Every AEW Wrestler Ranked From Worst To Best - After One Year
12. Orange Cassidy
That Orange Cassidy is now a proven ratings success rankles his critics, but it's true. Quarter-hours featuring 'Freshly Squeezed' post regular increases on Wednesday nights. He's over, people engage with him, and AEW frequently positions him at the top of the second hour to capitalise on this.
A wrestler that could have become a one-note jokester has taken off in AEW recently, as matches with PAC and Rey Fenix have allowed Cassidy to show his full range of skills. When the mask slips and the shtick drops, OC is an excellent high-flying wrestler and an elite bumper and seller who draws sympathy like few other, charging audiences up for his big comebacks.
Cassidy has mastered his craft. The enjoyment of that craft is up to the viewer and there's nothing wrong with disliking the guy for subjective reasons, though he has connected with the majority.
11. Sammy Guevara
To say Sammy Guevara was "nothing" before joining AEW does him a disservice, though it's fair to say that 'The Spanish God' entered the promotion with one of the lowest profiles.
Guevara struggled to find a home prior to AEW. Runs with WWN and in Japan failed to stick, leaving him scrambling for a living on smaller indies. AEW saw the traits that others had failed to capitalise on, invested in them, and created a blowaway television performer who grows in stature every week, sitting under the learning tree of one Chris Jericho. Sammy G couldn't have asked for a finer mentor.
Creative currently has Guevara sat in a pin-eating role, knowing that he is becoming as Teflon as Jericho in his ability to maintain heat in defeat. That will change eventually. A dazzling, charismatic wrestler, he is heading for the stars.
10. Darby Allin
Darby Allin vs. Sammy Guevara will headline AEW pay-per-views years from now. Development-wise, they're attached at the hip and destined to keep their rivalry going forever, provided one doesn't leave the promotion.
Allin is unique. He brings an alt. image and mentality that is particularly engaging to younger audience members, as we saw with the fans who'd turn up to arenas clarted in his signature face paint. AEW has allowed him to flex his creative muscles in inventive greyscale vignettes and through how he presents his character in the arena. Everything Darby does is distinctly him, which is the main reason he has gotten over to such an extent.
That he is a thrilling do-or-die daredevil and a sympathetic underdog between the ropes strengthens his case further.