericho

Like fellow AEW veteran Matt Hardy, Chris Jericho is a wrestler who always innovates. Throughout his 30-year-long career, he's managed to keep things fresh with more than just a few different gimmicks. In the past, he's been the Lionheart, the egomaniacal King of the World, and even the buttoned-up, suit-wearing Best In The World At What He Does.

With the start of his AEW career, Jericho began toying with a few new versions of his character. Alternately, he's appeared as Le Champion, Le Sex God, and the Demo God. When he's involved in a more violent match, he even whips out his NJPW Painmaker gimmick. Regardless of what version of Y2J fans are seeing, it's easy to see how inventive a performer Jericho has and continues to be.

#1. Miro's Redemption

Miro has come a long way in the world of pro wrestling. In WWE, he earned plenty of heat as the Russian nationalist, Alexander Rusev. Later, he became known for his incredibly popular "Rusev Day" gimmick. Through these two, Miro proved himself capable of winning over fans with the right gimmick.

In AEW, Miro struggled at first to find the kind of character that matched his in-ring skills. Like The Dark Order, he started off playing a completely different sort of character, Kip Sabian's Best Man. After this somewhat lackadaiscal start, he would eventually come into his element as "The Redeemer." After winning the TNT Championship he proclaimed himself "God's Favorite Champion" and dedicated all of his wins directly to God. It was this gimmick that proved popular among fans, capitalizing on Miro's imposing physique and dominant in-ring ability.