We’re about 48 hours after AEW All In 2024 so I thought I would go over some of the show afterwards based on my predictions and previews.
You can check out my All In 2024 Predictions and Previews here.
Overall I think it was a very strong show for All Elite Wrestling. It certainly felt like a major event with a lot of money going into pyro and licenced music. They could have actually did a bit more in showing off the 53,000 in the stadium. I know that early on it would look like there were a lot of empty seats (a lot of reds) but once the show going going more of the seats filled.
Currently I would say Revolution 2024 is still the best pay per view of the year.
Favourite Wrestling Match
Mariah May versus Toni Storm
This match absolutely delivered for me in terms of emotion and impact. Both women had no issue throwing bombs at each other throughout this match. I’ve actually heard there was a podcast trying to claim that the match was soft? I feel like that’s a good indication they didn’t actually watch it.
The bloody shoe being involved in the finish was interesting since Toni Storm when she was still a heel wasn’t using the shoe as an illegal weapon. It might be because Mariah May is doing that as her signature illegal object but I thought maybe they could think of a way to incorporate Toni’s own tactics. Like sins of the mother sort of thing. Then again only the fans remember the metal plate in the butt that helped Timeless Toni Storm capture the AEW Women’s World Championship against Hikaru Shida.
I thought this should have been the semi-main event but it got a great reaction either way. Mariah May looks like an absolute genius for the fact she came into AEW, set her plan in motion, and completed it by becoming the champion and defeating Toni Storm. AEW crowned a brand new star at Wembley Stadium.
I do think this feud should have another match or two before they go their separate ways. I don’t know if Toni should re-capture the championship or not. If not, Jamie Hayter going after Mariah May would be a lot of fun in the fall. I also would like to see Kris Statlander and Toni Storm have a good program.
Best Wrestling Match
Bryan Danielson versus Swerve Strickland
The main event absolutely brought it. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the result (I think Swerve still had plenty of momentum as AEW Men’s World Champion) but I understand how much this finish meant to Tony Khan to get a legend like Bryan Danielson holding the top prize in the company before he ends his full-time career.
Swerve played the role of antagonist absolutely perfect and absolutely carried the program up to this point. When Swerve no sold the Busaiku Knee Kick with a dust that dirt off your shoulder I absolutely bit. I absolutely felt like maybe this was all for naught and maybe Swerve is just too powerful to topple.
It ended up being Hangman Adam Page showing up and attacking Prince Nana to distract Swerve Strickland. After Hangman showed up? Swerve didn’t get a lick of offence. It absolutely mentally distracted him even if Hangman never laid a finger on Swerve. No different to how Swerve sent Hangman on a downward spiral without ever laying a finger on his family. Swerve ruined Hangman’s House? Hangman ruined Swerve’s House.
The decision to make Christian Cage the number one contender is a bit bizarre to me, but I figure Bryan Danielson really wants to wrestle him again. Darby Allin also has the shot at Grand Slam, which it really feels like Darby losing to Jack Perry was in that, “Lose to the top guy in one division before elevating yourself up to a higher division” moment. I think one of the next, if not the next, AEW Men’s World Champion? It’s Darby Allin.
I expect Swerve and Hangman to main event All Out in Chicago in a Light’s Out Match as that’s the only way to really justify those two increasing the stakes. No Holds Barred. Unsanctioned.
I loved Danielson getting his big win, even if I don’t think AEW did it the right way. I think they could have set this up a lot better. But we’re here, and Danielson I doubt has a long title reign when he’s talking about giving up wrestling while he’s still great for his daughter. I would not be surprised if he retires as champion and they vacate the title. We will see.
More Thoughts After 48
Daniel Garcia: Without actually attacking MJF, Garcia certainly made his impression in the AEW International Championship match between Will Ospreay and Maxwell Jacob Friedman. MJF thought he took him out for good. Of course in pro wrestling fashion Garcia had to “unmask” himself because just showing up wasn’t enough of a surprise. Is Garcia re-signed or just finishing up his contract?
The Lucha Bros: PAC winning the AEW Trios Championship with Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta feels like a real end of DEATH TRIANGLE and the unfortunate exit of Penta and Fenix. If they decide to retire I wish them both the very best. There’s always a home on my television screen should they wish to return to the land of pro wrestling. I’m sure I’ll see them in a three minute match on YouTube sometime. Too bad.
Jamie Hayter: Great to see Jamie back. Going with the red hair is a nice tough too. Surprised she didn’t get put in the match with Britt Baker and Mercedes Moné. I really thought the whole point of Brickhouse Kamille was to counter with Jamie at All In. Guess MJF isn’t the only person Britt Baker might be cold towards right now.
Ricochet: Ricochet is absolutely a guy who never fit the Fed and it’s nice to see him in All Elite Wrestling. I loved him as Prince Puma in Lucha Underground and there was a point in time he was arguably the best non-lucha high flyer in the world. It only makes sense to have him and Will Ospreay under the same roof. I do however think people need to pull back expectations on him. Ricochet isn’t really the guy you put in the main event. He’s more somebody that would be great to face Jack Perry for the TNT Championship or lead a Trios against The Patriarchy. He still has a lot of work in the charisma department before he should be considered anything more than a strong midcard star.
Kazuchika Okada not defending the Continental Championship: Having Okada in the Casino Gauntlet instead of his own match was a strange decision and I wonder if the match with Claudio was supposed to be at All In but because of the Lucha Bros. Departure they had to adjust things. Either way, there should not be a pay per view that goes by without Kazuchika Okada having at least 15 minutes to remind everyone he’s the best wrestler in the world. Hopefully they make up for this by booking someone against him at All Out.
Jon Moxley:
Warner Bros Discovery: We were hearing a lot of buzz that the deal between WBD and AEW was finalized or close to finalized. It would have made sense to announce this on one of the bigger pay per views but I guess it also doesn’t make sense since this is a UK centric show and the WBD deal is for the American market. Do we get the announcement soon?
Nigel McGuinness: I think we see him work 12-15 matches with AEW en route to All In 2026 where he can have a proper retirement match. Maybe even against Bryan Danielson, who will be a part-timer by then. Would be a nice moment.
Dustin Rhodes: Speaking of nice send offs, it feels like Dustin Rhodes has won two ROH championships in the tag team and six man titles and might be staying in AEW long term. Or at least until All In 2025 in Arlington, Texas (forever now referred to as Y’All In) when it would be a pretty wonderful place to give him a send off if he wants it. I don’t want to push the man into the grave before he’s ready.
Katsuyori Shibata: I can’t be the only one noticing he’s starting to put on some muscle. He isn’t the skinny head trainer he was a few years ago. I would not be against Shibata, who looks much younger than 44, getting a bit of a run in All Elite Wrestling. Shibata versus Okada at All Out. Why not?
Grizzled Young Vets: If you read my preview for the AEW World Tag Championship match I wasn’t very excited about it. I think the match was pretty good, exceeded my expectations, but I’m still bored with these teams. Grizzled Young Vets actually gives me some hope for the division. I hope they become regulars. GYV and FTR having promos every week on Collision would be a great way to get them introduced. Hopefully Mark Davis can return to reform Aussie Open and maybe we can see Dark Order get back onto TV regularly. That would go a long ways to getting me excited by the tag division again. Also, where’s Motor City Machine Guns? They’ve truly disappeared, unlike the disappearing the Lucha Bros. will do soon. I still think if they do show up in AEW and not another place, it will come with an announcement of AEW returning to Detroit.
Swerve Strickland: Swerve re-signed with All Elite Wrestling prior to All In and I couldn’t be happier. I have zero fear with the future of Swerve’s career in AEW. Championship or not he will find a way to get better and find a way to take his spot. MJF might get his Dynamite opening. Bryan Danielson might get his world championship run. The Elite might collect titles and sit on them. Swerve Strickland will continue to pull you kicking and screaming into Swerve’s House and you will thank him for it.
We got All Out in just two weeks so it will be interesting to see how AEW lays out the pay per view with only a few shows to build it up.
