Darby Allin

With Double or Nothing less than one month away, one of the biggest questions related to the pay-per-view is who Jon Moxley will defend the AEW World Championship against.

Double or Nothing is set to happen on a closed set with no fans in attendance rather than in Las Vegas as planned because of the coronavirus pandemic, but it still promises to be a huge show, and Moxley will undoubtedly be one of the headliners.

COVID-19 forced AEW to tape a lot of content in advance and the absence of several top stars has made it tough to build storylines, but that may soon change, as AEW President Tony Khan confirmed that Dynamite will return to Daily's Place in Jacksonville, Florida, for a live episode May 6.

With the build toward Double or Nothing likely to ramp up in a big way on that show, here are a few AEW stars who stand out as the top candidates to challenge Moxley at the pay-per-view.

  

Brodie Lee

No performer in AEW has been more consistently dominant in recent weeks than Brodie Lee, who was revealed as the leader of Dark Order last month.

While most of Lee's bouts have been enhancement matches, it is clear that AEW is trying to build him toward a top spot, and it won't be at all surprising if that leads to him getting an AEW World Championship match at Double or Nothing.

After beating Chris Jericho for the title at Revolution and retaining it against Jake Hager a couple of weeks ago, it seems likely that Mox is done with The Inner Circle for now. That is supported by the fact and Jericho and Co. seem more preoccupied with Matt Hardy and The Elite.

If that is the case, then someone new has to emerge, and Lee makes sense on multiple levels.

For starters, Lee is the leader of a heel stable, and Moxley is coming off a feud with the leader of a heel stable in Jericho. Moxley thrives as the lone wolf babyface who is ready and willing to beat the odds at all times, which is an angle that AEW could go back to with Moxley against Lee and all of Dark Order.

Also, Lee previously wrestled in WWE as Luke Harper where he and Moxley, then known as Dean Ambrose, mixed it up plenty of times.

Since Lee and Moxley already have familiarity and chemistry, putting them in the ring against each other on somewhat short notice with little build is a good way to mitigate the risk of the AEW World Championship match falling flat.

While it may seem a bit soon to put Lee in such a big spot, having him go for the title early will help establish him as a top heel, and there are also ways for him to lose without looking bad, such as botched interference from his minions, which would play into his unreasonable boss character.

   

MJF

MJF began 2020 on an absolute roll and scored the biggest victory of his career at Revolution when he cheated to defeat Cody.

While MJF seemed well on his way to the top of the card and an AEW Championship opportunity, things changed due to the coronavirus pandemic. MJF hasn't had a match since the March 11 episode of Dynamite and his appearances have been sporadic.

MJF appeared on last week's show and cut a promo in front of his home saying he was injured. While it is possible that the injury could be legitimate, it is likely that AEW is using it as a storyline explanation for MJF being away due to the fact that he is from an area that has been hit hard by COVID-19.

AEW has avoided using wrestlers based in coronavirus hot spots such as New York and California, but that may soon change with Dynamite going back live May 6.

If that is the case and MJF isn't actually injured, he makes plenty of sense as Moxley's opponent. He has earned the right based on his victory over Cody, plus he is arguably the strongest heel AEW has.

MJF and Moxley could have some great battles on the mic, plus the presence of Wardlow in MJF's corner would allow Moxley to work as the underdog.

Starting the feud this late in the game wouldn't be ideal, but MJF is such a skilled heel that he could make an AEW World title feud and match with Moxley feel like a big deal in a short amount of time.

   

Darby Allin

Moxley's Double or Nothing opponent could depend on how the TNT Championship tournament plays out on Wednesday's episode of Dynamite.

The semifinals of the tourney are scheduled for Wednesday with Cody facing Darby Allin and Lance Archer taking on Dustin Rhodes. If Cody and Archer win as expected to set up an anticipated showdown at Double or Nothing, it would leave a clear path for Allin to the AEW World Championship.

While Moxley and Allin are technically both babyfaces, Allin is more of a tweener who is willing to act heelish and work against faces in certain situations.

Moxley and Allin already have plenty of history that could contribute to them facing off at Double or Nothing.

They had a singles match against each other back in November that Moxley won, and they later teamed together in March against Jericho and Sammy Guevara.

Mox never made it into the match, though, since he was attacked by The Inner Circle ahead of time. That forced Allin to fight on his own in a losing effort. It wasn't until the match was over that Moxley showed up and attempted to fight back.

Perhaps Allin could spin Moxley's absence into a narrative that Mox purposely hung him out to dry, which would be a good jumping-off point for their rivalry.

    

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

Much of the attention in All Elite Wrestling goes to the stars at the tippy top of the promotional pyramid. The wrestlers main-eventing on pay-per-view shoulder the bulk of the media responsibilities and both the fan praise and criticism alike.

And that's probably how it should be.

These are the wrestlers best-suited for the spotlight right now, competent, seasoned professionals with the experience to handle the pressure that comes from having all eyes on you. The life of the company depends on these performances both inside the ring and out, and it only makes sense to put people in those roles who are ready to succeed right away.

Jon Moxley, Chris Jericho, Cody Rhodes and Matt Hardy are all established wrestling superstars with one thing in common beyond their Hall of Fame pedigrees—and that's extended runs in Vince McMahon's WWE. Wrestling fans know them, and they've created a legacy and a relationship with the fans they've carried with them into this new venture.

The truth is, it will be rare, going forward, to find a high-profile free agent who hasn't spent time in the WWE system. New York has been the mecca for professional wrestlers, after all, longer than most of us have been alive.

But that common experience has done more than help generations of wrestling talent shine under the brightest of lights. It's also given AEW, in certain circles, an unfair rap as a promotion full of its competition's leftovers, a place for failed WWE stars to come for a second chance at success.

This episode of AEW Dynamite, like so many others before it, shows that criticism of the promotion to be unfounded at best and cynical nonsense at worst. Because, while it's the WWE veterans who have secured many of the prime spots in the AEW hierarchy, it's the newcomers and found gold that have given the promotion luster and life.

Far from feeling like a WWE knockoff, the combination of old talent energized by a fresh start and wrestlers new to the national stage has helped AEW create something vibrant and unique. AEW is a Frankenstein's monster, a mixture of old-school WCW, the energy of ECW and the ethos of the modern indies quite distinct from the sports entertainment WWE has presented for over a decade now.

The quarterfinal matches in the TNT Championship tournament was the perfect example of the balance AEW has maintained throughout its short existence. Dustin Rhodes main-evented the show, but it was the opening match between newcomers Darby Allin and Sammy Guevara he was attempting to equal, two young prospects who have lit a fire underneath a roster that has been forced to do more than merely jog in place to stay a step ahead.

https://twitter.com/sammyguevara/status/1253129033337974785

Allin and Guevara, two otherworldly athletic talents with charisma oozing off them by the bucket full are hardly alone. They were followed by the cult superstar Orange Cassidy, the personification of "too cool to care," who has become one of the promotion's most popular figures despite (or because of) doing, well, absolutely nothing.

The week before it was Dr. Britt Baker, and before the pandemic, Jurassic Express was on the same rocket ship to the stratosphere. Acts like Penelope Ford, Kris Statlander and Joey Janela are just an opportunity away from a similar chance to take the wrestling world by storm.

AEW isn't a promotion full of the scraps left over after the WWE machine was created. It's, instead, a promising new creation built with parts from all over the wrestling world, the diversity of style and approach a feature to be shared, not a weakness to strip away until only an exhausting sameness of purpose and intent remains.

In an era of overwritten, overproduced wrestling, AEW has brought the wrestler back into the creative process—and the difference is obvious. The promotion trusts its talent to follow their own instincts and hearts. And, it turns out, when wrestlers care about the material they're performing and feel invested in it, good things happen. It creates an authenticity that doesn't (and can't) exist when the same television writers attempt to create dialogue for 20 different characters.

“You're special. There is a gift that you have.”
The story of @scorpiosky and his life long journey in professional wrestling.#AEWonTNT @AEWonTNT pic.twitter.com/jtigstS5AM

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) April 23, 2020

The AEW formula for creating new stars is innovative in its simplicity. Generally, they film an introductory video, giving the audience the opportunity to meet the wrestler and get a glimpse of their world. From there, it's totally in the talent's hands to sink or swim.

Allin and Guevara not only have distinct in-ring styles but also film different kinds of promos and video packages. Each AEW wrestler has the freedom to create the kind of character that works for them.

And, so far, it's worked for me too.

     

Jonathan Snowden covers combat sports for Bleacher Report.

The eight-man TNT Championship tournament kicked off during Wednesday's episode of All Elite Wrestling Dynamite when Cody defeated Shawn Spears in a tightly contested match to move into the semifinals.

The tourney will continue to play out over the next several weeks, and there are three first-round matches remaining: Darby Allin vs. Sammy Guevara, Lance Archer vs. Colt Cabana and Dustin Rhodes vs. Kip Sabian.

With an eye toward the semis and the final at the Double or Nothing pay-per-view—originally set for May 23 but up in the air after the scheduled venue's owner, MGM, suspended its operations in Las Vegas until at least May 31—look for the remainder of the first round to play out in the following manner.

                          

Darby Allin vs. Sammy Guevara

On Cody's side of the bracket, the rivalry between Darby Allin and Inner Circle member Sammy Guevara will continue.

At AEW Revolution in February, Allin endured a brutal beating at the hands of Guevara but still managed to pick up one of his biggest wins in AEW. Beating Guevara in the TNT title tournament would arguably be even bigger since it would bring him one step closer to his first major championship.

Professional wrestling tropes suggest Guevara should win since he is a heel and his Inner Circle faction is feuding with Cody and The Elite, but recent events suggest it won't go that way.

Cody and Allin recently faced Spears and Guevara in the main event of Dynamite. After Cody and Allin took the loss, the former attempted to help up the latter, who clocked him and left the ring. Some may have perceived that as a heel turn, but it was more a case of furthering Allin's loner character and showing he is willing to do whatever it takes to get to the top alone.

Given that interaction and the fact that Cody and Allin have no shortage of history with one another, look for Allin to beat Guevara to set up a semifinal showdown with Cody.

                      

Lance Archer vs. Colt Cabana

Lance Archer and WWE Hall of Famer Jake "The Snake" Roberts made it clear from the start that their eyes are firmly on Cody.

A match between Archer and Cody seems inevitable at one point, and the TNT Championship tournament appears tailor-made to make it happen in the final at Double or Nothing. With Cody and Archer on opposite sides of the bracket, they are on a collision course.

Archer has been dominant during his brief stint in AEW, and it is difficult to envision Colt Cabana posing much of a threat to him in the quarters.

Cabana is a talented performer in his own right and a quality babyface, which makes him an ideal first-round opponent for Archer since it will make it easier for him to earn some heat if he brutalizes his rival. While Cabana has plenty of size and physicality, Archer somehow still dwarfs him in those areas, and all signs point toward The Murderhawk running through Cabana without a ton of resistance.

If that happens, it will continue to build anticipation toward a clash with Cody.

                     

Dustin Rhodes vs. Kip Sabian

Dustin Rhodes is a 50-year-old veteran who doesn't necessarily need a title to come across as important, while Kip Sabian is an up-and-coming star who would benefit greatly from a run in the TNT Championship tournament.

That would seem to suggest that Sabian should beat Rhodes and advance to the semis, but that is unlikely to happen because of the story that is being told. If the goal is to get to Cody vs. Archer, then advancing Dustin to the semifinals for a match against Archer would be the ideal way to set it up.

Not only would Archer vs. Dustin be a quality match since they are both big, physical brawlers, but it could be the perfect way to make the rivalry between Archer and Cody even more personal. Were Archer to leave Dustin battered and bloodied, it would give Cody even more incentive to get revenge in the final.

Despite his talent, Sabian still hasn't gotten the push he deserves. And while this tournament would be a good place to get the ball rolling, he will probably have to wait a while longer.

                 

Listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot wrestling topics. Catch the latest episode in the player below (warning: some language NSFW).

After All Elite Wrestling had to put its Blood and Guts match on hold, something just as effective was needed to fill the gap.

Over the coming weeks, an eight-man tournament will determine who wins the AEW TNT Championship at Double or Nothing on May 23.

Crowning an inaugural champion is not an easy task. Whoever wins it will set the tone for the title and future champions to come. They should be elevated by the title and bring credibility to the belt in return.

AEW has an opportunity to create its equivalent of the classic WWE Intercontinental Championship, and it all starts with the right pick for the first-ever titleholder.

So who should win the AEW TNT Championship? Let's look at the competitors and the bracket.

At first glance, the left side of the bracket stands a better chance of producing a winner. All four wrestlers could make for a great champion at some point, so it's harder to pick the finalist from there.

In comparison, the right half of the draw is slightly weaker. Dustin Rhodes' status as a veteran is well past the point that he should be winning titles over seven younger stars who could benefit more from winning the tournament.

As Kip Sabian and Colt Cabana are at odds with each other, it would make sense for them to face off in the semifinals. Both would offer something as champion, as Sabian is a talented up-and-comer while Cabana is a popular veteran.

However, there are bigger fish to fry and their feud can play out beyond the tournament, particularly as they aren't on opposite ends of the bracket to make for their clash the final.

For even a semifinal bout to happen, though, as easy as Sabian could beat Rhodes, Cabana would also have to beat Lance Archer, who has a more dominant stature and presence. That's unlikely to happen.

With that being said, Rhodes may not be out in the first round. He doesn't have as bad of a losing record as someone like Peter Avalon or Brandon Cutler and has scored some decent victories over The Inner Circle.

If he beats Sabian, though, he'll fall to Archer. That may be the plan to help further push the Archer vs. Cody story, which may be the key to all this. It's safe to assume he's the finalist on the right side.

On the left, Shawn Spears has been on the hunt for a tag team partner. He could use something like this to propel himself into a more serious spot on the roster, but that story shouldn't be abandoned for a singles push. Therefore, he should lose to Cody.

Sammy Guevara and Darby Allin would make fantastic champions. They've already proved themselves to be two of the best athletes in AEW and are young enough to be future stars to build around.

Neither is quite ready to be the top dog, though, so giving them this title as an alternative would be a great stepping stone.

That boils things down to Cody, Guevara or Allin against Archer in the final. All four have immense potential as champion. AEW can't go wrong with any of those picks.

Allin may be the easiest to write off, though. The crowd would support his reign, but he's also an underdog. The chase will likely be bigger for him than the run with the belt itself, and there's plenty of time for him to win it in the future.

Guevara almost feels like the obvious pick, but it's hard to picture ghim beating Archer in the final. It's unlikely the Cabana vs. Sabian story would be pushed aside in favor of one of those two against Guevera, either, particularly a heel like Sabian.

Instead, the safe bet is the final comes down to Cody vs. Archer. Jake Roberts has requested a match between the two, but Cody hasn't accepted it yet. However, he'd be forced to fight him in the tournament.

Roberts has also spoken about how his mission is to topple the great Caesar and diminish his power. Is there no better way than to take this title from his grasp?

Giving the belt to Archer would make him a hot commodity in AEW. Winning a tournament by beating one of the executive vice presidents to enter the record books as the first TNT champion makes for three big things in one night.

But it's actually Cody who makes even more sense as the first champion.

Can the #AmericanNightmare @CodyRhodes become your first-ever #AEW #TNTChampion?⁠ ⁠
⁠
He goes up against #TheChairman @Perfec10n in his Quarter Final match in the #TNTChampionship Tournament.⁠
⁠
Watch #AEWDynamite every Wednesday night on @TNTDrama 8e/7c. #AEWonTNT @AEWonTNT pic.twitter.com/BVOPtn4WW7

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) April 7, 2020

He has more credibility than anyone on the roster save for Chris Jericho and Jon Moxley. His popularity is up at the very top, his passion is undeniable and his drive would make for a great run.

Cody can work with a wide range of opponents in technical matches and more hardcore brawls, whether they're bigger or smaller. That will provide a variety of challengers down the line to freshen things up and avoid what could be a monotonous "big guy squashes everyone" run with Archer.

From a marketing standpoint, The American Nightmare holding the title would be great for TNT. He's bound to do significantly more press coverage and media interviews than anyone else in this tournament, which would give the belt more prestige.

It also gives him a title he can make his own. As per the stipulations of his match against Jericho at Full Gear, Cody is not supposed to be able to challenge for the AEW World Championship ever again.

Assuming AEW sticks to that, this could be Cody's title.

As a legitimate main event talent, he would be able to give back to the title and make it feel like it's not an obvious step below Moxley's world championship.

At the end of the day, the belt and the man make each other, so any one of these eight could do well, but it should be Cody holding the TNT Championship when all is said and done.

---

Tune into TNT on Wednesday nights at 8 p.m. ET to catch all the action of All Elite Wrestling: Dynamite.

Anthony Mango is the owner of the wrestling website Smark Out Moment and the host of the podcast show Smack Talk on YouTube, iTunes and Stitcher. You can follow him on Facebook and elsewhere for more.

After his own better nature left Darby Allin on the victim's end of a Shawn Spears schoolboy roll-up, a lightbulb seemed to snap on. Allin left his partner Cody Rhodes lying when the match was over before storming to the back. The young wrestler may have been temporarily teamed with Cody against Spears and Sammy Guevara—but when the TNT Championship tournament begins next week, it will be every man for himself.

Dustin Rhodes, Lance Archer, Colt Cabana and Kip Sabian will join the four wrestlers to battle in a tournament for AEW's latest championship belt, an homage to the old NWA TV title that AEW head honcho Tony Khan announced Monday.

The eight-man tournament, set to culminate at AEW Double or Nothing in Las Vegas on May 23, adds a much-needed prize for the AEW midcard and adds some gravitas to bouts that might otherwise seem to exist merely to fill television time. It's a chance for wrestlers who may not be ready, either storyline-wise or in their career progressions, to do something meaningful and achieve the kind of milestones all legends pass on their roads to glory.

AEW has done an amazing job setting up meaningful main event programs. The battles between Cody and MJF, Chris Jericho and Jon Moxley, and the internal struggles of The Elite have all been compelling, well-conceived stories. But wrestlers in the middle of the card have had less-defined motivations. Another championship will serve as an easy storytelling device to elevate wrestlers with promise out of the pack and get them started on the path to reaching the main event level.

Bleacher Report will break down each competitor and determine both who will win and, more importantly, why. Let's take a look at all eight wrestlers and then pick a winner. You can tell me what you think in the comments.

     

Cody

Analysis: The biggest name in this tournament, the TNT Championship provides Cody an opportunity to win an AEW singles title that didn't previously exist. After all, he's pledged never to compete for the AEW World Heavyweight Championship. Perhaps his goal is to win this belt and make it just as prestigious in the fans' eyes?

Does He Need It: Cody is the top babyface in the promotion already. While it might be cool to see him wearing gold, he doesn't need the additional help to establish his character or provide his feuds gravitas.

Odds: +200

     

Shawn Spears

Analysis: Spears entered AEW and was immediately immersed in a blood feud with Cody. It's been downhill ever since, as he's gradually descended all the way to opening-match status. He's a solid veteran and Tully Blanchard gives his act some additional oomph—but I can't see him walking out of this field with a strap around his waist and the proverbial rocket on his back.

Does He Need It: Desperately. But Spears winning the title would immediately make the belt seem unimportant in the overall scheme of things, essentially the opposite effect AEW is shooting for.

Odds: +2000

     

Sammy Guevara

Analysis: The "Spanish God" has benefitted immensely from his time in Chris Jericho's Inner Circle. Every week he adds polish to an act that was already spit-shined until it gleamed. He's got physical tools and charisma for days. He's the kind of wrestler a midcard belt was created to showcase. This is a young kid who is most definitely going places.

Does He Need It: Guevara has had plenty of breakout moments on TNT—including posing prettily in the ring with Jericho, eating the world's most brutal superkick courtesy of Matt Jackson and singing "Judas" with MJF two weeks on Dynamite. But he doesn't have a signature match—yet. Winning this belt might be the first of many legendary title runs in a career that has plenty of promising days ahead.

Odds: -150

The coffin drop from up high!
Watch #AEWDynamite NOW on @TNTDrama 8e/7c #AEWonTNT @AEWonTNT pic.twitter.com/MmBnILYr1y

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) April 2, 2020

     

Darby Allin

Analysis: Before he had his shoulder pinned to the mat at the end, Allin climbed up a pole ringside like a spider monkey, screamed out "hey a--hole" and launched himself onto both Spears and Sammy with his Coffin Drop, essentially an ultra-dangerous trust fall. It was a moment that spoke volumes about who Allin is in the ring—fearless, reckless and deranged.

Does He Need It: The audience has taken to him in a major way. But, right now, he's a star waiting for an opportunity to shine. He's ready for something big—but the official promotional stamp of approval doesn't feel like it. He's an outsider and doesn't need the company's approval to make his mark. He'll go on doing that with or without the imprimatur.

Odds: +100

     

Dustin Rhodes

Analysis: The 50-year-old Rhodes, Cody's older brother, is a legitimate living legend. He started wrestling on Turner television way back in 1988 and has done almost everything there is to do in the business. But he hasn't held singles gold since he stole Ted DiBiase's "Million Dollar title" in a wacky WWE angle a decade ago. Winning the inaugural TNT Championship would be a heck of a way to ride off into the sunset.

Does He Need It: Are you kidding me? He's Dustin Rhodes. He wrestled the Blacktop Bully in the back of a moving truck on pay-per-view. He doesn't need anything to prove who he is and what he means to the business.

Odds: +500

     

Kip Sabian

Analysis: I keep waiting for Sabian to impress me. Perhaps this tournament will be the time? Right now, he's in the substantial shadow of his better half Penelope Ford. A high-profile championship win would certainly change that.

Does He Need It: It would be a huge moment for Sabian. But he doesn't feel established enough yet to leap from the undercard to the middle of the pack.

Odds: +750

A big release suplex by the #MurderHawkMonster @LanceHoyt!
Watch #AEWDynamite NOW on @TNTDrama 8e/7c #AEWonTNT @AEWonTNT pic.twitter.com/38h3rxVdPH

— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) April 2, 2020

     

Lance Archer

Analysis: Archer officially debuted against Marko Stunt in this episode of Dynamite. Poor little fella. He made mincemeat out of Stunt and has the potential to do the same to any man on the roster. Archer is big, mean and surprisingly technical. With Jake Roberts helping him call the shots, he'll be wicked and wise too. That's a tough combination to overcome.

Does He Need It: Archer and Roberts set their sights on Cody from the moment they entered AEW. Meeting and beating him in the finals of the TNT Championship tournament would establish Archer (and the title) as part of the show that matters.

Odds: -350

     

Colt Cabana

Analysis: Commentator, podcaster, comedian—and also a wrestler! Is there anything Cabana can't do? A veteran of the independent scene, Cabana is best-known these days for his lighthearted comedy matches. But he can still go when the moment calls for it. With Archer, he'll be fighting to survive, not for a laugh.

Does He Need It: Cabana is a cult of personality. He doesn't need a title belt to get over and, frankly, it would probably get in the way of his act.

Odds: +400

     

Prediction: Cody emerges from the brutal left side of the bracket to meet Lance Archer. The difference-maker will be Jake Roberts, a little savvier than Arn Anderson in the coaching role on the opposite side of the ring. Archer, in his pay-per-view debut, walks away with the very first TNT Championship belt.

     

Jonathan Snowden covers combat sports for Bleacher Report.