During F4WOnline’s most recent Bryan & Vinny livestream, there was a discussion regarding the return of rankings in AEW.
The concept, which was used from the beginning of AEW’s existence, had seemingly disappeared during the last quarter of 2022.
Bryan Alvarez stated on the show that he was told the person behind that was CM Punk, whom Alvarez said “talked Tony [Khan] into getting rid of the rankings.”
The rankings had last been updated on August 31, 2022, just days before the All Out pay-per-view that was as notable for its post-show media scrum controversy as it was for Punk defeating Jon Moxley to regain the AEW World Championship.
Khan stated in a 2022 interview with ComicBook.com that he was “re-evaluating” the system at that point.
Punk’s AEW contract was terminated with cause following a backstage incident at AEW All In 2023, before the two-time AEW World Champion returned to WWE that November at the Survivor Series PLE.