5 ways Wardlow can move forward in 2022 

Wardlow's recent run at AEW has been akin to a wrecking ball. Tony Khan has been building the behemoth of a wrestler with insane hype.

Mr. Mayhem has rolled through his opponents with a series of devastating powerbombs, with fans chanting his name. He will next face CM Punk on Wednesday's AEW Dynamite.

While fans don't think that CM Punk will lose to MJF's hired henchman, AEW has been known to stray away from predictable storylines before.

It is hard to predict which route AEW will take with Wardlow's bookings. Here are five ways the powerbomb expert's story could progress in 2022.

#5 Wardlow may intentionally lose against CM Punk to separate from MJF

While Mr. Mayhem is made out to be MJF's henchman, he has recently shown his resentment towards his employer. The Salt of the Earth has always used him as a shield for safety. However, the rising AEW star has started expressing indignation at being used this way.

MJF also fixed the match between CM Punk and the Pinnacle muscle to stay safe himself. It is possible that Mr. Mayhem will eventually choose to do things his way and intentionally lose against Punk.

The loss would strike a blow to The Pinnacle since MJF's henchman is the group's biggest asset right now. This could be the start of the big guy leaving MJF's side for good, free to pursue other things in his dominant AEW run.

#4 Wardlow may turn on Shawn Spears

Shawn Spears has been trying to share Wardlow's spotlight quite obtrusively in his squash matches. After Mr. Mayhem demolishes his opponent, The Chairman usually ends the segment by getting in a cheap shot afterward, seemingly in an attempt to show his contribution to the win.

Spears has even gone to the lengths of hitting the Powerbomb expert's opponents with a chair when the referee has been unaware, allowing for an even easier win.

Wardlow, however, has not seemed very happy with this intrusion. Shawn Spear's chair shots have incited a disapproving look from the big guy, and it is clear he does not appreciate his stablemate's efforts.

One possibility out of this is the big guy losing his temper and turning on his ringside companion during a match. This would be the most logical result, considering how these wrestlers are being booked.

MJF's henchman could start power bombing Spears when he attempts another cheap shot during his match. All Elite fans will undoubtedly side with the rising AEW star. This would mark the first time Mr. Mayhem has gone against his group.

#3 Wardlow might go on a solo route and completely stay away from any stable

Pinnacle has used Wardlow as nothing more than the stable's muscle and MJF's bodyguard so far. There is no doubt that the rising AEW star deserves much more of the spotlight. Furthermore, the roster is already oversaturated with stables.

Considering the circumstances, it would not be a bad idea for Mr. Mayhem to step out of any association and go the solo route. Recent bookings have shown that the Powerbomb expert has enough caliber to sway the audience without speaking on the mic.

Going solo might put him on track to win the AEW World Championship as well, if booked well. The All Elite roster has more acrobatic wrestlers than powerhouses, so Mr. Mayhem's run would also be unique.

#2 Wardlow may start a tag team with Shawn Spears

Going against expectations, Wardlow may also give in to Shawn Spear's personality and join him in forming a tag team. The Chairman's attempt at being a part of Mr. Mayhem's win has not been met with approval from the big guy, but things can quickly change in AEW.

While the two stars do not see eye-to-eye, it is hard to deny their prowess in taking down opponents. Shawn Spears has also not seen much action in-ring for a while, not counting his accompanying Mr. Mayhem.

A tag-team between two distinctly different wrestlers would be exciting to see since they are both unique in their ways. AEW fans might witness chaotic interactions mid-match between the two pinnacle members if this tag team comes into existence.

#1 Wardlow may defeat CM Punk

Tensions are high as the match between Wardlow and CM Punk draws near. While most agree that winning the match is the most logical route, since the feud between MJF and him is nowhere near its conclusion, a few people also believe that Mr. Mayhem should be the winner of the bout.

WCW veteran Disco Inferno believes that AEW should not waste the momentum of Mr. Mayhem being built for weeks. He further raised concerns over the rising AEW star's dominant booking and said it would be meaningless if he loses in such a big match.

The WCW legend has noted that the big green monster is currently 'hotter' than even CM Punk. A win over the Second City Saint would help Mr. Mayhem's run.