5 booking mistakes AEW should steer clear from at Winter is Coming - Title changes, major debuts

#4 Matt Sydal must not win against Wardlow at AEW Winter is Coming

AEW is a playground for future stars of wrestling right now, with the likes of Dante Martin and Hook featuring promenently. Another example of their pool of prospects is the monstrous Wardlow, serving as MJF's enforcer alongside Shawn Spears.

Wardlow appears to be, at the moment at least, struggling to tolerate his paymaster MJF. Whether it be the appointment of Shawn Spears as his "accountabili-buddy", giving Wardlow an unwanted partner in crime, or his elimination from the Dynamite Diamond Battle Royale at the hands of the self-proclaimed pillar of AEW.

It makes sense that we may be making our way onto the path of an eventual turn for Wardlow, where he will most likely snap and violently sever their relationship. Wardlow is on a steep rise in popularity and has been significantly protected by AEW, and is almost guaranteed to be the main event's resident goliath in time.

For now, however, Wardlow will have to satiate his appetite for violence during his contest with Matt Sydal, who is fresh off of his momentary spat with former partner Dante Martin and Lio Rush.

Both Sydal and Wardlow are at stages in their AEW careers where the latter absolutely must be the victor. Matt Sydal is a tenured athlete within the industry and is the kind of opponent Wardlow needs to add to his CV in order to fill the role in the main event he appears destined for. His speed and agility will complement the powerhouse in a match designed to cast a spotlight on the future star.

#3 Dante Martin should not win the AEW Dynamite Diamond Ring

Moving from one up-and-coming star of AEW to another, Dante Martin continues his meteoric rise from his 50% role in the tag tandem of Top Flight to a challenger for the Dynamite Diamond Ring accolade, currently held by AEW cornerstone MJF.

However, as one prospect should leave with their hand raised at Winter is Coming, another should wait their turn for another night. Often it can be exciting to think of a hot prospect winning their first trophy, but the creative direction past, present and future is a major sticking point of the debate as to who should win.

Dante Martin has been the star of his own storyline: in the absence of his brother he has enjoyed partnerships with Matt Sydal, Lio Rush and Team Tazz before making the final two of the Dynamite Diamond Battle Royale to set his Winter is Coming debate.

MJF, on the other hand, has engaged in a heated and personal feud with childhood hero CM Punk. As expected their feud has seen verbal massacres and Bizarro world scenarios in their one night double turn in MJF's hometown Long Island. And it has to be considered that MJF could be the first loss on CM Punk's AEW record.

So when considering the trajectories of both men involved, MJF has to continue his reign with the diamond ring in order to preserve his momentum and claim to face his rival. Dante Martin could most definitely benefit from winning the annual accolades, but then where does he go from there?

The diamond ring has served as a quintessential aspect of MJF's character, using the ring as a foreign object countless times throughout key matches to secure the win. That befits the persona and style of MJF, but would prove obsolete with someone as gravity defying as Dante Martin. MJF should retain the ring once again, possibly with the help of a disgruntled Team Taz.