The Big Picture

The fallout from AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2026 has thrown the promotion into complete chaos. From betrayal inside the cage to contract countdowns, Tony Khan's board is shifting rapidly ahead of All In London on August 30. Here is how the power rankings shake out after a wild night in Boston.

The Power Rankings

10. Andrade El Idolo

Andrade El Idolo proved to be a massive liability inside the steel cage at Forbidden Door. Teaming with MJF and the Don Callis Family in the 12-man cage match, Andrade's ego clashed with his partners before he dropped MJF with an elbow and walked out. This backstage-style betrayal left the heels shorthanded and directly set up the finish. While Andrade's ring work remains sharp, his inability to coexist with other top stars limits his ceiling and lands him at the bottom of these rankings.

9. Scorpio Sky

Scorpio Sky is entering contract season, and the clock is ticking on his AEW career. The original roster member is approaching the end of the five-year extension he signed in 2021, with rumors linking him to TNA. Honestly, his second contract was a complete bust for Tony Khan due to constant injuries and baffling booking stagnation. Sky ranks at nine because his departure would be a symbolic blow, but his current in-ring value is negligible.

8. Divine Dominion

Megan Bayne and Lena Kross defended the AEW Women's World Tag Team Championship on the Forbidden Door Zero Hour pre-show. They survived a high-energy challenge from Thunder Rosa and CMLL's Olympia, finishing Rosa with a double chokeslam for the pin. Despite their physical dominance, the champion duo suffers from a complete lack of compelling television storylines. They earn the eighth spot because their title reign is solid, but they rank below active singles competitors who command weekly TV time.

7. Kyle Fletcher

Kyle Fletcher was the ultimate punching bag during the chaotic cage match in Boston. Fletcher was busted open early by Kyle O'Reilly using a Nintendo console, then had Orange Cassidy squeeze orange slices directly into his bleeding head wound. The night ended in embarrassment when Fletcher took a German suplex from Konosuke Takeshita after accidentally striking his own partner. Fletcher ranks at seven because his physical sacrifices keep the Don Callis Family story moving, even if he is booked like a geek.

6. The NXT Scheduling War

AEW All In London is facing a head-to-head battle for eyeballs on August 30. WWE announced that NXT Heatwave will run on the same day as the Wembley Stadium show, with AAA also counter-programming a card on that date. This head-to-head showdown represents a direct attempt by WWE to divide the wrestling audience and hurt AEW's gate. It lands at six because this promotional warfare forces Tony Khan to work harder to sell tickets, proving AEW no longer owns the summer calendar.

5. Bayley

WWE star Bayley is dominating AEW discussion without even being signed to the company. Mercedes Moné fueled the fire by posting an AEW WrestleDream poster on her Instagram story featuring Bayley under her old name, Davina Rose. Bayley reportedly has about a year and a half left on her WWE contract as of April 2025, and Lyra Valkyria just turned heel on her on RAW last week. Bayley ranks at five because the mere possibility of her arrival overshadows most of the active AEW women's roster.

4. Mick Foley

Mick Foley is officially All Elite after letting his WWE legends contract expire. Foley made his first appearance at the Double or Nothing Buy-In pre-show as WrestleTalk reported, and is expected to appear at the Redemption pay-per-view on July 26.

"I knew Tony Khan from way back... it felt like a great fit and I’m happy to be there."

His signing is a major backstage coup, but working 24 hours on his own to make what he made in four with WWE is a questionable business choice. He takes the fourth spot because his veteran presence brings instant credibility to a promotion that desperately needs maturity.

3. MJF

Maxwell Jacob Friedman is holding the AEW World Championship, but his empire is crumbling. He lost the 12-man steel cage match at Forbidden Door, got his Dynamite Diamond Ring stolen by Lio Rush, and was betrayed by Andrade El Idolo. While his promo segments are still elite, his ring work has become formulaic and reliant on interference. MJF ranks at three because he is a vulnerable champion heading into a hostile environment on Dynamite this week.

2. Mark Briscoe

Mark Briscoe is the hottest babyface in AEW after pinning Jake Doyle with a Jay Driller inside the steel cage. That pinfall earned Briscoe a shot at MJF's AEW World Championship this Wednesday on Dynamite. Tony Khan quickly made the match official, capitalizing on Briscoe's unmatched connection with the live crowd. He ranks at two because he has the momentum to actually unseat the champion, representing the ultimate threat to MJF's reign.

1. Mercedes Moné

Mercedes Moné occupies the throne after winning her second consecutive Owen Hart Cup. Moné forced Maya World to submit to the Statement Maker at Forbidden Door, earning a title shot at All In London on August 30. Her performance in the Owen Hart Cup final was a masterclass in heel psychology, throwing World by the hair and mocking the referee's count. Moné is the undisputed number one because she dictates the division's direction and is the biggest star on the roster.

The Next Steps

Honorable Mentions

The Hardys: Matt and Jeff Hardy won the TNA World Tag Team Championship in a ladder match at Slammiversary, proving they can still draw gold outside AEW.

Darby Allin: The daredevil hit a coffin drop off the cage to wipe out the field, but failed to secure the pinfall.