Tony Khan Announces The Return Of AEW's Ranking System
Highlights
- AEW is bringing back the rankings system in 2024 to determine title contenders.
- The previous use of the rankings system had some flaws, including padding midcard talent wins and inconsistent storytelling.
- With improvements and a focus on a sports-based presentation, the rankings system can enhance the storytelling and raise the stakes in matches.
AEW had an up and down 2023, but the company seems to be getting back on track with the new year, following a great Continental Classic and a new World Champion in Samoa Joe. In order to keep up the momentum, Tony Khan is looking to AEW's early glory days, as he recently announced on social media that the rankings system would make its return in 2024.
Wins And Losses Should Always Matter In Wrestling
For its first 3 years, AEW used a rankings system based on the roster's win-loss records, which would ultimately decide the number one contenders for the company's championships. It was updated weekly, with each division being highlighted. Top-ranked competitors would challenge the champions directly, or they would face off in a number one contender's match to determine who would challenge for the title.
10 AEW Wrestlers With The Most Losses, Ranked
Which AEW wrestlers have lost the most matches throughout the promotion's history?Tony Khan took to X (FKA Twitter) to announce the big decision:
“The Rankings are coming back to AEW going forward, starting this month! @AEW is having a very exciting January, and this is only the beginning of an amazing 2024 for AEW and our fans. Thank you all watching Saturday Night #AEWCollision right now on @TNTdrama!”
According to Bryan Alvarez on the Bryan & Vinny Show, it was CM Punk who convinced TK to scrap the rankings system back in 2022.
Tony Khan Is Going Back To A Sports-Based Presentation
There were some criticisms targeted towards the rankings system when AEW used it initially. Wins from the midcard talent were padded using shows like AEW Dark & Elevation, and storylines would often ignore the rankings in terms of who would get a title shot.
20 Best AEW Matches Of All Time, Ranked
All Elite Wrestling is known for putting on incredible wrestling matches, but which matches are the best in AEW history?Without those obstacles, it looks like the rankings system could once again prove to be an interesting storytelling device that will make matches feel that much more important with higher stakes.
