5 Stars who could become AEW World Champions in 2025
Several AEW stars took huge leaps in their careers in 2024. Many young wrestlers stepped up to the occasion and grabbed the opportunity to become the next face of the Tony Khan-led company.
Swerve Strickland, in particular, had a career-defining run in 2024. At Dynasty 2024, The Realest One defeated Samoa Joe to become the new AEW World Champion. The New Flavor went on to have a four-month-long reign as the company's top champion, before dropping the title to Bryan Danielson in the main event of All In 2024.
2024 was a dream year for Swerve Strickland, as he scored victories over stars like Samoa Joe, Will Ospreay, Jeff Hardy, and Rob Van Dam. Swerve's meteoric rise as a reliable main event talent is what prompted Tony Khan to crown him as the AEW World Champion.
While The New Flavor fulfilled his World Championship prophecy in 2024, it would be intriguing to see which superstar gets his hands on the prestigious title in 2025. In this article, let's look at five AEW stars who could become World Champions in 2025.
#5. Darby Allin could be the one to dethrone Jon Moxley
At WrestleDream 2024, Jon Moxley dethroned Bryan Danielson to become the new AEW World Champion. Since then, The Ace of AEW has been actively targeted by Darby Allin, who is eager to punish The Death Riders for causing chaos in All Elite Wrestling.
Interestingly, Tony Khan has not yet booked a singles bout between Allin and Moxley since the latter became champion. Once The Purveyor of Violence runs through the majority of the roster, Darby Allin could step up to put an end to Moxley's tyranny.
The Invisible Man is one of the biggest babyfaces in the Tony Khan-led company. Allin is a widely popular figure among the fans, who have witnessed his growth from a mid-card act to a reliable main event star. In 2025, the daredevil star could put a stamp on his credibility by taking the AEW World Championship off Jon Moxley.
#4. Christian Cage could finally get his hands on the AEW World Championship in 2025
Christian Cage earned a career-defining opportunity at All In 2024. The Patriarch outlasted 11 other men in the Casino Gauntlet match to secure a guaranteed shot at the AEW World Championship. Unfortunately, the former TNT Champion has not been able to successfully cash in his contract despite multiple attempts.
However, Captain Charisma could turn around his fortunes in the coming few months. Since The Patriarch is unlikely to dethrone a heel Jon Moxley, the veteran could decide to step away from the main event picture for the time being.
Once a babyface like Darby Allin succeeds in taking down The Death Rider, Christian Cage could seize the opportunity by cashing in his contract on the new champion. The Patriarch will generate immense heat from the fans if he crushes the dream of the daredevil star.
Meanwhile, it would be a rewarding moment for Christian Cage, who has been a pillar of the Jacksonville-based promotion for years.
#3. Bobby Lashley could add another world title to his collection
Bobby Lashley has found success in every promotion he has stepped foot in. The All Mighty is a former TNA World Heavyweight Champion and has also captured the WWE Championship twice in his illustrious career.
In 2025, Lashley could add another feather to his cap by becoming the AEW World Champion. Since his debut in October 2024, The Dominator has been presented as an invincible force on television.
With The Hurt Syndicate in his corner, The All Mighty's chances of success in the main event scene are quite high. Once he concludes his ongoing feud with Swerve Strickland, Bobby Lashley could set his sights on the AEW World Championship.
It would be a logical decision on Tony Khan's part to put the world title on Lashley, who has a significant mainstream appeal. The Dominator could have a similar reign to Samoa Joe, who lifted up the prestige of the title in three months, before dropping it to a future megastar in Swerve.
#2. Will Ospreay could finally achieve his moment of glory in 2025
Will Ospreay has emerged as one of the best additions to the AEW roster in recent times. The Aerial Assassin's ability to constantly churn out amazing in-ring spectacles makes him one of the hottest commodities in the business today.
Ospreay has shown significant growth as a performer since his arrival in All Elite Wrestling. The Commonwealth Kingpin did a tremendous job this year as the International Champion, making a case for himself for holding the World Title in 2025.
Having spent the majority of his run in the mid-card scene, it is high time that The Aerial Assassin is promoted into the main event picture. Tony Khan must spend the next few months building Will Ospreay as the next big babyface, who could lead All Elite Wrestling into the future.
Interestingly, the 2025 edition of AEW X NJPW Forbidden Door pay-per-view is set to be held in London, United Kingdom. It would be the best place for Tony Khan to hand the reins of AEW to Will Ospreay, giving him his well-deserved moment of glory in front of his home audience.
#1. Brody King could have a surprising ascent to the top
Brody King made his All Elite Wrestling debut in January 2022. In the last two years, the 37-year-old star has witnessed a significant increase in his stocks as a performer. The current House of Black member is an excellent in-ring worker, who is equally adept on the microphone.
Brody King's ability to make people believe in his offense makes him one of the most entertaining stars on the planet. The 6ft 5in star has displayed on several occasions that he can hang with the very best inside the squared circle.
The audience's growing adulation for the monstrous individual is what seemingly prompted Tony Khan to make him a regular feature in the Continental Classic for the second year in a row. If recent signs are to go by, 2025 could turn out to be a breakout year for the former AEW World Trios Champion.
Fans would certainly be delighted if Brody King ends up holding the AEW World Title next year. Being a total package inside the squared circle, King is likely to thrive at the top of the card.