Ranking the 10 Most Valuable Stars in WWE and AEW
What makes a star valuable in pro wrestling today?
Is it their ability in the ring? Perhaps it lies in their mainstream access and how visible they are outside of it. For others, it could be their willingness to play a role that once felt like a relic of a bygone era.
All of those things matter, as do merchandise sales, long-term impact on the company, and the all-important connection with the audience.
With those in mind, let's find out who the 10 most valuable stars across WWE and All Elite Wrestling are today.
Honorable Mention
1 of 11
Bayley (WWE)
The former world champion may reside in WWE, but her impact on pro wrestling will be felt far beyond the walls of the industry leader.
The founder of Lodestone Wrestling, which has given women's wrestlers from around the world the opportunity to train, build community and learn from the best and biggest stars in the sport, is preparing the next generation of Superstars to take the mantle and carry the business into the future in a way no other individual competitor is at this point.
Her value to the long-term health and prosperity of both WWE and AEW is undeniable and lies within her selfless approach to a selfish industry.
Kyle Fletcher (AEW)
The future of the company, The Protostar is a superb wrestler who figures to be the face of AEW for the foreseeable future.
Already established as such, with credibility among the fans thanks to outstanding matches against the likes of Will Ospreay, Jon Moxley, Mark Briscoe and Mike Bailey, he is well on his way to ranking at or near the top of this list sooner rather than later.
10. Darby Allin
2 of 11
The former world champion embodies AEW.
Darby Allin is the alternative, chaotic, action-packed, risk-taking, smaller-than-his-opponent star who has gotten over with audiences and been one of the foundational stars of the company since its inception.
He is AEW through and through, a wrestler willing to take any bump imaginable for the sake of his art and his company.
One of the most popular and enduring stars on the roster, thanks to his image and in-ring style, he proved that behind the tattoos, facepaint and flamethrower is an exceptional professional wrestler, as evidenced by his string of championship defenses during the month he held the gold.
One of the faces of the company, his value lies in his ability to wrestle any match, deliver, and maintain his unbreakable bond with the audience.
9. Becky Lynch
3 of 11
Becky Lynch earns her place on this list not only for her own excellence but also for how she is continually utilizing it to get over the next crop of stars.
Since turning heel after WrestleMania 41 and dominating the Women's Intercontinental Championship picture, Big Time Becks has spent the majority of her time prepping a new crop of women to be both the future and the now of wrestling.
First was Lyra Valkyria, then Maxxine Dupri. Both women saw their stars grow and their credibility with fans enhanced through working with Lynch. Most recently, it was Sol Ruca who, like her two predecessors, defeated The Man to capture the IC title.
One of the biggest stars in the industry, who has enjoyed mainstream success and is a New York Times bestselling author, has continued to prove her selflessness while creating new stars and ensuring the long-term success of the division.
And in between, she wrestled a series of high-profile matches with AJ Lee that culminated in a big-time WrestleMania 42 showdown.
8. Mercedes Moné
4 of 11
Mercedes Moné returned to AEW on last Wednesday's Dynamite and wasted little time reminding everyone why she is among the most valuable stars in the company.
The former TBS champion is not only a superb in-ring performer and one of the revolutionary Four Horsewomen of NXT, alongside Bayley, Charlotte Flair and Lynch, but she is also a star who knows her value, settles for nothing and carries herself like one.
The result is an audience that is sometimes split but always invested in her work, which has been nothing short of spectacular since she arrived in WWE's developmental scene over a decade ago.
Influential, bankable and an elite in-ring performer on a loaded AEW women's roster.
7. Danhausen
5 of 11
The idea of the face-painted comedy act being one of the 10 most valuable stars in WWE and AEW would have seemed laughable when he made his debut with the former this past February.
Since then, however, all he has done is establish himself as one of the most visible professional wrestlers in the world.
He has gotten over with audiences, become a monster merch seller, but most importantly, has become a mainstream star thanks to his appearances on ESPN and role in the New York Knicks' playoff lore.
Since uncursing the team, the Knicks have gone unbeaten in the NBA playoffs and are two games away from winning their first title since 1973, and Danhausen has been front and center, both physically and as an internet sensation.
You cannot buy or force that kind of recognition, and the face-painted throwback to monsters of generations past has achieved it by remaining the character he perfected on the independent scene years ago.
6. Will Ospreay
6 of 11
Will Ospreay is the most popular star in AEW. He is also, arguably, the best wrestler in the world. His work with every opponent, from Jon Moxley and Kenny Omega to Kyle Fletcher and Konosuke Takeshita, has proved as much, as has the deafening pop he receives when he steps into arenas around the world.
Fans appreciate his work ethic, the quality of his matches, and the action-packed nature of those bouts, and they genuinely want to see him succeed.
This brings us to All In, the premier event in AEW, which will emanate from Wembley Stadium in Ospreay's hometown of London on August 30.
With a win in the men's Owen Hart Foundation Tournament, Ospreay will earn a shot at the AEW World Championship, currently held by MJF. Should that occur, it would be the biggest main event match the company can present short of running Ospreay vs. Omega back.
That is because of the equity and credibility that Ospreay has built with fans, the quality of work they know they can expect from the best babyface in the promotion.
5. Rhea Ripley
7 of 11
There is an argument to be made that Rhea Ripley belongs further up this list, thanks to visibility and recognition away from professional wrestling.
A huge star across social media, including 6.7 million Instagram fans, Mami has fans who had never tuned into a single WWE event before discovering her.
Within the world of professional wrestling, she is an even bigger star. One of the most popular stars in WWE, the reaction she receives as she enters arenas across the globe rivals that of the industry's biggest names, as do her merch sales.
Between the ropes, she is the rare women's star who can be positioned in a main event or have an entire show built around her, as evidenced by the 2024 Elimination Chamber event, where she squared off with Nia Jax in the marquee bout.
Her stardom and connection with audiences have gotten even bigger since that night in her home country of Australia and she is now front and center in major marketing campaigns for Minute Maid and The General.
That her in-ring work backs everything else up only helps her star burn brighter and, as a result, her value increase.
4. MJF
8 of 11
The reigning AEW world champion is the face of the company, a rare feat for a heel.
MJF is endearing to audiences because of his willingness to be the bad guy. In an industry where every major villain has to be cool, dominant, badass or a world-beater, he has repeatedly proved he will not shy away from being the coward or the guy who gets his comeuppance when the time comes.
His mic work is the best in the company, and his ring work is at or near the top, too.
An old-school performer built in the same vein as "Rowdy" Roddy Piper, who lives the gimmick when any red light is on, he is a throwback in a company that is otherwise an alternative.
That he has an expanding film career, can be counted on to do media appearances while promoting the company, and has stood on mainstream stages with John Cena and Seth Rollins, two of WWE's biggest stars, and did not look out of place, only enhances his value to AEW as its preeminent star.
3. CM Punk
9 of 11
In an ever-changing landscape in WWE, CM Punk is the throwback to a bygone era. He is a wrestler's wrestler; a virtuoso who masterfully weaves story and in-ring action to create all-time encounters, as evidenced by his instant classic against Roman Reigns at WrestleMania 42.
That he can single-handedly cut it loose and deliver a famed pipebomb promo that erases all of the subpar creative that preceded it and genuinely excite audiences as a result, only elevates his importance to WWE.
The best part of the product through the first quarter of the year, he carried the company when it was receiving consistent criticism for its lackluster creative.
His connection with the fans, which remains unbroken even two decades after his rise to prominence in Ring of Honor, is invaluable and keeps him relevant regardless of how many logic gaps, twists, and turns any given WWE storyline may take here in 2026.
A rarity today, Punk is still one of the most valuable stars in the industry. An argument can be made that he is underrated here at No. 3.
2. Cody Rhodes
10 of 11
Make no mistake about his ranking: Rhodes is still QB1 in WWE.
The American Nightmare is a great talker, a charming mainstream media presence, incredibly popular with the audience and a great worker who can be relied on to deliver when it matters most.
Even more so when TKO executives are not making their presence felt in his WrestleMania programs.
Rhodes does the autograph signings, takes pictures, kisses babies and never complains. He is everything you want out of the top babyface star in the company and a representative of all that WWE is attempting to accomplish away from the squared circle.
With that said, some Cody fatigue is beginning to set in. Like any monster babyface star of the past three decades, fans grow tired of seeing them overcome the odds, win, and celebrate to close out shows. That some of his recent creative has been lacking does not help matters.
Rhodes is a major merchandise mover, is a full-time asset to the company, and does everything a top-tier guy could be asked to. In any other company, he is the clear No. 1.
Thus far in 2026, though, his most hated rival takes that top spot.
1. Roman Reigns
11 of 11
It was clear with his win in the 2026 men's Royal Rumble match that there was an initiative for Roman Reigns to reclaim his spot as the head of the table.
The Tribal Chief returned to TV and his spot at the top of the company, and he proceeded to defeat CM Punk clean in the center of the ring to win the World Heavyweight Championship in the main event of WrestleMania 42.
Since then, Reigns has been all over Raw, appearing weekly for the first time in what feels like an eternity as WWE attempts to reestablish the Bloodline saga as its top storyline.
Time will tell if it enjoys the same success that it did at its height, but Reigns' appearance on Netflix every Monday has gone a long way in elevating that show and the importance of the World Heavyweight Championship, which had previously been treated like the lesser of the company's two top prizes.
A heel at his worst, tweener at his best, Reigns is still cheered in arenas around the globe. As long as he continues to appear on TV, will have his fingerprints all over the main event scene in WWE for the foreseeable future.
While a lengthy title reign that lasts three-plus years is likely out of the question, do not be surprised if the top dog in WWE remains champion for some time, selling merch, piquing interest and headlining premium live events along the way.
.jpg?w=600 "Re-Drafting the 2025 Draft")
.jpg?w=600 "Ranking Best NFL Running Back Duos for 2026")
