5 debuts we could see at AEW: Battle of the Belts

AEW will debut its first quarterly special on TNT with "Battle of the Belts" on January 8th. It's the first of four specials that will air on Saturday nights throughout 2022.

The marquee matches include Cody Rhodes vs Sammy Guevara for the TNT Championship, and Britt Baker vs Riho for the AEW Women's title. Also, Tony Khan has also teased the possibility of a "dream signing" once again.

In an interview with Josh Martinez on the New York radio station Z100, the owner hinted that he wasn't done picking up top talent for the promotion despite the hiring rampage in 2021:

"There is, they are in North America, and they're coming," said Khan. "And, pretty soon. And it's going to be awesome, I'm very excited." (H/T Wrestling Observer Radio)

This opens up a Pandora's box. Who will show up at AEW at Battle of the Belts? Could it be a former WWE Superstar? Or a top independent wrestler?

Here are five possible signings.

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#5. AEW could sign Killer Kross & Scarlett Bordeaux

The Herald of Doomsday and Scarlett Bordeaux were primed for big things in WWE. Kross lorded over NXT as a dominant champion, and was a force to reckon with alongside Scarlett. Unfortunately, Kross and Scarlett were released by the end of 2021.

The duo have made it clear that they will not return to IMPACT Wrestling. This opens the doors for a possible debut in AEW.

Kross would make for yet another compelling character in the company's programming, competing against the likes of Malakai Black and others. Scarlett was only given a role as a valet in NXT. But she can wrestle at AEW, which benefits its women's division.

Getting these superstars into the company would prove hugely beneficial for Tony Khan.

#4. Keith Lee might debut on AEW

It feels right to think that AEW would be an excellent landing spot for former NXT champion Keith Lee. Fans were bemused when the Limitless One was released by WWE last year.

A unique blend of size and speed, Lee felt like a natural fit for the main roster. But illness hindered his momentum and WWE eventually stripped away everything that got him over with fans in the first place, including his music, attire, and nickname.

While Keith Lee has expressed interest in reuniting with his former tag team partner Shayne Taylor on the independent scene, AEW could be a great place of business for the 'Bearcat'. He will definitely stand out amongst the smaller-sized wrestlers.

Lee also has history with Adam Cole, Bobby Fish and Kyle O'Reilly. He can definitely be counted on to deliver in big matches. While his future is currently unknown, Keith Lee's next move is certainly one to watch for.

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#3. Could Johnny Gargano join AEW?

The heart and soul of NXT, Gargano gave his all to the black and gold brand and held all the gold. But after the NXT War Games last December, the veteran didn’t renew his contract.

Gargano cited wanting to spend time with his family as the reason for his departure, especially since he became a new father. But the writing was on the wall as NXT has moved into a new era, focusing on younger talents.

Most of his NXT contemporaries have already jumped to AEW. In a recent interview on Throwing Down with Renee and Miesha, Adam Cole discussed how he wants to see Gargano join AEW:

“I will always mention Johnny Gargano as one of my favorite opponents of all time. We had a series of matches in NXT that, to this day, I’m incredibly proud of. Another fantastic human being, across the board. Johnny is a guy I would really love to see in AEW.”

A rematch between Cole and Gargano in AEW would be mouthwatering for longtime fans. His other rivals Andrade El Idolo and Malakai Black are there as well. As someone who helps helping younger talent, Gargano would be an asset to the young wrestlers in Tony Khan's company.

#2. Ric Flair could debut at AEW: Battle of the Belts

AEW and Tony Khan have been open in wanting to sign Ric Flair regardless of recent controversies. He's still one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time and is currently a free agent. As a company that generally treats legends well, it will be interesting to see how AEW uses the multi-time world champion.

Andrade El Idolo recently teased the possibility of Ric Flair joining him in his feud with Darby Allin and old rival Sting. He posted a photo on Twitter of himself and Flair above from AAA TripleMania XXIX.

It feels like a natural spot for Flair to slot in as Andrade's manager. The prospect of a potential Four Horseman reunion with Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard is also exciting.

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#1. AEW could sign Brody King

Malakai Black has teased the formation of his own faction. On an episode of AEW Dynamite last year, the Dutchman teased a debut of the House of Black with the arrival of someone who is "so much more than a king." This led to a flurry of reports suggesting that Brody King had signed with AEW.

Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez discussed reports of King's potential signing in the latest edition of Wrestling Observer Radio:

Meltzer: "I don't know if he signed but that's the word on the street is that he's going to AEW. It's been reported that he has signed but I could not confirm that. Have you confirmed that he's signed?"

Alvarez: "I've not confirmed that he's signed but I have pretty much confirmed that he is going to at least make appearances in AEW... I don't see someone being a regular unless they have signed. So I guess we will see, but he will make appearances one way or the other at some point."

Thus, all signs point to King appearing in AEW in some shape or form. Some may argue whether it's the right move to not push Black as a singles wrestler. But making a run in the tag team division could be his own decision. Who knows?

His appearance at Dynamite last week alongside other tag teams after Jurassic Express won the title hints at this. Battle of the Belts could be the perfect event to debut a new ominous faction.