Published: 6 hours ago by Dave Adamson | Last Updated: 6 hours ago by Dave Adamson
Dave has been a website writer for WrestleTalk since October 2022, having previously written for Den of Geek, among a number of wrestling, movie and television-related sites. Dave has been around the independent wrestling scene for more than a decade, including behind-the-scenes.
AEW
Jack Perry is on a mission to become an AEW World Champion and has faced two former title holders to date, but how many more are there?
Having re-signed with AEW back in July, Jack Perry would go on to set a goal for his current run, declaring that he wanted to become World Champion.
Since returning, Perry’s record in singles matches has been less than favorable for the star, something he reflected upon in a segment on last night’s AEW Dynamite.
In a segment that saw Perry call out Samoa Joe, Perry talked about his mission “to face the great former World Champions of AEW”.
Reflecting on the fact he has been “getting (his) ass kicked all over the place”, Perry would reveal that he loves it, as he has been learning from each defeat.
Two matches down, there’s only a limited number of names that Perry can possibly face in his quest to become AEW World Champion:
Chris Jericho
The inaugural AEW World Champion, Jericho held the title from All Out in August 2019 until Revolution in February of the following year, managing a 182-day reign.
Jon Moxley
Defeating Jericho at Revolution, Moxley would hold the AEW World Championship until the Winter is Coming episode of Dynamite in December 2020, a total of 277 days.
A four-time AEW World Champion, Moxley’s second reign would start with as an interim champion after CM Punk was injured, kicking off that run at Forbidden Door in June 2022 and being formally recognized in August. His third reign would come at Dynamite: Grand Slam in September, lasting just 59 days. Moxley would be back on form for his final run (to date), achieving 273 days as World Champion starting at WrestleDream in October 2024 and ending at All In in July of the following year.
Perry suffered a loss to Moxley in the Continental Challenge Cup First Round match on August 12.
Kenny Omega
A two-time AEW World Champion, Kenny Omega first held the title between Dynamite: Winter is Coming in December 2020 and Full Gear in November of the following year, reaching 346 days as champion.
Omega’s second reign would start at the Beach Break episode of Dynamite in July of this year, ending with his loss to Will Ospreay just 53 days later at AEW All In: London.
“Hangman” Adam Page
With his Casino Poker Chip cash-in, Adam Page kicked off his reign with a victory over Kenny Omega at Full Gear in November 2021, racking up 197 days as champion until his loss to CM Punk at Double or Nothing in May the following year.
CM Punk
An 87-day reign was brought to an end due to injury, leading to the aforementioned Jon Moxley interim run that became officially recognized. Punk would win the title back at All Out, holding it for just three days before his suspension due to a backstage altercation with Perry.
When it comes to former World Champions that Perry will face, CM Punk won’t be among them, having returned to WWE.
MJF
A three-time AEW World Champion, MJF first won the title by cashing in his Casino Poker Chip at Full Gear in November 2022, defeating Moxley and carrying the title for a record-setting 406 days.
Two other reigns would follow, with Moxley capturing the title at Worlds Ends in December 2025 and retaining it for 109 days, with a later 45-day run starting at Double or Nothing the following year.
Samoa Joe
Two-time World Champion Samoa Joe first held the title with a victory over MJF at Worlds End in December 2023, retaining it for 113 days until Dynasty the following year. The second reign started at Full Gear in November 2025, lasting just 35 days until Worlds End.
Swerve Strickland
A 126-day reign started at Dynasty in April 2024 and ended at AEW All In: London, which took place in August of that year.
Jack Perry faced Strickland in a losing effort on the August 26 episode of Dynamite.
Bryan Danielson
A victory in a Championship vs. Career match at All In: London in August 2024 marked the only time Bryan Danielson would hold the World Championship, with a reign that ended at WrestleDream in October of that year.
Danielson hasn’t competed since June of last year, defeating Max Caster in a dark match at AEW Collision.
Darby Allin
Defeating MJF at the Spring BreakThru episode of Dynamite, Darby Allin would hold the World Championship until Double or Nothing, losing it to fellow Four Pillar member, MJF.
Will Ospreay
Besting Kenny Omega at AEW All In: London on August 30 this year, Will Ospreay is the current World Champion.
He will defend the title at AEW All Out on September 26, facing Jon Moxley.
The Numbers
Eleven champions across twenty reigns, Jack Perry hasn’t currently faced two of the previous title holders, leaving just nine to go.
Of those nine, one is definitely out of the question, with CM Punk currently signed to WWE, although their history would definitely have made for a compelling match. A further name might be out of the question, with Danielson being “semi-retired” and yet to compete in 2026. That said, anything is possible for AEW-contracted stars.
A date is yet to be set for Jack Perry vs. Samoa Joe, with the star having last been seen in May of this year and absent due to reported filming commitments. With All Out just days away, a return on September 26 is perhaps not out of the question.
In his segment on last night’s Dynamite, Perry called his goal “the impossible dream”. How long he will continue his quest remains to be seen, as does how the dream will end.
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