5 AEW stars that could show up at IMPACT Hard to Kill 2022 - WrestleMania Main Eventer, Recently crowned champion

While the focus rests on AEW's Battle of the Belts TNT special, IMPACT Wrestling starts the year with their annual Hard to Kill event. The card is stacked with marquee matches, including a three-way between Moose, W. Morrissey and Matt Cardona for the World Title. The Knockouts Title will also be on the line in a Texas Deathmatch between Mickie James and Deonna Purrazzo.

IMPACT Hard to Kill 2021 played host to an epic crossover between AEW and IMPACT. Kenny Omega partnered with his Super Elite colleagues Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows at the event. This was significant at the time as Omega carried the AEW World Title and The Good Brothers held the IMPACT Tag Titles.

They challenged the trio of at-time IMPACT World Champion Rich Swann, Chris Sabin and now-world champion Moose. This was one of the first instances of the proverbial forbidden door swinging open, as two of the leading North American promotions combined forces. It has since become a regular treat for interpromotional matches to occur in the current wrestling climate.

There has been no greater example of the barriers IMPACT Hard to Kill 2021 broke down than a recent occurrence on SmackDown that left fans reeling. Knockout's Champion Mickie James heads into Hard to Kill against Deonna Purrazzo and has also been declared for the upcoming Royal Rumble.

IMPACT has enabled cross-overs with AEW, NJPW, WWE, AAA and more. This is evident at the upcoming Hard to Kill event featuring Jonathan Gresham. But who from AEW could make their way to IMPACT?

#5 Former AEW World Champion Jon Moxley

AEW cornerstone Jon Moxley has been absent from AEW programming since prior to Full Gear. Before his absence, he was set to challenge Bryan Danielson in the final of the World Title eliminator tournament.

Fans had eagerly awaited Moxley's return and were elated to hear that he would return on January 23rd to defend his GCW World Title. It has been further reported that Moxley will be on his way to a triumphant return to AEW as well. But what if he were to make his IMPACT debut first?

Moxley has been a flag-bearer of wrestling crossovers, bringing in the likes of Minoru Suzuki and Satoshi Kojima of New Japan. Is there anyone from IMPACT he could have his eyes on? He has history with Matt Cardona, having taken the GCW title off of him. If Cardona was to walk out with the world title, could a paradigm shift await?

#4 AEW Women's Champion Britt Baker

Often discussed with AEW Women's Champion Britt Baker are her best friends Chelsea Green and Deonna Purrazzo. Purrazzo is set to challenge surprise Royal Rumble entrant Mickie James in a Texas Deathmatch in order to become a three-time Knockouts Champion. Chelsea Green is competing in the first-ever Women's Ultimate X Match for a future Knockouts title shot.

Should the results favor Purrazzo and Green, then an emergence of Britt Baker could set up a three-way. Purrazzo may have previously lost her Knockouts title to Mickie James, but that hasn't slowed her desire to capture as many championships as possible.

Britt Baker may well seek out Purrazzo to establish an undisputed women's world champion. A major criticism of AEW's use of the proverbial forbidden door has been the lack of women's cross-overs. Could all of that change at Hard to Kill?

#3 Former AEW World Tag Team Champions FTR

FTR are a true cornerstone of tag team wrestling in 2022. They aren't as outgoing in their characters as the likes of The Usos or The Young Bucks, but nobody can deny their passion for the art-form.

The former AEW World Tag Team Champions have stacked their resume with tag team dream matches and added to their legacy in the past year. They added another feather to their cap when they defeated the Lucha Brothers for the AAA tag titles.

As the saying goes, start as you mean to go on. FTR may rear their head at Hard to Kill. Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows are in action at Hard to Kill. They will team up with Violent by Design in a Hardcore War against Heath & Rhyno, Eddie Edwards, Willie Mack and Rich Swann?

#2 Inaugural AEW TBS Champion Jade Cargill

AEW kicked off their TBS era of Dynamite with the crowning of Jade Cargill as TBS Champion. The unbeaten star defeated Ruby Soho to claim gold in and has a litany of stars awaiting their shot on the AEW roster.

It is well established that the TBS title serves essentially the same purpose as the TNT title. We have previously seen Cody Rhodes elevate the status of the title by hosting open challenges from all comers.

So why not go one step further to cement Jade as a fighting champion than by having her represent AEW at Hard to Kill. There are a variety of competitors present at Hard to Kill that could challenge her. Potential challengers could include Jordynne Grace, Chelsea Green and even Mickie James or Deonna Purrazzo.

IMPACT has earned praise for its elevation of women's talent, as can be highlighted by the marquee matches set to take place. Why not continue in the same vein with the TBS champion?

#1 AEW World Title contender Bryan Danielson

When someone like Bryan Danielson becomes available to the wrestling world outside of WWE, fans pine for their dream matches to be realized. There are so many potential fantasy clashes for the American Dragon on the IMPACT roster.

Bryan Danielson recently unsuccessfully challenged Hangman Page for the AEW World Title. However, he stilll remains a legitimate challenger to any throne of any promotion.

Names like Josh Alexander, Trey Miguel and even "Speedball" Mike Bailey offer the stuff of dreams opposite the former WWE Champion. Jonathan Gresham comes to IMPACT to defend his own World Title at Hard to Kill, should he retain maybe he can establish his next challenger in the American Dragon.