Sure... because like Antonio says on the WSOP streams (and elsewhere), "it's hard to make a pair." (Specifically 29% chance of flopping a pair.)
So let's say that after the flop you still "have only AK". In the 71% of the time that your opponent didn't flop a pair (and doesn't have a pocket pair), you are ahead. Even if they
have a pocket pair (6% chance per player) and
didn't flop a set (89% of the time), unless they had AA or KK, you are still flipping. So, to review:
- 71% of the time, you have them dominated (75/25) or they have 2 undercards (67/32)
- In the times they had a pocket pair (which is based on how many players there were preflop), 89% of the time you are flipping.
So
most of the time you are seriously golden with AK. And if they
did have a pocket pair and
did flop a set, you are not really much more screwed than any other time you are against and opponent that flops a set below you.
And that's why AK is better than JJ and only about equal to QQ. Because math.