Every AEW Wrestler Ranked From Worst To Best - After One Year
45. The Butcher
The Butcher and The Blade had it all against them after an ineffective debut angle that saw them rubbing shoulders with Cody immediately, though they were able to overcome this with a strong showing in the following week's tag match. They have demonstrated themselves to be a solid, bruising tandem since then, with the MJF association giving them a rub, though they've barely been featured over the past few months.
The Butcher is a curio. He has an incredible look, a great Lariat, and impressive power, though he is already in his 40s and still green. That he performs above his experience level is unquestionable, though it's impossible to place him higher with such low usage.
44. The Blade
As a far more refined worker than his tag team partner, The Blade finishes one spot higher. Their presentation, however, has been identical.
The former Braxton Sutter is a sleek, well-rounded wrestler who compliments The Butcher well. We just need to see them on television more before assessing how far the team can go.
43. Emi Sakura
With its legitimate pupil/teacher dynamic and smooth chain wrestling, Emi Sakura vs. Riho (Full Gear) is an underrated early gem in AEW's women's division and the key reason Sakura finishes relatively high despite her paucity of appearances since then.
Sakura's character was her main issue in AEW. The Freddie Mercury persona wasn't adequately explained and therefore came off low-rent and amateurish to those unfamiliar with her outside work, despite bringing more than two decades of experience to the table. A shame, really, as this left a talented veteran open to mockery.