All Elite Wrestling employs tons of talented wrestlers, but not every star in AEW is on the same level. Some are considered bigger stars than others and are booked in main event spots, while others are brought on more an enhancement talent and jobbers who lose nearly all their matches.
The AEW roster list presented below is an interpretation of the AEW totem pole. The higher up on the ladder you are, the more wins and special treatment you're given and your character is more credible, whereas the lower rungs of the AEW hierarchy are the losers (in theory; this is not a statement of the performers themselves).
NOTE #1: The AEW Depth Chart is a roster "best guess assessment" of how All Elite Wrestling's representatives (Tony Khan and company) view the wrestlers in that I'm judging them based on how they're presented to me from my point of view. This is not MY point of view of how the wrestlers should be ranked, nor a comparison of my favorites or how I view any of the talent themselves. Rankings are entirely how I imagine that's how AEW looks at its wrestlers on a level of importance based on how they're presented to the audience.
NOTE #2: This is only the men's division, as the women's division has significantly less wrestlers and the spreading out of that talent is a lot less diverse. Anyone can jump into the title hunt after just a few wins.
AEW Depth Chart Last Updated: 9/18/2024
[SPECIALTY]
n/a
MAIN EVENT
HIGH-TIER
Bryan Danielson, Chris Jericho, Jon Moxley, Kenny Omega, MJF, Samoa Joe
MID-TIER
Adam Copeland, Adam Page, Christian Cage, Swerve Strickland
LOW-TIER
Darby Allin, Kazuchika Okada, Will Ospreay
UPPER MIDCARD
Claudio Castagnoli, Eddie Kingston, Jack Perry, Konosuke Takeshita, Mark Briscoe, Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson, Orange Cassidy, PAC
MIDCARD
HIGH-TIER
Big Bill, Cash Wheeler, Daniel Garcia, Dax Harwood, Hook, Jay White, Jeff Jarrett, Killswitch, Malakai Black, Ricochet, Roderick Strong, Sammy Guevara, Wheeler Yuta
MID-TIER
Anthony Bowens, Austin Gunn, The Beast Mortos, Bishop Kaun, Brian Cage, Brody King, Bryan Keith, Buddy Matthews, Colten Gunn, Dustin Rhodes, Hologram, Jay Lethal, Juice Robinson, Kyle Fletcher, Kyle O'Reilly, Lee Moriarty, Matt Taven, Max Caster, Mike Bennett, Rush el Toro Blanco, Toa Liona
LOW-TIER
Action Andretti, Angelo Parker, Anthony Henry, AR Fox, Carlie Bravo, Dante Martin, Darius Martin, Griff Garrison, Isiah Kassidy, Johnny TV, Komander, Lee Johnson, Marq Quen, Matt Menard, Nick Wayne, Preston Vance, Shawn Dean
JOBBER / ENHANCEMENT EXTRAS
Aaron Solo, Alex Reynolds, Angelico, Ari Daivari, The Blade, Brandon Cutler, The Butcher, Danhausen, Evil Uno, John Silver, Kip Sabian, Luther, Matt Sydal, Michael Nakazawa, Nick Comoroto, Peter Avalon, Serpentico
[STATUS UNKNOWN or INJURED]
Adam Cole, Anthony Ogogo, Bandido, Billy Gunn, Chuck Taylor, Cole Karter, Keith Lee, Kota Ibushi, Lance Archer, Mark Davis, Miro, Ortiz, Powerhouse Hobbs, Ricky Starks, Satnam Singh, Scorpio Sky, Trent Beretta, Wardlow, Zak Knight
RANKING DEFINITIONS
SPECIALTY: These are the ones who take precedence over everyone else, for the most part. They're perpetually at the main event level even if they don't show up that often.
MAIN EVENT: High-Tier are always in the main event and never lower than the top of the card, relatively speaking, and seem to only get pushed aside if it comes to them against a specialty act. Mid-Tier go back and forth. Low-Tier are world champs that don't frequently main event but can fill in a main event spot at any time, or a new world champ that is fresh to the scene and thus, hasn't built up enough history to be moved up.
UPPER MIDCARD: These wrestlers are in limbo between the main event and midcard scene. They may have won world titles but don't stay at the top that often or they are close to getting to that level, but haven't quite reached it yet.
MIDCARD: High-Tier are those that are in contention for the International, TNT and TBS championships at any time; Mid-Tier are not quite that level yet but still may challenge and could possibly be at the top of the tag team division; Low-Tier midcarders are used primarily as filler and rarely win any match unless it's against local enhancement jobbers brought in to lose.
JOBBER: Generally speaking, these guys can't even make it on television and if you do see them, you know for a fact they're going to lose and stand no chance.
STATUS UNKNOWN: These people are either off TV due to injury, suspension, or something else (wherein they have no ranking) or they are currently not in a position that seems like a solid state, such as a newcomer or someone that is on TV in a non-wrestling capacity.
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