AEW Power Rankings: Week of Nov. 20 – Chris Jericho, RIHO remain stay on top
This week’s AEW Power Rankings feature champions on top and a closer look at who is on the rise in the men’s, women’s and tag team divisions.
This week’s episode of Dark saw the debut of another female wrestler. Dynamite had two highly anticipated matches to open and close the show. There was also a segment with “Le Champion” Chris Jericho. A new No. 1 contender was named for the Women’s World championship. With that in mind, here’s what the rankings shape up for the week of November 20.
Men’s Division
No. 1 — Chris Jericho (last week: 1)
“Le Champion” might’ve suffered his first loss in AEW last week, but he still has the best record overall. On Dynamite, he cut a promo with assistance from Jack Hager. The man who pinned him, Scorpio Sky, challenged him to a match next week. Jericho put his title on the line.
No. 2 — Nick Jackson (last week: ranked as a tag team)
Nick Jackson had his first singles match in 1,627 days on Dynamite. He faced one half of the Lucha Bros., Rey Fenix. This was a dream match for many fans. What a way to open the show. Although he suffered the loss, he extended his hand to Fenix, who ignored it.
No. 3 — Jon Moxley (last week: 2)
Last week on Dynamite, Moxley issued an open challenge to which Darby Allin accepted. They faced off this week in an insane main event. Mox hit the Paradigm Shift after biting his opponent. “The Purveyor of Violence” picked up another win and might have also broken his hand, based on comments he made into the camera at the end of the match.
No. 4 — Rey Fenix (last week: ranked as a tag team)
Rey Fenix wrestled his first singles match in AEW this week on Dynamite. After an exciting exchange with a man he knows very well, Fenix came out on top after hitting a muscle-buster.
No. 5 — “Hangman” Adam Page (last week: 4)
Although “Hangman” won his match at Full Gear, he’s had a rough time as of late. On this week’s Being the Elite, he told the Bucks that he was leaving The Elite for a while. On Dynamite, he was one of the last men standing after the Dynamite Dozen Battle Royal.
No. 5 — MJF (last week: 6)
MJF is tied with “Hangman” as he was the other winner of the Dynamite Dozen Battle Royal. After playing possum, he eliminated Kip Sabian to become the other last man standing. He faces off with Page next week on Dynamite.
No. 7 — Darby Allin (last week:9)
The “Relentless” Allin accepted Moxley’s challenge last week. This week, he came out blazing hot by attacking Mox before he could get in the ring. He came close to besting Moxley with a coffin drop and a Stunner, but was bitten and hit with a Paradigm Shift. This was after he was put in his own body bag (with MOX spray-painted on it).
No.8 — Scorpio Sky (last week: ranked as a tag team)
One-half of the tag team champions, Sky gave Jericho his first loss in the company in a match that got him a lot of attention as a potential singles star. This week, Sky came to the ring to talk a little trash to Jericho. With a bit of reverse psychology, he got the World Champion to agree to a title match next week.
No. 9 —Luchasaurus
Luchasaurus returned to the ring after injury this week. He got a very loud pop and made quick work of Peter Avalon.
No. 10 — Billy Gunn (last week: unranked)
The former New Age Outlaw made a surprise appearance in the Dynamite Dozen Battle Royal. Gunn had a few fun moments with Sonny Kiss and MJF (fans realized they wanted to a tag team of Gunn and Kiss). Hangman eliminated Gunn with a buckshot lariat.
Women’s Division
No. 1 — RIHO (last week: 1)
The AEW’s World Women’s Champion tagged with Britt Baker against Big Swole and Kris Statlander on Dark. Baker got the win, thus improving RIHO’s record as well.
No. 2 — Hikaru Shida (last week: unranked)
Shida took on Baker on Dynamite. Baker had Shida in a submission, but she was able to get out of it. Shida hit the Falcon Arrow and a knee strike to win and become the No. 1 contender for the Women’s championship.
No. 3 — Britt Baker (last week: 4)
Baker pulled double duty this week with matches on both Dark and Dynamite. The dentist got the win for her tag team on the first show but lost the following night.
No. 4 — Kris Stantlander (last week: unranked)
Statlander is one of the most sought out wrestlers on the indie soon. Fans had hoped to see the Alien in an AEW ring. She teamed with Swole and put on a clinic of her abilities, which led to fans asking the company to sign her.
No. 5 — Big Swole (last week: 8)
Big Swole continues to impress fans. This week, she was paired with indie standout, Kris Statlander. Swole might’ve been on the losing team, but she always leaves fans wanting more.
Tag Team Division
No. 1 — SCU (last week: 1)
Scorpio Sky’s focus is now (temporarily?) on the AEW World Championship as he prepares for his match next week against Jericho. His SCU brethren, Frank Kazarian and Christopher Daniels, are firmly in his corner as he attempts to become a double champion (which Sky kept Jericho from becoming last week).
No. 2 —Best Friends (last week: unranked)
Chuckie T & Trent? took on Private Party on Dark. The duo got a much-needed win with a Strong Zero. They looked the best they have in a while and controlled a majority of the offense.
No. 3 — Young Bucks (last week: 7)
With Dark being taped the week prior, Matt Jackson was (relatively) healthy and able to team with his brother against the Strong Hearts. The Bucks had an excellent match. Matt hit the Northern Lights on both members of the Strong Hearts before nailing the Meltzer Driver for the win.
No.4 — Private Party (last week: 2)
Marq Quen and Isiah Kassidy wrestled on both shows this week. On Dark, they faced Best Friends. Though their opponents controlled most of the match, they were able to get in some offense. The following night, the pair took on Proud-n-Powerful in a match that honored their friend and fellow wrestler, Matt Travis. Santana pulled out a loaded sock but was stopped by Nick Jackson. Private Party took advantage, hitting the Gin & Juice and getting an emotional win.
No. 5 — Proud-N-Powerful (last week: 2)
Santana & Ortiz had an emotional match with Private Party that was in memory of fallen wrestler, Matt Travis. Nick Jackson got a bit of revenge for his brother who was injured last week at the hands of Proud-N-Powerful. He took a loaded sock from Santana, which led to them losing the match.
No. 6 — Strong Hearts (last week: unranked)
The Strong Hearts are part of OWE, who have a working relationship with AEW. We’ve seen CIMA and T-Hawk several times, but on Dark, T-Hawk partnered with El Lindaman. The duo looked great against the Young Bucks and left the fans wanting to see more.
No. 7 — Dark Order (last week: 3)
The duo didn’t have a match this week but made their presence known with a vignette recruiting new fans to #JoinDarkOrder.