Ranking the 5 best AEW feuds of 2024
We're almost at the end of 2024 and this year has given us plenty to talk about in professional wrestling, especially for AEW. The promotion has had another fine year with its feuds and showcased stellar storylines for fans to enjoy.
So, we're here to rank five of the very best feuds AEW has had this year and why they deserve to be rated as such. But before we start, we also want to go over the honorable mentions, acknowledging the feuds that missed out on a spot on this list.
Those feuds are Private Party vs. Young Bucks, Christian Cage vs. Swerve Strickland, and Kris Statlander vs. Willow Nightingale. So now without further ado let's start ranking the crème de la crème feuds of AEW in 2024.
#5) Bryan Danielson vs. Jon Moxley
Both of these superstars have a lot of history with one another in their AEW careers. The pair bonded with one another over their love for the sport and would form the Blackpool Combat Club and recruit more members such as Wheeler Yuta and Claudio Castagnoli.
However, Moxley eventually turned on Bryan with the rest of its members betraying him at AEW All Out in ruthless fashion. This would spark a fantastic feud as Jon Moxley would chase down the opportunity to compete for his former ally's World Title at WrestleDream 2024.
The anticipated match would culminate in Moxley ultimately taking the win and sending Bryan home to his full-time retirement. The feud makes it onto this list due to the ramifications - it led to Bryan being written off indefinitely and starting a new World Title era for Moxley and his new faction, The Death Riders.
#4) Adam Copeland vs. Christian Cage
The feud between Adam Copeland and Christian Cage was bound to happen as soon as the former made his debut in AEW. Many fans were expecting the most out of this feud and it did not disappoint as it was long and had many twists and turns.
From Christian's awful insults aimed at Copeland to Mama Wayne's heel turn to the TNT Title being sent back and forth, it was fun every bit of the way. The rivalry would finally end in a brutal "I Quit" match with both of these former friends going all out to put a final stop to their feud.
#3) Will Ospreay vs. MJF
This rivalry was presented very well, showing how jealousy can bring about such hatred in someone. However, the central driving force that ran this feud was the Tiger Driver '91, as they showcased the effects on Ospreay after he had used the move on Bryan Danielson before.
The highflyer would vow never to use it again until he came face to face with MJF who began repeatedly taunting him with it. It would all come to a head at All In 2024, as Ospreay would finally overcome his trauma and use the Tiger Driver '91 to put MJF out of his misery.
#2) Toni Storm vs. Mariah May
Both of these top stars told a fantastic story from the start with their alignment and subsequent falling out. The cinematic parallels between Mariah May and Toni Storm were apparent for everyone to see.
'Timeless' Toni Storm took Mariah under her wing and would be her mentor until she was betrayed by her confidante in an ugly fashion after the latter won the Owen Cup. The betrayal broke everyone's hearts and Mariah made it clear she wanted her spot and World Title.
The two would then go head-to-head at AEW All In London, with Mariah May finally taking her former mentor out with her very own move, the Storm Zero. It seemed like 'Timeless' Toni Storm's career was over. However, the original Toni recently made her return to AEW and we may see this feud rekindled.
#1) Swerve Strickland vs. Hangman Adam Page
The rivalry between Swerve Strickland vs. Hangman Adam Page isn't only the best feud of this year, but it will go down as one of the best feuds in AEW's history. The amount of personal animosity, brutality, and intensity these two stars brought to the table is a testament to both of their attributes.
It would even escalate to the point of Hangman Page ignoring his morals and burning Swerve's home down to the ground.
The rivalry would culminate in one of the most vicious stipulations in the promotion, in a Lights Out Steel Cage match at AEW All Out 2024. All kinds of weapons were used and all limits of brutality were crossed as both stars were adamant about putting each other away.
Hangman Page would ultimately come out on top. However, both stars were quite worse for wear coming out of that match, showing the effects of their hatred being lashed out at one another.