Asking who the most important wrestler in any company is a loaded and somewhat impossible question to answer, thanks to a number of factors at play.

There is the in-ring production, which will always mean the most to hardcore fans. Then, there is the ability to drive engagement through storytelling, both on the mic and via their performance between the ropes.

There is also the ability to represent the company, both on TV and outside the WWE and All Elite Wrestling universes in mainstream media and other marketing opportunities.

Even then, distinguishing why one performer ranks above another can be extremely difficult. But not impossible.

As 2024 draws to a close, find out who the most important men's and women's wrestlers are in WWE and AEW based on the above criteria. Then, let your voice be heard by sounding off in the comment section with your picks.

WWE Men: Cody Rhodes

Cody Rhodes gets the nod over Roman Reigns, CM Punk and even The Rock for several reasons, not least of which is that he contributes to WWE every night.

The American Nightmare represents the promotion as its face in media appearances and promotional spots, and he has developed into a spokesman for the company and the entire industry.

The undisputed WWE champion makes all the towns, appearing not just on the televised cards but also at house shows and sometimes hopping aboard his bus and hitting up a Raw taping to compete in that night's dark match main event.

Rhodes has an undeniable bond with fans that endears him to the youngest members of the WWE Universe, who view him as their hero.

The die-hard portion of the audience appreciates him for his journey and all he did with Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks and Tony Khan to help improve the industry through the creation of AEW.

Then there are those fans who may not watch consistently, who can tune in to SmackDown and invest in whatever The American Nightmare is doing because of the raw and emotional nature of his performances.

Rhodes also connects with the oldest audience, many of whom rooted for his father and now cheer on the second-generation star who refused to lean on the "Dusty's son" crutch and made a name and legacy for himself.

All of that is reflected in the fans who have filled arenas during this historically profitable period in WWE history. It also made him the company's biggest merchandise mover, one of the five highest-selling athletes on Fanatics.

That he not only represents the company away from the TV cameras on Mondays and Fridays but also delivers in front of them with some of the best promos and in-ring work of any Superstar on the roster only strengthens his case for this recognition as WWE's most important men's wrestler today.

Look no further than the two epic encounters with Reigns on the WrestleMania stage and his championship defenses against AJ Styles, Logan Paul, and Solo Sikoa.

Finally, Rhodes is the face of a new era of WWE and was celebrated as such at the end of WrestleMania 40, enhancing his importance to the promotion he champions and the industry he has dedicated his life to.

AEW Men: Swerve Strickland

All Swerve Strickland did in 2024 was erase any preconceived notions about his ceiling in the pro wrestling business.

He entered the year with momentum on his side after defeating "Hangman" Adam Page in a show-stealing match-of-the-year candidate at Full Gear and despite being a heel, he built a fan following that forced those in and out of the company to take notice.

Continued excellence in the squared circle, against respected performers such as Claudio Castagnoli, Samoa Joe, Konosuke Takeshita and Daniel Bryan, coupled with increased confidence on the mic, helped Strickland become one of the top stars in AEW.

And the 34-year-old is only getting started.

He has become one of the company's faces, making countless media appearances and representing AEW in opportunities outside of professional wrestling, including the music industry.

Strickland even became a social media phenomenon, thanks to manager Prince Nana's unforgettable dance to his theme song.

He has plenty of untapped feuds and matches to explore, including showdowns with MJF, Adam Cole and Kenny Omega. He is currently wrapped up in a rivalry with The Hurt Syndicate and squared off with former WWE champion Bobby Lashley at Full Gear on Saturday.

Champion or not, there is no denying Strickland's significance to AEW, both as one of its spokesmen and one of its top stars. Continued excellence between the ropes will endear him to the most passionate portion of the company's fanbase.

His work as a storyteller may be the most significant aspect of his performance, allowing him to connect with the audience as more than just a great wrestler, of which there are plenty in AEW.

He is a locker room leader and is only now having the opportunity to explore his full potential as a top-tier star in professional wrestling.

Will Ospreay, Strickland's closest competitor for the crown of AEW's most important, may have international appeal but Swerve proved in 2024 he can claw his way out of relative obscurity and command attention while the former IGWP champion arrived with plenty of it.

WWE Women: Rhea Ripley

Many have arrived in WWE with lofty expectations the likes of which greeted Rhea Ripley and failed to live up to them.

Not The Eradicator, though.

At 28 years old, the Australian is a former Raw women's champion, women's world champion, women's tag team champion, NXT women's champion, the inaugural NXT UK women's champion, a women's Royal Rumble winner and one of the biggest stars in the company.

Her popularity grew during her stint with The Judgment Day to the point that she was able to break away from the group and embark on a babyface run that has only seen her status enhanced.

Now one of the faces of WWE, she can legitimately headline episodes of Raw and premium live events.

Look no further than February's Elimination Chamber, where she was the centerpiece of the marketing and promotional efforts in her home country of Australia and proceeded to successfully retain her women's world title over Nia Jax in the main event of a show that also featured Randy Orton, Logan Paul, Kevin Owens, LA Knight and others.

A believable badass who is booked as strongly as her male counterparts at the top of the card, with undeniable aura and presence, Ripley is the future of the industry and a performer who will thrive as a champion and leader for years to come.

AEW Women: 'Timeless' Toni Storm

The fearlessness Toni Storm demonstrated in 2023 as she left behind her 1980s shtick amid diminishing returns and introduced the wrestling world to her ode to classic Hollywood would have been enough to earn her consideration for this honor.

Instead, she threw herself into the character, immersing herself in the role of a lifetime and becoming more popular with fans than she had ever been before. They appreciated how different her latest persona was and how dedicated to it she was, eventually forcing a creative about-face and a babyface turn.

Taking a page out of the books of Bette Davis, Rita Hayworth, Marilyn Monroe, Joan Crawford, Grace Kelly and Katharine Hepburn, Storm embraced the character but never let it tread on her in-ring performances.

A superb in-ring performer and an extraordinary storyteller, she captivated audiences, and by the time the year-long program with Mariah May right out of the classic All About Eve took hold, Storm had firmly established herself as the most important woman on a loaded AEW roster.

Even with her defeat at All In and subsequent disappearance from AEW TV, she still holds that honor as the most complete performer on the roster and someone around whom stories can be built for the foreseeable future, with or without the championship in play.

There was an argument to be made for May, who has been extraordinary in her own right since arriving in January, but she still has plenty of time to wrest that from Storm like she did the title.

For now, though, that recognition still belongs to the 29-year-old Storm, who still has an entire career worth of classic matches and moments to offer.