AEW Power Rankings: Week of January 15, 2020
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, it was announced that AEW has been renewed through 2023. It will also add another show to the TNT lineup. It’s rumored that Dark will move from YouTube to TNT.
AEW Dark paid homage to Memphis wrestling by honoring contributors to the scene, including Lanny Poffo, “Handsome” Jimmy Valiant and Austin Idol. There were also two matches and one that didn’t get officially get started. On Dynamite, fans were treated to a No. 1 contenders match for the AEW Tag Team Championship. There were also matches to determine the No. 1 contender for the AEW World Championship.
With all of that in mind, here are the rankings for this week.
Men’s Division
No. 1 — Chris Jericho (last week: 1)
Chris Jericho got his revenge after Jon Moxley embarrassed him last week when he didn’t actually join Inner Circle and threw a bottle of bubbly at Jericho’s head. “Le Champion” led a beat down that included an eye injury to Mox.
No. 2 — Jon Moxley (last week: 2)
Mox had a memorable entrance when he rolled up in his Ford GT (a gift from Inner Circle before he turned on them). “The Purveyor of Violence” handed Sammy Guevara his first loss of 2020 when the latter went for a moonsault, but was caught and forced to tap. Moxley has a match next week to become the No. 1 contender for “Le Champion”‘s title.
After the match, he was beaten down by the IC. He suffered an eye injury but came out at the end of the show to let his opponent know he was ready to go next week.
No. 3 — PAC (last week: 9)
PAC faced Darby Allin in an excellent main event to determine Moxley’s opponent for next week’s No. 1 contender match. PAC hit a powerbomb on Allin on the side of the steel steps and even hit a stunner. PAC sealed the deal with a Black Arrow to face Mox next week to become the No. 1 contender.
No. 4 — Cody (last week: unranked)
Cody had a live mic on Dynamite to respond to MJF’s demand in order to face him at REVOLUTION. Cody with a mic is always gold and this promo was no different. He knocked MJF down a peg while agreeing to each stipulation. “The American Nightmare” will face MJF next month.
No. 5— Darby Allin (last week: )
Allin faced Brandon Cutler on Dark and added a victory to his win-loss record. The following night, he had an excellent match with PAC. Allin hit a tope suicida through the second and third ropes. He went for another, but was caught by PAC who then swung him into the steel steps. Allin hit a stunner followed by the Code Red. It wasn’t enough for the victory.
No. 6 — Sammy Guevara (last week: 3)
“The Spanish God” had an excellent match with Moxley. He dominated a good portion of the match including a cutter from the top rope, a shooting star press and a Spanish Fly from the top rope. Had he been able to land his moonsault, Guevara might be the one facing PAC next week.
No. 7— Brandon Cutler (last week: unranked)
Cutler faced off against Allin on Dark. Cutler hit a guillotine kick on Allin’s head on the apron. Cutler Allin dominated this matchup, although Cutler did catch Allin before he could attempt a Coffin Drop.
No. 8 — Luther (last week: 8)
Luther tried to help the Nightmare Collective by not letting Hikaru Shida get to the ring. This allowed them to beat up Kris Statlander before Shida hit him with a kendo stick.