{"id":127001,"date":"2024-09-18T09:00:22","date_gmt":"2024-09-18T13:00:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/?p=127001"},"modified":"2024-09-18T09:00:22","modified_gmt":"2024-09-18T13:00:22","slug":"next-2-champions-for-each-aew-title","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/prowrestling\/2024\/09\/18\/next-2-champions-for-each-aew-title\/","title":{"rendered":"Next 2 Champions for Each AEW Title"},"content":{"rendered":"

AEW\u2019s<\/span><\/strong> pursuit of \u201cthe feeling\u201d continues. Strong PPVs. Tonnes of match of the year candidates. Emotive, multilayered long-term storylines.<\/span><\/p>\n

Regarding championships, it could be argued that like WWE and <\/span>NJPW<\/span><\/strong> there are too many belts.<\/span><\/p>\n

One of the short-term successes of AEW\u2019s 2024 has been balancing the main event picture and positioning<\/span>. A<\/span> selection headache. There are too many excellent players and too few spots.<\/span><\/p>\n

Hence, <\/span>Will Ospreay<\/span><\/strong> is the <\/span>International champion<\/span><\/a>, and <\/span>Kazuchika Okada<\/span><\/strong> is the Continental champion. <\/span>Each<\/span> a <\/span>star in high-profile <\/span>positions<\/span> with a championship.<\/span> Each has had their realm and time to transition becoming regular TV characters as well as wrestlers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Meanwhile, this space at the top allowed <\/span>Swerve Strickland\u2019s<\/span><\/strong> ascension. Now for <\/span>Bryan Danielson\u2019s<\/span><\/strong> Final Countdown with the potential of first-time <\/span>dream matches<\/span><\/a> and <\/span>dream matches to be revisited<\/span><\/a>. Like<\/span> the potential clash with <\/span>Nigel McGuinness<\/span><\/strong> at <\/span>Grand<\/span> Slam<\/span><\/em>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Elsewhere, <\/span>Toni Storm\u2019s<\/span><\/strong> ascension<\/span><\/a> also lifted <\/span>Mariah May<\/span><\/strong> to become the AEW Women\u2019s World Champion. Although <\/span>Mercedes Mone\u2019s<\/span><\/strong> run has been rocky, her TBS Championship reign and the recruitment of <\/span>Jennifer Pepperman<\/span><\/strong> have made the women\u2019s division more prominent.<\/span><\/p>\n

Not all divisions have been treated equally as I\u2019ll discuss later.<\/span><\/p>\n

There is <\/span>both<\/span> a mixture of healthy foreshadowing and uncertainty about who will hold each championship next. Let\u2019s speculate, as <\/span>Michael Joseph Sugue <\/span><\/strong>has for <\/span>Smackdown<\/span><\/a><\/strong> on who are the next two champions for each AEW championship.<\/span><\/p>\n

Special Mention: Dynamite Diamond Ring<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Not<\/span> a championship, yet the use of the Dynamite diamond ring by <\/span>MJF<\/span><\/strong> has been a significant aspect of his character over the past four years. As a prop, MJF can pivot to some other means of underhanded cheating. It\u2019s time someone else claims the prize.<\/span><\/p>\n

If <\/span>Daniel Garcia<\/span><\/strong> is to stay with AEW, I feel the next step in his trajectory upwards. <\/span>Finally<\/span> beating MJF after his loss at <\/span>All Out<\/span><\/em>. The ring <\/span>becomes symbolic of<\/span> Garcia\u2019s growth and takes an important aspect of MJF\u2019s character. <\/span>While<\/span> also potentially <\/span>proving<\/span> a weapon if Death Red <\/span>turned<\/span> heel.<\/span><\/p>\n

If someone were to win it instead or after Garcia, my suggestion would be <\/span>Orange Cassidy<\/span><\/strong>. A<\/span> heel OC. Adding to the orange punch using a ring that has a history of devastating opponents would change the significance of the orange punch. A finisher many fans have come to love.<\/span><\/p>\n

FTW Championship <\/strong><\/h3>\n

The renegade championship is not supposed to be acknowledged by any wrestling association but, ironically is recognized by AEW. It gets graphics and commentary explicitly <\/span>hyping<\/span> and discussing the belt and its defenses.<\/span><\/p>\n

Used as AEW\u2019s hardcore championship and as a vehicle for <\/span>HOOK<\/span><\/strong>, the belt’s continual presence highlights the holding pattern booking I <\/span>discussed earlier this year<\/span><\/a> that the son of<\/span> Taz<\/span><\/strong> is stuck in.<\/span><\/p>\n

The championship\u2019s novelty has faded over time. Hook\u2019s reclaiming of the <\/span>championship<\/span> at Wembley was <\/span>meant as<\/span> a big moment for the chips-eating young wrestler. <\/span>The device <\/span>of<\/span> having<\/span> HOOK lose the belt <\/span>to<\/span> regain it later has been worn out.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ideally, the best thing AEW should do is retire the championship <\/span>with<\/span> HOOK <\/span>giving<\/span> it back to his father.<\/span> Grand Slam<\/span><\/em>\u2019s match against <\/span>Roderick Strong<\/span><\/strong> could be HOOK\u2019s most impressive win and performance yet. New York would be a perfect place to put the championship back on the family mantle.<\/span><\/p>\n

HOOK moves on. Sink or swim. Or go on an <\/span>excursion to Japan or elsewhere<\/span><\/a> to develop his skills.<\/span><\/p>\n

AEW World Trios Championship <\/strong><\/h3>\n

It\u2019s still uncertain if the relatively fresh champions of <\/span>Claudio Castagnoli, PAC, <\/span><\/strong>and<\/span> Wheeler Yuta<\/span><\/strong> can co-exist post-<\/span>All Out<\/span><\/em>. <\/span>The change <\/span>to<\/span> Yuta\u2019s character <\/span>on<\/span> Collision<\/span><\/em> suggests an uneasy alliance between the three men.<\/span> This could provide an interesting storyline element.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, such a storyline would be doubled-edged. <\/span>Internal tension between <\/span>Blackpool Combat Club<\/span><\/strong> members might harm a shallow division <\/span>further<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

AEW\u2019s tag and trios scene at present is sparse. Some duos and triplets are spinning their wheels. A lack of undercard feuds that translate onto <\/span>Dynamite<\/span><\/em> or end in a way that elevates the victor is a systematic issue for both trios and the tag division.<\/span><\/p>\n