Kyle Fletcher
Speaking of Fletcher, he’s been on a tear of his own. Already seen as a valuable prospect following his TNT Championship reign in 2025, coupled with his match against Hangman Adam Page at that year’s All Out, he returned in excellent form in February 2026. Considering that he joined this conversation mid-month, his performances have justified his place in it.
Challenging new signee and then-TNT Champion Tommaso Ciampa, the Protostar would cut his reign short at just 11 days. He’d then enter his homeland at Grand Slam: Australia, vanquishing former TNT title holder Mark Briscoe in a Ladder Match. Fletcher would cap off his February by reuniting with Kazuchika Okada to quickly trounce SkyFlight.
I think AEW made the right choice by restoring Fletcher’s glory. The Men’s World Championship scene is hogged by several big names, leaving him little room. To take him back to the TNT territory would be a welcome fit for the young Aussie. It keeps him relevant and reminds fans of what he’s capable of.
Tommaso Ciampa
Even with his very short reign as the TNT Champion, Ciampa entered AEW ready to fulfill any hype surrounding him. The video of his debut in January saw over 780,000 views on YouTube, surpassing other AEW content at that time.
Fans who followed him in WWE, as well as his past in ROH, lent the Psycho Killer a sensational start to his new wrestling home. For viewers who felt he was utilized poorly in WWE’s main roster, this was a godsend. To see him wrestling like his old ROH or black-and-gold NXT self was a dream come true.
Winning the TNT Champion from title holder Mark Briscoe so early on January 31 was beyond fan expectations, however. Though that was January, Ciampa continued his momentum with a thrilling 3-way bout, successfully defending against Claudio Castagnoli and Roderick Strong on the February 7 main event of AEW Collision. Sadly, this hot start came to a screeching halt, as his Silvie would be won by Kyle Fletcher 11 days later on Dynamite in what was a captivating bout.
Ciampa rebounded in a reunion with fellow ROH alum Jay Lethal in a winning effort. That gives comfort that the company is still ready to cash their chips in on this new talent. Having carried over his fanbase from WWE, in addition to fitting so well with the AEW roster, makes me confident that this Harley Race student will comfortably slot in with other ring generals.
Not only that, but his presence rejuvenated the meandering TNT title picture. Plus, he’s already endeared himself to fans by kissing Mark Briscoe’s cheek in his debut.
