Thoughts on what an AEW roster split could look like

I'll begin with a disclaimer: I don't have the faintest idea whether Tony Khan is even remotely interested in taking one of the deepest professional wrestling rosters in modern times and organizing it into two competitive conferences, but this tweet had me thinking:

I do earnestly think that with the size of the AEW roster, a real brand split might be the best play. I know….it’s cringe….but it might just work if executed really well.

— The Rogue Fan (@TheRogueFan) July 7, 2026

Khan has flirted with the concept before - most notably during CM Punk's last stint in All Elite Wrestling - but has thus far resisted adopting WWE's longest-running creative device: the Brand Split.

It's not difficult to understand why.

The introduction of the Brand Split was nearly 25 years ago, and WWE seemingly did everything in its power to undermine its own creation. Superstars drafted exclusively to RAW would appear on Smackdown (and vice versa) with little to no explanation. The company would abandon a single World Champion for two (and later three, with the "revival" of ECW), and authority figures such as Eric Bischoff and Teddy Long would become focal points in the storylines. 

Simply put, WWE lacks the patience or desire to implement a genuine Brand Split. It's simply a device to be used at their convenience, logic be damned. Still, I've maintained that a more competition-focused wrestling promotion could pull it off. The concept isn't flawed; rather, it's WWE's execution. 

Enter All Elite Wrestling. 

Its founder, CEO, and President comes from the world of professional sports. Tony Khan is intimately familiar with owning and operating franchises such as the Jacksonville Jaguars of the NFL and Fulham FC of the Premier League. Given his hands-on experience, Khan is uniquely positioned to move AEW toward an even more “sports-based” presentation. 

So, how would this work in AEW? I decided to take a crack at establishing the rules and overall landscape of AEW, roster-split edition: 

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All Elite Wrestling is no longer a wrestling promotion.

It is now a professional wrestling league that promotes competitive matches worldwide. Its roster is equally divided between two Conferences (or divisions, whichever verbiage you prefer): Dynamite and Collision.

Tony Khan remains the sole authoritative figurehead, but forms a Competitive Balance committee comprising wrestling legends and road agents currently contracted to AEW. The purpose of this committee is simple: to assist Khan in maintaining RANKINGS (more on this later), sanctioning championship matches, managing rosters and injuries, and formatting tournaments.

The committee can be divided into groups of 3-5 members, with each subgroup responsible for monitoring the competitive needs of its assigned conference and presenting recommendations to Khan.

Khan then declares a period of unrestricted free agency. Representatives from each Conference recruit talent, negotiate contract offers, and attempt to assemble the strongest roster it possibly can. 

There is one Men's World Champion, one Women's World Champion, one Men's World Tag Team Champion, and one Women's World Tag Team Champion, who are free to compete across both Conferences. These championships belong to the league rather than to either Conference. World Champions are free to compete on both Dynamite and Collision, defending their titles against the highest-ranked eligible challengers from each conference

Conferences are allowed to establish exclusive titles. This allows each side of the league to develop its own identity while preserving the prestige of AEW's unified World Championship: 

Dynamite

Continental Championship

National Championship

TBS Championship

Collision

International Championship 

New Title (I would personally vouch for an Openweight Championship)

TNT Championship 

The Trios Championships have been retired, and trios recognized by the committee may compete in the World Tag Division under Freebird rules. 

Both conferences are free to utilize talent from partner promotions such as CMLL, New Japan, and STARDOM.

Ring of Honor serves a dual purpose: a breeding ground for young up-and-coming prospects, each with diverse backgrounds and styles, mixed with veterans facing a long road back to glory.

Contenders for the World titles are established via Rankings, with each conference maintaining its own. Rankings are determined by overall record, victories against ranked opponents, tournament performance, and strength of schedule. Every match contributes to a wrestler's standing, making wins and losses meaningful.

The World Champions would defend their titles against the #1-ranked wrestler on Dynamite at one Pay-Per-View event, with Collision's contender getting a shot at the next one, and so on. 

Khan could do an annual summer event, similar to MLB's All-Star Game, where competitors from each conference face off, either for bragging rights or some sort of benefit (the winner of the MLB ASG used to gain home-field advantage in the World Series). 

Further, Khan could establish a mid-year trade deadline. This would allow conferences to improve weaknesses, address injuries, and pursue competitive balance.

At the conclusion of each year, rankings reset, and conference assignments expire, ushering in a new free-agency period before the following season begins.

Please feel free to tell me how much this sucks! I'm looking forward to hearing from you.