More often than not, the AEW Men’s and Women’s World Championships are the most heavily promoted and pushed titles in the entire company.
Looking at the current roster, there are quite a few names that could potentially become future world champions.
Whether it be a former champion regaining gold or a first time titleholder, these stars could get the biggest win of their careers by becoming a world champion in the months to come.
Here are nine potential future AEW World Champions.
9. MJF
At AEW All In: Texas 2025, MJF won the Casino Gauntlet Match to earn a guaranteed shot at the AEW World Title.
Wanting more than one opportunity, MJF lied and cheated his way to another title opportunity when he lost to Hangman Adam Page for the gold at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2025.
Following his record-breaking 406-day reign, Maxwell Jacob Friedman could look to beat that if he is able to become champion once more.
Now that he is currently absent from AEW TV, MJF could show up at any moment to enact his contract and try to reclaim his Triple B again.
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8. Swerve Strickland
At AEW Full Gear 2025, Swerve Strickland returned to the company for the first time since AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2025.
Recovered from a torn meniscus injury, Strickland went after the new AEW World Champion Samoa Joe and The Opps.
Standing tall with his former arch nemesis Hangman Adam Page by his side, this marked a massive change for Swerve.
After chasing another chance to sit atop of the company again, Swerve could be next in line to become a two-time AEW World Champion in the near future.
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7. Hangman Adam Page
Hangman Adam Page redeemed himself in 2025 following his descent to madness during his blood feud with Swerve Strickland.
Becoming a two-time AEW World Champion, it looked like Hangman would end this year still holding the top prize in the promotion, but it wasn’t meant to be and led to his loss against Samoa Joe in a Steel Cage at AEW Full Gear 2025.
Since the pay-per-view, Hangman has been hellbent on getting revenge while yielding a steel chain around his neck.
Hangman Page has everything it takes to become a three-time AEW World Champion and could just view the Full Gear loss as a bump in the road in retrospect.
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6. Konosuke Takeshita
At NJPW King of Pro Wrestling, Konosuke Takeshita capitalized on his G1 Climax 35 victory by defeating Zack Sabre Jr. to win the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship.
“The Alpha” has proven himself to be one of the best wrestlers in the world today with a litany of classic bouts in AEW, DDT and New Japan Pro Wrestling.
While he is a former AEW International Champion, Takeshita has been unable to achieve the same success in All Elite Wrestling as he has in NJPW.
Considering his in-ring excellence and current compelling storyline with Kazuchika Okada in the Don Callis Family, fans should not have to wait long to see Takeshita finally get his chance to become AEW World Champion.
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5. Kazuchika Okada
Kazuchika Okada officially arrived in All Elite Wrestling back in March 2024. Less than two weeks after his arrival, “The Rainmaker” defeated Eddie Kingston to win the AEW Continental Championship.
Becoming the most unbeatable champion in the promotion, Okada tallied up win after win until he faced his arch rival Kenny Omega to determine the first ever AEW Unified Champion where he won and also captured the AEW International Champion.
While he is currently in the Continental Classic, Okada feels too important for these titles and should be involved in the main event scene to many fans.
Okada eventually winning the AEW World Championship could see him causing more drama within the Don Callis Family with Konosuke Takeshita.
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4. Mercedes Mone
At AEW Full Gear 2025, Kris Statlander defeated Mercedes Moné to retain the AEW Women’s World Championship.
This marked Moné’s second loss in AEW after Timeless Toni Storm defeated her back at All In: Texas 2025 earlier this year.
After putting together an impressive undefeated streak, going after the AEW Women’s World Title caused the first losses in the company for Moné and should make this chase for the gold even more interesting.
“The CEO” eventually climbing the mountain to win the AEW Women’s World Champion could be one of the most captivating and engrossing stories for the company in 2026.
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3. Will Ospreay
Back at AEW Double Or Nothing 2025, Hangman Adam Page defeated Will Ospreay to win the Owen Hart Foundation Men’s Tournament.
Thanks to this win, Page would go on to defeat Jon Moxley in a Texas Death Match to capture the AEW World Championship for a second time.
Meanwhile, Ospreay went on to be taken out at the hands of Moxley and the rest of The Death Riders at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2025.
Ospreay’s inevitable return from a serious neck injury should be very emotional and can start his path to redemption as he looks to avenge his losses and finally become the AEW World Champion in the new year.
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2. Willow Nightingale
It is without question that Willow Nightingale is easily one of the most beloved and popular female stars in AEW history.
Nightingale started out from humble beginnings just looking for any opportunity to prove herself. However, she did much more than that by playing a variety of roles inside the squared circle.
Whether it be winning a title from another promotion or teaming with Harley Cameron to make it to the finals of the AEW Women’s Tag Team Title Tournament, nothing seems impossible for Willow at this time.
With Kris Statlander currently holding the AEW Women’s World Championship, it seems like a no-brainer to have Willow challenge and potentially win the title from her former best friend when the time is right.
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1. Kyle Fletcher
At AEW All Out 2025, Hangman Adam Page defeated Kyle Fletcher to retain the AEW World Championship.
This marked Fletcher’s arrival to the next level as he headlined his first major pay-per-view event for the company.
Reaching new heights as TNT Champion, Fletcher feels like a made man and someone the company will have to invest in moving forward.
It seems nearly inevitable that “The Protostar” will reach the apex of pro wrestling and will do so when he finally captures the AEW World Championship somewhere down the line.
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