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All Elite Wrestling has been fantastic (but not entirely faultless - some areas are in the need of drastic improvement) throughout its debut year. The one thing everybody would agree on is the quality of the top-end talent on their roster. While some names on this list will be the ones we all expected when the company was first announced, others have been complete surprises, and if AEW can continue to expand their roster in 2020, they will sooner or later solidify themselves as the overall #2 pro-wrestling company in the world.
The in-ring talent in the company is undeniable, but talent without performance means nothing, and that's clear in the performance of some wrestlers in AEW this year, but for the most part, this is a list that we'd all expected to see. So without further ado, let's get started on the top 10 performers this past year for the brand new company.
#10 Fenix
There are plenty of standout indie performers in the world that don't move on to the bigger stage, but that couldn't be farther from the truth when it comes to one-half of the Lucha Bros, Rey Fenix. Since AEW began, Fenix has done nothing but amaze the AEW audiences around the world, and despite the relative lack of tag team success, has been a shining light all year long.
It seems that the company is looking to continue with The Lucha Bros as a duo, but with so many interesting tag teams in the division, the idea of a singles run for Fenix and Pentagon Jr. isn't too far fetched. Pentagon has always been the muscleman of the team, but Fenix stands out with his incredible in-ring work, and in a company like AEW, his rise will only continue as the years go on.
#9 MJF
Maxwell Jacob Friedman is the fastest rising star in all of professional wrestling, and after turning on his best friend Cody and pairing with Wardlow, it's clear that the process to build him as the face of AEW has begun. On the promo, MJF is arguably the best in all of wrestling (with the seasoned Chris Jericho being his only equal), and now that he's free to be the biggest heel possible, he'll be cementing his position as a top star in the promotion very soon.
This build-up has been done quite slowly, so he hasn't had too much in-ring action yet, but as always, he's looked very impressive, and as he grows with his experience, he will become one of the best in the world.
Plenty of performers in AEW are ready to take over in 2020, but if done right, next year could be the year of Maxwell Jacob Friedman, as he has the talent to be the face of an entire company.
#8 Jon Moxley
While most expected Jon Moxley to join AEW at some point in 2019, his debut was still incredibly well done, and the rest of his year at the company has seen him become the performer that we had been wanting to see in WWE for years. Mox is truly unhinged and is putting the entire roster on notice, and although it didn't count, his huge victory over Kenny Omega at Full Gear puts him right in line for a title shot against Chris Jericho.
His four wins put him tied with Darby Allin, PAC, Kenny Omega, and Hangman Page, but his performance and overall aura put him right ahead, ready to challenge Le Champion.
While the WWE bashing is getting old, he was misused to the hilt during his time with the company, and thanks to the freedom he's getting in All Elite Wrestling, we are finally seeing him fulfill his potential, and now that he's fully recovered from his injury, he's ready to make the company his own in 2020.
#7 Kenny Omega
When Kenny Omega made his AEW signing official, many expected The Best Bout Machine to simply take his spot at the top of the company, but it's been a very different road for him. With big losses to PAC, Chris Jericho, and Jon Moxley, it's clear that The Cleaner isn't the dominant force he once was, but despite these struggles, he has put on some amazing performances.
On Being the Elite, it's become clear that the team is fracturing and Kenny is spiraling, so 2020 is either going to be an incredible year for him, or he will continue to fall. It isn't that dire a situation yet, as he is still ranked in the top five contenders to Chris Jericho's World Championship, but we should all expect him to rise in 2020, as he is still the same incredible performer that defeated Kazuchika Okada and reigned supreme in New Japan Pro Wrestling.
#6 PAC
PAC had a tumultuous beginning to his All Elite Wrestling career, but once The Bastard finally arrived (as an injury replacement at All Out), he proved why he's considered one of the best in the world. With big victories over both Kenny Omega and Adam Page, PAC has proven just how great he is, and despite the fact that it looks like Jon Moxley is the next in line for Chris Jericho, The Bastard can't be too far behind.
With a brand new attitude and the physical tools he's always possessed, it looks like PAC is ready to be a World Champion, despite another certain company not viewing him in this light. His four singles victories are tied with plenty of other performers for number two in the men's division (right behind Chris Jericho), and now that he's found his footing in a brand new company, 2020 could be the year that PAC finally takes over the wrestling business.
#5 SCU
The duo of Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian have been doing amazing work for years now, but when they added the young and athletic Scorpio Sky to the group, they took their work to another level entirely. They reigned supreme in Ring of Honor, and when they joined AEW, they proved just how valuable they are to the company, and as the first and only AEW World Tag Team Champions, they deserve to be this high on any list.
Scorpio Sky has proved that he and the duo are not only great together, but as singles stars too, and with all their abilities as both serious performers and comedy acts, they could be just as valuable to AEW as The New Day are to WWE. With all the talented teams in the company tag team division, holding onto those titles will be just as hard for SCU as winning them was, but with talent and a combined 50+ years of experience, they may just be the trio that can hold onto the gold for quite some time.
#4 The Young Bucks
While The Young Bucks haven't had the title success that SCU had (they did win the AAA World Tag Team Championship), the quality of their matches all year long has been incredible and unmatched in the division. Their matches with the Lucha Bros were absolutely insane, and despite losses to The Lucha Bros, Private Party, and Proud n Powerful, they've been the stars on every show, proving why they are still the very best tag team in all of professional wrestling.
With so many exciting new tag teams in this division, it's clear that The Bucks are going to be the best for years to come, so 2020 should be absolutely no different, and eventually, they'll strike gold in AEW. Whether you like it or not, Matt and Nick are amazing all-round performers, and as AEW continues to find its footing on TNT, these guys will just get better, so expect major improvements in 2020.
#3 Riho
This is a name that absolutely no one expected to see on this list when All Elite Wrestling was announced, but after winning over the crowd at Double or Nothing, Riho has been fantastic since. Despite her diminutive size and age, Riho is an incredible performer with the ability to draw sympathy from any crowd, and with an 8-2 record (5-0 in singles competition), she is proving to be an elite-level performer.
With the likes of Kris Statlander, Jamie Hayter, Bea Priestley, Britt Baker, and plenty more outside of AEW looking to join the company, her reign at the top may not last much longer, but her 2019 has been amazing. With wins over Emi Sakura, Nyla Rose, and so many of AEW's other top performers, the 22-year-old with 13 years of wrestling experience has been amazing, and even if she can't match the quality of her performance this year, she will still be key to AEW going forward.
#2 Cody
When AEW began, many people were worried that Cody, Kenny Omega, and The Young Bucks would push themselves right to the top, and while they've all been heavily featured, they've done it very well. Cody has had some phenomenal matches, and his promos have been unmatched in the business, and although he's now disqualified himself from challenging for the AEW World Championship, he's still one of the best in the business.
2020 is shaping up to be a good one for The American Nightmare too, as it seems AEW is truly finding its footing, and when he gets his hands on MJF, he'll take his game to another level entirely. Without a shot at the AEW Championship available, it's hard to see where Cody goes from that rivalry, but it's clear he's one of the most creative performers in all of wrestling, so we can't wait to see where he goes from here.
#1 Chris Jericho
After the amazing career Chris Jericho has had, it would be understandable if he tried to slow down, but in 2019, LeChampion may have had the best year of his career, which is certainly saying something. He hasn't wrestled as often as he would have in the past, but with several PPV main events, a long reign as the AEW World Champion, and plenty of memorable moments, he's the easy #1.
A Little Bit of the Bubbly has been one of the biggest things in wrestling all year, and with the rest of The Inner Circle around him, it seems that LeChampion won't be slowing down anytime soon. Sure, Will Ospreay has been the clear #1 in all of wrestling for pure wrestling, and there are several well-rounded performers challenging Jericho for the #1 spot in all of wrestling, but when it comes down to it, no one does as much with his time as Chris Jericho, and it's amazing to watch.
