10 AEW Stars Who Will Be Future World Champions
As a relatively new promotion in the wrestling world, AEW made it a priority to have their first world champions be established stars. Chris Jericho is a 30-year-veteran with a resume like no other, while Jon Moxley is one of the hottest acts in 2020. Associating any championship title with those two stars is sure to add some credibility to its name.
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That being said, AEW will eventually have to branch out and rely on newer, unproven stars. While Tony Kahn's brand does an excellent job utilizing ex-WWE talent, they are not reliant on name-recognition alone. AEW boasts a roster chock full of young and talented stars, many of whom are destined to be future world champions in both the men's and women's divisions.
10 Kip Sabian
Kip Sabian has already etched his name into the AEW history books, as he competed in the first-ever singles match in AEW history at Double or Nothing with a win over Sammy Guevara. Since then Sabian has quietly collected victory after victory in AEW with a career record of 17-16, picking up most of his wins in singles competition with 11 victories and only six singles losses.
Though he hasn't found a storyline to truly sink his teeth into, Sapian boasts an incredible amount of charisma and in-ring ability. Alongside Penelope Ford, his character work has main event potential written all over it. Sabian would make an excellent heel champion should he be given the opportunity.
9 Penelope Ford
Speaking of Penelope Ford, the blonde bombshell's work in AEW is a bright spot in an otherwise overshadowed women's division. Having already challenged Shida once for the AEW Women's Championship, Ford has proven that she can hang with those higher on the card. While her in-ring work may leave a bit to be desired, her character work is miles ahead of many on the AEW roster.
There is no reason to doubt Ford's potential as she continues to grow as a performer. Her pairing with real-life boyfriend Kip Sabian brings out the best in both performers, and a recent storyline with the charismatic Miro could push them to new heights. Ford and Sabian as a championship power couple would make for some excellent entertainment.
8 Jake Hager
Though he may not be a fan-favorite, Jake Hager deserves a lot of credit for his performance in AEW. By being brought in as Chris Jericho's muscle, Hager was able to focus on what made him stand out; his size and his intimidating presence. Additionally, his newfound MMA experience has made for an even rougher version of the grappler compared to what we saw in WWE.
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AEW in part represents a new age in wrestling, where size doesn't necessarily matter. This has actually played to the advantage of bigger stars like Hager. The lack of big men in pro wrestling only makes behemoths like him stand out even more. With a devastating and impactful move-set that makes any fight believable, Hager would make for a great monster champion in the future.
7 PAC
With how fast-paced this year has been, one would be forgiven if they have forgotten about the wrestler formerly known as Neville. The current circumstances regarding COVID-19 and the global pandemic have forced PAC to remain across the Atlantic at his home in the United Kingdom.
When PAC is able to return, he will surely bring aspirations of championship gold with him. His relentless, hard-hitting attitude in the ring would match up well with Jon Moxley and many other members of the AEW roster. Hopefully, one of the most talented wrestlers in AEW will be back to performing stateside soon.
6 Kenny Omega
The Elite has done an excellent job with regard to putting other talents at the forefront of AEW television. In fact, some might say that they weren't made to look strong enough from the get-go. Now that we're a year into AEW Dynamite, it appears that Kenny Omega may be making a play for the world championship.
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Since losing the AEW Tag Team Titles that he held with his partner Adam Page, Omega has hinted at the return of 'The Cleaner' persona. The gimmick that brought him much success as IWGP World Heavyweight Champion appears to be making its way to AEW, and it's unlikely that Omega wouldn't earn a world title shot if that's the case. At one point Kenny Omega was the hottest wrestler in the world, and a world championship run could bring him back to that top-tier status.
5 Scorpio Sky
It might be a long shot considering his career as a tag team performer, but Scorpio Sky could certainly develop into a world championship contender. He has all of the tools; the charisma, the in-ring ability, and the connection with the crowd. All of this was on display in front of thousands when Sky took on Chris Jericho for the world title, but unfortunately for Sky, he came up short.
Introducing Sky into the world championship picture allowed for him to prove that he truly belonged with the best. If he were to decide to pursue a singles career after his time with So. Cal. Uncensored is over, Scorpio Sky could certainly become a world champion for AEW.
4 Lance Archer
Lance Archer is an absolute beast, and one look at the Murderhawk Monster will show why he is a future champion. He has a commanding presence like no other and nearly defeated Cody Rhodes to become the inaugural TNT Champion. He has not suffered a loss in AEW aside from that defeat, as he is the owner of an impressive 13-1 record.
Archer won the 2nd annual Casino Battle Royal on September 5th at All Out, which made him the number one contender for Jon Moxley's title. Moxley successfully defended his championship against Archer on October 14th in what was an explosive affair. Even though he was not successful this time around, Archer becoming a world champion seems like an inevitability.
3 Sammy Guevara
In terms of homegrown talent, there may not be a better example than Sammy Guevara. Entering AEW as a relatively unknown talent, Guevara's inclusion in Chris Jericho's 'Inner Circle' helped to raise his stock with wrestling fans in a rapid fashion. He has been a consistent part of AEW since day one, and his work with Matt Hardy and other veterans has truly brought the best out of the young performer.
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While he is certainly a long way off from realizing his true potential, the sky seems to be the limit for Guevara. He has the chance to be a cornerstone talent for AEW for the next decade and is sure to capture a world championship should he continue to up his game.
2 Britt Baker
Britt Baker is one of the brightest stars in the AEW Women's Division and truly makes the most of any time she is given on AEW television. Her personality and character work spill out of the screen. Her eccentric dentist persona sets her apart from the rest of the roster entirely, and her transformation into a 'role model' has shown that she has the ability to grow and adapt as a performer.
After a recent defeat in a 'Tooth and Nail' match to Big Swole, it would appear that Baker's opportunity at a world title seems to be on the back-burner. Should she continue to develop her character and improve in the ring, she would make a great heel champion for the women's division. Fortunately for Baker, she is back to full strength after she suffered a broken nose, so her championship pursuits are back in action.
1 Penta El Zero M (Pentagon Jr.)
Though he is currently involved in the tag team scene with his brother Fenix, Penta El Zero M (known as Pentagon Jr. outside of AEW) is destined for greatness in singles competition as well. There has not been a masked wrestler with as much potential as Pentagon since Rey Mysterio. For AEW to have such a talent on their hands, it is a matter of when, not if, Pentagon will become a world champion.
As AEW continues to grow, it will be important to feature a wide variety of stars on their shows. Pentagon Jr. is able to connect with such a wide variety of people and gets massive reactions across the globe. Whether he's competing in the USA, Japan, or Mexico, fans get excited to see Penta El Zero M. A champion with as much cross-demographic appeal and skill as Pentagon is an invaluable asset to any promotion, and AEW would be wise to hold on to the masked superstar for as long as they can.
