Loading rankings data...
Fan-made ratings based on match quality from Cagematch.net
I love AEW. As a wrestling fan for most of my life, it was such a relief when this promotion came along. For several years before that, I had at various times nearly given up on the dross that WWE were feeding wrestling fans. Yes, there were other promotions, but none that I consistently stuck with β not until AEW came along.
The longer I've watched AEW, the more I've marvelled at the match quality and incredible stories these athletes tell us. For me, wrestling is all about feelings and opinions. But another passion of mine is data β analysing and interpreting it β and around the start of 2025, I embarked on a project to create a wrestling rating system.
What I've found most fascinating is comparing wrestlers and seeing how their ratings evolve over time β the peaks, the valleys, the comebacks. It tells a story that complements what we see on screen.
The ratings are based on match performances from the excellent Cagematch.net β not wins and losses, but how fans have received and rated each AEW wrestler's matches.
This is an independent fan project. AEW and Cagematch are the property of their respective owners.
All wrestlers start at 100 (average).
Points are gained or lost based on Cagematch match ratings and votes, plus show ratings and votes. Higher-voted matches and shows carry more weight.
Wrestler's rating before the match β lower rating means more room to climb.
Opponent quality β a great match vs a lower-rated opponent gains more points (it's more impressive); a great match vs a top-rated opponent gains fewer points (it's expected).
Show type and show rating/votes β PPV matches carry more weight than Dynamite, which carries more than Dark.
Match stakes β titles and stipulations add boosts.
Card position β main event matches get a spotlight bonus.
Gains fade over time. Losses recover. This means current rankings reflect current form β recent matches count more than older ones. Eventually, inactive wrestlers return to 100 and drop out of the rankings.
Wrestlers drop out after 6 consecutive weeks without a match. If they return, they re-enter using their rating at that point (which has continued to degrade/recover while inactive) β unless it has already reached 100.
Men's, Women's, Men's Tag, Women's Tag and Trios. Crossover is allowed β e.g. a male wrestler in a trios team contributes to both Men's and Trios.
Minimum 2 matches to appear in rankings.
Two matches, both rated 9.08 on Cagematch with ~275 votes each. But the rating points gained were very different:
Same match quality (9.08) but Ciampa gained +4.33 more points. His lower starting rating (108.70) meant more room to climb. The TNT title on the line and a higher-rated show added further boosts.
Meanwhile, Swerve's higher starting rating (121.13) limited his upside β and while Omega's lower rating (129.47 vs Fletcher's 147.56) actually helped Swerve slightly (a 9.08 match against a lower-rated opponent is more impressive), it wasn't enough to close the gap.
Key takeaway: The same match quality score can produce very different rating changes. Ciampa's advantages in starting rating, title stakes, and show quality outweighed the opponent factor working against him.