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All Elite Wrestling is a thing. On January 8 2019, AEW rally delivered shocks as longtime WWE legend, Chris Jericho, signed on the dotted line to join the fledgling company.
Also joining was another WWE alumnus, PAC, known in WWE as Neville.
Word is out that the signings are not going to end there. AEW have been linked with the likes of Japanese legend, Shinsuke Nakamura, their Elite comrade, Kenny Omega, who is no longer affiliated with New Japan, and many others.
Some will sign, some will not.
AEW has announced its first show; "Double or Nothing" from Las Vegas, Nevada. The event will take place on May 25 2019 from the MGM Grand Arena, home to many a UFC show over the years. The capacity is over 17,000. If AEW can pull that many fans, then its future is very bright.
Trademarks have been filed for "All Out" which sounds very much like a sequel to last September's mega successful event, "All In". AEW have already announced that their second show will be emanating from Jacksonville, in the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Coliseum; home to many a WWE Raw show, and WWE pay per views.
Will AEW also secure a show at Madison Square Garden, following in the footsteps of Ring of Honor who will promoting an event in WWE's spiritual home on WrestleMania weekend, the first time a wrestling company not named WWE has done so in over 50 years?
Anything seems possible right now, and there is one more question yet to be answered -
Who will be the first champion of the AEW brand?
As yet no announcements of titles have occurred, but it seems more than likely that the company will have at least a heavyweight champion as its figurehead, as it seeks to build on the fantastic momentum it has already.
Who exactly should the first champion in AEW history be? We look at five possibilities and analyse each.
#5 CM Punk
Despite CM Punk calling himself a retired pro-wrestler, there are those who believe a wrestling return in some form is inevitable.
After his MMA career spectacularly yielded two heavy one sided losses at UFC 203 and UFC 225, Punk was left without a clear career path.
Punk is currently working as a commentator for Cage Fury Fighting Championships, but that does not appear to be a long term gig for the "Straight Edge Superstar".
When confronted at why he did not appear at All In, an independent wrestling show held in his home state of Illinois by the AEW squad, Punk said that the Elite boys had sent feelers out to him, but not made a firm offer.
Might Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks do just that for AEW?
If so, there may be no better candidate in wrestling to be the figurehead for the fledgling company than the man who reigned as WWE Champion for 434 days between 2011 and 2013.
Surely Punk would love to stick it to his former employers by becoming the top star of a rival promotion, particularly one backed by a billionaire.
Still seems like a long shot though.
#4 Cody Rhodes
Cody Rhodes' brainchild, AEW, is now a reality. Could the former NWA World Heavyweight Champion reign as the first champion in AEW history?
As well as competing inside the ring, Rhodes is an Executive Vice President of the company, and a producer. Will his backstage responsibilities preclude him from also being the in-ring figurehead of the company?
Possibly.
However, Rhodes is still one of the biggest names on the AEW roster thus far, due to his WWE exposure and legacy as Dusty Rhodes' son and Goldust's younger brother, and would be an excellent choice as champion the casual wrestling fan base would recognise, as well as the hardcore fanbase, who are already attuned to the Elite and their history in Ring of Honor and New Japan.
Rhodes as the inaugural AEW Champion could work wonders for the company, and surely must be under consideration.
#3 Kenny Omega
At time of writing (January 9 2019), Kenny Omega had still not been confirmed as a member of the AEW roster.
What he has done is confirm that he will no longer be competing for New Japan, following his loss of the IWGP Championship at Wrestle Kingdom 13 to Hiroshi Tanahashi.
Rumours had circulated that Omega was WWE bound, but it now appears that Omega will join his Elite buddies in AEW.
Should he do so, then he would be the biggest star in the promotion. Unquestionably the best wrestler on the planet right now, the 35 year old Canadian is the obvious choice to be the very first AEW Champion, if he signs in time to win the title.
However, his New Japan run showed that Omega's greatest strength was in the chase of the title, as it took him over 18 months to win the big one, and the crowd were at fever pitch when he finally did so at Dominion 6.9 in July 2018.
Omega's time might have to wait.
#2 Chris Jericho
The obvious name that stands out on this list is former WWE Champion, Chris Jericho. At the AEW rally, the man last seen wrestling a clinic at New Japan's Wrestle Kingdom 13 shocked the wrestling world by signing with AEW.
This flew in the face of his previous claims that he would never compete in the United States for anybody other than Vince McMahon. He may have temporarily burned his bridges with WWE in joining the fledgling promotion. That proves one thing - AEW have big plans for him.
Do those include the AEW Championship?
It would make sense.
Jericho is a former six time World Champion in WWE, and has main evented WrestleMania and countless other pay per view shows.
At 48 years old, with three decades exposure to wrestling audiences all over the world, is there anyone better to be made the first ever AEW Champion?
#1 Hangman Page
Hangman Page was offered a WWE deal during the fall, but turned it down. He is one of the best up and coming talents in wrestling right now. The 27 year old's future prospects are in good hands with his buddies running the show.
Will the decision makers in the company reward their friend's loyalty with a title run?
Page is a great talent, has the in-ring skill and aura of a top guy, even though he has spent his career thus far in the shadow of his more famous Elite colleagues such as Cody Rhodes and Kenny Omega.
However, that is to be expected, Page is much younger than both, as 27 is very young in wrestling circles, with most wrestlers not winning their first world titles until after they turn 30.
Page will likely ascend the mountain sooner than that, but will he be the first man to do so in AEW?
Page could be the biggest star in wrestling, his time is now. Come on Cody - make him the first AEW Champion.
