Predicting the Next 5 AEW World Champions

With MJF having a firm hold on the AEW Title, I can’t imagine him losing that thing any time soon.  But with 2024 coming up soon and Max leading fans on with his “uncertainty” of staying with the company, we can be sure that the AEW Title scene will definitely become something the fans will want to keep a closer eye on in as the clock gets closer to zero.

Will Max keep the belt past his contract date to run a program similar to his hero CM Punk?  Will they take the title away from him to trick the fans into believing Max really is on his way out?  Or will Max keep the title on his way out the door and show up on WWE television to throw the title in the trash can as a throwback to Madusa on Nitro?  Okay, probably not that last one, but I do think that AEW has a great opportunity to create some intriguing television surround Max and the world title scene.

So as we wait for January to roll around, I thought it would be fun to try and picture what the AEW Title scene could look like in the future as I try and predict the next five champions in All Elite Wrestling!

Kenny Omega

I can see Kenny Omega being the man to swoop in and save the day.  A Max versus Kenny matchup is one that fanbase has been dying to see, and having it be for the top prize just makes it significantly more must-see.  Unlike Danielson and the other pillars, Kenny presents us with something Max hasn’t dealt with yet during his short reign.  A challenger we actually believe in.

As the countdown inches closer and closer to zero, Tony Khan could easily become an on-screen character for the short period of time that it would take to run this angle.  Begging and pleading with Kenny to prevent AEW from having their number one title being taken away, and there is no better man for the job than Mr. AEW himself.

Obviously, the angle doesn’t have to go down like that, and there are many options they could go with, but my point stands.  Kenny Omega being the man to dethrone MJF would provide a feel-good moment for the fans as they watch Max get beaten before he walks out of AEW or exits AEW television for a break.

Jay White

The newest acquisition to AEW makes for a very formidable challenger to Kenny Omega during his second run as AEW Champion.  And since they love to pull from other promotions and past engagements, they have a lot of story to use for this feud that could be very big for All Elite Wrestling.

Kenny is clearly the better in ring guy and Jay White is clearly the better of the two on the microphone.  They will be able to complement each other extremely well as they build to a main event pay per view showdown.

This will also allow an audience that may not be very familiar with Jay’s work to see exactly what he is capable of and having Kenny Omega be the man to put him over is the kind of business that will help solidify a new main event attraction to the brand as we enter the era of the Switchblade!

Adam Cole

Much like with Kenny and Jay, we have history with Adam and Jay as well, only this time we have seen some of that play out on AEW television.  Adam Cole and Jay White are friends.  They worked together a few times during the lead up to Forbidden Door after Cole was the one that brought him in to the company to begin with.  During the build, we saw Jay White dismiss Adam quite a few times in a disrespectful manner that you could tell bothered him.

The backstory is already there for Adam Cole to seek his revenge and what better way to get that revenge than by taking the title away from his former friend.  A crowning moment for Adam Cole he finally claims the top prize in yet another company is another one of those feel-good moments the fans can be excited about.  Especially with Cole recently returning from a career threatening injury.

MJF

That dastardly Maxwell Jacob Friedman will find his spot at the top once again.  I do not believe we will see Max leave, and after a long hiatus, he will return and look to reach the mountain top again.  It may take a while for him to get that chance again, but when he does, he will be far more dangerous than he ever was before.

A man that lost everything, leaving him with nothing to lose, will present a very big problem for Adam Cole.  What makes this such an intriguing pairing is that both men can absolutely destroy someone on the microphone if needed, and when it comes to their in-ring work, they are very close to being equals.  MJF ending a babyface Adam Cole’s run plays right into his character.  My only worry with this would be the involvement of Britt Baker because that whole schtick never plays out the way they hope it will.

Hangman Page

After what I believed to be a failed run as AEW Champion in his first go round, I look forward to Hangman looking to rectify that during his second run.  A full-blown feud between Page and Max is one that I’ve been waiting to watch for quite some time, as they have only teased us with what these two could do with each other a few times.  Max has gotten the better of Hangman and with Page looking to have gained more and more confidence as the time goes by, Max makes for a perfect villain for him as he has gotten the better of Hangman on every occasion.

MJF is exceptional at making his opponents gain sympathy when feuding with him.  Dropping the self-doubt that used to haunt the Millennial Cowboy back into his head would be exactly what Page needs in order to have a successful run at the top.  When he beat Kenny, that was the conclusion to the story.  He was full of confidence, and there was no viable threat that stood in his way.  There was no reason for fans to emotionally invest in him after that, and having great matches over and over again can only get you so far.  Once he beats Max, he can continue to battle that self-doubt as he builds himself back up to be that credible champion that the fanbase not only hopes he can become but knows he can as well.

So, there it is.  How many do you think I got right?  How many of you would like to see this happen?  Let’s hear what you got to say in the comments, as I am always up for civil discourse in the wrestling world. 

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