The Big Picture
AEW is currently navigating its most aggressive growth phase since the company’s inception. With the 2026 television rights deal secured and a roster that now features the consensus top three wrestlers on the planet, the promotion has moved past its identity crisis. The focus has shifted from merely surviving the Wednesday Night Wars to establishing a permanent, high-production alternative that can headline stadiums like Allegiant Stadium without breaking a sweat. As we sit six days out from AEW Dynasty, the momentum from the first quarter of the year is still driving ticket sales and social media engagement.
The Power Rankings
10. Jay White Finally Claims the International Gold
After a 2025 that felt like a holding pattern for the Switchblade, his victory over Orange Cassidy in February felt like a necessary course correction. White is a worker who requires the friction of a title chase to remain relevant, and his use of the Blade Runner into a deadlift suplex showed he hasn't lost a step. He ranks at ten because, while the match was technically flawless, the feud lacked the personal stakes of his previous NJPW runs. It was a 22-minute clinic that reminded everyone why White was the most sought-after free agent two years ago, but he needs a more compelling dance partner than a burnt-out Cassidy to climb higher on this list.
9. The Young Bucks’ EVP Corporate Rebrand
Matthew and Nicholas Jackson have leaned into the meta-narrative of their roles, and the results are divisive. By appearing in expensive suits and firing staff members on-screen, they have created a brand of heel heat that feels uncomfortably close to reality for some fans. This choice ranks at nine because it is the most creative use of their actual power, though the criticism remains that they sometimes prioritize inside jokes over the actual tag team division. Their recent demand for a private dressing room at the upcoming Dynasty pay-per-view is a classic heel trope that still works because the audience genuinely wants to see someone punch them in the mouth.
8. Darby Allin’s Death-Defying Glass Spot
At Revolution, Darby Allin once again pushed the boundaries of what is acceptable in a wrestling ring by diving through a pane of glass from the top of a ladder. While the visual was stunning, the medical report following the match was a sobering reminder of the physical cost. This moment ranks at eight because it generated massive social media buzz, but it earns a critical observation: Darby is rapidly approaching a point of diminishing returns where the audience is more worried about his health than the outcome of the match. A Coquina Clutch into a ring-post swing is one thing, but a 15-foot fall onto tempered glass is a risk that AEW management should probably start vetoing.
7. Toni Storm’s "Timeless" Transition
Toni Storm has managed to do what few others can: reinvent her entire persona without losing her edge in the ring. Her black-and-white vignettes and old-Hollywood affectations have become the most consistent part of the women's division. She sits at seven because she has become the primary anchor for the division’s storytelling, even when the matches are shorter than they should be. The way she incorporates her "shoe" as a foreign object is clever, but the real magic is her commitment to the bit during press conferences. It is a rare example of a character-heavy gimmick that doesn't feel like a parody of the sport.
6. The BCC vs. CMLL Global War
The crossover between the Blackpool Combat Club and the stars of Mexico’s CMLL has provided some of the most stiff, realistic wrestling of the year. Seeing Claudio Castagnoli trade uppercuts with Mistico brought a level of international prestige that the "Forbidden Door" concept had started to lose. This ranks at six because it proved that AEW can still surprise fans with dream matches that don't require months of build-up. The atmosphere during the Arena Mexico tapings was 16,500 fans deep and louder than any US-based Dynamite in recent memory. It was a stark reminder that the BCC works best when they are treated as a traveling wrecking crew rather than a standard faction.
5. Kazuchika Okada’s Continental Dominance
Since joining the Elite, Kazuchika Okada has been booked as an untouchable final boss. His first defense of the Continental Championship featured a Rainmaker that looked like it genuinely detached his opponent's head. He is ranked fifth because he brings an aura of legitimacy that is impossible to manufacture; when the coin drops, the show immediately feels more important. However, the decision to align him with the Young Bucks is a double-edged sword that risks dragging him into the comedy-adjacent territory he spent years avoiding in Japan. He needs a pure wrestling feud—ideally with someone like Will Ospreay—to fully justify his massive contract.
4. Mercedes Mone’s Heel Turn in Boston
The "CEO" finally stopped playing nice with the fans in her hometown, and the response was a symphony of boos that changed the direction of her AEW career. By attacking Willow Nightingale after a hard-fought defense, Mone proved that she is far more comfortable as a villain than a smiling babyface. This ranks at four because it was the moment she truly arrived in AEW, shedding the WWE-lite skin she had been wearing since her debut. The move to the dark side allows her to use her technical brilliance to frustrate the audience, which is where she excels. It was a calculated risk that paid off by making the women's title the most talked-about belt in the company for two weeks.
3. Will Ospreay vs. Bryan Danielson II
The rematch that everyone wanted lived up to the impossible hype. Ospreay using a Hidden Blade into a Tiger Driver '91 for a near-fall at the 28-minute mark was perhaps the most breathless sequence of the year. This takes the number three spot because it represented the pinnacle of in-ring work, but it ranks below the top two because it was a standalone athletic exhibition rather than a industry-shifting moment. Critics will point out that Ospreay’s style is unsustainable, but in this specific match, his chemistry with Danielson was undeniable. It was a 5.75-star effort that will be studied by aspiring wrestlers for the next decade.
2. Swerve Strickland’s Coronation
Swerve Strickland finally winning the Big Platinum belt was the culmination of the most organic rise in AEW history. The crowd in Greensboro refused to let the match end without a 3-count for the man they had chosen as their leader. This ranks at two because it represents a changing of the guard, moving the focus away from the original "Pillars" and onto a man who built himself from the ground up. Swerve brings a cool factor to the title that has been missing since the early days of Kenny Omega's reign. The only reason this isn't number one is that the following entry had a more significant impact on the company’s mainstream visibility.
1. Ronda Rousey’s Debut at Revolution
The most shocking moment of 2026 occurred when the "Baddest Woman on the Planet" walked onto the AEW stage. According to a report from Wrestling Inc, the deal for Rousey was kept under tight wraps, with many in the locker room finding out only minutes before she appeared. This takes the top spot because it fundamentally alters the perception of the AEW women’s division, bringing in a name with massive crossover appeal. However, the critical observation here is her status: Rousey is reportedly on a part-time, high-impact agreement rather than a full-time touring contract. While this boosts ratings in the short term, AEW must be careful not to let her presence overshadow the full-time talent that has worked for years to build the division. If she is used as a gatekeeper rather than a permanent fixture, the long-term benefit may be smaller than the initial explosion suggests.
Honorable Mentions
The return of Kenny Omega to the commentary booth provided a much-needed emotional beat for the fans, though he remains months away from a physical return. Additionally, the rise of the "Iron Savages" as a legitimate tag team threat has been a surprise highlight of Rampage, though they haven't quite cracked the top ten yet. Finally, the announcement of Forbidden Door 2026 heading to London’s Wembley Stadium has already triggered a massive ticket pre-sale, signaling that the international appetite for the AEW product remains at an all-time high.
