The next World Champion; top star quitting? - 5 things AEW subtly told us this year
This year has been quite an eventful one for AEW. Admittedly, the Jacksonville-based promotion has dealt with a lot of struggles in 2024. However, the Tony Khan-led company has also had its fair share of remarkable accomplishments in the same period, which is something the All Elite roster would be greatly proud of.
In August 2024, All Elite Wrestling ran its highly acclaimed All In pay-per-view at Wembley Stadium, London, for the second consecutive year. It was a highly successful event, which witnessed the magical coronation of Bryan Danielson as the AEW World Champion for the first time. The show was also a huge financial success for the company, hinting towards the probable mainstream appeal they could have in the future.
Interestingly, amid all the chaos, there were certain things that Tony Khan and Co. quietly revealed to fans this year. While the company moved on from certain talents this year, they could not fill the void of some notable absentees. The promotion may also have found their future megastars, who would carry their brand in the future.
In this article, let's look at five things AEW subtly told us this year:
#5. The AEW women's division will continue to thrive
even without Britt Baker
Britt Baker was undeniably the face of the AEW women's division during its initial years. However, things have turned around quite significantly, and The DMD is no longer the most popular female figure in the company.
After a nine-month absence from the squared circle, Baker returned to AEW television at Forbidden Door 2024. The Doctor quickly inserted herself into a rivalry with Mercedes Mone, which culminated in an underwhelming bout at All In.
Since her loss at All In, Britt Baker has wrestled in a few matches occasionally. However, there appears to be no solid direction for the former AEW Women's World Champion, which seems like a matter of concern for Baker. Her recent performances have also left a lot to be desired and have greatly affected her equation with the audience as well.
Stars like Toni Storm, Willow Nightingale, Mariah May, and Mercedes Mone rose to the top at a time when The DMD was away from the ring. The 33-year-old star is no longer the centerpiece of the women's division, which has been evident with her recent bookings.
The year 2024 has been quite a forgettable one for The Doctor, who was once the premier attraction of the Jacksonville-based promotion. The Tony Khan-led company seems to have moved on from Britt Baker, and only a historic turnaround could help her find her way back into the main event picture.
#4. Ricky Starks is likely on his way out of All Elite Wrestling
Ricky Starks is arguably one of the most charismatic stars on the AEW roster, one who can decimate his opponents on the mic as well as inside the ring. However, The Absolute has not got an extended run in the main event picture, and it seems like his days in the Jacksonville-based promotion are numbered.
The Stroke Daddy was last seen on AEW television in March 2024. Since then, Starks has been sitting on the sidelines, waiting to be called back by the head booker of All Elite Wrestling. Despite being in a healthy condition, the 34-year-old star has been forced to sit out, as the creative team doesn't appear to have any concrete plans to bring him back.
While it is unclear why Starks has been kept off television, his absence has drawn the ire of the fans, who have criticized Tony Khan for not utilizing one of his best talents. The Absolute has missed out on many important events and moments in the past eight months, which would certainly be a frustrating experience for the star.
As per recent reports, Starks' contract is likely to expire in the spring of 2025. After being underutilized for several years, the 34-year-old star would likely part ways with AEW at the end of his deal to look for better opportunities elsewhere.
#3. Kenny Omega is still an irreplaceable entity in All Elite Wrestling
Kenny Omega has been absent from AEW since December 2023. In the time The Cleaner has been away, Tony Khan brought in names like Will Ospreay, Kazuchika, and Bobby Lashley to All Elite Wrestling. Unfortunately, none of these names have arguably been able to fill the void left by The Best Bout Machine.
Omega's absence significantly impacted the quality of several storylines. While the likes of Bryan Danielson and Swerve Strickland did a great job of carrying the company, the promotion faced consistent struggles on the ratings front without The Cleaner. He is also the Executive Vice President and is heavily involved with the work behind the scenes.
From a storyline perspective, AEW lost a major babyface, who could have been a viable threat to factions like The New Elite, the Death Riders, and The Hurt Syndicate. High-profile pay-per-views like All In and Revolution suffered from not having Omega on the card.
Several earth-shattering dream matches took place in AEW this year. Unfortunately, Kenny Omega could not participate in any such encounter, much to the despair of his followers. Now that he has been medically cleared, fans would hope to see The Best Bout Machine light up the Jacksonville-based promotion with his return in 2025.
#2. Will Ospreay and Swerve Strickland are the future of All Elite Wrestling
In 2024, AEW found two of its future megastars in Will Ospreay and Swerve Strickland. The duo scaled new heights of success this year, establishing themselves as valuable assets, who would be the flagbearers of All Elite Wrestling for years to come.
The Realest One has been in the Jacksonville-based promotion since 2022. However, it was only in this year that Swerve really established himself as a reliable main-event talent. The New Flavor captured the AEW World Championship at Dynasty 2024 and went on to have a 126-day reign.
Strickland's run as champion ended up being one of the best in terms of quality, leading him to compete in the main event of All In. With his impressive performances against Bryan Danielson, Will Ospreay, and Hangman Page, The Killshot proved that he could be trusted for bigger roles in the company.
On the other hand, Will Ospreay has been on a roll since his arrival in All Elite Wrestling. The Aerial Assassin began his run in the Tony Khan-led company at Revolution 2024 and has not looked back since then.
The Commonwealth Kingpin has delivered in-ring spectacles against Konosuke Takeshita, Bryan Danielson, Swerve Strickland, Kyle Fletcher, and many others, which strengthened his claim of being the best wrestler in the world. Ospreay's character work has also been second to none, as he has made the fans believe in his babyface persona.
Tony Khan put a great amount of investment in Swerve and Ospreay this year, and they repaid his faith with great performances. With TK looking to expand his company globally, these two stars are likely to be at the helm of the operation.
#1. Darby Allin could become AEW World Champion in 2025
It turned out to be a breakout year for Darby Allin. The Invisible Man kicked off 2024 in a major way at Revolution, where he successfully defended the AEW World Tag Team Championship alongside Sting in the latter's final wrestling match.
The former TNT Champion carried on that momentum into the summer, playing a vital role in The Elite vs. AEW storyline. Although Allin could not recapture the TNT Championship at All In, he soon managed to become the number-one contender for the World Championship.
Darby Allin's ecstasy was short-lived, as Jon Moxley defeated him at Grand Slam to snatch away his title shot. Although Allin could not challenge for the prestigious title this year, the chances of him becoming the AEW World Champion in 2025 appear quite high.
Since the inception of All Elite Wrestling, the daredevil star has been a workhorse performer, who has sacrificed his physical health numerous times for the entertainment of the fans. In the past year, Allin stepped up for the company on many crucial occasions, expressing his willingness to be a top player in the promotion.
Tony Khan clearly has plans to put the World Title on The Invisible Man, which is why he could have been kept apart from Jon Moxley for the time being. Unless there is a sudden change of plans, Darby Allin would likely be the one who puts an end to The Death Riders' tyranny next year.