It has been nearly two weeks since the showcase that was AEW All In 2025, but fans are still reeling from the great show. “Hangman” Adam Page is once again the AEW World Champion and Toni Storm successfully defended the AEW Women’s World Championship against Mercedes Mone. The company is riding a wave of momentum. There’s a lot to look forward to in the future. Looking at that future, these are the performers who fans should keep a close eye on as the next big names to go on a run.
First up in the conversation is Powerhouse Hobbs. Currently, Hobbs stands as one part of the AEW World Trios Champions. While that is a fun accolade to add to his resume, everyone knows that Hobbs has the potential to be a top star in the main event scene. To get there, he’s going to have to break away from The Opps, and doing so should be the catalyst to get him back in the hunt.
Powerhouse Hobbs versus Samoa Joe would be a great feud that opens the door to bigger things for Hobbs. He had a brief run in with Joe during his tenure as the TNT Champion, but that was just the tip of the iceberg. Slotting these two together in a well-built angle is the right way to go to develop Hobbs into an interesting threat for the title.
Next, let’s take a look at Queen Aminata. There was a time when she was a sleeper in the women’s division, but that is no longer the case. Aminata does not need to be tucked away on Ring of Honor. No, she has all the makings to be a top name on the women’s roster. Fans love her look, hard-hitting style, and she exudes character whenever she’s on the screen. It is time to see her positioned as a threat to any woman holding a title in the company.
Queen Aminata’s pathway to the title is a bit more challenging. Toni Storm and Mercedes Mone are dominant forces. However, there’s a story to tell about Mone going on a losing streak after being defeated by Storm. If she’s going to drop that TBS Championship in a surprise match, Aminata would be a great selection to snatch that title off her waist.
Konosuke Takeshita’s time is coming. There are times when AEW has held back some performers from getting the push that fans want to see. Takeshita is one of those who’ve felt that sting. Yes, he held the AEW International Championship for nearly 150 days, but the run didn’t feel like a definitive stint as champion. He’s the type of performer who should be challenging names like Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada, supplanting them as the next “Big Bout Machine.” For that to happen, AEW has to position him for a major run, and now is the time for that to happen.
All Elite Wrestling is putting out the best professional wrestling in the business. Part of that is due to putting the best names at the forefront. As the company continues to build new stars for long-term gains, Powerhouse Hobbs, Queen Aminata, and Konosuke Takeshita are three names who fans should watch closely in the coming months through 2026.