We all heard it just over a week ago now. Days after beating Lance Archer at AEW Double Or Nothing for the first ever TNT Championship, Cody declared himself a fighting champion with a passionate promo on last Wednesday’s Dynamite that echoed the style of his late father, Dusty Rhodes.
Cody laid it on the line. He wanted to defend his championship on a weekly basis to create a legacy, but to also prove to his doubters that he has what it takes to deliver in the ring. With a “watch this” attitude, he threw the gauntlet down for himself to run.
Watch, we will. Obviously, there is AEW talent ready and waiting for their opportunity to face off with one of AEW’s premiere stars. What about talent outside of the AEW circle? They are on the table as well. Last week, Cody confirmed that even talent not signed to AEW would have the opportunity to fight for his prize.
Now we’re talking. That revelation opens up countless possibilities. It’s also a tremendous marketing hook to keep viewers locked into TNT instead of flipping to NXT on the USA Network. It’s a wartime move, but a smart one.
Cody’s Dynamite opponent will be a weekly conversation among wrestling fans. Like John Cena’s United States Championship open challenge from a few years ago was for WWE’s Raw, Cody’s part of Dynamite will be can’t miss due to the fact that the sky’s the limit for who AEW could bring in. Fans won’t want to miss a moment.
Since the sky is the limit, we’ve narrowed it down to the top five potential outside AEW opponents Cody could face for the AEW TNT Championship.
Rusev
Contract-Schmontract. Eventually, Rusev will become a free agent and be able to sign with any pro wrestling company that he wants. In a perfect world, an AEW debut for Rusev would be in front of a loving audience, but given the circumstances of the world, nobody knows when that will be a reality again. Like they did with The Revival, strike now.
You wouldn’t know it from watching Raw in the last year, but Rusev was an over act for WWE. Not only was he an over act, but he got over organically because of his charisma and connection with the crowd. He developed an “it” factor and it clicked for many wrestling fans around the world.
That type of connection with the audience doesn’t grow on trees and it’s something that many performers spend the entirety of their career chasing. Rusev is lucky in that he has it and any wrestling company would be silly not to take advantage.
Rusev appearing on Dynamite would be the type or surprise to run with early in Cody’s reign. It would set the tone for his title defenses and confirm to the audience that anything is on the table. Especially on Rusev Day.
Will Ospreay
Here’s the in-ring pick. Nobody on the AEW roster can do what Will Ospreay can do inside the ropes after the bell rings. If the goal for Cody is to show what he can do in the ring, Ospreay is the perfect opponent for him.
Will Ospreay is one of the best wrestlers on the planet today. Even with that distinguished title, he’s not recognizable to the larger casual audience due to the fact that his large exposure has typically been overseas.
A spot on AEW would change that. As an opponent for Cody, Ospreay would be able to showcase his talents to a new audience that not only gets their Ospreay fix for the first time, but that will also see AEW as cutting edge and new. A win-win for all involved.
Not only does Will Ospreay help AEW within the confines of the TNT Championship, but he helps AEW’s overall business model as well. Week to week, AEW Dynamite goes head to head with WWE NXT for Wednesday night wrestling supremacy.
A key avenue to victory since AEW popped up on TNT was growth in the men 18-49 demo. In 2020, Ospreay brings those eyeballs and can help further solidify AEW’s ratings win each week.
Marty Scurll
One can dream, right? Wrestling twitter would implode if the Villain answered the call and made his presence felt opposite Cody in the ring with the TNT Championship on the line.
Admittedly, not one of the more likely scenarios due to Scurll’s commitment to ROH, but close your eyes and imagine what that moment would look like. Better yet, literally, close your eyes and imagine what that moment would feel like.
Scurll is a big name and has been attached to Cody since Cody took the leap of faith into the independent wrestling scene all those years ago. Most importantly, Scurll has talent. He has charisma and a special presence that will make the surprise appearance impactful.
Like Rusev, a “get” like Scurll for AEW would boost the TNT Championship’s credibility and force fans to watch the Cody matches on a weekly basis. Scurll creates buzz and that is the key to a successful, ongoing series of matches like Cody has proposed.
There was a time where Scurll was synonymous and mentioned in the same breath as Cody, The Young Bucks, and Kenny Omega. I wouldn’t hold your breath, but that bond is tight which means anything is on the table.
Tim Storm
I hope you’re not saying to yourself, who? Storm is a former NWA World Heavyweight Champion and the sleeper pick of the list. Tim Storm is Mama Storm’s baby boy and has made himself into one of wrestling’s purest babyfaces in 2020.
Storm has a connection with his fans and as we’ve seen week to week on NWA Power since its inception, fans genuinely want to see him succeed. Like Rusev, Storm is authentic in nature and is easy to support.
Stylistically, AEW’s roster certainly has room for someone like Storm and what he brings to the table. Storm gives Cody a different type of match. The bottom line is that Cody is a babyface 364 days out of the year at this point in time.
Wrestling Tim Storm is the one-day he might not be given the fact that Storm has an unparalleled ability to drum up sympathy for himself. In a match against Storm, Cody can dust off his heel shoes once again.
Tim Storm isn’t a top talent, but he’s a unique one that will entertain while also highlighting Cody’s range in the ring. Showing that range is part of the reason this open challenge for the TNT Championship exists in the first place. Enter Tim Storm. Check and check.
Hiroshi Tanahashi
I have to do it. Fingers crossed right? Tanahashi on the list is more than just one of three genie wishes though. It makes business sense. Since the beginning of AEW, rumors have run rampant on a potential relationship with New Japan Pro Wrestling. Cody, the Young Bucks, Adam Page, and Kenny Omega all have roots in that company, yet as of today no formal agreement exists.
That said, AEW talent has made appearances for New Japan. Jon Moxley in the 2019 G1 and Wrestle Kingdom. Chris Jericho at Dominion last year and Wrestle Kingdom as well.
Hiroshi Tanahashi could serve as the player to be named later in those two trade deals. What a player he’d be. Tanahashi has been a face of New Japan for years and undoubtedly would draw eyes to the AEW product.
Stylistically, his style matches Cody’s well as both sell and understand how to tell stories in the ring. As far as ring work goes, Tanahashi though not in his prime anymore, still can deliver on a high level and in a way that could help further establish Cody as a key act around the world.
And who knows? Maybe the success of a deal like this could be the catalyst for a full on partnership between both promotions moving forward.