AEW returned to the NOW Arena in Chicago for its annual “All Out” pay-per-view.
The main card had eight matches, with five championships on the line. The other three matches were feuds, stemming from stories that were told over the course of several months.
Did AEW struggle to produce another show only two weeks removed from “All In” or was “All Out” a success?
Let’s dive in.
Maxwell Jacob Friedman vs. Daniel Garcia
A little over two months ago, Maxwell Jacob Friedman tried to end Daniel Garcia’s career — injuring his neck with two vicious Avalanche Piledrivers. At “All In,” Garcia made his triumphant return during MJF’s match with Will Ospreay, distracting MJF long enough to give Ospreay a decisive advantage in the match. All of that set the stage for this match, where both men promised to break each other’s necks.
This was a fantastic wrestling match, masterfully conveying their animus. In the end, MJF delivered a low blow and rolled Garcia up in a small package for the three-count. However, Garcia wasn’t finished. For all of MJF’s transgressions, he assaulted him after the match — delivering an Avalanche Piledriver of his own. MJF was carted off on a stretcher, while Garcia jumped the barricade and celebrated with the Chicago crowd. What a phenomenal way to start this show.
Rating: *** ¾
The Young Bucks [c] vs. Blackpool Combat Club
Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta had no chance of defeating the Young Bucks for the AEW World Tag Team Championships. Still, this was an enjoyable tag team match, despite how pointless it might have been. For Castagnoli and Yuta, this is probably the last time we’ll see these two in tag team action for the foreseeable future, so this was a great way to conclude their run partnership. Despite how insufferable their gimmicks might be right now, Matthew and Nicholas Jackson were, as always, phenomenal in the ring.
For the sake of the tag team division, let’s hope the Young Bucks lose these titles at “WrestleDream.”
Rating: ** ¾
Will Ospreay [c] vs. PAC
Will Ospreay and PAC are two of the best in-ring performers in the world today. On a show with the Young Bucks, MJF, Swerve Strickland, “Hangman” Adam Page, and Bryan Danielson; these two stole the show. With the AEW International Championship on the line, both men exhausted every weapon in their arsenal. The “Bastard” applied immense pressure to the champion’s neck, which was still injured from his pair of matches with MJF. However, Ospreay was resilient, countering each of PAC’s maneuvers with an equally devastating move of his own. Ultimately, it was the combination of a Styles Clash and a Hidden Blade from Ospreay that punctuated the affair.
The year of Ospreay continues with another instant classic in the record books. I can not wait to see what rating Dave Meltzer gives this match.
Rating: **** ½
Kris Statlander vs. Willow Nightingale (Chicago Street Fight)
My expectations for this match were relatively low. I even felt sorry for Kris Statlander and Willow Nightingale, once I realized that they had to follow Will Ospreay and PAC. I will happily admit that I was very wrong for underestimating them. If it weren’t for the International Championship match, this would have been the best match of the night.
AEW has consistently pushed the envelope for violence in televised women’s wrestling. That doesn’t mean this match was gratuitously violent. The level of animosity felt appropriate for two former friends, who have been feuding for over the last three months. They used baseball bats, thumbtacks, trash cans, LED lights, chains, and dog collars; refusing to pull any punches and shedding their share of blood. Ultimately, it was Statlander who stood victorious, forcing Nightingale to submit.
The caveat in this match is that Nightingale’s CMLL World Women’s Championship was not on the line. Will this be the last meeting between both women for the foreseeable future or will there be another installment in this rivalry, with the title on the line? Only time will tell. Hopefully not, because this would be a hard match to follow.
Rating: ****¼
Kazuchika Okada [c] vs. Mark Briscoe vs. Orange Cassidy vs. Konosuke Takeshita
I generally enjoy all four men involved in this fatal-fourway match for the AEW Continental Championship. This was a fun reprieve from the previous two matches, re-calibrating fans before the sanctioned and unsanctioned main events. I love this budding rivalry between Kazuchika Okada and Konosuke Takeshita. Hopefully this rivalry is renewed during the Continental Classic. Both Mark Briscoe and Orange Cassidy both represented the Conglomeration well, making fun contributions to this match.
Rating: ***
Mercedes Moné [c] vs. Hikaru Shida
This match had moments of brilliance, but they were fleeting. With Kamille banned from ringside, Mercedes Moné did everything she could to match Hikaru Shida maneuver for maneuver. Both of these women are phenomenal in-ring technicians, but they didn’t seem to be working on the same wavelength at times. What I do know for sure, is that Moné’s finisher, the Monémaker, is one of the worst finishers I’ve ever seen.
It didn’t help that these two wrestled on Wednesday Night “Dynamite” a month ago.
Rating: **¼
Bryan Danielson [c] vs. Jack Perry
I still believe that Bryan Danielson should have faced a more worthy opponent for his inaugural defense, than Jack Perry. That doesn’t change the fact that Perry is highly capable in the ring and this match was a blast. Jack Perry dominated the early portions, until Bryan Danielson flipped the switch and assumed control. After that, it was a classic case of the young wrestler being taught a lesson in humility. Still, as Bryan Danielson readied his final Busaiku Knee after battering Perry, the “Scapegoat” raised both arms in defiance — a metaphorical middle finger to the “American Dragon.”
After the match, Killswitch stormed the ring to attack Danielson, signaling the arrival of Christian Cage and the Patriarchy. Cage had his Casino Gauntlet Match briefcase in hand, ready to cash in on Danielson — until Jon Moxley, the Blackpool Combat Club, and PAC came to Danielson’s aid. After the Patriarchy retreated, Moxley embraced Danielson and the BCC began to celebrate Danielson’s first title defense. That is, until Claudio Castagnoli delivered a crushing european uppercut to Danielson. PAC held back a frantic Wheeler Yuta, while Moxley began suffocating Danielson with a plastic bag.
The Blackpool Combat Club as we know it, is dead. Danielson was administered oxygen and carried away by physicians. What a beginning to the co-main events.
Rating: ***¾
“Hangman” Adam Page vs. Swerve Strickland (Lights Out Steel Cage Match)
This feud between “Hangman” Adam Page and Swerve Strickland began one year ago. All of their transgressions and animosity have led them to this point, locked in a steel cage in an unsanctioned “lights out” match. Admittedly, I’m not a fan of “hardcore” wrestling. I don’t mind the occasional use of a foreign object or wrestler’s getting a little color, but professional wrestling should be more akin to a combat sport than watching two men maim each other. This match was unabashedly “hardcore.” Over the course of this match chairs, staple guns, barbed wire, a cinder block, and a hypodermic needle were used by both men to inflict gratuitous amounts of violence. While I was happy that Page finally defeated Strickland, I would have preferred he beat him in a traditional, sanctioned wrestling match. For fans who appreciate “death matches” or “hardcore” wrestling, this might have been fantastic. Unfortunately, this was a little out of my wheelhouse.
Rating: ***
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