AEW Angle SCRAPPED Because Wrestler Didn't Top PWI 500

It takes a bold, bold person to make tentative wrestling plans based on themselves topping the PWI 500 later in the year, but that was seemingly indeed the case for one AEW talent.

The most recent episode of Talk Is Jericho saw the titular Le Champion joined by Pro Wrestling Illustrated's Al Castle and Kevin McElvaney to discuss, amongst other things, putting together the annual PWI 500 and debating whether Kenny Omega or Roman Reigns deserved to nab the top spot in the men's list this year.

Once the PWI guys got going with their discussion, they made mention that a "co-worker" of Jericho's had a "whole angle planned around being #1, and he wasn't". While the co-worker in question wasn't named, it was said that this was a couple of years ago.

Since AEW formed, the PWI 500 has been headed up by Jon Moxley in 2020 and Kenny Omega in 2021. In terms of who this mystery person could be, it's maybe safe to rule both Mox and Omega out. It's also likely wise to rule out any recent AEW arrivals, as these loose plans seem to have been laid down by someone who has been in AEW for the past few years.

Of course, one name that immediately springs to mind when weighing up who Jericho's miffed co-worker could be, is Cody Rhodes. Rhodes himself admitted last year that he was, as he put it at the time, "pissed" that he didn't top the PWI 500. For what it's worth, Cody ranked #7 in 2020.