Here is all you need to know about the previously disbanded AEW ranking systems that made a return earlier this year.
Tony Khan’s AEW has often tried to establish a sense of kayfabe and win/loss records in its storytelling. The promotion first brought the ranking systems during its inception in 2019 but was slowly disbanded. However, fans witnessed the glorious return of the system earlier this year in January 2024 only to vanish later.
Speaking to Denise Salcedo of Instinct Culture, Wrestling Administrative Coordinator of AEW, Will Washington shared the details and thoughts behind bringing back the rankings earlier this year. He claimed that it was due to storyline reasons.
(Samoa) Joe established that he wanted to see competition in crowning a World Championship contender. He said it, ‘Bring your record.’ That was the catalyst — I see a lot of people who bring up the rankings all the time. We brought the rankings back and people are like, ‘What happened to the rankings?’ That was a storytelling device. That was a storytelling device for Samoa Joe, for what Joe had literally said. ‘I want competition-based contenders. You are not just going to get a shot at my World Championship. You’re not going to demand it. You’re going to earn it and you’re going to climb the rankings to earn it.’
That led to a number of guys; HOOK had the best record and it led to him being the number one contender. Swerve and Hangman had the exact same record, and they kept flip-flopping one and two until they tied and had the draw. In order to get to Samoa Joe, he demanded competition from his contenders and he demanded that you climb the ranks to get to him. When people ask, ‘What was that about? Why were they brought back?’ What was the point. It was for Joe. That’s what it was about and that was the type of champion Samoa Joe represented.”
H/t Fightful.com
Samoa Joe defeated MJF last year in December 2024 to win the World Championship before losing it to Swerve Strickland in April 2024. Jon Moxley is the current holder of the title and is set to defend it against Orange Cassidy at Full Gear.
AEW Full Gear 2024 Match Card
AEW Full Gear 2024 is set to take place from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on November 23rd, 2025. With several title matches scheduled to take place, here is what the final match card looks like.
- “Big Boom!” A.J. vs QT Marshall
- Deonna Purrazzo vs. Anna Jay
- MJF vs. Roderick Strong
- Private Party (Isiah Kassidy and Marq Quen) (c) vs. The Outrunners (Truth Magnum and Turbo Floyd) vs. Kings of the Black Throne (Malakai Black and Brody King) vs. The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens and Max Caster) – AEW World Tag-Team Championship
- Mercedes Moné (c) (with Kamille) vs. Kris Statlander – AEW TBS Championship
- Swerve Strickland vs. Bobby Lashley
- Jack Perry (c) vs. Daniel Garcia – AEW TNT Championship
- Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher
- Konosuke Takeshita (c) vs. Ricochet – AEW International Championship
- Jon Moxley (c) vs. Orange Cassidy – AEW World Championship
In other news: Here is the latest injury update on Jade Cargill.