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AEW has treated us to numerous marquee matches that we thought we'd never see in its short existence.
From dream matches like Kenny Omega vs Bryan Danielson to FTR vs The Young Bucks, the company has delivered on these much anticipated bouts. With Tony Khan opening the Forbidden Door and welcoming partnerships with other promotions, we might be seeing more first-time matches in 2022.
The following feuds are within the realm of possibility or have been hinted at by the company.
Here are five first-time AEW feuds that we'd like to see happen this year.
#5. Malakai Black vs Darby Allin in AEW
It is inevitable that AEW will put these two dark personas together at some point in time. Malakai Black's ominous presence has been tearing through the company and now it seems like he is building a stable with the introduction of Brody King.
Darby Allin, meanwhile, is one of the most beloved heroes in the company and his alliance with Sting makes them a popular team.
Darby has also openly said in a previous interview that he considers Black a dream opponent when he first debuted in 2021:
“Somebody like him [Malakai Black as his opponent], who has that creative side and does stuff on his own, I find that captivating. I know that sounds generic because he literally just showed up on Wednesday but nobody gets my gears turning more than him, like, ‘okay, we can do some stuff and that would be a lot of fun.’ "
Their in-ring styles could also complement each other well. It will be interesting to see how Black's hard-hitting offense can combat Darby's underdog mentality and high-risk moveset.
This promises to be an intriguing clash that can be an attraction for any future Dynamite or pay-per-view.
#4. AEW Women's championship - Britt Baker vs Serena Deeb
AEW Women's Champion Britt Baker has reigned over the company for nearly a year and there seems to be no challenger in sight. She has already defeated the likes of Riho, Ruby Soho and Kris Statlander. But there are a few opponents that might legitimately threaten her championship reign.
One such wrestler is Serena Deeb, an opponent the D.M.D. has never faced before. The former WWE Superstar is a veteran and on the best run of her career right now. Her heel turn has done wonders for her character, making The Professor more dangerous than she's ever been.
Not only can Deeb provide stiff in-ring competition to the champion, she is also one of the few women on the roster who can challenge her on promos.
During an interview late last year, Deeb stated that she is confident that she will face Britt Baker in the future:
"Right now it’s not really syncing up for us [a feud against Britt Baker] to have our one on one. But at some point, it’s going to happen. Professor vs. Doctor, I think there’s a lot of marketability there and I think her ring work has improved so much from day one in AEW. I also really respect the fact she was an O.G. She was one of the first ones there, she built this division, along with Shida, along with Nyla, Riho. They built this, they laid the groundwork," said Serena Deeb.
There is still room for improvement when it comes to the women's roster, but a Baker and Deeb feud can truly elevate the perception of their division.
#3. AEW Championship - Hangman Page vs Jon Moxley
It is surprising to think that Adam Page and Jon Moxley have never had a proper feud or even a singles match together. The last time they shared a ring was during the Casino Ladder match.
Page would go on to win the bout and eventually become the new AEW World Champion. Moxley, however, is currently taking time off to enter an inpatient alcohol treatment program.
While Moxley's return from rehab will bring a babyface reaction from the crowd, it will be interesting to see if Tony Khan follows through on his previous plan to make him a bad guy. Page is the perfect babyface for him to be feuding with when that time comes.
#2. CM Punk vs MJF is an AEW dream match
AEW's hottest feud at the moment is CM Punk vs. MJF and the two haven't even laid hands on each other yet. It's not a matter of if but when the two stars clash in the ring. In the meantime, they have been engaging in a war of words which has helped to build anticipation among fans.
It has been a rollercoaster ride so far, but the time should soon arrive for Tony Khan to pull the trigger on the high-profile match. MJF and CM Punk have both been angling for a shot at the world title. Their big clash could determine the next number one contender for Hangman's championship.
Regardless of the stakes, this should be a marquee bout presented on the company's biggest stage.
#1. Faction wars: The Elite vs Undisputed Era
AEW originals vs NXT's most popular faction. This seemed like a pipe dream just last year. But when Adam Cole made his stunning debut at All Out, everything changed.
The former NXT champion quickly aligned himself with his former Bullet Club buddies Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks. But he has also paved the way for the debut of Undisputed Era brothers Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly in the company.
The most intriguing element is where Adam Cole's loyalties will lie given his affiliation with both groups. There are plenty of storyline possibilities that can be explored.
Fish and O’Reilly's appearance have caused tension among the Young Bucks as both teams look to challenge for the tag team championships. They might be uneasy allies right now but Kenny Omega's return from injury will change the dynamic once more.
This will be an all-time classic and AEW should definitely present this match in 2022.
