Leaves AEW for WWE, turns heel on his father, and more - 4 Directions for HOOK after losing FTW Championship
HOOK lost the FTW Championship to Chris Jericho at AEW Dynasty after holding the title for nearly eight months. He was the victim of a baseball bat strike and two devastating Judas Effects from "The Learning Tree," handing the 24-year-old star a rare loss in his AEW career thus far.
It was a tone-deaf move on the part of the company, as fans audibly booed the result, raining the former AEW Champion with chants of "Go home, Jericho, go home!"
What's next for HOOK following this defeat? Here are four directions AEW can go with the former FTW Champion going forward:
#4. Rematch with Chris Jericho for the FTW Championship
It feels inevitable that The Cold-Hearted Handsome Devil would request a rematch given that the story between them will not be over so soon. Perhaps it could happen as soon as this week's Dynamite.
With the feud heating up and the involvement of AEW commentator and HOOK's father, Taz, in the mix, this rematch could easily headline a future episode or even feature in the promotion's next pay-per-view, Double or Nothing. It all depends on how Tony Khan chooses to book the rivalry going forward.
#3. Align with Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho's victory proved one should never count the veteran out, especially in high-profile situations. Perhaps there is still more that HOOK can learn from "The Learning Tree."
The reactions from the audience showed that Y2J has firmly established himself as a heel. Will HOOK go over to the dark side as well as align with Lionheart and turn his back on his father?
It could be an intriguing plot twist that not a lot of fans see coming.
#2. HOOK takes an indefinite hiatus
It's been reported that the former champion might be interested in exploring free agency once his contract runs out. Since debuting in AEW back in 2020, the talented wrestler has held the FTW Championship twice.
HOOK is overdue for a break and should use this loss as an opportunity to rest and recalibrate. With AEW having a stacked roster, he will need to do more to stand out, and perhaps this is an opportunity to evolve his character beyond being a silent technician.
#1. HOOK leaves AEW for WWE
Speaking of free agency, we have seen several former AEW wrestlers join WWE in recent years, including Brian Pillman Jr, Jade Cargill, and Cody Rhodes.
Not only have they enjoyed immense success, but these wrestlers have provided a blueprint for other AEW wrestlers to follow should they choose to pursue a WWE career. The youngster could feasibly be the next one on the list after his pay-per-view loss.
HOOK is still young enough to be developed further in NXT and make an impact on the main roster down the road. It all depends on whether he sees a more viable future in WWE as opposed to AEW.