Ups & Downs For Every AEW Roster Member

8. FTR

FTR Dynamite
AEW

Up

The long-awaited Full Gear dream match with The Young Bucks was overwhelmingly well-received despite the middling build. Cash Wheeler's failed 450 Splash should go down as one of the year's best finishes (and story points), as FTR's decision to match the Bucks at their own game backfired spectacularly.

Down

FTR delivered a lifeless, mechanical performance against Kenny Omega and Hangman Page, working with minimal fire, heat, or nastiness.

7. 'Hangman' Adam Page

Hangman Page
AEW

Up

Rebounding from the disappointment of his Chris Jericho program and reinventing himself as a hard-drinking man of the people, getting over huge in the process.

Down

No other AEW wrestler has suffered more from the lack of live crowds, with the Anxious Millennial Cowboy shtick resonating poorly in empty buildings, making Page look like a mope.

6. The Young Bucks

Young Bucks Cash
AEW

Up

It wasn't the best tag team match in wrestling history (not when this exists), but in successfully melding classic pro-wrestling drama and storytelling with state-of-the-art work, The Young Bucks, Hangman Page, and Kenny Omega delivered a Revolution match that will be talked about and referenced forever.

Down

Paper-thin heel teases during the FTR build. It felt like Superkicking Alex Marvez and smashing Tony Schiavone's phone were confused for character traits.

5. MJF

MJF AEW
AEW

Up

The best heel of his kind in American wrestling, bar none. MJF's AEW run has been full of stunning highs, though 10 Lashes was amongst the most gutwrenching and moving things a televised promotion has ever put together.

Down

MJF was excellent in it, though the Cody Rhodes match at Revolution was brought down a notch by its excessive bells and whistles.

Advertisement
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.