Ranking Every AEW "ERA" From Worst To Best

Don't be said that it's over, be happy that we live in a world where it actually happened in the first place.

The crowds were returning. Wrestling felt like the biggest thing on this spinning ball of insanity. And AEW were about to take things up a few notches.

In the wake of Double or Nothing 2021 welcoming back the sound of thousands of fans collectively losing their minds, Tony Khan decided to bring in the big guns.

After seven long years away from all things pro wrestling, and it often looking like the days of the Punker in-between the ropes were over, 'The Best in the World' strutted back into the business on the second-ever edition of AEW's then-latest weekly show Rampage.

But this was merely the beginning of a bold new All Elite era.

CM Punk was soon joined by fellow former WWE stars Adam Cole and Bryan Danielson in a stunning move that made the alternative feel like the destination more than ever before.

Similarly to the Early Dynamite Days Era, it felt like you just could not afford to miss one edition of the Wednesday or Friday night AEW offerings. Dream showdowns between Minoru Suzuki and Danielson, and carefully mapped out rivalries pitting 'The Voice of the Voiceless' against the bloke who was better than him and he knew it became the norm.

It wasn't perfect - the women's division was again rarely put in a position to succeed, largely only making the headlines due to backstage drama - but what is?

The joy felt seeing 'Hangman' Adam Page finally topple Kenny Omega and Punk & Eddie Kingston brawl at Full Gear 2021, Wardlow pass the ring at Revolution 2022, Anarchy in the Arena be unleashed at Double or Nothing 2022, Danielson and Omega tear it up at Grand Slam 2021, The Young Bucks produce magic with The Lucha Bros time and time again, and so much more helped wash away the memories of those missteps, though.

Even when the high-profile arrivals went down injured, or big stars disappeared for a while post-pipebomb, AEW still found a way to bounce back with a Jon Moxley World Championship run for the ages.

Like any exceptional era in wrasslin' history, all good things must come to an end, however. And a year on from CM Punk's first AEW match, a p*ssed off and once again injured Phil clashed with some EVPs backstage, bringing a dreamlike spell for the company to a sudden end.

But we'll always have the memories, folks.