AEW has a new set of pillars, with four stars officially named by Tony Khan, including a former WWE star who now holds a top championship.
The four pillars of AEW were originally MJF, Darby Allin, Sammy Guevara and Jungle Boy, all stars of the independent scene who would become a focal point under Tony Khan.
Time moves on, however, and the AEW president has recently named the stars he considers to be the four pillars of his organization, including one former WWE champion in that mix:
The OG Four Pillars
There’s little argument that, of the Four Pillars, MJF has gone on to considerable success in AEW, not just as a multi-time champion but also as a star in his own right. Absent from television since August 2026, he will no doubt continue that trend when he returns to screens.
Darby Allin has also seen his popularity grow thanks over the years, becoming a standout star, allied with Sting and his real-life son, Steven Borden, and carving out a distinctive direction with his innovative style.
Having dropped the “Jungle Boy” name, Jack Perry became The Scapegoat following the backstage incident with CM Punk and has since returned to AEW television with “Jungle” added to his name. He’s on a quest to become World Champion, with less than promising results, having signed a new deal earlier this year.
For Sammy Guevara, his ongoing absence from AEW television saw speculation that a departure was imminent, although later reporting dismissed that suggestion.
The new Four Pillars of AEW
Earlier this year, Tony Khan revealed the stars who he considers to be the new Four Pillars, naming Kyle Fletcher, Kevin Knight, Thekla and Mercedes Mone, known to WWE fans as Sasha Banks, describing all of them as “very important in the company”.
Since making those comments, all four have continued to be prominent features on television, with Fletcher targeting the AEW World Championship, Knight teaming with The Protostar and contesting for the World Tag Team Championship, Mone as Women’s World Champion and Thekla chasing that very title.
Kyle Fletcher has a different take
Speaking to Battleground Podcast earlier this month, Kyle Fletcher had a different list in mind, agreeing with the host that he should be in the list, going on to name Knight, adding Willow Nightingale as a third member.
As for the final name, Fletcher would suggest Konosuke Takeshita, a friend turned rival, noting:
“I personally would not want to put him there, but I would say that others maybe would”.
Does it matter?
The Four Pillars of AEW may have played a part in an on-screen story back in 2023, but its relevance beyond that is debatable. The stars themselves don’t reference it as an accolade as they would a championship run or pay-per-view main event, but it is recognition of their contribution to the company.
When it comes to recognition, it has the weight of the Mount Rushmore of Wrestling discussions that occasionally pop up, with stars sharing the names who would be on the hypothetical construct, recognizing the importance of the names to either a company or the broader industry.
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