We’re back with another eWrestlingNews Thought-Provoking Query!
On this festive Christmas Eve, I’d love to revive an eWrestlingNews tradition from yesteryears: The Naughty or Nice List of 2024. The question on my mind today is “Which wrestlers stood out as the premiere villains and heroes in AEW this year?”
Don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments section below.
Coming to my opinion…
Under regular circumstances, I would’ve picked MJF, as he usually excels in playing the villain, but I can’t say the same for him this year. His recent dealings with Adam Cole just aren’t resonating with me as they usually do. Hopefully, he’ll return to form in 2025.
A couple of worthy mentions include Don Callis, with his enthralling screwdriver gimmick and standout performances in his faction, and Christian Cage for consistently delivering riveting promos as a heel. Jon Moxley also deserves some recognition, and he was indeed my pick for the Smark Out Moment yearly awards. However, it’s hard to ignore how the Death Riders storyline is shaping up to be – long-drawn, ambiguous, and lackluster, much like some of the disappointing WWE angles in the past (notably those featuring Bray Wyatt). For the time being, considering his ferocious assault on Bryan Danielson and overall intimidating antics, he’s undoubtedly a prominent antagonist.
Still, the title of top heel goes to Adam Page, who captivated us with his extreme actions against Swerve Strickland and his regular unhinged behavior throughout the year.
Shifting focus to the heroes of AEW, I’d like to mention Willow Nightingale, Mark Briscoe, Will Ospreay, and Swerve, all of whom enjoyed significant fandom this year.
I’d give the third-place to Danielson for his commendable delivery as a hero, despite being a regular target of the villains.
Orange Cassidy is the runner-up in my books, always staying true to his character, while taking a stand against his former team member Trent, The Learning Tree, and primarily leading the counteroffensive against the Death Riders.
Darby Allin is my top pick for the babyface category; not only is he seemingly poised to challenge Moxley, but he’s also been a formidable force against The Elite and played a significant role in giving Sting a proper send-off.
[TOP PICK]: Darby Allin
- Bryan Danielson
- Orange Cassidy
We’re waiting to hear from you! Share your thoughts below!