Wardlow Is Pleased With His PWI 500 Ranking But Believes #69 Would Be More On Brand For Him

Wardlow talks about the PWI 500 rankings.

This year’s PWI 500 rankings were recently released. Roman Reigns, after over two years as WWE Universal Champion, sits atop the list, with names from every corner of the wrestling globe represented. Wardlow, as AEW TNT Champion, came in this year at 67, a testament to his star-making performances this year and the way he connects with the audience.

Wardlow spoke about his ranking during an appearance on the most recent Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast, agreeing with Matt Hardy that wrestlers should value their paycheck more than their rankings on the PWI 500, but also spoke about how cool it is to climb so far up the list in such a short length of time. However, Wardlow admits that he would have been okay with falling two spots on the list to have a very nice ranking of 69.

“Now, I will say this, I agree [that you should value numbers in your paycheck over your ranking in the PWI 500.] But as somebody who grew up buying the PWI magazine, that is very cool to hear and you just told me [my ranking], I didn’t know that. Last year I was like 390-something, so to go from [that] to a year later, I’m 67? 69 would have been great, but —69 would have been more on brand,” Wardlow said.

Wardlow actually ranked 218 last year and was ranked 397 in 2020. Within the previous year, Wardlow has been in the ring with names like CM Punk, Maxwell Jacob Friedman, Jay Lethal, Orange Cassidy, Scorpio Sky, and more on his way to climbing up the ranks of AEW and the PWI 500.

Speaking of his brand, fans of Wardlow can buy a brand new shirt letting the world know that they want to be pinned by the “Wardaddy.”

Elsewhere on this podcast, Matt Hardy gave an update on Jeff Hardy and his thoughts on potentially teaming with his brother and Wardlow in trios competition. Learn more here. 

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