Three challengers for Powerhouse Hobbs as TNT Champion

Powerhouse Hobbs is finally a champion in AEW and will further build his legacy with rivals like these.

Powerhouse Hobbs did what he needed to do. After winning the Face of the Revolution Ladder Match, he walked out of the March 8 edition of AEW Dynamite as the new AEW TNT Championship. It was a moment that many have waited to see, as Hobbs is one of the names on the roster that fans have consistently pushed as a champion of the future. The inclusion of QT Marshall may furrow brows, but the outcome still has the title around Hobbs’s waist. Looking forward, these are three interesting names for challengers to Hobbs as he builds his legacy with the title.

Konosuke Takeshita

Konosuke Takeshita is one of the hottest prospects in not only AEW but wrestling as a whole. Since stepping into the company, he has put on some amazing matches against individuals like Jon Moxley and Bryan Danielson, immediately raising his stock on the roster. It would be great to see him reach a mid-card championship, but it would be too soon to see that come at the cost of Powerhouse Hobbs. Still, this can be an angle to continue to build the stock in both men who can eventually become main event players for AEW.

Ricky Starks

There’s a story waiting to be finished between Ricky Starks and Powerhouse Hobbs. That turn in 2022 elevated both men in separate directions, helping Starks become the babyface that fans called for, and pushing Hobbs into the direction of being a dangerous heel.

Unfortunately, like so many other angles in AEW, the company didn’t give a big enough payoff to meet the expectations that fans wanted to see. Both men picked up victories over each other, but nothing more was said of their heated rivalry. What AEW does do well is call back to important stories when it matters the most, and this is one that could quickly add intrigue to the AEW TNT Championship picture.

Hook

As with Starks, Hook, and Hobbs have a previous connection that can be played on within a title story. When the three individuals in Team Taz went their own way, Hook was the first to achieve individual gold. That is the spark that could be used to build this angle between the two men, cultivating a battle with both championships on the line. It would be interesting to see Hook have to work in what can be considered his first “serious” feud, but it is one that would have a positive impact on both men.

Powerhouse Hobbs has finally achieved championship status. It will be interesting to see where the company goes from here, as it has failed to keep consistent momentum behind the TNT Championship. Here’s to hoping that trend breaks with Hobbs as champion, and facing off against these three opponents is a step in the right direction.