AEW has a ready-made champion in Wardlow

All Elite Wrestling has done an excellent job creating and building a roster focused on the future. Fans still cheer for established names like Jeff Hardy, Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley, and others. But at the same time, they wait with bated breath for the time that other individuals will burst through to the top. Wardlow is in such as position and regardless of the outcome at Double or Nothing, he is a ready-made champion for the future.

Everyone who is familiar with professional wrestling knew that the Wardlow versus MJF storyline was coming. The minute the big man stepped up to MJF’s side, basic wrestling made led to the answer that these two individuals would have a falling out.

But very few predicted that it would be this big of a moment for the organization. The fans’ reaction to Wardlow continues to build each time, growing louder and louder. The final image from this week’s Dynamite saw Wardlow standing on top of the cage, beating his chest. An image similar to Mark Henry back in WWE as his push to World Heavyweight Champion began. Wardlow is on the right trajectory and the best part is that the company doesn’t need to pull the trigger immediately.

AEW has done a good job building some individuals at the right pace. Wardlow’s time is going to come and it will feel like an organic moment. Think back to The Fiend’s rise in WWE. When initially revealed, fans were super behind the dark character. WWE recognized that and instead of a slow and meaningful build, he was sent right into the main event against Seth Rollins. The outcome hurt them all. Rollins recovered, but Bray Wyatt/The Fiend was never the same. AEW won’t make the same mistake with Wardlow.

Expectations are that Wardlow picks up the victory over MJF at the PPV. That could be the case, but even a defeat doesn’t cut too deeply into Wardlow’s momentum. AEW finds the right mix in storytelling when deciding what feuds need to be extended, and this is one that could go beyond Double or Nothing.

On the other side of that, Wardlow doesn’t need to be immediately pushed into the main event picture. Slotting him into the TNT title area would be perfect, as there’s the opportunity to tell the story about his revenge against Scorpio Sky and help rebuild that title with a strong run. The options are there and Wardlow will benefit across the board.

There are multiple names on the AEW roster that could become champions in 2023. Wardlow is perhaps at the top of the list and the excitement to see a title around his waist is palpable.