10 Wild Outside Bets To Become AEW World Champion

10. Dustin Rhodes

The former Goldust has stated that 2023 will be his last year in wrestling, and it’s fair to say the senior Rhodes boy has done almost everything one can in the business. From a nepotism-tinged start, he overcame the shadow of his father, accumulated many years in WWE, portrayed a unique character, and enjoyed the winter of his career doing some of his best work.

He’s never been world champion, though, and perhaps that ought to change. Rhodes is the definition of a sentimental favourite in his latter days, and the babyface pop he would garner were he to snatch AEW’s top prize would be monumental. His recent match with Will Hobbs - a little gem on Collision - shows he can still go, even if the end is near.

Ideally, this fantasy booking would see the company following through on CM Punk’s “real world’s champion” claims. The two ex-WWE guys have locked horns in a bout with a surprising edge to it, and straight edge Punk vs someone with past substance issues has always written itself in the past.

Obviously Rhodes couldn’t realistically hold the title for more than a cup of coffee, but his incredible career deserves celebrating while he’s still around to enjoy the adulation.