When AEW launched, one of its core philosophies was to emphasize the significance of wins and losses in its storytelling. The idea was that a wrestler couldn’t simply lose numerous matches and still be granted a championship opportunity due to past grudges. To be eligible for a title match, they needed to achieve consecutive victories, which also affected their position within the company’s ranking system.
Distinct rankings were established for the men’s, women’s, and tag team divisions, meaning that the more victories a wrestler or team accumulated, the higher they would rank. A higher rank increased the chances of obtaining a title shot. This straightforward approach built anticipation for upcoming pay-per-views, as fans could witness contenders climbing the ranks through consistent wins. A key factor in the format of one-on-one championship matches was also the ranking system, especially notable in all AEW Men’s World Championship contests outside of Double or Nothing 2021.
However, by early 2022, the ranking system began to hinder more than help. With the introduction of the TBS Championship, World Trios Championship, and All-Atlantic Championship, wrestlers outside the established top five began voicing their desires for title shots despite lacking the necessary wins. This inconsistency made it challenging to maintain the integrity of the ranking system, leading to its eventual quiet dismissal by AEW. Wrestlers’ lower-third nameplates shifted to simply show win-loss records, further complicating matters as they were sometimes altered for storyline purposes.
By 2023, fans noticed the absence of the rankings. The underlying issue was that they restricted AEW’s ability to create matchups without relying on win-loss records. Even CM Punk commented on this frustration during his tenure in the company. AEW’s Tony Khan is known for listening to the fanbase, so when the rankings were revived in early 2024, it was a significant moment, highlighted on television. However, after Samoa Joe lost the title to Swerve Strickland, the rankings quietly faded away once again.
This development is unfortunate, as the rankings provided AEW with a distinct storytelling approach that set it apart from WWE. Despite their potential, the rankings have been inconsistently applied and are often overlooked.
### Fan Take:
The fluctuating ranking system in AEW is critical for wrestling fans as it determines the legitimacy of title matches and the credibility of competitors. A consistent and transparent ranking process could not only elevate the storytelling but also enhance fans’ emotional investment in the matches and rivalries that unfold.
