Published: May 2, 2026 by Sanchez Taylor | Last Updated: May 2, 2026 by Sanchez Taylor
Sanchez has over six years of pro-wrestling news writing experience, covering the biggest news stories in WWE, NXT, AEW, TNA Wrestling and more. He has personally interviewed a number of top stars, producing exclusive content with the likes of AEW's Swerve Strickland and WWE's Nick Aldis.
AEW
AEW President Tony Khan has named two stars he believes have the potential to be future world champions in the company.
A first-time AEW World Champion was recently crowned, with Darby Allin defeating MJF to win the big one on the April 15 Dynamite episode.
With Allin defending his championship against Tommaso Ciampa and Brody King in recent weeks, Tony Khan has stated that he feels Allin’s next championship challenger has everything it takes to hold the gold in the future.
Speaking with Good Karma Wrestling, Tony Khan named TNT Champion Kevin Knight as a potential future world titleholder in AEW.
Also naming Willow Nightingale as someone who he can see holding the AEW Women’s World Championship, Khan said:
“Before we come to West Palm for Fairway To Hell, we’ve got a big Wednesday night Dynamite. TNT Champion Kevin Knight is a rising star, and he will be wrestling Darby Allin for the world title. I think Kevin Knight, the Jet, has everything it takes to be the world champion.
“Also talking about top wrestlers that are future world champions, we’ve got a great TBS Champion, Willow Nightingale. She has defended the TBS Championship, she’s been a (Women’s World Tag Team Champion).
“She has never won the (AEW Women’s World Championship), and I do think Willow Nightingale is a great potential world champion for AEW. “
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The AEW Women’s World Champion is also currently a first-time holder of this title, with Thekla winning the gold from Kris Statlander in February.
Willow Nightingale has been a world champion outside of AEW, holding the CMLL World Women’s Championship for 62 days in 2024.
Kevin Knight only recently became TNT Champion, winning the vacant title in a Casino Gauntlet match at AEW Dynasty on April 12, following Kyle Fletcher vacating the title due to injury.
Regardless of whether Knight wins the AEW World Championship on the May 6 Dynamite episode, Tony Khan’s comments show that the AEW boss is willing to invest in Knight, meaning we will likely be seeing a lot more of the TNT Champion in the future.
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