All Elite Wrestling is closing in on the six-year anniversary of their first event (Double or Nothing), and in that time, nine different men have held the AEW World Championship across thirteen reigns. Today, we will look at 10 men I believe will hold the most coveted prize in AEW in the future.
Now, some guidelines: When I say “Future World Champion,” yes, it means “will be champion in the future.” However, the main focus is on people who have never been world champions, so don’t expect any of the previous nine men who have been champions to appear on this list. This is strictly a list of people I think will be world champions for the first time (in no particular order).
10. Darby Allin
AEW/Lee South
First on the list is Darby Allin, he seems destined to be world champion one day, he bleeds AEW and has been at the forefront of the company for the last few years. Currently he’s been on a hiatus from wrestling since December 2024 to focus on his devil may care, daredevil antics, attempting to climb Mt. Everest, but he was at the time of his last appearance with the company, one of the most popular, and most over baby face characters on the show at the center of the end of Bryan Danielson’s full time career and the early stages of the ongoing Death Riders story.
Does this mean, upon his return, barring any severe issues from climbing Mt. Everest, Darby should once again be front and centre, trying to end the Death Riders? Will that involve dethroning the champion (Jon Moxley), or will he earn the championship some other way in the future? Either way, I think it’s safe to say Darby takes his rightful place on this list.
9. Kyle Fletcher
AEW
Kyle Fletcher has all the tools you look for in a world champion: a great look, in-ring ability, and a great character. At only twenty-six years old, he is still improving and still not even in his prime athletically. He’s already had match of the year candidates with real-life friend and bitter on-screen rival Will Ospreay. Upon his arrival in AEW he was a part of one of the best tag teams in the world, Aussie Open, however his partner, Mark Davis was injured for a long time and instead of seeing that as a crutch, he improved to the point of surpassing the need to be in a tag team and is a star under the tutelage of Don Callis and his Callis Family.
There’s no doubt in my mind that he is going to reach his full potential in the coming years as a singles and maybe before the time is right he will win the international or TNT championships and even though he has surpassed being in a tag team full time another Aussie Open run and a tag championship as well should happen. I’m sure that one day, whether it’s still as bitter rivals or as friends, he and Will Ospreay will have a rivalry for years to come and eventually involve the world championship as well, and that’s why he’s on this list.
8. Adam Cole
AEW/Lee South
Adam Cole is one of the best all-around talents and has been world champion on all the other brands he’s been a part of, multiple times over, and has had World title matches in AEW, but hasn’t succeeded in that accolade just yet. Injuries have played a big part in that, however, he looks to be in the best physical and in-ring shape he’s been in a long time. After finally closing out a saga with MJF that was doomed due to injuries by both men, he’s finally on the right track and has come into the character we all wanted for him as part of Undisputed Kingdom in AEW alongside his mates Kyle O’Reilly, Roderick Strong, and presumably Matt Taven and Mike Bennet though the latter two have been absent for quite some time.
Adam Cole recently finished feuding with Daniel Garcia over the TNT Championship something I can see Cole having pride in holding for a long while but there’s no doubt in my mind after holding that championship he will use that momentum to get to a world championship victory one day, and that’s why he’s on the list.
7. Claudio Castagnoli
AEW
Since coming to AEW, Claudio has been affiliated with some version of the current faction he is a part of, whether it be Black Pool Combat Club or The Death Riders. In that time, he’s had solo success becoming ROH World Champion, a championship that doesn’t get the shine it deserves based on the brand it represents since it became affiliated with AEW as a whole. With that said, that’s why it doesn’t count under the AEW umbrella. Claudio is probably one of the strongest competitors on the roster in every way possible, and rarely has a bad match and usually is the one making his opponents look better for it.
I believe that down the line when The Death Riders are no more Claudio will finally be on his own in AEW and I’m sure an International Championship reign will be in the cards but I also believe all that hard work will pay off, all the years of working towards an ultimate goal and becoming one of the best in-ring workers will result in another ultimate goal of being the top guy, and that’s why he’s on this list.
6. Orange Cassidy
AEW/Lee South
Orange Cassidy has been a flag barer for AEW since he came in to the company, originally seen as a joke by many fans for his “sloth style” of wrestling, that ultimately won over the crowd because most people who didn’t realize it then, quickly realized that Orange Cassidy is a top tier talent whose character work plays a big role in how people perceive his in ring ability. He draws you in with the “sloth style”, making it seem like he doesn’t care, to get under the skin of his opponent and detractors alike and wows you with his overall presentation of someone who not only is great at this but one of the best.
His long run with the International Championship was evident of what he is capable of and while he continues to carry the flag of AEW proudly, once he finds himself at the forefront of the main event once again a world championship should absolutely be in his future, and that’s why he’s on this list.
5. Eddie Kingston
AEW
Eddie Kingston has been injured since May of 2024. He broke his leg in the build to a collision with The Elite in Anarchy in the Arena, not knowing at the time we were building to The Death Riders and Eddie being right about Claudio all along. It’s been almost 11 months, and his return is inevitable. Before his injury, he was not only super over but one of the most relatable people on the roster; that’s someone you want to get behind, that’s someone you want to care about.
Now, really thinking about it, does he have to dethrone Mox and be at the forefront of the dismantling of The Death Riders? Not necessarily, but it would be such a great moment for him upon returning to be the savior of AEW, but if that’s not in the cards, I think he deserves one run with the world title down the line because he’s earned it by being so over with the crowd before his injury, and that’s why he’s on this list.
4. Konosuke Takeshita
AEW
The term “Chosen One” gets thrown around a lot in wrestling, and some who have received that moniker haven’t lived up to it, but some have, and Takeshita is one of those few. From the moment he made his first appearances in AEW, you knew you were watching a special talent, and being endorsed by Kenny Omega certainly plays a big role in that. When the best wrestler of the time endorses you, you have to be a special talent. Takeshita has it all, and he has proven his in-ring IQ is off the charts and has had stellar matches to prove that even further.
A two contracted talent with AEW and New Japan Pro Wrestling and at one point holding both the AEW International Championship and NEVER Open Weight Championship (which is defended under the New Japan banner) simultaneously, Takeshita has been under the leadership of the aforementioned Callis Family and I fully believe there is a super baby face run in line for Takeshita when that turn happens and he puts the Callis Family behind him, he will finally be anointed the top guy, and that’s why he’s on this list.
3. Jay White
AEW
One of the most decorated Gaijin in NJPW History, the fifth NJPW Triple Crown Champion, the first NJPW Grand Slam Champion, there’s no denying the all-around talent of Jay White. He’s an uncrowned champion in AEW. In his time in AEW, he’s only brought in two trios championships to this point because as a singles he hasn’t been able to get to the point of undeniability. I think that is coming, when he becomes a heel once again.
His recent run of matches with Hangman Page has shown how good he is. Jay was going to be apart of the Owen Hart cup but sustained an injury and had to withdraw and it appears surgery is required so we might have to wait a little longer for Jay to get the opportunity but I’m certain he will prove how undeniable he is upon his return in the future, and that’s why he’s on this list.
2. Kazuchika Okada
AEW
I shouldn’t have to tell you what makes Kazuchika Okada a credible champion, probably the greatest IWGP Heavyweight Champion in history, the most combined days (1,790), and most defenses of all time (30) across five reigns of the original incarnation, and two reigns of the new incarnation of a combined two hundred fifty-three days. Not to mention one of the greatest tournament wrestlers in history winning the G1 Climax four times (2012, 2014, 2021, 2022), two New Japan Cup wins (2013 and 2019) and this year’s Continental Classic.
With all of that said, the current Okada is not that Okada; something is missing from the current Okada, and we know what that is: it’s Kenny Omega. I think the collision course is in full effect for Okada and Omega, presumably to unify the Continental and International Championships and have their first singles match in a real long time. That will bring out the Okada we all want to see and maybe light a new fire under him. it’s undeniable that we get the Okada of old at some point in AEW, and that Okada is a world champion, one of the best, and that’s why he’s on this list.
1. Will Ospreay
AEW/Lee South
If there was any doubt who would be number one on this list (particular order or not), Will Ospreay is hands down, bell-to-bell, in every way possible, the greatest wrestler in the world today. Nobody has had more top-tier matches in the last five years, nobody has gone out of their way to put in the work that he has put in at every level. Already a former world champion of the most recent incarnation of the IWG World Heavyweight Championship, he became undeniable then and remains undeniable today.
To that point people fully expected him to be World Champion in AEW already when he officially signed and All In being in the UK (again, this time with him signed), people were already calling him the uncrowned champion for that reason and he went out of his way, to put that to bed and challenged the then champion (Swerve Strickland) at Forbidden Door to make people understand he wasn’t going to be champion at last years All In.
Will Ospreay has made his intentions very clear this year, though he wants to be “The Guy.” What that means is being at the top of the food chain. When he declared for the Owen Hart Cup, it felt almost undeniable and now hes in the finals against Hangman, it’s almost a foregone conclusion Will Ospreay is going to be the world champion this year, and that’s why he’s on this list.
In Conclusion
So, in conclusion, I fully believe all ten of the men listed are absolutely deserving of being world champion one day, and some of them might be more sooner then others, some of them aren’t there yet but I believe they will be very soon or further down the line. Either way I feel pretty good about these choices, and excited to be writing again, and look out for more AEW content.
Who do you think will be a future AEW World Champion? Do you agree with this list? Do you disagree with the list? Let us know in the comments or tweet us @SLTDWrestling / @sltdwrestling.bsky.social
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