AEW: 5 possible opponents who could challenge Cody for his TNT Title
2. vs. PAC
Of course, this all assumes travel restrictions are lifted sometime, allowing PAC to travel to Florida. I’m going to be optimistic and say that PAC will be able to leave England at some point.
It was nice to see PAC, even if just through a vignette, a couple of weeks ago as he reminded us he has unfinished business with Best Friends and Cassidy. Let’s say he and his Death Triangle compatriots finish their business with those three; where does PAC head next?
Anyone who’s watched professional wrestling the last decade know of PAC’s exploits and talents as he has had tremendous and memorable matches in pretty much every promotion he’s been in (remember his tear-ierker against Sami Zayn for the NXT Championship?). He’s also shown that in AEW with tremendous matches against the likes of Kenny Omega, “Hangman” Adam Page, Allin, Trent?, Jon Moxley, and Cassidy.
The danger some might feel in a Cody-PAC match/feud is that they may revert to their WWE-trained tendencies. Not everything WWE does is a negative, but it is a valid concern. However, I think their matches in AEW highlight that this concern is a bit misplaced. Cody and PAC have added to their styles and repertoire, the latter in particular becoming (or reasserting?) his dominant and brutal side.
PAC also has experience with veritable workhorse titles in the NXT Championship and the then-WWE Cruiserweight Championship. He held those championships and had some intense matches (well, just forget Enzo Amore ever existed in WWE), with some stiff matches in particular as Cruiserweight Champion.
If anyone is built for and has the requisite experience to defend a championship every week, it’s PAC. Then again, as a heel, he might find some ways to defend the championship as little as possible.
With Cody’s selling and PAC’s brutality, an eventual match would be something to behold. Just imagine the spot right now where PAC has Cody locked in The Brutalizer, wrenching and screaming for Cody to tap. Cody, screaming out in pain himself, reaches and reaches for the rope, and as he gets close, he starts to fade. Would this lead to a match ending technical submission like PAC had against Omega, or would this be the beginning of the major hope spot for Cody?
The beauty: it works either way!
This would also put PAC in a position higher on the card that many feel he belongs. He would be an intimidating, sadistic, and brooding heel champion that could wreak havoc on the division until a beacon of light steps up to dethrone him…possibly Cody in a rematch.
Whatever the case, “The American Nightmare” vs. “The Bastard” is a headliner that seems to sell itself. I hope it happens.