Ups & Downs For Every AEW Roster Member

28. Ricky Starks

Ricky Starks
AEW

Up

'Absolute' has been nothing short of immaculate since signing, establishing himself as a details-first wrestler and a master of the small things that make this sport so compelling, with the Darby Allin grudge match his most compelling outing to date.

Down

Starks still hasn't scored a pinfall on Dynamite, though this is such a minor complaint.

27. Santana & Ortiz

Ortiz Santana Proud and Powerful
AEW/Lee South

Up

The Parking Lot Brawl with Best Friends will go down as one of the best matches in Dynamite history. This was a sick, brutal, and ugly fight, with the plunder spots incorporated in ways that never felted stunted or inorganic - a rarity in modern wrestling.

A close second for Santana's mini-program with Jon Moxley, highlighting his and Ortiz's exciting babyface future.

Down

Santana and Ortiz have never broken away from the tag division's middle tier despite coming into the company with a big reputation. Here's hoping they push towards championship glory in 2021.

26. Sammy Guevara

Sammy Guevara
AEW

Up

The entire Darby Allin story was a tremendous clash of two polar opposite personalities, with their brisk, bomb-filled brawl one of Revolution's biggest highlights. Guevara is so good in sub-ten-minuters.

Down

AEW made the right move in suspending Sammy when those awful comments made towards WWE's Sasha Banks re-emerged on social media. Here's hoping he has genuinely learned from the experience and grown as a human being.

25. Penelope Ford

Penelope Ford
AEW

Up

Levelling up in her AEW Women's World Championship match with Hikaru Shida highlighted Ford as a growing prospect in this promotion, and potentially somebody capable of anchoring the division if she continues on her current development curve.

Down

Fading almost entirely from the spotlight after said title match, becoming a secondary player in Miro and Kip Sabian's rivalry with Best Friends.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.