AEW have been given a lot of praise for their ability to tell nuanced stories with ever-changing characters and great moments. There have been plenty of incredible feuds featuring top stars such as MJF, Adam Page, and Chris Jericho, over the last four years which have truly captivated the audience and kept people hooked for sometimes months on end.

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However, there have also been some other storylines and feuds which have really fallen below expectations, perhaps even starting promisingly but ultimately falling flat - even storylines involving some major names and top stars like Cody Rhodes, CM Punk, and more.

10 Captivated Fans: Cody Rhodes Vs. Chris Jericho

The first real AEW World Championship storyline featured Cody Rhodes and Chris Jericho, and they each felt like the biggest face and heel in the promotion at the time. This feud had everything - wild brawls, intense promos, funny skits, and a big-time world title match to cap it all off.

It is a shame that this feud didn’t have a second chapter down the road, as these two storytellers worked like a dream together.

9 Fell Flat: Sammy Guevara Vs. Scorpio Sky

The TNT Championship suffered a brutal death during his feud. What ended up being an awkward and never-ending heel vs. heel dynamic led to fans turning away from this, not caring in the slightest for what was happening.

The storyline between Guevara and Sky saw the duo of Guevara & Tay Melo forced to turn heel due to them appearing unlikable, and it also saw the involvement of Dan Lambert, whose storylines constantly fell flat.

8 Captivated Fans: Jon Moxley Vs. Eddie Kingston

The personal intensity between these two men made it feel like one of the most real and authentic feuds in AEW history, and that is why it captured the attention of fans so much.

Kingston’s desperation to do whatever it took to become AEW World Champion made him both despicable and likable, making for a wonderful dynamic here. Their interactions were memorable and their matches were brutal, with their Full Gear main event in particular being a thrilling contest.

7 Fell Flat: “Hangman” Adam Page Vs. CM Punk

On paper, an AEW World Championship feud between Adam Page and CM Punk felt like a dream scenario, but it simply didn’t work. Directionless and vague promos were shared between the two, leaving fans uninterested.

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It didn’t even feel like there was a proper feud between this pair, as their interactions felt unfinished and awkward. Their match at Double or Nothing 2022 was good, but there was still something missing the whole time.

6 Captivated Fans: Wardlow Vs. MJF

Wardlow’s journey from being a silent bodyguard to a beloved babyface who seeked to strive out by himself was a wonderful one which played out over several years.

When the time came for Wardlow to break free from MJF, it was a great moment. From there, Wardlow was presented as both a bad-ass and as an underdog, which is hard to do, and his rivalry with MJF was handled great. Their eventual match wasn’t perfect due to the backstage controversy regarding MJF, but the feud itself did its job overall.

5 Fell Flat: Britt Baker Vs. Thunder Rosa

The first chapter of Britt Baker vs. Thunder Rosa was memorable, with their Lights Out match stealing all the headlines when it took place. However, when they returned to this rivalry, it fell flat on its face.

A lack of proper story, slow and heatless matches, and what felt like a lack of interest from all involved led to the second chapter being a complete failure, which was a shame given how promising it was to begin with.

4 Captivated Fans: CM Punk Vs. MJF

CM Punk and MJF told a remarkable story together. Digging deep into their history and past, MJF in particular played his role to perfection, playing both a sympathetic hurt soul and the absolute most evil man on the planet.

Their matches together lived up to lofty expectations, with their Dog Collar match in particular being a show stealer at Revolution 2022, as the pair battled in a bloody battle that was fitting on their storyline.

3 Fell Flat: Chris Jericho Vs. Eddie Kingston

At first, the feud between Chris Jericho and Eddie Kingston was going well. Their Revolution match was class, and Jericho’s heel turn was well done. But then the feud went on, and on, and on.

It lost a whole load of momentum by the end, with Kingston on-screen even saying he was sick of it. Their blow-off Barbed Wire Everywhere match was a complete mess too, with a botched ending, summing up everything that this feud had become.

2 Captivated Fans: “Hangman” Adam Page Vs. The Elite

The storyline of Adam Page’s journey from leaving The Elite to becoming their sworn enemy was simply incredible. Battling his inner demons, getting helped along by The Dark Order, and all the setbacks along the way made his eventual AEW World Title win perfect.

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This had so many great moments, all of which are hard to list because it went on for so long, but it kept fans captivated the entire time, with fans rooting for Page for years on end.

1 Fell Flat: Cody Rhodes Vs. Malakai Black

On paper, Cody Rhodes vs. Malakai Black sounded great. In fact, their matches from bell to bell were pretty good too. Unfortunately though, the rivalry was a complete disaster and it fell flat in a major way.

Rhodes was presented as the ultra good guy, with it being so on the nose that he was wearing a white suit compared to Malakai’s darker suit. The whole thing was very forced and fans turned on it.