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When Cody Rhodes became the first AEW TNT Champion there was a lot of talk about opportunity. The current two-time titleholder had a string of open challenges over the summer that featured a great range between upcoming AEW talent and some of the best independent talents that professional wrestling has to offer.
In fact, both Ricky Starks and Eddie Kingston leveraged the opportunities they gained in their matches with Cody on AEW Dynamite into full-time contracts. After Mr. Brodie Lee became the TNT Champion, the theme of the championship changed, but the title found itself back around the waist of the American Nightmare.
Instead of the open challenges that we got earlier on in the year, the company is repeating the match with Orange Cassidy. Meanwhile, the title defense against Darby Allin at Full Gear has already been announced.
After Full Gear, the TNT title needs to get back to what it was originally envisioned to be. A championship that allowed excellent talent that isn't currently getting their fair shake a shot to rise to prominence with All Elite Wrestling.
While it would be easy to look to independent wrestlers for new challenges, there are plenty of men on the AEW roster, new and old alike, that deserve their shot at gold right now.
Let's look at five men currently on the AEW roster that should be future contenders for Rhodes' TNT Championship.
#5. The Dark Horse of AEW's Dark Order, John Silver
When the Dark Order initially debuted for AEW, it didn't go over well. The crowd really didn't take to the group at all and dismissed them rather quickly as an act that the fanbase really didn't care about.
Fast forward to today and the Dark Order is thriving on AEW programming. Their leader, "The Exalted One" Mr. Brodie Lee, the original duo in Evil Uno and Stu Grayson, and the first female member of the group, Anna Jay, have become fixtures in their respective divisions.
However, there is an unsung hero of that group; someone who has allowed his charisma and personality to shine through every time a camera is on him. Whether it's on Dynamite, Dark, or Being the Elite, John Silver has become a star for AEW in 2020.
If there were large crowds at AEW shows right now, one could only imagine the type of response Silver would get each time he showed up in front of thousands on hand every week. For now, we just need to judge by his reactions from a small number of fans in attendance and social media.
Getting a TNT title shot would be a great way to acknowledge that all of Silver's hard work this year hasn't gone unnoticed. Win or lose, a great match with the champion can make someone in this company. Silver deserves this chance and it would be great to see it happen sooner rather than later.
#4. AEW's Spanish God, Sammy Guevara deserves a TNT title shot
The first match in AEW Dynamite history featured the current TNT Champion, Cody, who took on at the time a young and upcoming talent in Sammy Guevara. There can only be one first match in the Dynamite record books and these two will always have it.
It should say a lot about what AEW thinks of Guevara that they trusted him with such a spot on live primetime television. He didn't let them down and has continued to improve his craft in every aspect ever since. Working alongside a living legend such as Chris Jericho has probably helped his progress along with a great deal.
While the Spanish God has gotten plenty of opportunities during his time with All Elite Wrestling, a shot at singles gold has eluded him. Nevertheless, one would have to believe that it's only a matter of time before Guevara holds an AEW championship.
After Full Gear and the Elite Deletion, the feud between Guevara and Matt Hardy should finally be over. Both of them haven't had great luck against each other all year, so a fresh change and opponent will be beneficial to both men.
You best believe that Jericho would be very happy to see the youngest member of the Inner Circle bring some gold back to the group. As it stands, it's clear that Guevara is probably the best chance the stable has to win a championship over the course of the next several months.
#3. It's time to get Miro's AEW career off the ground
When Miro made his AEW debut over the summer, there was a lot of excitement around the arrival of the Bulgarian Brute. Fans immediately gushed over dream matches against the likes of "Hangman" Adam Page, Brian Cage, and Kenny Omega. Well, we're still waiting on all of that.
Since his debut, Miro has been stuck in a tag team with Kip Sabian as "The Best Man" not only for Sabian's upcoming wedding to Penelope Ford but simply as the best, period. While the pairing and its gimmick are fine, Miro's fanbase expected more than what they've gotten so far and some are quickly growing impatient with how the company is utilizing him.
Although it looks like the Best Man and Kip are on a collision course with Best Friends at Full Gear, many are hoping that this match is a one and done and Miro can move on to bigger and better things with All Elite Wrestling.
Miro wasn't used correctly for the majority of his career with WWE following his loss to John Cena at WrestleMania 31. So, everyone hoped his move to AEW would lead to something different. So far, no dice.
Still, it's only a matter of time until AEW President Tony Khan will realize that every Wednesday is Miro Day. Regardless of who the TNT Champion is when they meet up with Miro, it's game over for them.
#2. AEW needs Broken Matt Hardy as TNT Champion
2020 hasn't been a good year for just about anyone. Matt Hardy can absolutely relate as far as his luck has been concerned in professional wrestling this year. Just one bad accident after another has prevented Hardy from truly showing the world what he can do with AEW.
Those who are only familiar with Hardy's broken character from WWE are absolutely missing out on the true potential of this unconventional gimmick. The Broken Universe that Hardy created and popularized during his time with IMPACT Wrestling was some of the most entertaining stuff on weekly wrestling television from any company.
With the creative freedom the talent is given to shine with AEW, everyone assumed once Hardy got there that the world would be able to see what Broken Matt Hardy was all about. Unfortunately, that just hasn't been the case so far.
Hardy is looking to exorcise all of his 2020 demons at Full Gear against Guevara in an Elite Deletion match that will be filmed from the Hardy Compound where several of the most magical moments from the Broken Universe have taken place. If all goes according to plan, AEW can write the final chapter between these two men and allow both of them to move forward.
If Hardy gets the win, it would absolutely make sense to see him challenge for AEW gold afterward to strike while the iron is hot so to speak. If Hardy were to challenge for the TNT title and win it, the possibilities are endless. Watching him defend the title across the Multiverse would prove to be extremely entertaining.
#1 AEW needs to pull the trigger on Shawn Spears
It's time for the "good hand" to get his due with All Elite Wrestling. While fans might not realize it since a majority of it has occurred on AEW Dark, Shawn Spears has amassed a very impressive win-loss record with the company in 2020.
While his loss to the current TNT Champion Cody at the first-ever AEW All Out halted the Chairman's momentum, he's been slowly scratching and clawing his way back to the top of the company. With Tully Blanchard at his side, a man who has already led FTR to championship gold, it's only a matter of time before he does the same for Spears.
It's probably only a foregone conclusion that eventually Blanchard will align Spears together with FTR and creates some kind of powerful stable in AEW. At that point, it would be a good reason to put Spears back on AEW Dynamite every Wednesday where he belongs.
Sometimes, all someone really needs is an opportunity. Considering that is what the TNT Championship is supposed to be all about, it would be poetic if Spears was the one to end Cody's second run with the title, avenging his loss against him at All Out. In a company where wins and losses are supposed to matter, Spears is someone who should absolutely be rewarded right now for his record in 2020.
