AEW Battle Of The Belts 2022 Guide: Match Card And Predictions
Most fans have applauded AEW for its limited PPV schedule when compared to WWE. It tends to make those shows feel more special when they only come around every three months as opposed to every four weeks. That system does come with its own set of problems, though. Sometimes a feud simply can't wait for the next PPV for its blow-off. That's where shows like Battle Of The Belts come in.
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Shorter non-PPV shows that take place on TV in between AEW's tentpole events. Battle Of The Belts will actually be the first in a new tradition for AEW. Special events airing on TBS on Saturday nights four times per year. The show will mark AEW's TBS debut and take place on January 8, 2022, starting at 8 pm EST. US fans will be able to watch live, while fans elsewhere will presumably be able to tune in through Fite TV for a small fee. Battle Of The Belts will only be an hour long and everything announced for the show so far can be found below.
Dustin Rhodes vs. Sammy Guevara for the Interim TNT Championship
AEW closed out 2021 with a bang. The final match of the year was the main event of Rampage on New Year's Eve in which Cody Rhodes became the TNT Champion for a third time. Pretty shocking, and at Battle of the Belts this weekend, Guevara will get the chance to avenge that loss and become the only person other than Rhodes to have held the TNT Title more than once. Unfortunately, due to unforeseen medical circumstances, Cody won't be the one defending the title.
That honor will instead go to his brother, Dustin Rhodes. AEW revealed on the Rampage 24 hours prior to Battle Of The Belts that Dustin will be stepping in and the match will now be for the Interim TNT Championship. That likely means when Cody returns, the winner of this match will have to face him for the right to be named the true TNT Champion. The perfect opportunity for a Cody versus Dustin rematch almost three years after their instant classic at Double Or Nothing, so the veteran to win this one.
Britt Baker vs. Riho for the AEW Women's Championship
There's an argument to be made that Britt Baker has been not only AEW's most improved wrestler of 2021 but also the promotion's most important wrestler full stop. More than 200 days as Women's Champion and a year she isn't going to forget any time soon. At Battle Of The Belts, Baker's reign will be in jeopardy as she faces off against AEW's first-ever Women's Champion, Riho.
Despite the history Riho has with AEW, and this being her chance to become the company's first-ever two-time Women's Champion, Baker is almost certainly going to win this one. She has been a terrific champion and there's no reason why that shouldn't continue beyond Battle of the Belts. Besides, Thunder Rosa has to be the one who stops Baker in her tracks, right?
Ricky Starks vs. Matt Sydal for the FTW Championship
The FTW Championship is a curious thing. Introduced to ECW by Taz during the late '90s, the belt was unified a short while after when Taz defeated Sabu for the ECW Title. The championship was then reintroduced by its owner when Taz bestowed it upon his client, Brian Cage. Ricky Starks beat Cage for the title last year during a tricky time for Team Taz, and now here we are.
The FTW Title is rarely defended or even mentioned on AEW TV, so it stands to reason its inclusion on Battle Of The Belts might well mean a switch is being planned. While Matt Sydal might seem an odd choice to hold Taz's title, it provides AEW with the perfect opportunity to eventually and quickly get the belt on Hook. Taz can "send Hook" to beat Sydal, making his son champion without having to pit him against a fellow member of the team.
