AEW’s TNT Champion, Wardlow, has hit out at the main event scene in the company, claiming the World Championship is “in shambles”.
In the first two years following the formation of AEW, the company was praised for the booking of its main event scene.
From Chris Jericho becoming the inaugural AEW World Champion in August 2019 to Hangman Adam Page gradually working his way to the top of the company and defeating the longest reigning champion, Kenny Omega, in November 2021, there was a clear plan in place for the heavyweight division.
However, earlier this year, things became more chaotic after CM Punk dethroned Page at Double or Nothing and then had to take a lengthy period of absence due to a foot injury. During this time, Jon Moxley became the interim champion and, when Punk returned two months later, defeated him to become the undisputed champion.
Only three days later at All Out, Punk ended Moxley’s second reign and became a two-time champion himself. Then, at the now-infamous media scrum after the show, Punk had some choice words for several members of the locker room, including the company’s EVPs, The Elite.
This led to a backstage melee involving CM Punk, Ace, Steel, The Young Bucks, and Kenny Omega. The fight resulted in Punk being stripped of the World Championship and everyone involved being suspended.
A tournament to crown the new champion then took place and came down to Jon Moxley and Bryan Danielson at Dynamite Grand Slam. Despite both being part of the Blackpool Combat Club, the two went to war in a vicious match that saw Jon Moxley becoming champion for a record third time.
One man who is not impressed by this recent history of the heavyweight division is the current TNT Champion, Wardlow.
During an appearance on the Dynamite Download podcast, Wardlow claimed the World Title was in shambles, and if he held the belt it would be a lot more stable.
“The state of the Heavyweight Title has been in shambles for months. The only thing I’ll say about it is if Wardlow was the AEW World Heavyweight Champion, he would still be the [laughs] AEW World Heavyweight Champion.
“It would have been the Summer of Wardlow, and it would have been the Fall of Wardlow, and it would have been the Winter of Wardlow, and it would have been the Spring of Wardlow, and it would have been the f**king summer again.
“Like, I ain’t f**king going nowhere. Everybody wants to hot potato that sumbitch, hand it to me, watch me take off.”
Since defeating then-champion Scorpio Sky in July, Wardlow has held the TNT Championship for over 80 days and made quick work of all challengers. So far, this has included Jay Lethal, Orange Cassidy, and most recently, Tony Nese.
H/T to 411Mania for the above transcription.