To find past Predictions and Previews Click Here.
Apologies for no previews on the card. When the weather can’t make up its mind it has a way of dragging me physically and mentally in the mud and it was hard to do anything other than social media post. I’ll make sure to get it out for Dynasty. Honestly, I haven’t been watching the shows as much due to this either. I’ve had to catch up on everything.
It’s too bad because this has been a very exciting time for AEW. Unlike 2025 the company has been in a pretty good place in terms of giving people something exciting every show despite a heel champion. All Elite Wrestling had to learn a difficult lesson: people have a limit on how much heel heat they can take. At some point you’re not getting heat to make them want to come back. You’re just depressing them. The news sucks. The world sucks. People come to AEW for a chance to see heroes prevail and if they never do? It makes it hard to stick with the product. AEW now knows after early 2025 that you can still provide moments of heels winning or taking advantage of the babyfaces but it can’t be every waking moment.
So now you have heel champions on most of the titles, from MJF and Thekla as world champions to the Don Callis Family holding three championships (TNT, International, Trios), Ricochet as National champion and FTR as Men’s Tag champions. Willow and the Babes of Wrath are the only babyfaces as champions right now. And whatever Jon Moxley is these days.
Usually this would feel like suffocating heat but AEW has been doing a great job now of mixing up babyface accomplishments with the heel wins. Brody King might have lost his shot to MJF but he isn’t disappearing after. He’s staying around and finding ways to reclaim his heat after the loss. He’s getting on the pay per view.
There’s a feeling in the air a lot of these championships could switch hands as well. I think AEW also did a great job with the matches not involving championships. Darby Allin moved his feud with Death Riders to Gabe Kidd and the Dogs. Toni Storm has built her feud with Marina Shafir to the point of a pay per view finale. Swerve Strickland took out Kenny Omega and instead of facing him he faces the man Kenny Omega called the true most dangerous man in AEW in Brody King. King’s partner Bandido faces Andrade El Idolo.
The closest to a “forced” match on the card is the Trios championship, where the DCF face JetSpeed now teaming with Mistico since Adam Page is in the main event. Even that I can’t say much because it finally means the Trios championship is defended on an AEW pay per view. The last time? Y’All In Texas. It has been that long.
I expect this to be a long show but in usual AEW fashion it’ll be one of the best times you can spend watching pro wrestling this year. Everything from Double or Nothing 2025 carries on. What a run AEW has been on.
Now I have to talk about a QT Marshall match. Sigh.
Revolution: Zero Hour
Boom & Doom (Big Boom! A.J. and QT Marshall) versus The Infantry (Shawn Dean and Carlie Bravo)
That snake QT Marshall. Comes back to AEW in a “non-wrestling role” because Cody Rhodes couldn’t get him a job in WWE beyond NXT. Sneaks himself in with Big Boom! A.J. on a Zero Hour. Then gets a match with Jeff Jarrett on another Zero Hour. Then turns babyface??? to team with AJ against RPG Vice. Now the two face The Infantry on Zero Hour.
I think Zero Hour is a great spot for Big Boom! A.J. and I understand wanting him to be in a tag team and not working full singles matches. A.J. is a trained wrestler and not just a TikTok celebrity but it’s not like he’s a great wrestler so keeping him to tag matches makes sense. But making the hot tag to QT Marshall? That’s the best we can do here? We can’t find any other babyface to work with Big Boom? Can’t put Jack Perry with him or something? I gotta deal with QT Marshall again?
Sigh.
Good on Infantry getting this match.
Winner: Boom & Doom
TBS Championship
Lena Kross versus Willow Nightingale (c)
While I know the TBS Championship is more of an open challenge title than the Women’s World Championship? I would have preferred this as an Eliminator match. Lena has one win against Mina Shirakawa, which is impressive (AEW’s handling of Mina lately has been confusing to me but that’s a conversation for another time) and probably deserving of some sort of shot, but it still feels like too soon.
It will likely work into the Women’s World Tag Championship match later in the night when Megan Bayne and Lena Kross get a shot at the Babes of Wrath. I don’t see Willow losing this, but I do see Willow not coming out of this 100%.
Winner: Willow Nightingale
AEW National Championship
Blackjack Battle Royale
Ricochet, Tommaso Ciampa, 19 TBA
So what makes this Blackjack?
Apparently nothing. Not even doing the Casino Battle Royale gimmick of the cards. It’s Blackjack because it’s 21. Wanna play 21? Honestly would be great if Jake “The Snake” Roberts showed up for this.
It’s hard to say much about it. I expect Ricochet to retain. I’m sure most of the guys in this will be guys we’ve seen weekly but don’t have a match on the pay per view. Ciampa already being announced for it makes sense. Gates of Agony, Bang Bang Gang, Komander, Death Riders, Conglomeration, I expect all of those guys to show up.
There are a few AEW guys we haven’t seen in a while we could see in this as well. Shelton Benjamin and Bobby Lashley are possible to show up. Well, more likely Shelton since Bobby doesn’t like to lose lately. I doubt Samoa Joe returns for this but it’s a possibility. Maybe Kyle O’Reilly returns? He’d be a perfect opponent for Ricochet down the road.
The only person who I could see entering this from outside AEW (aside from someone from NJPW/CMLL) would be Mance Warner, who recently quit TNA Wrestling. It wouldn’t be his first appearance in AEW as he once faced Jon Moxley when he was Interim AEW Men’s World Champion. A Zero Hour spot makes sense for him.
I see Ricochet retaining his title here, but setting up his next feud.
Winner: Ricochet
Tornado Trios Match
Darby Allin, Orange Cassidy, and Roderick Strong versus The Dogs
I had plans to talk more about The Dogs but I just wasn’t up for it for the past few weeks. I still might. I’ll try to keep this from being that or else I’d be writing 2,000 words for a prediction.
I love Clark Connors. He’s my guy. I am not as crazy about Gabe Kidd or David Finlay. It’s not because I think they are bad wrestlers. I think both are very good wrestlers, especially Finlay. My issue was their pushes in New Japan Pro Wrestling and the way I feel people overrated them, especially Kidd. People tried talking about Gabe Kidd like he was one match away from becoming a Jon Moxley level star. He was never there. David Finlay, NJPW never went all the way with him as a top gaijin, and while New Japan has made several mistakes in the past few years? That wasn’t one of them.
But now in AEW? The Dogs are a midcard heel team. And AEW desperately needed a midcard heel team like this. I absolutely love The Dogs. The Dogs are great. They are injecting life into the Trios division it has so desperately needed. They are proper heels ready to be slimy, backhanded, and cruel. These are three men who could one day be more in All Elite Wrestling but in 2026? This is the perfect spot for them.
Darby Allin has been a bit lost, as has Orange Cassidy. I don’t really know their purposes anymore aside from a never ending feud with Death Riders being passed onto The Dogs. But until AEW gets better roles for both? This match is a great spot to be in. Good to see Roddy returning to save OC too. I was all for him turning heel and joining Death Riders to be with his wife Marina but I think they are not pulling the trigger on that due to Kyle O’Reilly’s return being soon. At least I hope.
I expect this to be a very good match, and I think The Dogs win their first major AEW match after signing. The Trios Championship might be on heels right now but it needs to soon be on The Dogs.
Winner: The Dogs
Everyone Banned From Ringside
Timeless Toni Storm versus Marina Shafir
Marina Shafir has done a lot to get better in the ring. There was a time where Marina’s matches were what one could only be described as, “Jerry Flynn but worse” but she’s done a lot to find her energy to the point where I don’t groan any time she’s on TV.
It makes sense to have Toni Storm in a pay per view match but I really wonder, with Willow Nightingale having to work two matches, did they choose the right team to be Women’s Tag Team Champions? Toni and Mina were the most popular team and having them defend against Megan and Lena, two giants, just feels like a better match up than Babes of Wrath. AEW essentially turned Mina into a damsel in distress for Toni to save instead of her equal tag partner, and it was even Mina who had to lose to Lena Kross to make her credible for a TBS shot. It all just feels like AEW made a call on who would win and maybe the booking doesn’t match with the decision.
Maybe I’m wrong but I thought the whole purpose of Toni in the tag division was to help build it up. Now she’s not in it and she’s also not going after a singles title. I don’t know if they are properly utilizing Toni when she’s one of the company’s biggest stars. Then again, maybe they are making a concerted effort to ensure she doesn’t overstay her welcome with fans and make them tired of her. Can’t say either way.
Should be a good match. I figure Timeless Toni wins here and we get Toni and Thekla at Dynasty.
Winner: Timeless Toni Storm
Bandido versus Andrade El Idolo
I always kept the faith with Andrade.
I don’t believe he ever left AEW because he didn’t like it there. He did have a big head on him in the first run, as do many former WWE guys, and I think his second WWE run humbled him. He realized that acting like a big star in AEW who refuses jobs doesn’t get you anywhere. He went to WWE to save a marriage and because he was told by the likes of Konnan that WWE was the best place to be, especially for Hispanic talents.
And then you saw him at the purchase of AAA looking absolutely dejected. That’s when I knew he was coming back to AEW first chance he got.
His contract was a mess (you can’t hold someone to a one year non compete without paying them) but since he’s officially returned he’s been an absolute beast in the ring. One of the brightest parts of AEW in the new year.
We’re getting an Andrade focused on wrestling and focused on building himself up as a ladies man, all in the services of the Don Callis Family. While the DCF currently hold the Trios championship, should they drop it? I’d love to see a team of Andrade, Hechicero, and El Cløn hold it next.
Bandido has been unfortunately unlucky with injury issues lately but he had an incredible match with Maxwell Jacob Friedman that showed maybe he’s the true babyface Lucha star AEW has been looking for. That’s what I wonder about this match with Andrade. Both men should be elevated to the top and could if AEW can commit to one of them as a top star.
My only problem with Bandido is the 21 Gun Plex. He really needs a new finish.
So what about the match? Could steal the show. Absolutely could. If Bandido is closer to 100% I think we could get one incredible match here. Bandido is finally moving up like he should (I still think it won’t happen where they go all the way with him until he signs a new deal with AEW) and Andrade is being featured on pay per view. They could go either way but I think Bandido takes this one.
Winner: Bandido
Brody King versus Swerve Strickland
There was a big push for Brody King to win the AEW Men’s World Championship before his match with Maxwell Jacob Friedman. I love Brody but I think that match showed there’s a limitation to how high you can go with Brody King.
That’s not a bad thing. Not everyone can be the champion at the top, but Brody in the upper midcard still provides something very few others can do in the wrestling business right now. He’s a believable big man who can work any style. He’s a versatile Swiss army knife and just looks different enough to stand out.
Swerve Strickland has just turned heel again and it’s great because his character needed it. The bad guy trying to do good went as far as you could with it when he was feuding with the Young Bucks. It’s time for him to go right back to his roots and those roots are evil. It doesn’t hurt that Swerve is a lot bigger, bigger than he’s ever been physically, and you tend to get that big when you want to change your style up.
This was supposed to be Swerve versus Kenny Omega, but AEW forgot that Kenny had a prior commitment to Capcom in Japan that was set months ago. I’m not sure if Kenny makes an appearance or not, but if he does? While it makes sense to go right to Kenny versus Swerve at Dynasty, I really hope they go with Omega vs MJF at Dynasty instead. You can give some storyline reason not to do it yet (Swerve gets himself suspended) and delay their match for Double or Nothing.
Brody will take a loss here to build up Swerve Strickland as the number two heel in the company, but will go down with an absolute fight.
Winner: Swerve Strickland
AEW Trios Championship
Místico and JetSpeed versus Don Callis Family (c)
I’ll be writing about the Trios championship soon because I finally got what I’ve been waiting for: a pay per view defence of the Trios championship for the first time since July 2025. Five pay per views without a Trios championship shot. You wonder why Powerhouse Hobbs felt like it was time to go elsewhere and his AEW career wasn’t moving up? There’s why.
The belt goes to JetSpeed with Adam Page and they go over a month for their first defence since Page is also feuding with the AEW Men’s World Champion. They also seem to be building Kevin Knight up for a future singles run. All these a bigger concern than the Trios titles. Then Tony Khan actually has a great idea: why not have them drop the belts?
Yes, they drop the Trios championship on TV to Kazuchika Okada, Kyle Fletcher, and Mark Davis of the Don Callis Family. And what happens right after? That’s right! A Pay per view defence!
Of course, it’s all also a way to build up a rematch but replace Adam Page with Místico. If you’re going to replace the cowboy with someone might as well make it the biggest star in Mexico. This does make the result a little obvious (I doubt JetSpeed get the Trios titles back with Místiconow) but who cares? Look at the names in this match!
I for one am super happy that we finally got Aussie Open titles in AEW. I was worried that ship had sailed forever due to Davis’ unfortunate injuries and Kyle Fletcher’s explosion as one of the best pro wrestlers in the world. Fletcher might hold the TNT and Okada the International, but I also don’t think they hold these titles for too long.
Which is fine! Get them on an ESTABLISHED babyface trios team. Not something thrown together but a true team(The Rascalz?). Once you do that? You can have them beat the Don Callis Family. Then it’ll be The Dogs time.
Winner: Don Callis Family
AEW Continental Championship
No Time Limit
Konosuke Takeshita versus Jon Moxley (c)
In my predictions for Grand Slam Australia I said that I was hoping this match erased the result of World’s End and the Continental Classic. That maybe we’d get Takeshita winning the AEW Continental Championship as he should have won the C2. The problem was the timing. Tony Khan wasn’t having Takeshita win that match then go on a few days later to lose to Yota Tsuji at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 20 to a Boston Crab.
The fact they went time limit draw in that match to set up this match at Revolution has me wondering. Moxley has had Takeshita’s number. In five one on one matches, Moxley has won three, lost one, and one draw. A win by Takeshita won’t even things up, but it’s important to modify this a little bit. They have had two Eliminator matches for a shot at titles Moxley held. Mox won both of those. When there was something truly on the line? Takeshita has beaten Moxley (in the 2025 Continental Classic) and they had a draw. Moxley when a title is on the line hasn’t actually beaten Takeshita. When it’s for points in the C2? Moxley has lost.
So maybe this is about Jon Moxley finally getting that big against Takeshita with something truly on the line. Or maybe this is about Konosuke Takeshita becoming AEW Continental Champion like he should have been.
I think Takeshita has taken a lot of losses lately, and maybe that’s for the right reason. He’s now very close to being on the outs with Don Callis Family as he wants to do things the right way when it comes to going against Jon Moxley. He wants to beat him clean. I don’t think he does here, and that’s what leads to him finally being kicked out of the Don Callis Family.
Gotta wonder. Does Takeshita just go it alone, tries to reconcile with Kenny Omega, or does he maybe get an invitation to the Death Riders?
Winner: Jon Moxley
AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship
Megan Bayne and Lena Kross versus The Babes of Wrath (c)
Poor Penelope Ford.
I truly believe this was going to be her moment in All Elite Wrestling. After years of service, years of unfortunate injuries, she’s finally really found a spot as Megan Bayne’s partner. I really think she was winning the gold here.
I do hope they state that MegaBad with Lena Kross has Freebird rule so when she does return from injury they at least get her in as champion and give them a win to make it feel legitimate for her.
And yeah, I am going with a title change here. The whole reason Willow is working twice I believe is to give reason for why she loses this match with Harley Cameron. Most of their matches are built up with Harley getting her ass kicked, Willow coming for the save, having to essentially fight two on one, almost losing, and then Harley recovering to snatch a win. It’s good tag team booking. This feels like a good place to end the reign.
I don’t know where Harley goes after this but it’s pretty clear AEW still loves her. She’ll get a program with someone. Willow on the other hand will likely have someone like a returning Mercedes Moné to deal with and have to defend the TBS Championship. It would be good for AEW to focus on her as a singles champion for a bit now.
Winners and NEW AEW Women’s World Tag Team Champions: Megan Bayne and Lena Kross
AEW Men’s World Tag Team Championship
The Young Bucks versus FTR (c)
I am sorry everyone. I am truly sorry.
I was all for FTR turning heel. I thought the turn and winning the tag titles would be great for an AEW tag division exploding with talent. I thought making them champions would be a return to greatness for a division that was stunted by a mediocre Hurt Syndicate run. And then… FTR were basically booked exactly how Hurt Syndicate was.
Instead of facing the best teams in the world that were in AEW? Hurt Syndicate faced The Gunns, The Outrunners, The Learning Tree, Gates of Agony, Sons of Texas, and then a three way with one of the best teams (JetSpeed) and a Christian Cage team with Nick Wayne that was all storyline purposes to break them up.
Brodido take the titles and they actually face the best teams. Death Riders, JetSpeed, DCF, and Young Bucks, Gates of Agony, a team of Kazuchika Okada and Konosuke Takeshita, and then they lose to FTR.
I thought we’d get FTR facing JetSpeed, Brodido, Death Riders, Jurassic Express, Conglomeration, heck maybe even a reunited Acclaimed. You also had the debuting Rascalz and hey maybe some returning teams could take them on like Butcher and Blade. Heck even throw a heel team we haven’t seen much like Grizzled Young Vets against them.
What did we get? Feuding with Juice and Austin Gunn for a month, a weird title defence against the debuting heel team of Jake Doyle and Mark Davis, and then no shots for over a month until finally defending against The Rascalz.
FTR once again avoiding the best teams in the division just like Hurt Syndicate did. I don’t get it.
Of course, they finally face the best team in Young Bucks who look absolutely like the best tag team in the world again and everything in my body tells me to pick the Bucks to win. Women’s tag titles will be on heels (if my prediction is correct) so put the men’s on babyfaces. Bucks are on fire right now. FTR has also been teasing a Trios run with Tommaso Ciampa as Ciampa turned heel and teamed with them against Conglomeration.
But you also have an AEW pay per view in April in Canada, and the looming return of Cope and Christian. The fear of FTR winning the titles has always been them doing this feud with C&C Wrestle Factory before the two retire, but maybe this is the best way to go. Cage and Christian can return, have a feud with FTR without the tag titles, give Bucks their run, maybe drop to Cage and Christian who FTR can return in their final match at the end of the year or early 2027 in Toronto.
Or FTR wins and Christian and Cope come out to challenge them for Dynasty just to get it out of the way. I really hope they don’t go this way. I’m going with Bucks winning.
Winner: The Young Bucks
AEW Women’s World Championship
2/3 Falls Match
Kris Statlander versus Thekla (c)
I can’t wait to talk more about Thekla. I wish I wasn’t so moody the past few weeks and just got it done. She’s been a great AEW Women’s World Champion.
There is a lot to say about expectations of a champion. Thekla doesn’t have the same expectations Kris Statlander did. Statlander had to beat all of the top stars in the women’s division to feel credible as champion. Thekla as a heel who only entered the company a year ago doesn’t have to do that.
Some might see some similarities in this run and what Mariah May had (and I’ll get into that after seeing the results of this match) but I think Thekla is already in a better position than even May. May had the expectations of the Timeless Toni Storm story and her run felt like someone learning on the fly.
Thekla just has it. She has it in the ring. She has it in her presence. And she is already establishing herself as one of the best microphone fiends in the company. Notice I didn’t preface with “women’s” because Thekla is one of the best talkers period. Yeah, fans chanted WHAT at her like idiots. They also did it to Kyle Fletcher once. They’ll learn.
Thekla is a total package and a great choice to be champion which is why I hope she wins this match against Kris. Kris doesn’t need to be champion again. She had her run. She’ll have a run down the road. Having a heel champion here is perfect. I honestly would have has champ for a while and when it’s time for Mercedes to turn babyface? Thekla could be the perfect opponent.
Winner: Thekla (Two Falls to One)
AEW Men’s World Championship
Texas Death
Hangman Adam Page versus Maxwell Jacob Friedman (c)
MJF loves to say Hangman is a lucky shot but he has more bullets in the chamber. I can relate to that when it comes to writing as I have articles in the chamber for the Trios champion, Thekla, and more.
The one I did fire off was about that stipulation. That fucking stipulation.
I wanted AEW to get out of it. They are clearly not doing that. They are going all the way with it. Hangman is putting his chance at the title forever on the line to make it Texas Death. To make it a match MJF can’t weasel his way out of.
I’ve already seen people excited for Hangman Adam Page to break his word one day about the stipulation. They point to Jon Moxley talking about Wheeler Yuta keeping his word:
“You’re only as good as your word, and him and Marina and Tony and Orange, they really put it on the line. They took a big risk. You know, a lot of people would not want to risk the humiliation of being shaven in the middle of the ring on live TV, beamed across the entire world in an arena full of people. That takes guts. So I think it’s a big win for everybody. I think it shows Wheeler’s character that he took the risk, and he stepped up, and he took it on the chin, and every day he looks in the mirror, he can know that he took it on the chin and he stayed true to his word. I think that’s a victory.”
Already people think Moxley (and AEW) are getting this out there because sticking to your word is going to be considered admirable, honourable, and the sign of a true character. Only for Adam Page to one day break his word and go after the title again.
I want to be very clear on two things:
1. AEW has done a fantastic job with the build up of this match. People absolutely care about something that would have just been a simple Page loss for MJF to get his win match after losing twice to Hangman last year. I think they’ve made people truly care about this main event and have given it incredible stakes in order to make it potentially one of the best matches of the year. I am in no way criticizing All Elite Wrestling “for not doing what I wanted them to do” and my focus is more on short term gains for long term problems.
2. I hate every conversation involving this stipulation and wish they didn’t do it.
Even if they have Hangman Adam Page win the championship I hate it because it’ll feel like they backed themselves in a corner they had to book themselves out of. Even if this is because Page is leaving AEW (which I hope it isn’t) it makes things dirty if he ever returns.
I don’t want a situation where he can back out of it. I don’t want a situation where he could possibly have 50 wins and unable to fight for the richest prize in the sport because he made a stipulation promise. I know it’s pro wrestling and you can be goofy with things but it really just undermines my luchanarrative dissonance.
I just wish they found a different way to get people to care about this match without such a nuclear option. I know they couldn’t have MJF just lose a match because he already got squashed by Brody King to lead to a title shot. I know they can’t have Max agreeing to Texas Death or else where’s the heel cowardice?
It just personally irks me. That said? I am absolutely engaged in this match and looking very forward to it. MJF and Page had one of my favourite matches last year at Revolution. They have great chemistry. They are not doing goofy stipulations like they did for Forbidden Door, or rushing a match between the two which Forbidden Door’s was. This has had time, it has had great attention, and it feels like a big main event for All Elite Wrestling.
The ways they could go here? There’s a lot.
Let’s say Hangman wins. MJF would of course want a rematch, but there’s also Swerve Strickland being built up as the number two heel. If this was always supposed to be a short reign for MJF so he could do a movie in Hollywood or take time off with his wife, maybe that’s why they are making this as big as possible? Swerve would make sense for Hangman’s next shot, and probably be the guy to beat him.
But if MJF retains? There’s ways they can go with that. Swerve could be the one who costs him which would lead to the two finally having another showdown. Swerve being able to claim the ultimate betrayal of Hangman and marking his record forever would be a nice way in breaking that wound back open. It still eventually leaves you with a wrestler in his mid 30s who can’t ever challenge for the top prize in the company no matter how many times he wins.
It’s strange because for me, I feel like it’s best that MJF wins but I also don’t want this stipulation to happen so I also want Hangman to win. I’m so married to MJF dropping to Kenny Omega I still want that to happen but maybe that’s not the plan. Maybe the plan is for Swerve Strickland to be champion again and do it off Hangman. Maybe the plan is for MJF to be unable to ever beat Hangman, or at least for a long time he cannot.
Maybe.
I still can’t see MJF losing this.
Hangman got the win we never thought he would last year. Now he’s going to get the loss we never thought he’d suffer.
Winner: Maxwell Jacob Friedman
In the words of Ian Riccaboni? Happy Wrestling everyone.
