The State of the Elite
AEW is navigating an identity shift as Darby Allin settles into a volatile championship reign. The promotion is currently prioritizing high-risk narratives over traditional booking, centered heavily on personal degradation.
The Rankings
1. Darby Allin. The current world champion tops the list by virtue of his recent title acquisition. His defense this Wednesday against Tommaso Ciampa, as noted by PWInsider, serves as the immediate litmus test for his reign. He owns the spotlight, even if that spotlight is currently burning him.
2. MJF. Despite losing the title, MJF remains the promotion's primary antagonist. The leaking of his unhinged, explicit messages targeting Allin’s mother, reported by Ringside News, proves he does not need a belt to dominate the conversation. His behavior is toxic, but it generates more eyes than any clean victory.
3. Tommaso Ciampa. Making an immediate impact after his introduction, Ciampa secured a title shot for his very first defense on Dynamite. According to F4WOnline, this matchup signals a shift toward technical, aggressive challengers. He ranks third because he threatens the validity of Allin's early reign.
4. The Acclaimed. They remain the most consistent pop in the company. Their ability to pivot across comedy and serious tag team wrestling keeps them locked in the upper mid-card. They are the bedrock of the division until the championship scene stabilizes.
5. Will Ospreay. Ospreay delivers the highest quality match work per square inch. While he lacks a current headline feud, his presence elevates every segment he touches. His work rate keeps him above those strictly relying on mic work.
6. Mercedes Moné. Moné occupies a unique space, carrying the women’s division despite the inconsistent booking around her. She deserves credit for maintaining a high profile despite limited long-term storytelling. Expect her to climb if the division finds a concrete direction before Double or Nothing.
7. Adam Copeland. Copeland provides the veteran gravity that AEW often lacks. His physical style is questionable given his history, but the audience remains bought in. He is currently playing a vital supporting role.
8. The Young Bucks. The EVPs remain relevant through pure disruption. Their booking decisions this year have been polarizing, yet it is impossible to ignore their proximity to the major title picture. They exist to irritate the fan base, and frankly, they succeed.
9. Swerve Strickland. Swerve has stalled following his recent peak. He needs a distinct program to regain the momentum he lost in the shuffle of the Allin-MJF chaos. He is talented enough to bounce back rapidly.
10. Hangman Adam Page. Page rounds out the list, though his recent output has been sporadic. His character work remains sharp, even if his current position in the pecking order has slipped. He needs a significant win to avoid fading entirely.
Analysis and Expectations
The decision to lean into the MJF-Allin personal feud is risky. While the explicit leaks generate headlines, it risks cheapening the world championship title itself. Wrestling relies on the value of the prize; when the focus shifts exclusively to personal harassment, the belt becomes a prop rather than the goal. The company needs to pivot to actual match-driven stakes after this upcoming Wednesday episode. If the product remains focused on harassment rather than athletic competition, the current viewership trends will likely decline further before May 24.
Honorable Mentions
Konosuke Takeshita, whose ceiling is higher than most of the main roster right now but lacks the airtime. Also, Kazuchika Okada, who is currently drifting in multi-man matches, waiting for a meaningful singles push.
