Ahead of July’s AEW Redemption pay-per-view, Tony Khan told the Battleground Podcast that he was interested in starting up a Hall of Fame in AEW one day.
With the company now seven years on from it’s inception, it may soon be time for Khan to consider pulling the trigger and honoring some of the legendary figures that have helped AEW become what it is today.
Here are three potential candidates to be the headline inductee of the first AEW Hall of Fame class.
Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho made his return to AEW television after almost a year away back on the April 1 episode of AEW Dynamite in Winnipeg
While his presence in AEW has been bemoaned by some fans in recent years, Chris Jericho’s legacy in pro wrestling and AEW in particular is undisputed.
Jericho was AEW’s first major signing back in 2019, and his presence alone will have helped the startup company attract viewers due to his past work on the biggest stage in WWE.
Jericho was also the very first AEW World Champion; defeating Hangman Adam Page for the gold at All Out 2019. However, even after losing the gold the following year at Revolution, Jericho remained a focal point on TV with major storylines alongside MJF, Kenny Omega and many others.
Given that AEW may have found it a lot more difficult to get off the ground had Jericho not been there – and his work in elevating other talent since – Jericho would make for a worthy first headline inductee into the AEW Hall of Fame.
Mr. Brodie Lee
Brodie Lee became the second ever TNT Champion in August 2020, when he defeated Cody Rhodes.
Mr. Brodie Lee arrived in AEW in 2020 after being granted his release from WWE at the end of 2019, and was immediately involved in a major angle when he was revealed as ‘The Exalted One’ leading the mysterious Dark Order group – who had been terrorizing AEW for months beforehand.
By the summer of 2020, Lee dethroned Cody Rhodes to become the second-ever TNT Champion, and would whold the title until losing it back to Cody two months later in a dog collar match.
This tragically proved to be Lee’s final match, as in December of 2020, he passed away at the age of 41. However, his legacy lives on in AEW. Not only did the company put on a wonderful tribute show to Lee’s life following his passing, but they also added his son Brodie Lee Jr. to their roster – with the 14-year-old making his in-ring debut in GCW this past April.
Considering his in-ring legacy and impact on so many talent in AEW and the wider wrestling world, Mr. Brodie Lee is certainly a worthy first headline inductee in the AEW Hall of Fame.
Sting
Sting appeared at AEW All In London 2026 to help Darby Allin in his TNT Championship match with Kevin Knight.
A two-time Hall of Famer before he ever stepped foot in AEW, Sting would certainly be among the favorites to be inducted first, should AEW start up a Hall of Fame.
After a massively disappointing WWE run which saw him lose his one and only WrestleMania match to Triple H, Sting’s career was doe justice by Tony Khan.
‘The Stinger’ was given a true final run, where he consistently surprised fans with what he was willing to do inside the ring; namely jumping off of high things.
Still popping up for sporadic appearances – most recently at AEW All In London 2026 – Sting is more than worthy of receiving a third Hall of Famer ring, alongside his TNA and WWE honors.
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