10 Contenders For The First AEW Midcard Championship
Who should be the first to hold a new AEW Men's Championship?
So, this whole AEW malarkey is going pretty well.
Since the company's birth earlier this year, All Elite Wrestling has gone from strength to strength. They've put on critically acclaimed shows, signed some of the hottest stars in the world, and won over legions of fans. AEW is now a fully established brand with a fleshed-out roster and an array of championships. Both their Men's and Women's divisions have World Champions, and they just crowned their first ever Men's Tag Team Champions.
But what's next for AEW?
If they follow in the footsteps of literally every other wrestling promotion ever, then it's a secondary men's title. A secondary title gives AEW's midcard something to fight over, and can help drive stories going forward. It can also help elevate talents to the next level, turning midcarders into headliners.
Who knows when AEW will introduce this belt, but if and when they do, they will have plenty of choices for a first champion.
If you have a suggestion for who you want to see hold the belt first, let us know in the comments, but for now...
10. Joey Janela
Joey Janela is establishing himself as a solid act in AEW.
He appeared for the company at their proto-show, All In, in 2018 and has been prominently featured ever since, recently putting on two stellar matches with Kenny Omega.
Janela isn't quite main event quality yet - despite being a good worker, he's still shedding his hardcore image, which is currently limiting him to the midcard. However, this could change given a solid championship run.
Janela has already held titles in promotions such as CZW, so he's no stranger to gold. He's also very popular with the AEW fanbase and would be a great choice for a babyface champion to establish the new title.
Janela could overcome his hardcore image by convincingly beating more established technical wrestlers in a tournament. Finally, he could put on a great match in the final, capturing the title in a standard singles match.
With a strong look, a strong following, and readymade story, The Bad Boy would be a great choice for the first AEW midcard champion.