We've had four full weeks of AEW Dynamite and that means four full weeks of the official AEW Power Rankings (only on Fightful) are here to help you make sense of it all.
Here's how it works; I rank anything and everything from the past week of AEW Dynamite, giving what I liked a low number and what I didn't like a higher number. The numbers are fairly arbitrary, but an explanation accompanies each ranking. Because AEW won't use the same talent every week, you won't see the same people, places, or things ranked every week. If you don't see something ranked, feel free to ask me on social media (@jeremylambert88) where it would fall. I will use a random number generator and reply ASAP.
If you missed anything from AEW Dynamite, check out Fightful's full report on the show. You can also catch up on where things stand with last week's Power Rankings.
AEW Power Rankings - Week Five
1. Wrestling
WRESTLING! This week's episode of AEW Dynamite featured wrestling from almost start to finish. There was a video package and the Cody segment, but otherwise it was nothing but wrestling. I still think they could allow segments to breathe a little. But the action is working for me as someone who enjoys the sport of wrestling more than the entertainment. And it's clearly working for the crowd as they loved every second of it.
2. The Lucha Bros
Fantastic performance against Private Party and a big victory to head into the finals of the AEW Tag Team Title tournament. Fenix and Pentagon Jr remain absolutely awesome.
3. SCU
The Lucha Bros beat tougher competition (sorry, Dark Order), but SCU also punched their ticket to the finals of the AEW Tag Team Title tournament. Scorpio Sky continues to have big star potential.
4. Orange Cassidy
Yup.
5. Kenny Omega
Kenny Omega is winning again. Nice to see him over that losing streak. Remember when he was losing matches and was going crazy or something? Guess that never really came through on Dynamite.
8. Britt Baker
She's a dentist. From Pittsburgh. Nice to see the hometown hero win a match for the first time in wrestling history.
10. MJF's Heel Mannerisms
Diamond upside down is a pussy. *Wink*
11. Diamond Dallas Page
I fully expected The Young Bucks with Cody and Dustin, so I was happy to see DDP and MJF.
16. Pittsburgh Steelers
The highest they'll be ranked in any power rankings all year.
24. The Young Bucks
They won against a team that rarely wins. They are docked for super kicking Orange Cassidy in a moment only Jim Ross enjoyed. It's tough for the AEW audience to boo the Young Bucks. And Orange Cassidy had them booing the Young Bucks.
30. Tickets
It's important to have them. Cody and his crew should not have been allowed into the Inner Circle suite without a ticket. Is this the kind of security AEW has working for them?
35. MJF's Scarf
Not only does it protect your neck, it protects your hands as well. With it being winter, now is the perfect time to pick up your MJF scarf from the AEW Shop. (This ranking was paid for by fan of MJF).
41. Private Party
A good showing in defeat, but failure to capitalize on the momentum of beating The Young Bucks is, as Ron Rivera likes to say, a missed opportunity.
45. The Dark Order
I'm still not sold on them, but the fans were into the match by the end. That says something. And they have Creepers. But, like, who are they? This is when I wish AEW would have used video packages more leading up to this week.
48. Joey Janela
Much like Private Party, it was a good showing by Janela. But he keeps losing and his only win was against Brandon Cutler, who doesn't have a single win. When will AEW stop burying Joey Janela just because he likes blink-182?
50. Time Limits
Very important to establish such a thing. They did it with Darby vs. Cody, but this is the first time the time limit was used on television. Did it work? Pulling it off in the main event between Moxley and Pac will upset fans who have been conditioned to be angry about such things. It's just a different way to get out of booking yourself into a corner by not having someone take a loss, the same way a DQ/run-in would. But comes off more acceptable because, if we're comparing it to MMA, it's like a fight going to a decision, only there are no judges. Maybe AEW should have judges.
55. Wardlow
A VIDEO PACKAGE!
60. The Inner Circle
Need better security. And vuvuzelas instead of airhorns.
61. Glass
Broken. The Inner Circle should have used a steel door. I'd like to see Cody punch through that.
64. TNT
If AEW had their own network or if TNT allowed them to have an overrun, we wouldn't run into the issue of Pac vs. Moxley going to a draw.
69. Jake Hager
We see where his priorities lie.
71. The Best Friends
At least they have their friendship.
76. Dippin' Dots
They are trash. Anyone who says differently has never had real ice cream before.
80. Brandi Rhodes
The hell is her problem?
87. Falcon Arrow
Can't believe the deal was kicked out of twice on this show.
92. Cody's Announcement
Cody was advertised to speak. And then they teased some kind of announcement, but it was cut-off by airhorns. Why doesn't Cody make the announcement now? Will he ever make the announcement? Was this an inside joke at Daniel Bryan's big announcement?
95. Invisible Wall
Sorry, Invisible Wall, AEW does not employ you. Maybe Joey Janela can get you a job in GCW.
100. Jim Ross
He's doesn't "get" Orange Cassidy or why wrestlers don't go for covers or really anything that doesn't involve Cody, Jericho, and some buzzwords. Ross is free to speak his opinion, I think it's what makes him interesting in 2019, but when he's actively hurting the product, it doesn't help anyone. If Jim Ross doesn't enjoy the product he's calling, fine. But Jim Ross doesn't have to openly tell the viewer why he's not enjoying the product when everyone is going crazy in the arena. Tell us what you see, not how you feel.
1000. Tape Machines
WHY WEREN'T THEY ROLLING?!?!?!
