5 current AEW stars who could become WWE Champion in the future
The Undisputed WWE Championship is arguably the biggest prize in the pro wrestling industry. Every wrestler who laces a pair of boots wishes to have the WWE Championship in his grasp at least once in his lifetime.
While some stars are never able to capture the grand prize in their whole careers, a few others are fortunate enough to be crowned the Undisputed WWE Champion. Earlier this year, Cody Rhodes fulfilled his dream of becoming the WWE Champion at WrestleMania 40.
Interestingly, there are several stars in AEW who would be eager to follow in the footsteps of The American Nightmare. Multiple stars from the Tony Khan-led company could leave for WWE in the near future, intending to get their hands on the industry's top prize. Many of these AEW stars possess the required skillset to turn their lifetime dream into a reality.
In this article, let's look at five AEW stars who could become WWE Champion in the future.
#5. Miro could regain his intimidating presence in the Stamford-based promotion
Over the past two years, Miro has appeared as an afterthought in All Elite Wrestling. Once touted as the next AEW World Champion, The Redeemer's injury struggles and inconsistent booking have derailed all the momentum he once had. Miro seems very upset with the lack of a prominent spot on the AEW roster and has even requested his release from the Tony Khan-led company.
A return to WWE could help The Bulgarian Brute bring his wrestling career back on track. Although his previous run under the Vince McMahon-led regime was full of ups and downs, Miro could receive a more consistent push now that Triple H is handling the creative team.
The former United States Champion is a great in-ring worker, who is versatile enough to work with all kinds of opponents. Miro is also a great storyteller, who can adapt to various kinds of characters quite effectively.
Considering the value that he could add to the current WWE product, a potential world championship run would not be a far-fetched outcome for Miro, if he ends up rejoining the Stamford-based promotion.
#4. Wardlow could be a main-event player in WWE
Wardlow has had a shocking fall from grace in the last two years. Following his successful feud against Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF), many fans demanded Tony Khan push Mr. Mayhem as the next major main eventer.
Unfortunately, a disappointing run with the TNT Championship meant that Wardlow no longer had the support of the AEW audience. The 36-year-old has been floundering in the Tony Khan-led company for almost two years, without any specific creative direction for his character. The Undisputed Kingdom was expected to help Mr. Mayhem revive his career, but that too, sadly, didn't transpire.
Wardlow is amongst the major AEW stars who are expected to leave All Elite Wrestling once their current deal expires. The former TNT Champion would significantly benefit from a move to WWE, which is known to push superheavyweight wrestlers like him to the top.
Apart from having ridiculous strength, Wardlow is also incredibly agile in the ring, which could allow him to thrive in the Titanland.
Although he may take years to reach that level, Mr. Mayhem has a realistic shot at becoming the top champion in WWE. If given proper opportunities under the Triple H-led regime, Wardlow could emerge as the next major star for the Stamford-based promotion.
#3. Ricky Starks could follow in the footsteps of Cody Rhodes
Ricky Starks is an incredibly charismatic star, who is also a decent in-ring worker. Despite being a magician on the mic, The Absolute One has surprisingly failed to break the glass ceiling in All Elite Wrestling. The Stroke Daddy has been constantly overlooked by the Tony Khan-led creative team, which has not been able to capitalize on his undeniable talent.
Starks has not been seen on AEW television since March 2024. Despite being fit and healthy, the former FTW Champion has sat on the sidelines for months now. Following years of underutilization in AEW, it wouldn't be surprising if The Stroke Daddy chooses to leave AEW in the near future.
If Starks does part ways with the Jacksonville-based promotion, WWE is likely to be his next destination. The story-centric environment of WWE could allow the 34-year-old star to showcase his true potential to the world. The Absolute One could begin his journey in NXT, before eventually finding a spot on the main roster.
The Stroke Daddy is a greatly reliable talent, who could be a major player in the Titanland for years to come. Considering how close he is to Cody Rhodes, it wouldn't be surprising if Starks ends up making his mentor proud by becoming the Undisputed WWE Champion.
#2. Rey Fenix could punch above his weight in the Stamford-based promotion
As per recent reports, Rey Fenix is likely to head to WWE at the end of his current AEW deal. Although his AEW departure has been marred with controversy, he is likely to jump ship to the Triple H-led promotion for his next stint in the business.
The Stamford-based promotion has been searching for the next Rey Mysterio for years. While the likes of Sin Cara, Kalisto, and Dragon Lee got the backing of the company, none of them could impress the fans similar to how Mysterio did. However, Rey Fenix could be the individual who ends up being the successor of The Master of 619.
The Man of a Thousand Lives could capture the imagination of the fans with his breathtaking combat style. The former AEW International Champion also has vast experience in the business, which gives him an edge over the other luchadors. Fenix is equally effective at playing a beloved babyface as he is at being a ruthless heel.
While he only got limited opportunities as a solo performer in AEW, WWE could place Rey Fenix in a prominent spot on the main roster. At only 33 years old, The Mexa King is fairly young to lead the legacy of Lucha Libre in WWE for the next decade. If Fenix successfully takes up the mantle of the next Rey Mysterio, the management will gladly reward him with a world Championship run in the future.
#1. Malakai Black is bound to succeed under Triple H
Malakai Black (fka Aleister Black) was at the peak of his wrestling career in NXT. Following a dominant run in the former black and gold brand, The Dutch Destroyer moved to the main roster, where he instantly got lost in the shuffle.
Following years of bad booking, Black was ultimately released from the Stamford-based promotion in the fall of 2020. The former NXT Champion then joined All Elite Wrestling, where he made an instant impact by blindsiding Cody Rhodes.
However, The Dutch Destroyer kept losing momentum as a singles star as time went by. Despite being quite successful in the Trios division, Black is yet to taste any singles gold in the Jacksonville-based promotion.
Malakai Black's contract with AEW is reportedly going to expire in 2025. Now that Triple H is in charge of the creative team, there is a good possibility that the leader of The House of Black would return to his former employers.
The Striking Man from Amsterdam has all the tools in the box to be a main-event talent in WWE. Similar to his NXT run, Black could run through all the stars on the main roster to establish his dominance. The creative team could pit The Dutch Destroyer against top stars like Roman Reigns, Randy Orton, and Gunther to help him appear as a legitimate threat.
If given a consistent push, the Undisputed WWE Championship may not stay out of Black's grasp for too long.