AEW’s version of the world championship was first won by Chris Jericho upon its creation in 2019.
To date, nine individuals have held the title.
The current titleholder, Jon Moxley, is now in his fourth reign and is set to defend the championship against former champion Samoa Joe in a steel cage match on May 14, during AEW’s Dynamite TV special Beach Break.
With other challengers already waiting in the wings, here are our predictions for the next five AEW World Heavyweight Champions.
5. Hangman Adam Page
On this week’s Dynamite, Hangman Adam Page defeated Kyle Fletcher in the semi-final of the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament.
This victory secured him a place in the final against Will Ospreay at AEW’s Double or Nothing pay-per-view on May 25.
If Hangman beats Ospreay at the PPV, he’ll move on to challenge Jon Moxley at AEW’s biggest show of the year, All In.
With All In taking place in Texas, where better for the Cowboy – the ultimate hero in the eyes of AEW’s fanbase – to end Moxley’s reign of terror and capture his second AEW World Championship?
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4. Swerve Strickland
It appeared that Adam Page and Swerve Strickland’s blood feud came to an end on Dynamite on April 2, with Swerve seemingly showing remorse for his past actions.
Should Page capture the world title, it could, however, reignite their hostilities.
Full Gear 2025, the site of their infamous Texas Death Match in 2023, could set the stage for another brutal showdown – this time, for the AEW World Championship.
And if that happens, Swerve could be on course to become a two-time champion himself.
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3. Will Ospreay
Since officially joining the AEW roster full-time in February 2024, Will Ospreay has arguably become the most over babyface in the company.
However, one accolade that has eluded him so far is the AEW World Heavyweight Championship.
At last year’s Forbidden Door, he challenged then-champion Swerve Strickland and was defeated in a match widely celebrated as one of the year’s best.
With Swerve once again holding the title, a rematch would offer Ospreay the chance to redeem his loss – and, more importantly, to finally capture the championship and cement himself as the face of the company.
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2. Konosuke Takeshita
Speaking of AEW matches that have received critical acclaim, Will Ospreay’s two singles bouts with Konosuke Takeshita are considered among the best in company history.
In their previous encounters – Revolution 2024 and the April 16 edition of Dynamite – Ospreay has come out on top both times.
Takeshita, widely regarded as one of the best wrestlers in the world over the past several years, surely won’t have to wait much longer before AEW pulls the trigger and straps him up with the world title.
And what better way to do it than in a world title classic against his rival, Ospreay?
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1. Darby Allin
It was rumoured last year that Darby Allin was in line to become AEW World Heavyweight Champion.
As Jon Moxley’s reign of terror title reign began in late 2024, many expected that Allin would ultimately be the one to dethrone him.
That moment never came, with the 32-year-old thrill-seeker instead taking time away from the ring to climb Mount Everest.
A triumphant return – first winning a feud with Moxley – could finally position Allin for the title shot fans have long anticipated, becoming an unlikely but well-deserving world champion.
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