Cody’s open challenge is welcome to all and these names should be included
One of the biggest draws to weekly All Elite Wrestling content is the open challenge that Cody presents for the TNT championship. The idea that any individual can step through the curtain to challenge for that belt creates an air of intrigue that is worth the watch. Ricky Starks and Eddie Kingston got over in those moments and fans are looking forward to WARHORSE who is set for an upcoming edition of the show. AEW is doing a great mix of surprise entrant and promotion of announced names to mix things up. With that in mind, these are five names that would be perfect to challenge Cody for the TNT title.
The best way to manage these names would be to continue the mix of promotion a week in advance, with a bit of surprise the night of. These are individuals that have succeeded in other organizations, made a name on the independent circuit, returning to the mainstream or even already a part of the AEW roster. Cody has continued to deliver as the MVP of AEW since its inception and these five challengers will help to continue the push for Cody to become a special performer in the wrestling industry.
Lio Rush
Lio Rush is out of the WWE and one of the most important names available in the wrestling industry. The WWE dropped a major ball when they were unable to properly leverage Rush as a character and talent. He can perform with anyone on the roster and in a time when delivering promos is more important, Rush can succeed in that space as well. He was one of the names cut back in April and it seemed past backstage issues played a part in that decision. The professional wrestling industry has found a way to forgive names like Tessa Blanchard, Jim Cornette, and Sammy Guevara. Rush may be an outspoken individual, but that does not mean he should be devoid of opportunities in the industry that he loves.
Rush returned to competition as a surprise competitor at last weekend’s GCW showcase. He and Joey Janela (another AEW roster member) tore down the house, reminding everyone that Rush can still go. If he decides that he still wants to perform at the highest of levels, there is no doubt that Rush can still do it. Imagine him coming out as a surprise opponent to Cody. If the push to sign Eddie Kingston and Ricky Starks were massive after their appearances, the push to sign Lio Rush would dwarf both.
Matt Cardona
This is an easy selection because it is one that is very anticipated. The performer formerly known as Zack Ryder is one that hardcore wrestling fans have been behind for a very long time. He is another individual on the ever-growing list of former WWE performers that could have been much more than how the promotion presented him. He, like Lio Rush, was on the list of those cut in April, which brought an end to his 15-year tenure with the company.
AEW is trying to rebuild Shawn Spears as a credible threat since mishandling some of his early work in the promotion. With Tully Blanchard at his side, Spears is slowly putting together a bunch of wins that matter. He was a friend of Cody which helped him get into AEW before turning on him soon after. Cardona can be introduced in the same fashion, potentially siding with Spears to become a tag team and a thorn in Cody’s side. Cardona is a strong performer in the ring as well and he can hang with Cody in a 10 to 15-minute match. Every person that leaves WWE should not immediately “go to AEW” as so many suggest, but the addition of Matt Cardona as a challenger to Cody’s TNT championship would work.
Nick Gage
One of the interesting aspects of AEW is that they allow their wrestlers to do different style of matches. Rather than wrestle the same type of match week in, week out like their competitors, the wrestlers on the AEW roster switch up their match styles on a consistent basis. Cody showed that last week when he faced off against Eddie Kingston in a no-disqualification match. That match opens the door for another independent name that is known for his violent matches, Nick Gage.
The idea of Gage wrestling on network television probably excites hardcore fans but would horrify the casual audience. But that does not mean they would turn away. Gage uses the violence of his matches tell an interesting story. In this pairing, the story would be Cody having to dig deep to overcome yet another opponent willing to go to any lengths to take that belt. Gage may not have the long-term position in a mainstream promotion like AEW, but that can quickly change with being brought into the promotion as a special guest for a one-off match to test the water.
Jazz
No one ever said that the TNT championship division is just for men. Cody has long said that the open challenge is for anyone in the promotion and in the independent circuit. Jazz has been a surprise entrant in the AEW world once, taking part in the Women’s Casino Battle Royale. But that should not be the last time that she is seen in the organization.
With nearly 22-years of experience in professional wrestling, some may forget what Jazz has done in the industry. She is performed and competed against men nearly every step of the way, including in ECW and WWE. She is a credible competitor that does not need any softball booking to come off as legit. This is another opportunity for Cody to continue that slow heel turn that he is going through. Jazz does not have to be face but book the match in the way that makes it seem like Cody is not taking her serious until Jazz starts to get the better of him. AEW needs to continue to bolster their women’s division. One way to do so is to bring in Jazz but reintroduce her as a surprise opponent for Cody and make sure she can hang with anyone in the ring, regardless of gender.
Scorpio Sky
Scorpio Sky is a rising member of the AEW roster. The SCU standout has already received the blessing to pursue a single’s run by teammates Frankie Kazarian and Christopher Daniels. With that in mind, he has been winning a lot of single matches on AEW Dark. But those singles wins have not turned into anything of note on AEW Dynamite. That can change with him coming out to challenge Cody, but he does not need to win the title outright.
Instead, have Cody and Sky go to a time-limit draw. Darby Allin pushed Cody to a draw back in June of 2019, an outcome that helped to the rise of Allin. This time around, have Sky continue to chase after Cody, but instead of granting a rematch, Cody ignores him. Hint toward the eventual heel turn we all know is coming by having them ignore the fact that he was not able to defeat Sky. After weeks of chasing Cody, have the situation come to a head with another one-on-one match at an upcoming PPV with Sky coming out on top to take his first singles title in AEW.