Report: AEW Rankings System Being Toned Down
For those wondering why AEW's rankings have been de-emphasised lately...
If it feels to you like All Elite Wrestling has de-emphasised its rankings system in recent weeks, this is because it has.
Dave Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that AEW has been purposefully toning its use of the rankings down. While the Tony Khan-helmed promotion hasn't done away with them completely, it has made the choice to de-emphasise them on television - though the decision-makers could always go back on this should they see fit.
AEW hasn't updated its power rankings on allelitewrestling.com since 31 August. This came following another three-week absence, with no updates on 17 or 24 August in the usual Wednesday slot. But while the 17 and 24 rankings were at least released via Twitter, the same can't be said for the past few weeks.
The use of systems like win/loss records and power rankings was initially presented as one of AEW's unique selling points, designed to complement a purported "sport-like presentation." Whether or not the company has been successful in delivering said feel over its three years of existence is subjective but the rankings at least provide a framework from which AEW can believably engineer title matches, eliminators, and other contests.
For now, it appears they are on the back burner.