Ranking the 10 Most over Acts in WWE and AEW Right Now

When it comes to mainstream professional wrestling, being over with the crowd is just as important as being good in the ring, especially when it comes to being part of a company with a national TV deal.

Being a skilled technician, brawler or high-flyer will get eyes on you, but as we have seen a million times, just being a good worker isn't always enough to draw a crowd.

Big moves and exciting moments can pop a crowd, but the thing that keeps people coming back week after week is the storytelling and character progression. If you're not showing your personality in one way or another, you're not giving fans something with which to connect.

When somebody is over with the crowd, they sell tickets and merch, generate loyal followings, and usually end up headlining the biggest events. In essence, being over is all about being popular.

Let's take a look at the 10 most over acts in WWE and All Elite Wrestling today, with a few honorable mentions thrown in for good measure.

Honorable Mentions

Before we get to the top 10, let's take a look at some names that were heavily considered.

• Eddie Kingston is one of the most relatable stars in all of pro wrestling. His promos are gritty and real, but he can also produce meme-worthy moments and make us laugh. What's not to like?
• The Street Profits might be the most underrated tag team in pro wrestling, and that's saying something because they are already quite popular and well-regarded for their skill. 
• MJF is the AEW world champion and is considered a prodigy by many, but he has many detractors who feel he leans too heavily on the same shtick for all of his promos. That is the only thing that kept him off this list. 
• Sasha Banks isn't officially a member of the AEW or WWE rosters right now, but not including her on a list of the most over acts in pro wrestling would feel like a huge oversight after the amount of buzz she built for Wrestle Kingdom 17. 
• Chris Jericho has been one of the biggest focal points of AEW programming since he became the first world champion. You don't have entire arenas singing your entrance music in every city if you aren't over with the crowd. 
• The Acclaimed has carved out a path for itself as one of AEW's most popular tag teams. Max Caster's hilarious raps. Anthony Bowens' infectious energy and Daddy Ass being the adopted dad they never had has been insanely fun to watch. 
• Britt Baker has been one of the most featured stars in all of AEW because she always generates the kind of response needed for the moment. If she ever goes back to being a babyface, she might be the most popular one in the women's division right away.
• Even though some fans have grown tired of his style of wrestling and his random schedule, there is no denying the drawing power of any match with Brock Lensar. When he allows himself to have fun with what he's doing, few people get the kind of reactions The Beast does. 
• The only reason Judgment Day has worked as well as it has is the inclusion of Rhea Ripley. Without her, the whole thing falls apart. She's one of a kind and destined for great things in this business. 
• The New Day might not feel quite the same without Big E, but Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods still generate big reactions on their own. When it's all said and done, they might be considered the greatest three-man group of all time. 

10. Cody Rhodes

Cody Rhodes has had one of the most interesting careers in pro wrestling history, and along the way, he has gained a cult-like following.

Not only did he successfully make several different gimmicks work in WWE when they should have been dead on arrival, but he ended up leaving on his own terms at a time when that was incredibly rare in WWE.

He ended up being instrumental in the formation of AEW, but it was his return to WWE that really had people talking in 2022. Unfortunately, a torn pec put him on the shelf for several months following his epic feud with Seth Rollins.

When The American Nightmare returns, possibly during the men's Royal Rumble match, he is going to get one of the biggest pops of the year. Frankly, he would have been higher on the list if he had more time in 2022 to gain momentum.

9. Adam Page

Most pro wrestlers feel like larger-than-life characters, but something about Hangman Adam Page sets him apart from the pack.

Instead of feeling like a fictional character with a one-track mind, Page feels like a real person with real emotions and motivations. He could be your neighbor or the guy sitting a few stools down at the local pub. He feels authentic, which is not easy to do in this industry.

Being open about his anxiety and depression has endeared him to those who feel the same way, but his ability to put on great matches is what makes him universally appealing.

The Anxious Millenial Cowboy is one of AEW's most valuable assets both in and out of the ring.

8. Bianca Belair

Bianca Belair came into WWE with no experience as a pro wrestler, but her otherworldly athleticism allowed her to pick up the business quicker than most.

The current Raw women's champion has only continued to gain more experience and new fans since she was called up to the main roster the night after WrestleMania 36.

Her rise has been incredible to watch because it has all happened on WWE television. Being able to track somebody's career from the very start is a rarity in a business where most people start out wrestling on the indies for tiny crowds inside of small venues.

2022 was a great year for The EST, and if she keeps going at this pace, 2023 could be even better.

7. Bryan Danielson

It's hard to really put into words why Bryan Danielson is so popular. Sometimes, a person comes along that the crowd just connects with on a deeper level than most.

Is it his unmatched skill in the ring that makes the crowd pop? Is it his underdog quality? What about his slightly nerdy sense of humor?

The reality is that it's probably a combination of all three things that makes the once Leader of the Yes Movement so well-liked in the pro wrestling community.

As long as he can stay healthy, Danielson will likely end up holding the AEW world title within the next year. When he eventually claims the belt, the reaction from the live crowd is going to be deafening.

6. Becky Lynch

Whether you call her The Man, Big Time Becks or The Irish Lasskicker, you also have to call Becky Lynch one of the most popular pro wrestlers in the world.

It doesn't matter if she is a valiant babyface or a vicious heel, either. No matter what she is asked to do, Lynch nails her performance every single time.

Her matches are always enjoyable, and her promos keep the attention of the crowd. Ever since the day she clocked Charlotte in the face at SummerSlam 2018, The Man has been one of the most beloved stars on the roster.

Somebody in Hollywood was smart enough to cast her in a Marvel movie, but then somebody else was dumb enough to cut her cameo from the film. If she can retain this level of popularity, it's just a matter of time before another producer tries to put her on the big screen.

5. Jamie Hayter

Whenever Jamie Hayter's high-energy entrance music begins to play, those in the crowd absolutely lose their minds.

The AEW women's champion was unavailable during most of the COVID-19 pandemic because of travel restrictions, but she used that time to get into the best shape of her life.

When she returned in August of 2021, she immediately aligned herself with Britt Baker. As time progressed, she began to eclipse DMD's popularity to the point that AEW management had no choice but to give her the push fans were hoping for.

Now, few in AEW can generate the kind of reaction she can, and when you add in the fact that her matches are always hard-hitting and fun, you have a recipe for success. With any luck, she will turn babyface soon so she can fully embrace the love she gets from the crowd.

4. Jon Moxley

For the past few years, Jon Moxley has felt like the heart beating at the center of AEW, and that has gained him legions of fans.

It might be fun to sing along with "Wild Thing" when he walks through the crowd, but even if he started making his way to the ring from the stage and used an in-house song, Mox would still be one of the most over names in the business.

Even people who absolutely hate AEW can rarely claim to have the same vitriol for Moxley. He takes every part of his job seriously and always performs to the best of his abilities. It's hard to dislike a guy who shows up, does his job well, and doesn't cause problems.

This man has literally bled buckets for his craft, and it has earned him almost universal respect among fans.

3. The Elite

All Elite Wrestling may still be trying to catch WWE in terms of ratings and overall viewership, but the audience it has built is as passionate and dedicated as any you will find. When it comes to AEW loyalists, few names generate as much buzz as those in The Elite.

Kenny Omega and the Jackson brothers, Nick and Matt, have been three of the top names in the company since they helped lay the groundwork to make it a reality.

They always get a huge pop, but ever since they chose "Wayward Son" as their official music, crowds have been even more excited to see them make their entrance.

The newly crowned trios champions have one of the most dedicated followings in all of pro wrestling, but their detractors have been just as vocal. There is little middle ground with this group.

They are either beloved or hated depending on who you talk to, but one thing nobody can deny is their ability to overserve their fans.

2. Seth Rollins

While the WWE and Universal titles have been mostly relegated to SmackDown, the United States Championship has become the top prize on Raw, and one of the people who has helped make it feel more important is Seth Rollins.

The Visionary had an outstanding 2022. He had several great PPV matches, won the U.S. title and turned himself into one of the most popular stars in all of WWE.

His outfits are always hilariously over the top, but it's his skill as a performer that has led to entire arenas singing along to his entrance music whenever he makes an appearance.

If WWE hadn't merged its two top titles, you can bet that Rollins would have had one around his waist last year.

1. The Bloodline

For the past couple of years, Roman Reigns and The Bloodline have ruled over WWE like a royal family.

The Usos and Solo Sikoa are Reigns' blood relatives and closest confidants, but without Sami Zayn, this story may have fizzled out a long time ago.

The former NXT champion has cemented himself as the most entertaining member of the group time and time again by not only making us laugh but also by pulling on our heartstrings.

All five members of the group, along with Paul Heyman as their advocate, have become the biggest act in all of pro wrestling.

Everyone on this list is popular for different reasons, but popularity is hard to judge and very subjective. Who are some of your favorite WWE and AEW stars?