AEW Rankings
How AEW Can Revive and Improve the Ranking System.
1. Introduce Two Rankings:
AEW should create two ranking systems—one for each championship and a "pound-for-pound" ranking. Considering AEW already acknowledges the opinions of dirt sheets, blogs, writers, pundits, and podcasters, allow them to vote on the pound-for-pound rankings. Championship rankings, on the other hand, should be based solely on win/loss records. The pound-for-pound rankings can be useful for surprising entries in matches like the Casino Battle Royale or for gauging fan opinions on who is currently excelling overall.
2. Bring Back AEW Dark:
Revive AEW Dark and make all matches on the show exhibition bouts. This would make the show unique by offering two key benefits:
Fans could witness the rise of upcoming stars.
Established wrestlers could engage in one-off matches without affecting their standings in AEW's official rankings. However, performances on AEW Dark could still influence the pound-for-pound rankings.
3. Unify Win/Loss Records Across Shows:
Either split the roster between Dynamite and Collision or maintain an overall win/loss record. Currently, having separate records for each show doesn’t make sense since both use the same roster and titles. Combining records into an overall win/loss system ensures consistency and better reflects a wrestler's standing.
4. Detailed Records:
Wrestlers should maintain specific records for:
Singles matches.
Tag team matches.
Trios matches.
Additionally, AEW could highlight specialty statistics, such as:
Ladder match victories.
Four-way match wins.
Most eliminations in Casino Battle Royale matches.
5. Title Declaration Rule:
If a wrestler declares their intent to pursue the TNT Championship, they are removed from the World Championship rankings. This adds strategy to the title chase. Wrestlers might choose based on factors like placement in the rankings, the competition in a particular division, recovery from injury, or personal rivalries with the current champion.
6. Champion vs. Champion Matches:
While rare, AEW could feature special "champion vs. champion" matches under a “winner-takes-all” or "double-or-nothing" stipulation, making such moments significant and highly anticipated.
7. ROH's Ranking System:
Unlike AEW, ROH should not have a ranking system. Instead, its matches could be determined by a board of directors, with Tony Khan stepping in only for high-stakes rivalries or exceptional circumstances.
8. Title Match Rules:
Title matches should adhere to the following rules:
A standard 60-minute time limit.
If the match ends in a draw, the champion retains the title.
If a champion intentionally causes a disqualification, they can lose the title.
Titles change hands via pinfall or submission only.
9. Post-Title Loss Rankings:
When a champion loses their title, they don’t automatically receive an immediate rematch. Instead, their new ranking should depend on how competitors ranked #2–#5 perform. For example, if all those ranked #2–#5 win their matches while the former champion loses, the former champion could drop to #5. Exceptional victories—such as a lower-ranked wrestler defeating a top-tier opponent—can also shake up the rankings significantly.
10. Impact of Multi-Man Matches:
Winning a triple threat or fatal four-way match affects rankings based on whom the winner defeats. Pinning a lesser opponent might not significantly boost one’s rank, but defeating a top contender would. This system adds a layer of strategy to multi-man bouts.
11. Separate Pound-for-Pound Rankings:
The pound-for-pound rankings should be distinct from official AEW rankings and include the following categories:
Men's Singles.
Men's Tag Team.
Men's Trios.
Women's Singles.
Women's Tag Team.
Women's Trios.
This separation allows for a more nuanced evaluation of talent across divisions.