AEW Power Rankings: June 23, 2026

#1. MJF

The AEW World Champion is all over the coverage this week — leading his 12-man steel cage team, getting promo time on Wednesday’s Dynamite, and drawing praise from Kevin Nash as a generational talent. He’s also speaking openly about his body breaking down at 30, which adds a compelling human layer to his dominance. Nobody is more central to AEW’s narrative right now.
🏆 AEW World Championship

#2. Swerve Strickland

Swerve is in the Owen Hart Tournament men’s final against Will Ospreay at Forbidden Door, which alone makes him must-watch. He’s also generating press with candid Forbes interview quotes about the AEW-NJPW relationship being “in an interesting place,” and he revealed an arthritis diagnosis — fighting through real pain heading into a marquee PPV match. His trajectory feels like a star ascending to reclaim his top-of-the-card position.
↑ Rising

#3. Will Ospreay

Ospreay is Swerve’s opponent in the Owen Hart final and his presence in the Forbidden Door main event conversation keeps him firmly in the upper tier. Limited direct coverage this week, but being half of the tournament final on a joint AEW-NJPW supershow is as big as it gets for positioning.

#4. Mark Briscoe

Leading Team Briscoe in the massive 12-man steel cage match at Forbidden Door, Briscoe is getting promo spotlight on this Wednesday’s Dynamite alongside MJF’s crew. The cage match is clearly one of the event’s centerpiece bouts, and Briscoe’s leadership role in it keeps him firmly in the spotlight heading into Sunday.

#5. Jon Moxley

Moxley isn’t generating coverage for what he’s doing on screen this week — he’s generating it because Bully Ray called him a “fraud” and Josh Barnett stepped up to defend him. That kind of heat, even from outside the company, signals Moxley is still a figure the industry can’t stop talking about. The Death Riders controversy keeps him culturally relevant.

#6. Mercedes Moné

The reigning Owen Hart women’s finalist and last year’s tournament winner is in the women’s final at Forbidden Door against Maya World. Coverage is lighter this week, but being in a PPV final — especially as the established name in the match — keeps her in the top tier heading into Sunday.

#7. Darby Allin

Darby is being actively debated as AEW’s Wrestler of the Year so far in 2026 — 411Mania ran the feature explicitly. He’s also part of Team Briscoe in the Forbidden Door cage match. The WOTY conversation combined with a PPV role makes him one of the most organically buzzing names in the company right now.
↑ Rising

#8. Kazuchika Okada

Named as a member of Team MJF alongside the Don Callis Family, Okada’s presence in the 12-man steel cage match at Forbidden Door keeps him prominent. His AEW run has always carried massive crossover appeal given his NJPW legacy, and Forbidden Door is his showcase event by design.

#9. Konosuke Takeshita

Takeshita is named on Team Briscoe for the cage match and is highlighted by Swerve Strickland as one of the rising stars elevating AEW right now. He’s earning broader recognition as a true top-tier talent, not just a reliable hand, and Forbidden Door is another opportunity to prove it on the biggest stage.
↑ Rising

#10. Deonna Purrazzo

She’s in the news for the wrong reason — a possible injury at the ROH tapings that stopped her match against Steph De Lander — but injury stories generate significant coverage and her status heading into a busy AEW-ROH period makes her worth tracking closely. If she’s hurt, it reshapes the women’s division in a hurry.
↓ Sliding