Stars who should win each AEW title in 2022 – AEW World Champion, TNT Champion

AEW presents its first special event of 2022 this week with the Battle Of The Belts. It’s set to be a new tradition for AEW, with TNT airing four Saturday night specials per year going forward. Think WWE Night of Champions meets Saturday Night’s Main Event.

AEW has confirmed that Dr. Britt Baker will be defending her Women's Championship at the event. The reigning women's champion will put her title on the line against arch-rival Riho.

While not all AEW titleholders are putting their championships up for grabs, it does get you thinking about the contenders for each belt. Which AEW stars are ready to hold the gold in 2022? Here we look at five potential titleholders for each championship in the company.

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#5. AEW's Ruby Soho for TBS Champion

This could happen as soon as this week. Ruby Soho should become the first-ever TBS Champion. The former WWE Superstar has breathed new life into her career ever since she made the jump to AEW at All Out last year.

It’s the most compelling she’s ever been, and The Runaway has never looked happier. Beating Jade Cargill in the finals of the TBS Championship Tournament would be well-deserved for one of the best women’s wrestlers on the AEW roster.

#4. Bobby Fish & Kyle O'Reilly as AEW Tag Team Champions

AEW's newest faction is ready to shock the system. It’s wild to think that three-quarters of Undisputed Era is now on AEW television. But NXT’s loss is Tony Khan’s gain. Kyle O’Reilly made his surprise debut at the tail end of last year and quickly aligned himself with Adam Cole and Bobby Fish.

Who needs The Young Bucks when you have your black and gold brothers by your side? We are salivating at the thought of an Elite vs. Undisputed civil war with Adam Cole caught in the middle. The first step is to get Fish and O’Reilly into tag team title contention.

#3. Thunder Rosa as AEW Women's Champion

The current AEW Women’s Champion is a beloved figure. But if she must drop the belt, the most credible contender should be Thunder Rosa. Who can forget their amazing and brutal Lights Out match that made the dentist an absolute star?

What might have slipped most fans’ minds, however, is the fact that it was La Mera Mera who won that bout. Thunder Rosa has the champ’s number, and she would make a great fighting champion.

#2. AEW's Malakai Black as TNT Champion

AEW's House of Black deserves some gold. Malakai Black is currently the only compelling supernatural character in wrestling right now. Imagine the reign of terror he could unleash on the AEW roster as its TNT Champion.

Some might argue that he doesn’t need a belt, but we’re all for having the Dutchman on our screens more. The TNT title is low-key building a great lineage of champions, and Black would make for a captivating addition.

#1. Cody Rhodes as AEW World Champion

AEW's Cody Rhodes is not a face. He is not a heel. He is a winner. The American Nightmare should go back on his word and challenge for AEW’s top belt. Imagine the chaos and bedlam on social media for the company's most divisive figure.

Whether by design or coincidence, Cody is splitting the audience on the level of John Cena at this point. Whether it is vitriol or support, the AEW fans are reacting to Cody and everybody has an opinion on his character.

We’ve seen the anger on social media when he won the TNT Championship from a beloved babyface in Sammy Guevara. It’s time for Rhodes to complete his turn towards the dark side and snuff out AEW’s biggest good guy, Hangman Adam Page. 2022 will be the year where The American Nightmare truly begins.