Ranking WWE and AEW's Hottest Storylines From Roman Reigns vs. 946, Sami Zayn to New Level's Rise

Professional wrestling is often at its best when it rewards our knowledge of the genre. Some of the best storylines pay off years of continuity or offer a wink and a nod to real-life occurrences.

Let's face it. Many of us watch a lot of wrestling, and we can't wait to tell anyone who will listen how much we know about our favorite pastime. Some of the best characters know how to break the fourth wall and appeal to savvy fans for the maximum reaction.

That's what makes someone like Kevin Owens so relatable or adds background to a rivalry years in the making. It makes us want to discover more about our favorite wrestlers and be a part of the communal experience.

With that in mind, these are the hottest storylines in WWE and All Elite Wrestling right now.

Jay White's shocking heel turn was the reset that AEW Dynamite needed following WrestleDream.

The Bang Bang Gang has been wildly popular since the New Zealand wrestler returned at Forbidden Door. However, the stable has lacked a clear direction for months, and White has struggled to regain momentum as a singles competitor.

The Death Riders have received strong crowd support in the weeks following PAC's death and AEW's tribute show. The Bang Bang Gang's new alliance with The Dogs gives Jon Moxley's group a compelling opposing faction.

This also gives David Finlay and Clark Connors something interesting to do and makes Gabe Kidd an exclusive member of The Death Riders. The trio had been floundering, and Kidd fits much better with Mox and his pupils.

There's so much potential here. Finlay has a long history with White dating back to their time with New Japan Pro-Wrestling, and their Bullet Club lore could eventually lead to a conflict with The Elite.

Kevin Owens vs. CM Punk has been one of the most entertaining WWE feuds of 2026.

The company capitalized on Owens' long-awaited return at SummerSlam and pivoted to the matchup fans have clamored for since 2023.

Twenty years of pent-up animosity between the two set the stage for memorable segments that masterfully blurred the lines between fiction and reality.

This entry would rank higher, but the rivalry has cooled off a little since their Undisputed WWE Championship match and the build to Money in the Bank. Nevertheless, it's still an integral part of SmackDown's world title scene that will likely culminate in a Triple Threat match with Sami Zayn.

Most weeks, their interactions are the best thing on the blue brand. There's still plenty of interest in another one-on-one match or a long-overdue Owens world title run.

On the latest episode of Raw, Sami Zayn finally confronted Roman Reigns as the undisputed WWE champion.

"The Honorary Uce" has been linked to The Tribal Chief and The Bloodline since 2022. As such, many fans were disappointed when they never crossed paths after Zayn's first WWE title win at Night of Champions.

Fortunately, their upcoming match at Crown Jewel offers a rewarding new chapter to their turbulent friendship. This time, the dynamic has flipped because the Canadian star has carved his own lane as a heel champion, and Reigns refuses to acknowledge his accomplishments.

Zayn has been on fire on the microphone since he regained the title, and he held his own in their first war of words. Still, The OTC got the last word in a segment that perfectly encapsulated their history together and promoted their rematch for the Men's Crown Jewel Championship.

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2. Swerve Strickland and The New Level vs. The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

The AEW trios division has surprisingly produced the company's best storyline at the moment.

Swerve Strickland and The New Level have been an excellent fit. The change of scenery has reinvigorated Kofi and Austin Creed, and their reactions to revelations about Strickland's past are legitimately funny.

More to the point, their feud with The Good, The Bad and The Ugly produced the best match at All Out and a standout 2-out-of-3-Falls bout at WrestleDream. Strickland's exchanges with "Hangman" Adam Page have been electric. It has also been a blast to watch Kofi and Creed reluctantly participate in their all-consuming, bitter rivalry.

To that end, the 36-year-old just challenged Page to a Texas Death match at Full Gear for the trios title. We can only imagine how far Strickland will go to get Hangman to accept his challenge and how the two could top their previous encounter under that stipulation.

Can Strickland's alliance with The New Level and Page's partnership with Brodido survive another descent into their bitter rivalry? That's the real question.

1. Roman Reigns and The Bloodline vs. The 946

The 946 has become a convincing threat to The Bloodline ahead of Survivor Series: WarGames.

Royce Keys has exceeded expectations as the leader of the crew, and Carmelo Hayes is a welcome addition. Their placement in the main event segments on Raw is a refreshing change of pace and a great way to build anticipation for the men's WarGames match.

WWE's annual tradition has lost some of its luster, but it's fun to see some new faces benefit during the lead-in. It's also interesting to see The Bloodline under pressure for a change. No one has caught them slipping like this since the group's inception.

Reigns' appearance on the latest episode of Raw elevated the dynamic as the two factions finally shared the ring. We can't wait to see how Jacob Fatu's return in the coming weeks adds to the rivalry.