Five plausible challengers to Darby Allin's TNT Championship
Darby Allin captured the TNT Title at AEW All In London 2026 and has since defended it multiple times. Here are five realistic options WrestleTalk highlighted as potential next TNT champions.
Darby Allin won the AEW TNT Championship at AEW All In London 2026, defeating Kevin Knight in a Falls Count Anywhere match. Since beginning his third reign Allin has recorded five successful defenses, including wins over Mark Davis, Hechicero and Josh Alexander, making the TNT title picture a live storyline going forward.
WrestleTalk listed five plausible challengers who could dethrone Allin. Below we summarise each option and the context that makes them credible contenders.
- Tommaso Ciampa After signing with AEW, Tommaso Ciampa became the first wrestler to win an AEW title in his debut appearance when he beat Mark Briscoe for the TNT Championship on the January 31 edition of AEW Collision. That reign lasted 11 days, and WrestleTalk notes Ciampa has shown interest in returning to the title picture; a past meeting with Allin this year could fuel a rematch.
- Konosuke Takeshita Konosuke Takeshita is under contracts with AEW, NJPW and DDT and remains a perennial contender. After coming up short in the Clockwork Carnage at AEW WrestleDream 2026, WrestleTalk suggests Takeshita could pivot to the TNT title as a realistic goal in AEW.
- Kevin Knight Kevin Knight set the record for most successful TNT title defenses during his first reign with nine defenses. Since losing the belt to Allin at All In London 2026, Knight has been presented as focused on regaining championship gold, continuing a rivalry that began with his heel turn at AEW Double Or Nothing 2026.
- Wardlow Wardlow returned to AEW on the September 30 Tribute To PAC special and rejoined The Don Callis Family. With Wardlow slated for the Don Callis Family’s Blood And Guts team opposite Darby Allin, WrestleTalk notes a big win there could lead to a TNT opportunity and a potential fourth reign.
- Ilja Dragunov Ilja Dragunov made his AEW debut at WrestleDream 2026 and followed up by defeating Speedball Mike Bailey on the October 21 episode of AEW Dynamite. WrestleTalk suggests Dragunov could solidify his place in AEW by pursuing and winning the TNT Championship.
All five names are presented as possibilities by WrestleTalk; none are confirmed challengers.
