AEW: Which Five Wrestlers Could Be Interim World Champion?

The AEW World Championship has become a prestigious championship since the creation of the company. If you are holding the AEW World Championship, there is reason to argue that you are the best in the world.

In the four years that All Elite Wrestling has been in existence, only five men have been able to call themself the AEW World Champion. At the fourth annual Double or Nothing, CM Punk was able to dethrone “Hangman” Adam Page to become only the fifth champion. From Chris Jericho to Jon Moxley to Kenny Omega to Adam Page, every man that has held the AEW World Championship thus far has elevated it to become one of the most prestigious championships in pro wrestling. In the hands of CM Punk, the AEW Championship could only grow even more in prestige.

CM Punk has been on the top of his game since returning to the ring. He has worked his way back into title contention instead of just being handed a title shot. He finally got his shot and defeated “Hangman” Adam Page to become the new AEW World Champion. Unfortunately, when CM Punk looked to be on the top of the world, he had it all taken away. CM Punk announced only days after winning the title that he was injured and an interim AEW World Champion will be crowned at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door.

While we all feel for CM Punk, you can’t help but take a look at the AEW roster and wonder who will be next in line to become the world champion. The AEW roster is filled with worthy choices. With a handful of names already in the interim championship picture, the battle royal winner is yet to be announced. While it is still up in the air, these are the five that are most deserving in my opinion to become the Interim AEW World Champion.

5. Hiroshi Tanahashi

Before CM Punk’s untimely injury, he was set to clash with the “Ace of NJPW” Hiroshi Tanahashi at Forbidden Door. Now that CM Punk will be on the shelf for the PPV, Tanahashi is out of a promised match. There is no way that Forbidden Door will go down without a match for the man that has been the face of NJPW for years. Hiroshi has done everything there is to do in New Japan Pro Wrestling. He has defeated the very best and won nearly every championship and tournament the company has to offer. Twenty-three years into his career, he may have things he still wants to do elsewhere.

The only thing that stands in Tanahashi’s path now of an AEW World Championship match at Forbidden Door is Hirooki Goto. While Hirooki Goto is one of the best that NJPW has to offer, I can’t see Tanahashi losing this match. I am expecting to see “NJPW’s Ace” walk into Forbidden Door as the top contender for the Interim AEW World Championship. On June 26th, it is a strong possibility that we see Hiroshi Tanahashi make personal and AEW history by winning his first American world championship and becoming the first-ever interim AEW World Champion.

4. “Hangman” Adam Page

Before the creation of All Elite Wrestling, “Hangman” Adam Page was still trying to make a name in the business. Once he signed with AEW, everything changed for him. He earned an opportunity to face Chris Jericho to become the inaugural AEW World Champion. Although Chris Jericho ended up winning and becoming champion, “Hangman” Adam Page had gotten over with the AEW fans and many were already calling for Page to get another shot at the championship. It wasn’t until years later that Hangman earned another shot and defeated Kenny Omega to become champion.

Once “Hangman” Adam Page got his hands on the championship, he defended it against the very best that AEW has to offer. If Page is a participant in the battle royal to name Moxley’s challenger, it would be hard to pick against Page. He has won a battle royal before to fight for the AEW World Championship and would be a favorite to win. Although, it has been rumored that Hangman Page will be challenging Kazuchika Okada for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. Either way, it would make sense for Page to fight for the gold at Forbidden Door.

3. Jon Moxley

The second former AEW World Champion on this list looks like a shoo-in to win the entire AEW World Championship eliminator series. Along with Hiroshi Tanahashi and Hirooki Goto, Jon Moxley already has a spot in contention. By being the current number one ranked wrestler in the company, he earns his spot in contention. He will face the winner of a battle royal and the winner of that match will go on to face the winner of the Tanahashi and Goto match. However, since Jon Moxley arrived in AEW, there have been few men to be able to best him.

We have seen Jon Moxley reach the top of the mountain in AEW already and we know what Moxley is capable of doing in the ring. He has been a champion in every company that he has been a part of. He is no stranger to New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Moxley is a two-time IWGP United States Champion and continues to be a menace in the company. There is no doubting that Moxley has what it takes to become the first-ever two-time AEW World Champion. And looking into the future, it would be great to see Jon Moxley and CM Punk fight for the championship.

2. Eddie Kingston

Eddie Kingston‘s story in pro-wrestling has to be inspiring to anybody chasing their dreams. Over the past twenty years, Eddie Kingston has fought around the world looking to make a name for himself. He had worked for well-known companies like Ring of Honor and Impact Wrestling. However, he hadn’t been able to get over with the crowd and was left to sink in a sea of talent and eventually left to try different waters. It wasn’t until he signed with All Elite Wrestling that he started to get over with the fans and has become one of the fan’s favorites to see.

During his feud with then AEW World Champion Jon Moxley. Kingston showed everyone in AEW that he can stand with the very best on the microphone and in the ring. Since then, Eddie has gotten over with the AEW fans and has been a great team with Moxley on several occasions. While he has only had one opportunity to fight for the AEW World Championship, he gave it his all in that match and would do the same given another chance. If he could win the battle royal and go on to get his rematch with Moxley, I am sure many fans would be rooting for Eddie Kingston.

1. Miro

Back when he was in the WWE, Rusev looked to be a guy that had all the skill and talent in the world to be one of the top guys in the company. He quickly raised up in the company and defeated everybody on his path to becoming United States Champion. However, after losing the championship to John Cena at WrestleMania 31. Rusev was never quite able to get back the momentum he once had until years later when Rusev Day started to get over with the fans. Despite how over Rusev Day became, Rusev was still denied a top spot and was eventually released from his contract in the April 2020 budget cuts.

Since his arrival in AEW, Miro has said that he is happier than he’s ever been. He started gaining steam after a short alliance with Kip Sabian and became the TNT Champion. He began to call himself “God’s Favorite Champion” and dug deeper into a new character that would become “The Redeemer” today. After dropping the TNT Championship to Sammy Guevara, Miro looked to chase the world championship. Unfortunately, when Miro was fighting in a tournament for a chance at the AEW World Championship he sustained a hamstring injury.

Just when things looked to be going his way, he was put out of action for six months and just recently made his return on Dynamite. He looked dominant in his match against Johnny Elite and looks about o go on a reign of terror. Miro could easily be a viable interim AEW World Champion and could be unstoppable. Plus Miro is a man that has only crossed paths with CM Punk in the same Royal Rumble that was Miro’s WWE debut and CM Punk’s last WWE match. There is a story already there and Miro is more than deserving of a world championship. I mean how more redeeming could it be for The Redeemer to hold the AEW World Championship?