Also my final point on this is IF Darby was meant to be endgame and it’s his story line and he still decides that climbing Everest is more important then he doesn’t deserve the shot now tbh
I kinda disagree with this but see where you're coming from. If Darby was ever a plan, they knew these were also his plans so that's on AEW. I don't really get the posts on page one acting like this was news to AEW, they would have known is was a very delayed angle if they went with Darby.
I think it's likely he's an option, but I highly doubt the Death Riders have a clear endgame, which can be good or bad. I think it's mirroring reality in that who beats Moxley will be whoever they deem as "stepped up" and they're setting Darby up to do that but that doesn't mean he will or something else won't happen before that changes everything anyway.
But obvious booking to me is Ospreay and you market it like him becoming the guy to lead AEW for the next decade