All Elite Wrestling: Top Five Wrestlers of 2020

#5. Darby Allin

The reigning TNT Champion has had a phenomenal 2020.   Darby Allin was the first “up and comer” to capture singles gold in AEW by defeating Cody Rhodes at Full Gear.  Allin has become known for the creative videos that he films that have included everything from jumping off of a bridge to body surfing through a concert crowd to lighting himself on fire.

As good as these videos have been his matches have been even better.  Darby got his first defining singles victory in AEW in a high-intensity match with Sammy Guevara at Revolution and has been involved in a great series of highly competitive matches with Cody which culminated with Darby getting the biggest win of his career and capturing the aforementioned TNT Title.

Darby’s willingness to take any bump imaginable and his resilient spirit has earned him admiration from fans worldwide.  As good as 2020 was for him the best is yet to come.   His performance this year has definitely put him on a list of possible future AEW World Champions.

#4. Hiraku Shida

Hikaru Shida is the current AEW Women’s Champion and has held the title since May when she defeated Nyla Rose at Double or Nothing.  She has put on phenomenal matches this year with the likes of Rose, Thunder Rosa, and Britt Baker.

Shida started the year with a very limited grasp of the English language but has improved this greatly through 2020.  She was recently a guest on the AEW Unrestricted podcast and was asked by Tony Schiavone to “talk about some of the ways you have learned and how you have developed your language (English)” to which Shida giggled and replied, ” My favorite way is watch Harry Potter with English subtitles too.”

Even though learning the English language is a work in progress for the defending AEW Women’s Champion she has had no issues telling stories masterfully in the ring.  As AEW continues to improve its women’s division through signing talent and training its inexperienced, but promising roster, Shida will be able to show her brilliance on a more consistent basis in the ring.  As Shida’s ability to speak the language catches up to her abilities in the ring she will cement herself atop the AEW women’s division for a long time to come.