AEW Grand Slam Australia 2026 comes to us from Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney, Australia.
I love this period where there isn’t an All Elite Wrestling pay per view for two solid months.
I think you need breaks like these to really establish new wrestlers or build new stories. World’s End is a good place to end the year and then you have 11 solid weeks to build up to Revolution. Pre-2023 you had almost four months without a pay per view between Full Gear and Revolution. I hope AEW sticks with the current system of 9 pay per views instead of 12.
I figure this year will be more like 2024 due to All In back to August instead of July. We got Revolution in March, Dynasty in April, and Double or Nothing in May. Forbidden Door likely moves back to June (prior to the New Japan Pro Wrestling G1 Climax) and then a solid two months before All In London on August 30 to build the show. We likely go back to schedule with an All Out in September, WrestleDream in October, Full Gear in November, and World’s End in December.
Of course, this break has lead to people complaining about the matches they’ve been getting on TV and how they should be held back for PPV. I guess this might be a fair criticism if you’re brand new to All Elite Wrestling and don’t know that this is the best pay per view wrestling company to ever exist in the history of professional wrestling. It’s okay if they burn some matches for TV. You know it’ll never hurt the PPV card.
The biggest complaint doesn’t come for Grand Slam Australia but actually next week for Kenny Omega versus Swerve Strickland on Dynamite. Yes, this could have been for Revolution, but Kenny likely won’t be in the United States for Revolution. That just means AEW has several weeks to book something instead around Swerve Strickland.
I think this week, as I said in About Last Night… is two parts of a pay per view quality card to be the mark point to start the build to Revolution. You have two new champions from Dynamite. You have the number one contender decided for the AEW Men’s World Tag Team Championship. You will have the number one contender decided for the AEW Men’s World Championship tonight. We will likely know more about the direction of other programs starting next week.
Funny thing about this year so far in AEW. Last year? I was not enjoying things. All of the old guys taking up TV time. The Death Riders story was suffocating. It wasn’t an easy watch at the time and it didn’t get better until after Revolution. This year it’s not as bad, nowhere at all, and actually the shows have been decent. But there was something missing. I guess I didn’t feel like there was a real spark there. Dynamite changed that with Thekla’s title win. I’m definitely feeling the spark going into Grand Slam Australia.
AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship
MegaBad versus Babes of Wrath (c)
I feel like Harley Cameron winning the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship was all about this moment, allowing her to come out in Australia as a champion in All Elite Wrestling. Last year, Harley got a TBS Championship shot at Mercedes Moné at Grand Slam so now she gets to come out as a champion.
I’d much rather Willow Nightingale be doing anything other than having to build up the tag division since she’s now TBS Champion. That belt is important, as was her win against Moné, but since winning it all she has done is beat Julia Hart back on January 21. Her focus instead has been on her Babes of Wrath team.
MegaBad getting this match is interesting, as I wonder if MegaBad was healthy for the original tournament, would that have changed things? Were Megan and Penelope originally supposed to get through to the final perhaps? I wouldn’t be surprised if the outcome of this match leads to Megan Bayne getting a TBS Championship match against Willow at Revolution, as that would be a big way for Willow to defend her title. Or maybe AEW continues to focus on trying to build the division.
The absolute worst thing that could end up happening is if the rumours are true and AEW has the Ilnspiration, formerly of WWE and TNA, come out and debut out of this. All Elite Wrestling is where the best wrestle, and those two are not the best at anything in-ring. If you need to build the women’s tag division? I’m sure there’s some Joshi wrestlers who’d love an opportunity to make money in the United States these days and would at least give you a good wrestling match over bad jokes. There’s comedy wrestlers and then there’s wrestlers that make pro wrestling look like a joke.
I figure they won’t have Harley lose again in Australia, even if it’d be the better outcome for the women’s tag division.
Winners: Babes of Wrath
Number One Contenders Match
For the AEW Men’s World Championship at Revolution
Hangman Adam Page versus Andrade El Idolo
I’m close folks!
I’m so close to just raging about the AEW Trios Championship and how All Elite Wrestling is absolutely blowing it. Adam Page, Kevin Knight, and Speedball won it over 30 days ago! No title defences! Prior to the match they won it at, which was because Powerhouse Hobbs was leaving the company so they had to do it, they went almost two months not defending the titles! The Opps also only defended it once on pay per view at All In Texas in 273 days. The Death Riders only defended the Trios Championship once in their title reign at Dynasty in 234 days.
Is this really what was envisioned back when The Elite were champs? When Death Triangle were champs?
Anyway, this is not the time nor the place. This is about Hangman Adam Page getting a number one contenders shot against Andrade El Idolo. To get this contenders match, Page had to defeat Katsuyori Shibata and Mark Davis. Andrade had to beat Swerve Strickland and Kenny Omega.
No question about it. Andrade had the tougher path, and has been more impressive in doing it. Page didn’t have to beat some of the best wrestlers who walk the earth. Andrade did. In a just world? Andrade would be going to Revolution to face MJF because he beat the toughest opponents. Adam Page would look instead to defending the Trios Championship with his friends in JetSet Rodeo.
However, I think this has been in the plans since last year. What was last year? Revolution 2025. At that show, Hangman Adam Page defeated Maxwell Jacob Friedman to begin his babyface turn that culminated in winning the AEW Men’s World Championship against Jon Moxley at All In Texas. Page’s first pay per view defence would also be a win against MJF. That’s two big wins he has against the current champion, and I think MJF wants one of those wins back. That’s why Page is getting this match.
For the first time, in a very long time, we can say Page isn’t the most deserving of a title match. If AEW were to pivot anywhere? It should be here. I just don’t think they will.
Winner: Hangman Adam Page
Mixed Tornado Tag Team Match
Loser of the Fall has their head shaved
Orange Cassidy and Timeless Toni Storm versus Wheeler Yuta and Marina Shafir
It’s a bit disappointing that Mina Shirakawa has become nothing but a damsel in distress for Toni Storm instead of being her equal tag team partner. Instead of having a feud in the undercard building up the Women’s Tag Team Division, Toni is now teaming with Orange Cassidy in a mixed tag feud against the Death Riders?
It’s a strange position for both OC and Toni, and I haven’t been very excited about the booking here. I know there’s some people out there who think the world of Marina Shafir, that she brings an exciting element to the wrestling product, who love the Mother’s Milk and all of it. It’s just not me. I think this feud is beneath Toni Storm, and I’d much rather see the Timeless Love Bombs in tag matches than this.
But the stipulation is exciting. Orange Cassidy going bald is a frightening thought. Toni going bald would be funny, and she could likely make it work, but I doubt anyone wants to really see that on a regular basis. Maybe they could have her wear a wig every match and the wig flies off at some point. Eh.
Marina Shafir would probably look killer with a shaved head, probably fits her pretty well. And then you got Wheeler Yuta. Wheeler has never gone bald, and his hair and beard have gone out of control. If there’s anyone that probably needs a shave? It’s Wheeler.
I know it’s not the most exciting pick, but it is the one I feel makes the most sense. Wheeler could use a new image. Time to make him look like a Space Monkey.
Winners: Orange Cassidy and Timeless Toni Storm
Loser of the Fall: Wheeler Yuta
AEW Continental Championship
Konosuke Takeshita versus Jon Moxley (c)
I would love for this match to be an eraser to the result at World’s End.
While I’m not saying it was a bad result, it wasn’t the result I wanted. I wanted Konosuke Takeshita to first face Kyle Fletcher and beat him, before facing Kazuchika Okada and beating him to win the Continental Classic. Instead we got Takeshita losing to Okada, and Jon Moxley beating Okada.
Maybe this match could end up Takeshita’s revenge, getting to beat Moxley for the AEW Continental Championship, and then putting it on the line against Kazuchika Okada for his AEW International Championship. That’s right, put the AEW Unified Championship back together. Then Takeshita could now have his big win against Okada. Could be a major match at Revolution.
I originally thought they would do a three way between Fletcher, Okada, and Takeshita at Revolution, and they still could with all three of them holding a title, but I doubt it. That’s way too much gold to be on the line all at once. I also think they’ve pivoted a bit away from that story. Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe it heats back up again.
The problem is I see Moxley winning the Continental Championship as a way to keep him away from MJF. So long as MJF is AEW Men’s World Champion? Moxley is likely going to be Continental Champion. As much as Takeshita should be beating Moxley here? It’s more likely Takeshita loses, and they move that loss into a match with Okada at Revolution for the AEW International Championship. Moxley I figure could face someone like Tommaso Ciampa at Revolution.
Maybe for some this is just a bunch of my hubris in thinking my booking should count over AEW’s, but I don’t know how anyone would be happy with how much Konosuke Takeshita has been losing lately.
Winner: Jon Moxley
TNT Championship
Ladder Match
Mark Briscoe versus Kyle Fletcher (c)
I’m so glad AEW doesn’t abuse ladder matches. The last ladder match was at All Out 2025 in a four tag team ladder match. They haven’t had a one on one ladder match since 2023 between Andrade el Idolo and Buddy Matthews.
This will only be the sixth one on one ladder match in AEW history (for those searching Cagematch, Mark Briscoe versus Chris Jericho is under Ladder War) and it’s coming as the culmination of the feud between Mark Briscoe and Kyle Fletcher. Each wrestler has won three matches each, so this is the deciding game seven essentially.
I wasn’t too excited to see Briscoe come out, and it makes one wonder had Ciampa never signed to AEW if Briscoe just stayed champ the whole way through, but his win was a welcome change up.
Kyle Fletcher will get to walk into Sydney, Australia a champion, a heroes welcome for a guy who has been heel for quite some time. Or hey, maybe even they boo him. Mark Briscoe can adjust either way.
While I’m bored of this matchup? I’m not against it either. I bet both men will be incredible in this match, and hopefully they both get out of it with all limbs intact.
I expect Fletcher to win, and move on to defending the TNT Championship on television every other week.
Winner: Kyle Fletcher
AEW Men’s World Championship
Brody King versus Maxwell Jacob Friedman (c)
You want proof that MJF has been having a great title reign?
People keep wanting his opponents to beat him.
First it was Bandido. Now it’s Brody King.
Ol’ Max is doing a great job making people believe. That’s what a great heel is supposed to do. He has guys who in every metric, every logical step, would never be winning at this point in a major title reign, on weekly TV get title shots, and people are ready to make every argument possible for MJF to drop the strap.
That’s what’s going to make it hurt when he doesn’t. Some folks won’t know what to do with their emotions. They will call it the wrong decision. That Brody King, with the momentum of FUCK ICE and the quick squash on Max, should be following that up with a win. Strike the iron while it’s hot. MJF will be fine. You can have Andrade win his match and have a super fresh matchup in the main event of Revolution if you wanted.
It’s a nice thought. If AEW did it? I’d be all for it. But you either want this because you hate MJF (fair) or you want this because MJF has made you believe in something to happen only to eventually take it away from you.
I don’t know how Max ends up pulling it off. My fear is that a fellow Aussie, Buddy Matthews, ends up making his AEW return to cost Brody King the match. I’d much prefer if MJF just broke him down, refused to let Brody get the momentum like he did in the Eliminator, and eventually cheats at the right time to snatch the victory.
Brody has a lot of great momentum, but we can’t be hot shotting the belt every time you get excited about a wrestler. Plus there’s a Cleaner who needs to win it in Vancouver.
Winner: Maxwell Jacob Friedman
Road to Revolution
After a Dynamite that was all about big shocking wins, I think this Grand Slam is going to ultimately play it safe. Even in playing it safe you should have a fantastic show with huge matches, some that might be remembered for when you’re thinking about the best matches of the year.
Aside from the number one contenders match, I’m not sure what they build up for Revolution on this show, but I could see us knowing who Jon Moxley will be facing soon after the match with Takeshita. I also think we know who Takeshita faces soon after as well.
We also know that next week we get the show in Sacramento, which will give us Swerve Strickland versus Kenny Omega. This match you’d think have been on the Revolution card, but apparently Kenny Omega can’t make the show due to heading to Japan a few days prior.
That could leave Swerve Strickland open to do something for Revolution, but I’m not sure what. There is an Andrade he could have a rematch against, or set his eyes on championship gold like Kyle Fletcher’s TNT Championship.
AEW does still have four weeks before they have to nail down the Revolution card, though it would be nice to get more of the show in view.
After Revolution on March 15 we have Dynasty in Vancouver, British Columbia on April 12. It’s already rumoured we are getting Double or Nothing some time in May at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York. Forbidden Door will hopefully be back in June like it used to be (so it can run right before the New Japan Pro Wrestling G1 Climax which begins in July. I figure a late June for Forbidden Door so it doesn’t cut into Dominion on June 14) which then leaves all of July and August before All In London 2026.
Last year, AEW started the Owen Hart Foundation tournament right at Dynasty. It would be pretty cool to do that in Vancouver, a former Stampede territory location. They might even start earlier as they have shows in Winnipeg and Edmonton prior to Dynasty. Either way, that gives us Double or Nothing to decide who faces the AEW Men’s and Women’s World Champions at All In London. Is that enough time for Will Ospreay to be ready? Maybe Mercedes Moné as well? I guess we will have to see.
But for now, let’s get ready for Grand Slam Australia tonight.
In the words of Ian Riccaboni? Happy Wrestling everyone.
