AEW has assembled an amazing lineage of world champions throughout the company’s six-year history.
From Chris Jericho, Jon Moxley and Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. to Timeless Toni Storm, “Hangman” Adam Page and Kenny Omega, the list of world champions feels like a who’s who of talent that have stepped foot in the company.
Looking at the current roster, there are a number of different stars who could potentially be the next world champions for AEW moving forward.
Here are nine potential next AEW World Champions.
9. Willow Nightingale
On the December 31 New Year’s Smash special of AEW Dynamite, Willow Nightingale defeated Mercedes Moné to retain the TBS Championship.
With this victory, Nightingale made history by becoming the first woman to hold two AEW titles simultaneously.
Now that she has reached the top once again, there is only one more mountain left for Willow to climb in the company.
Considering that her recently reunited best friend Kris Statlander holds the AEW Women’s World Championship, the company could build a tantalizing showdown for the gold later in 2026 where Willow is finally crowned a world champion.
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8. Megan Bayne
Ever since signing with All Elite Wrestling in January 2025, Megan Bayne has come across as one of the most dominant forces to ever come into the AEW women’s scene.
“The Megasus” has the size, look and strength to completely overwhelm anyone in front of her.
This has led to Bayne assembling an impressive record inside the squared circle with only one loss in singles competition.
Bayne winning the AEW Women’s World Champion feels like a question of “when, not if” she will capture the top prize for the women’s scene in the company.
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7. Thekla
Signing with AEW in the summer of 2025, Thekla has taken the women’s division by storm with her “Toxic Spider” act.
Aligning with Julia Hart and Skye Blue, the Triangle of Madness have been among one of the most prominent acts in AEW today.
Now with her sights firmly on Kris Statlander’s AEW Women’s World Championship, it seems like the former STARDOM talent is on a collision course with the champion.
When this bout goes down, it feels like Thekla might have the best chance to dethrone Statlander and finally capture the top prize for the women’s scene in All Elite Wrestling.
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6. Marina Shafir
Marina Shafir has been having more of an in-ring role as of late than what she saw throughout 2025.
After being the enforcer for Jon Moxley’s Death Riders, it feels like Shafir will be inside the squared circle more often than not in 2026.
With that in mind, it should eventually lead to Shafir getting an opportunity at the AEW Women’s World Championship before long.
“The Problem” defeating Kris Statlander would bring some necessary gold to The Death Riders to keep the group intact in the new year.
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5. Darby Allin
Since establishing himself as one of the four pillars of AEW, Darby Allin has felt like someone who will eventually rise to the top spot in the promotion.
Presented as the ultimate underdog babyface in the company, Allin has been among the most popular stars and is no stranger to the main event picture.
The former two-time TNT Champion has accomplished so much over the past six years and should check the AEW World Championship off his list of achievements in the near future.
Whether it is against his longtime rival MJF or another top star like “Hangman” Adam Page, Darby Allin holding up the AEW World Title should be an image that becomes a reality sooner rather than later.
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4. Konosuke Takeshita
Konosuke Takeshita has been viewed as one of the best wrestlers in the world for the past few years.
With his combination of unreal athleticism, unmatched intensity and impressive precision, Takeshita has been a constant standout whether that be in All Elite Wrestling, DDT Pro or New Japan Pro Wrestling.
After holding the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship in 2025, it should not be long until “The Alpha” finally holds the top prize in AEW.
Takeshita capturing the AEW World Title will feel like the culmination of his rise that started back when he debuted on AEW Dark in 2021.
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3. Kyle Fletcher
Someone who has been on a meteoric rise unlike anyone else in All Elite Wrestling is Kyle Fletcher.
“The Protostar” is only 27 years old and has already accomplished so much in his career, including a memorable reign as TNT Champion.
With the Don Callis Family by his side, Fletcher should have every advantage at his fingertips to get another opportunity at the top prize in AEW before long.
Considering how close he came in his first challenge for the gold against “Hangman” Adam Page at AEW All Out 2025, Fletcher might just need one more crack before he becomes one of the youngest world champions in AEW history.
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2. Mercedes Moné
Back at AEW All In: Texas 2025, Mercedes Moné suffered her first loss in the company to “Timeless” Toni Storm with the AEW Women’s World Championship on the line.
Then, Moné once again came up short for the title when she challenged Kris Statlander at AEW Full Gear 2025.
This second loss led to her recent demise that has been seeing “The Ultimo Moné” losing her belt collection that has defined her post-WWE run.
After losing all of her gold, Mercedes Moné could find the motivation, desire and will to win the top prize in All Elite Wrestling, finally capturing the title that has eluded her since signing with the company.
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1. Will Ospreay
Despite being injured and sidelined after neck surgery, Will Ospreay still remains at the top of most fans’ list to become a world champion in AEW.
Widely regarded as one of the greatest in-ring competitors of his generation, “The Aerial Assassin” has earned the reputation of a big match performer, regularly delivering instant classics every time he appears on pay-per-view.
While he has given fans some epic encounters over the AEW World Title and in the Owen Hart Cup against the likes of Swerve Strickland and “Hangman” Page, Ospreay has been unable to capture the AEW World Title.
When he does return, it seems like destiny that Ospreay will get another crack at the gold and if it is to happen in Wembley Stadium at AEW All In: London 2026, it might lead to the inevitable coronation of someone many believe to be the best in the world today.
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