Tiffany Takes a look at Cody Rhodes opening up the TNT Championship to all-comers, in and out of AEW.

Cody Rhodes announced that his TNT Championship Open Challenge would be open to all wrestlers, even those NOT signed to AEW. That comment got a lot of tongues wagging over the possibilities of who could answer the challenge and what it could mean for AEW and indie wrestling.

Throughout the history of professional wrestling, there hasn’t been tons of cooperation among wrestling promotions across the board. In the territory days, while the NWA would get together and decide on who would be the champion, discuss business issues, how to screw over each other and/or wrestlers who stepped out of line, and how to maintain control of professional wrestling. Aside from various talent exchange between individual promoters, wrestling promotions largely kept to themselves, a practice that has persisted to this day. It could be argued that promotions like the AWA, WCW, WCCW, Mid-South, etc could’ve slowed down Vince McMahon’s national expansion if they’d banded together somehow instead of each trying to fight Vince on their own. Jim Crockett had the best luck, but poor financial decisions forced him to sell to Ted Turner and we know how that story went.

But what about now? The territory days are long over, but the indie promotions that have sprang up since the fall of WCW and the original ECW haven’t exactly been joining hands singing ‘Kumbayah’, which is why Cody’s statement is so interesting. If it’s open to wrestlers that aren’t part of AEW, it could be a way of building bridges with the rest of the indie community.

Who could be coming to accept the challenge? Let’s see.

NJPW: It’s no secret that AEW would REALLY like to have a working relationship with NJPW. Cody, the Bucks, Omega, Page, Moxley, Archer, and several others have worked in NJPW in the past. There has been some issues between the two companies over the departure of Kenny Omega, the Bucks, and others, however NJPW has expressed interest in working with AEW, but seem to be holding themselves back to see how AEW’s brand develops. NJPW also has a long-standing relationship with Ring of Honor, which could complicate any relationship with AEW.

Who Could Show Up: Jay White, Juice Robinson, Will Osprey, Tanahashi (GOD, PLEASE), Okada.

Ring Of Honor: To me, this is the partnership that would be HUGE for indie wrestling in the US. Like NJPW, Ring of Honor has been home and birthplace to the Elite before AEW came around. Unfortunately, there is some serious bad feelings between the two companies due to how the Elite left and possibly AEW trying to get a deal with NJPW while leaving ROH out, which also caused bad feelings with NJPW. However, if both sides could put aside their egos and bruised egos, that partnership would do mega $$$ for both companies.

Who Could Show Up: I’m not totally familiar with Ring of Honor, but we could have Jeff Cobb, RUSH, Matt Taven, and Jay Lethal.

TNA/Impact: This one is unlikely, to be honest. Yes, Young Bucks and Cody have worked for TNA/Impact, and Impact invited the Young Bucks, and possibly Cody and Brandi, back for a one time show to celebrate TNA/Impact’s anniversary, but nothing else has been said. The Bucks and Brandi, along with other TNA alumni have commented on the company’s shady business practices and dealings with talent.

Who Could Show Up: Again, not totally familiar with TNA’s current roster, but Sami Callihan, Tessa Blanchard, Moose, Eddie Edwards.

NWA: For sheer sentimental reasons, I can see Cody really wanting this partnership. His father was NWA Champion three times, the NWA was the gold standard for Professional Wrestling for decades. NWA is only on YouTube right now, so a partnership with AEW that would get the NWA product on television, which would be a great boost to it and would benefit both companies.

Who Could Show Up: Nick Aldis and Marty Skrull.

I’m not saying that this is Cody’s Master Plan, but the idea of bringing in non AEW talent could do a lot to build bridges in the indie community and form some cohesion and cooperation, which would benefit everyone, including WWE.