All Elite Wrestling employs tons of talented wrestlers, but not every star in AEW is on the same level. Some are considered bigger stars than others and are booked in main event spots, while others are brought on more an enhancement talent and jobbers who lose nearly all their matches.
The AEW roster list presented below is an interpretation of the AEW totem pole. The higher up on the ladder you are, the more wins and special treatment you're given and your character is more credible, whereas the lower rungs of the AEW hierarchy are the losers (in theory; this is not a statement of the performers themselves).
NOTE #1: The AEW Depth Chart is a roster "best guess assessment" of how All Elite Wrestling's representatives (Tony Khan and company) view the wrestlers in that I'm judging them based on how they're presented to me from my point of view. This is not MY point of view of how the wrestlers should be ranked, nor a comparison of my favorites or how I view any of the talent themselves. Rankings are entirely how I imagine that's how AEW looks at its wrestlers on a level of importance based on how they're presented to the audience.
NOTE #2: This is only the men's division, as the women's division has significantly less wrestlers and the spreading out of that talent is a lot less diverse. Anyone can jump into the title hunt after just a few wins.
AEW Depth Chart Last Updated: 9/11/2023
[SPECIALTY]
Sting
MAIN EVENT
HIGH-TIER
Chris Jericho, Jon Moxley, Kenny Omega, MJF
MID-TIER
Adam Cole, Adam Page, Bryan Danielson
LOW-TIER
Christian Cage, Claudio Castagnoli, Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson, Samoa Joe
UPPER MIDCARD
Cash Wheeler, Daniel Garcia, Darby Allin, Dax Harwood, Eddie Kingston, Jack Perry, Jay White, Konosuke Takeshita, Malakai Black, Orange Cassidy, Ricky Starks, Roderick Strong, Sammy Guevara
MIDCARD
HIGH-TIER
Andrade El Idolo, Anthony Bowens, Brody King, Buddy Matthews, Juice Robinson, Katsuyori Shibata, Keith Lee, Lance Archer, Luchasaurus, Mark Briscoe, Max Caster, Miro, Ortiz, PAC, Penta El Zero Miedo, Powerhouse Hobbs, Ray Fenix, Santana, Swerve Strickland, Wheeler Yuta
MID-TIER
Alex Reynolds, Angelo Parker, AR Fox, Austin Gunn, Bandido, Big Bill, Billy Gunn, Brian Cage, Colten Gunn, Dralistico, Hook, Jake Hager, Jay Lethal, Jeff Hardy, Jeff Jarrett, John Silver, Kaun, Komander, Kyle Fletcher, Mark Davis, Matt Hardy, Matt Menard, Matt Taven, Mike Bennett, Nick Wayne, Rush el Toro Blanco, Satnam Singh, Scorpio Sky, Toa Liona, Trent Beretta
LOW-TIER
Action Andretti, The Blade, The Butcher, Chuck Taylor, Darius Martin, Dustin Rhodes, Ethan Page, Evil Uno, Isiah Kassidy, Lee Johnson, Lee Moriarty, Preston Vance, Shawn Spears, Tony Nese
JOBBER / ENHANCEMENT EXTRAS
Aaron Solo, Angelico, Brandon Cutler, Brock Anderson, Cezar Bononi, Kip Sabian, Luther, Michael Nakazawa, Nick Comoroto, Pretty Peter Avalon, QT Marshall, Ryan Nemeth, Serpentico / Jon Cruz, Shawn Dean, Sonjay Dutt
[STATUS UNKNOWN or INJURED]
Anthony Ogogo, Danhausen, Dante Martin, Kyle O'Reilly, Marq Quen, Paul Wight, Wardlow
[PRIMARILY ROH TALENT - HARD TO JUDGE]
Alex Zayne, Anthony Henry, Ari Daivari, Blake Christian, Boulder, Brandon Tate, Brent Tate, Bronson, Carlie Bravo, Cheeseburger, Christopher Daniels, Cole Karter, Colt Cabana, Dalton Castle, Dutch, Eli Isom, Gravity, Griff Garrison, Jacked Jameson, JD Drake, Jora Johl, Josh Woods, Leon Ruffin, Matt Sydal, Parker Boudreaux, Rhett Titus, Shane Taylor, Silas Young, Slim J, Stu Grayson, Tony Deppen, Tracy Williams, Vincent, Willie Mack, Zack Clayton
RANKING DEFINITIONS
SPECIALTY: These are the ones who take precedence over everyone else, for the most part. They're perpetually at the main event level even if they don't show up that often.
MAIN EVENT: High-Tier are always in the main event and never lower than the top of the card, relatively speaking, and seem to only get pushed aside if it comes to them against a specialty act. Mid-Tier go back and forth. Low-Tier are world champs that don't frequently main event but can fill in a main event spot at any time, or a new world champ that is fresh to the scene and thus, hasn't built up enough history to be moved up.
UPPER MIDCARD: These wrestlers are in limbo between the main event and midcard scene. They may have won world titles but don't stay at the top that often or they are close to getting to that level, but haven't quite reached it yet.
MIDCARD: High-Tier are those that are in contention for the International, TNT and TBS championships at any time; Mid-Tier are not quite that level yet but still may challenge and could possibly be at the top of the tag team division; Low-Tier midcarders are used primarily as filler and rarely win any match unless it's against local enhancement jobbers brought in to lose.
JOBBER: Generally speaking, these guys can't even make it on television and if you do see them, you know for a fact they're going to lose and stand no chance.
STATUS UNKNOWN: These people are either off TV due to injury, suspension, or something else (wherein they have no ranking) or they are currently not in a position that seems like a solid state, such as a newcomer or someone that is on TV in a non-wrestling capacity.
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