Streaks would be the easiest way. Doesn't even need to be a pure win streak, just have to make the wrestler be on a hot streak of sorts to justify their rise in status.

If done correctly, you would have built up a new star and have the end result be meaningful. You also avoid a Curt Hawkins type situation where a jobber suddenly has gold out of nowhere or make their push feel like a big joke in the end.

Oh, definitely not. I'm just saying that the whole "we're only interesting in, like, maybe 8% of the WWE roster" is bullshit. If you could take half the WWE roster, Tye Dillinger probably wouldn't have made the cut.

He's a fine addition. It's a reasonable signing. I think stars would be a lot more valuable, but showing misused talent in a different light without giving them too much emphasis until it feels right is a good way to go about things.

They can choose to emphasize whatever statistics they want. That's the great thing about wrestling -- you get to book that shit and produce it in a way that benefits you. If a guy's win/loss percentage is impressive, use that. If they've never lost at all, use that. If it's that they haven't taken a fall in a tag team match, then use that. Just use whatever is going to make the point for selling the person.

AEW announced they will be crowning their first ever champ at a later date and the title match will be winner of Jericho/Omega vs. winner of Casino Battle Royale.

Alright, they must have someone pretty big planned for that Battle Royal then. Jon Moxley is probably going to be the name on the tip of everyone's tongue, but I'm hoping for someone from New Japan as a shocking reveal, given the apparent downturn of their relationship. TNT is a heck of a lot of potential exposure for New Japan talent.

I hope it isn't going to be Jericho vs. Hangman Page. Not a knock on either guy -- I want to see that program. I just don't really feel it for an AEW Championship story.

I like that idea a lot!

I still want the first match on Dynamite to be Brian Pillman, Jr. vs. Jushin "Thunder" Liger as a call-back to the first Nitro.

Cody Hall left NOAH earlier this year. He's a big kid, really young. Is he any good? I heard he has heat with some people in the industry, but it says he was a former member of The Bullet Club. Would he be a decent signing for AEW?

He's not great from what I've seen. Also has an attitude problem.

That's a shame. Got a great look.

Seems crazy that they would do a mega reveal on the free show before the PPV

But I guess it makes sense if they’re trying to attract customers

Cody Hall was Bullet Club's young boy, basically a jobber, except unlike all the other young boys he was tall and a shit wrestler. He's a much, much worse version of Hikuleo.

Yeah, I'm iffy on it. Feels very slapped together. They could have milked intrigue out of who is going to be the first champion for quite a while.

They could've. But on the other hand, they can now build a feud around likely Omega and whoever wins the battle royal.

I wouldn't be against Jericho beating Omega, only to lose to the first champ.

If Kenny Omega is going to be your first champ, which he probably should be, then he’s either got to beat a really good heel or an established name.

Probably just gonna have MJF win the battle royal

I've got a feeling that Hangman Page is going to be in that Battle Royal and the #21 guy is Joey Ryan doing a bit of a troll entrance, because they think it's funny. Page wins the Battle Royal. I do think that Omega is going to beat Jericho, but I can see Page beating Jericho at Fight for the Fallen and then facing Omega for the belt in Chicago. I hope they prove me wrong.

Not gonna lie, probably gonna have a good chuckle about how much bigger Billy Gunn is than the rest of the participants in the battle royal.

Is there any big name other than Moxley from outside AEW it could be?

Kind of seems weird to me that Glacier is just two wins away from being the first AEW Champion.

I hope Joey Janela wins and faces Jericho for the belt. That would be insane

Nah, it's got to be Moxley, right? They're going to need someone to hook people into the PPV. Moxley is about the only guy it can be.

Fuck that. Janela-Jericho would be ten times better. Janela is motivated. Ambrose has phoned it in for years. Give it to Janela.

Unless it is Punk in a Luchasaurus mask somehow.

CM Punk

You guys do realize they're trying not to be WWE-lite right?

The more I think about it, I guess I could see Jericho as inaugural champion despite what he said about Brock. Jericho beating a young babyface for the title via shady tactics would work but it would poop all over the idea that AEW is different than WWE

He's supposed to be somewhere else doing commentary, but if it's possible to get him there, I'm sure they would.

After watching the Before the Bell special, I'm thinking the same thing. Jericho presents himself really well in his segment on there. Omega kind of comes off in his own hype as rusty and like it's his match to lose. Jericho was setting up stories, introduced a new finishing move and really did set himself up as the heel to beat. His promo really sent the message of "I need to win," which doesn't mean he will, but I'm sure that's not accidental.

More pumped for Omega vs. Jericho having watched it.

I don't think Jericho being inaugural champ shits on what he said about Lesnar. If Jericho wins, there's likely a long termgoal at play to ultimately get a new guy over and give him the rub of beating Jericho and being the company's 2nd ever champion.

That's different than just putting the belt on Lesnar and having him defend 4 or 5 times a year with no plans of using him to make someone.

No doubt. Jericho is excellent. I think it just feels a lot better to have the belt on Omega, who is the obvious ace.

An upstart promotion needs to have their biggest star become their first champion. And Jericho is their biggest star.

Jericho is their most recognizable star. As much as many of us may love Cody, Omega, etc., the casual wrestling fan that these guys are going to be trying to galvanize aren't likely to know who they are. Or maybe they do. I dunno. But as far as name recognition, Jericho is their biggest chip.

I don't think anyone denies that Jericho is the most recognizable guy they've got. I'm not sure that's who you go with as champion though.

Personally, I'd have put Omega over him at DoN and then gone to Omega vs. PAC and Jericho vs. Hangman Page at Fight for the Fallen. Kind of books itself. Omega could have beaten PAC (presuming PAC wasn't still Dragon Gate Champion) and Jericho could beat Page with his wily veteran tactics.

I like the idea of putting it on Jericho and then building someone up to take it off of him. They’ve only got one chance to have a “first ever champion “. Make it a legendary name.

I think Jericho, Omega and Cody are the only three guys who are big enough deals to make the title seem like a big deal from the get-go. Anyone else would have to be building up their credibility AFTER winning the title which is a shitty WWE tactic I hate.

And considering Cody and Kenny’s positions in the company, they might see it as a bad look to make themselves the first champion. So Jericho is the perfect choice for me.

I’m not going to be upset if it’s Jericho, but I’d rather Omega for that very reason. You’ve got one first-ever champ. Omega is going to be wrapped up in this thing forever and a day, most likely. He’s a great choice.

Given that they're announcing the championship stakes, I think we'll get a glimpse of the AEW Title belt at DoN.

Here is a v small glimpse of the belt

https://www.tpww.net/wp-content/uplo.../aew-title.jpg

You obviously can't see much, but it looks classy. I'm sure that's the route they will go.