Smark Out Moment

Welcome to another edition of Triple Threat from Smark Out Moment, where three of us get together to discuss three questions based on one big topic going down in the week of professional wrestling.

This week, Dallas Allsopp, Ethan Neufeld and Tony Mango will be sharing their predictions for AEW in 2020.

AEW's first year was a strong one, as they firmly established themselves as the number 2 wrestling promotion in North America. Can they sustain their success in 2020, or will the cracks in the foundation start to show?


ALLSOPP: The AEW World Championship would benefit from a certain level of credibility, which could easily be achieved with Jon Moxley defeating Chris Jericho for the title. As a former WWE Champion, there is no-one more suited to taking the championship than Moxley, especially as his edgy tweener character is insanely over with fans. Moxley can become the face of AEW, whilst elevating the championship to the same level as the WWE Universal Championship. He is talented, unpredictable and most importantly, he is highly motivated, which is exactly what AEW needs in 2020.

NEUFELD: I’d like to see Kenny Omega take the title from Chris Jericho. AEW is limited in big and recognizable names to carry the AEW World Championship, so only a few wrestlers could credibly claim the title and be a logical choice from both a booking and business standpoint. Jon Moxley is one such name, but I think AEW needs to avoid having multiple former big name WWE guys in a row win the title this early on. Omega is free of the WWE stigma, but is still well known. He also has the in ring ability and charisma to add gravitas to the title.

MANGO: It has to be Kenny Omega. They already ran through Adam Page, Scorpio Sky, Darby Allin and Cody. Moxley winning this fast at Revolution seems unlikely, and there aren't other babyfaces I could see fitting the bill better. To most fans, Omega as champ will be a lateral move, as he's beloved by the AEW core.


NEUFELD: I’m finding AEW’s mid and lower card tiers difficult to read, therefore I’m not totally clear on who they see value in, or who might break out as a top talent. So my answer is from the women's division, with my money on Kris Statlander. I think she is very talented and is creating a fully realized character, though an odd one to be sure. She had been getting a lot of attention for her work in indie promotions prior to her signing. I think now that she’s on a big stage, she could really take off into the cosmos.

MANGO: I'm banking on Scorpio Sky being the overall big deal here, but there are a lot of potentials. Wardlow might surprise and become a key player, but that's entirely unknown at the moment. Frankly, there may be something more to Trent, too. Overall, I think 2020 will be an experimentation year where some less than obvious names will get a shot to go up the card and may catch on to help AEW prepare for 2021 and further.

ALLSOPP: For me, Darby Allin will be the breakout star in 2020. He is a highly talented wrestler, with a character that fans can easily get behind. He may not become a contender to the AEW World Championship, but he can be the entertaining and dependable star that AEW can rely on, similar to Shawn Michaels in the early 90’s for WWE. Some people may order pay-per-views solely on the fact that they can expect a crazy spot from Allin, which is a niche he can be proud of.


MANGO: No WWE stars that would dramatically increase ratings will sign with AEW. They aren't getting a Roman Reigns or John Cena, and signing guys like The Revival, while great, won't turn Dynamite to a #1 Nielsen show. However, AEW should look to grab Luke Harper, The Revival, and anyone else who is widely seen as underutilized. There's no harm to bringing them in and showing that there are greener pastures for certain people. At the very least, it boosts AEW's negotiation tactics for future stars down the line.

ALLSOPP: AEW needs to establish their own identity in order to properly take on WWE, therefore I feel they should steer clear of any further former WWE signings, at least for 2020. However, that is not realistic, therefore the best option available to them is Luke Harper. Harper is a highly underrated wrestler, with a unique brand of stiff wrestling that can appeal to AEW’s key demographic. As Brodie Lee, he could easily become a terrifying monster who poses a threat to main event faces, whilst also increasing the ratings due to a mix of his in ring style and WWE experience.

NEUFELD: Both Luke Harper and The Revival are AEW bound, and it feels like the wheels are just spinning until it happens. In some ways, I feel like they’re already signed and it’s just a matter of time before they make their debut. Other than those names, I think they need to stay completely away from hiring former WWE talent. Impact Wrestling has never been able to erase the stain of hiring any ex-WWE wrestlers, which means AEW can’t afford to make that same mistake. Now of course, if a huge name comes along that they can’t afford not to sign, that’s another story.