By Don Murphy, ProWrestling.net Contributor (@DonThePredictor)
AEW presents All Out later tonight in Chicago, Illinois, at NOW Arena. Including the special episode of Collision at 6CT/7ET on TNT and HBO Max, eleven matches are advertised for the show, and I anticipate 1-2 more taking place during Collision pre-show. On paper, this looks like another standard AEW pay-per-view. By match junkie and hardcore fan standards, they will likely deliver when the bell rings. As always, however, I am more interested in the stories that these matches are trying to tell. And, for this show, in several cases, they’re just “there.” That said, let’s run down the card!
Will Ospreay vs. Jon Moxley for the AEW World Championship. The main event probably has the strongest story behind it. Can Will Ospreay conquer the man who put him on the shelf for the better part of a year and trained him upon his return? To me, that’s the strongest part of the story. Everything else, including the involvement of the Death Riders and the United Empire, is just sidebar and not necessary. The Death Riders have been presented as Moxley minions that lose more than they win. And I’m not sure what to make of this new United Empire group they’re trying to build with Ospreay. In fact, why does the babyface champion even need a faction? That may be a story for another time.
I do see a larger story brewing. As we see across wrestling, Moxley is another performer who fits within that “shades of grey” territory, meaning he’s not a true babyface and not a true heel. His supporting cast in the Death Riders are more heelish, which makes the whole act confusing. We’ve been speculating for the last year or so that the Death Riders are going to turn on Moxley and anoint a new leader. I’ll throw this out there – what if that’s Ospreay? What if when Ospreay was training with them, it was a ploy to infiltrate the group to get revenge on Moxley? What if after the big hometown hero moment at Wembley, he’s revealed as the ultimate villain and we get Moxley in babyface chase mode? What if this new United Empire group is actually the new Death Riders? What if Don is off his rocker and none of this happens?
It’s a wild idea, and I think it would be a huge mistake on AEW’s part. I don’t think there’s a chance that you’ll get the entire fanbase to boo Ospreay, so you’d just be back to that “shades of grey” area that serves no one. My speculation is based on Ospreay forming a faction, combined with him telling Moxley to have the Death Riders at ringside. There’s also the involvement of the Dogs, particularly Gabe Kidd, that AEW hasn’t fully explained yet. I also look at the landscape of challengers for Ospreay, and I see more babyfaces in the challenger role than I do heels. All that said, Ospreay retains tonight. The only question is how they get there.
Don Predicts: Will Ospreay defeats Jon Moxley to retain the AEW World Championship.
Adam Copeland and Christian Cage vs. “FTR” Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler vs. “The Young Bucks” Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson in a three-way match with chairs, ladders, and tables for the AEW Tag Team Titles. We know these teams work well together, and with the “chairs, ladders, and tables” stipulation, we know there will be some crazy spots. This will be good, but with the AEW tag division seemingly trying to revamp, I’m looking forward to more traditional matches than spot fests. By the way, if you’re not watching Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling, they’re doing a very nice job building Copeland’s first, and likely only, appearance at the Maple Leaf Gardens on October 3rd when he faces Steve Maclin. I would encourage you to check it out if you’re looking for more wrestling on top of the 80 hours a week we’re already getting.
Don Predicts: Adam Copeland and Christian Cage defeat “FTR” Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler and “The Young Bucks” Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson in a three-way match with chairs, ladders, and tables to retain the AEW Tag Team Titles.
Swerve Strickland, Kofi, and Austin Creed vs. Hangman Page, Bandido, and Brody King for the AEW Trios Titles. Putting aside the fact that the trios titles do nothing for me, I think the honeymoon phase for Kofi and Creed is coming to an end. Their debut was good, and their initial appearances have been fun. It’s now time for them to settle into some meaningful matches. With this match, there’s the tease of interaction between Strickland and Page, but I don’t see much beyond this. I’m looking forward to the New Level, as well as King and Bandido, becoming more focused on traditional tag team matches. And I’d like to see Strickland and Page get out of the trios division and concentrate on singles feuds.
Don Predicts: Swerve Strickland, Kofi, and Austin Creed defeat Hangman Page, Bandido, and Brody King to retain the AEW Trios Titles.
Kazuchika Okada vs. Tommaso Ciampa for the AEW International Championship. If “New Japan” Okada shows up, this has the potential to be really good. I do think we’re about five years past the point where this would be considered a dream match. I’m also not a fan of the trope where talents say they are certain versions of themselves, with no effort to differentiate their presentation from how they would normally be. For example, what’s the difference between Ciampa and the “Psycho Killer?” What’s the difference between Okada and the “Rainmaker?” If there are differences, fine – but lay that out for me and don’t assume I already know. And for the tribalists, yes, I feel the same about Finn Balor and the “Demon.”
Don Predicts: Kazuchika Okada defeats Tommaso Ciampa to retain the AEW International Championship.
“The Brawling Birds” Jamie Hayter and Alex Windsor vs. “Divine Dominion” Megan Bayne and Lena Kross in a Chicago Street Fight for the AEW Women’s Tag Team Titles. I like all four individually, and I know AEW is trying to make these titles important while getting more women on the show. All that I said, given the weak build, I feel like this could have been a match on Dynamite or a main event on Collision.
Don Predicts: “The Brawling Birds” Jamie Hayter and Alex Windsor defeat “Divine Dominion” Megan Bayne and Lena Kross in a Chicago Street Fight to retain the AEW Women’s Tag Team Titles.
Andrade El Idolo vs. Pac for the AEW National Championship. El Idolo is on his best run, and Pac always gives a strong performance. The match will be fine, though the story is just not there, as Pac has been defined down to a Death Rider supporting player. It’s a shame because I think he could offer so much more. This is also another case where AEW is trying to build a title. They still have a long way to go.
Don Predicts: Andrade El Idolo defeats Pac to retain the AEW National Championship.
Thekla vs. Willow Nightingale for a shot at the AEW Women’s Championship at the WrestleDream pay-per-view. Nightingale vs. Mercedes Mone was my favorite match at All In, and Nightingale has established herself as the top babyface in the women’s division. In the meantime, Thekla has been slowly gaining momentum, and I see her assuming that role in the next year. Her promos would benefit from I don’t see them going back to Nightingale and Mone so quickly, and I think the eventual plan is a triple threat. For now, I think this sets up the next chapter, which is Thekla challenging Mone at WrestleDream.
Don Predicts: Thekla defeats Willow Nightingale to earn a shot at the AEW Women’s Championship at the WrestleDream pay-per-view.
Darby Allin and Steven Borden vs. Kyle Fletcher and Kevin Knight to determine the No. 1 contenders to the AEW Tag Team Titles. As I said during last week’s Collision review, I like the story they are telling with Borden. Right now, he’s very green, and if you go back as far as I do, he’s more Erik Watts than he is Randy Orton in terms of second-generation talent. He needs to take his time, get some reps, and find his voice. If they choose to, they can make this a nice slow burn to the moment where he and Darby win the tag titles. I think they earn a shot here but ultimately don’t win. They also have a story to tell where Borden turns on Allin out of resentment for Allin’s relationship with his father, Sting. For Fletcher and Knight, this will be another chapter in the eventual implosion of the Don Callis Family.
Don Predicts: Darby Allin and Steven Borden defeat Kyle Fletcher and Kevin Knight to become the No. 1 contenders to the AEW Tag Team Titles.
Persephone holds an open challenge for the TBS Championship. I assume this was a storyline shift due to the injury to Maya World. And with Persephone also banning Thunder Rosa and Hyan from answering the challenge, I would think the odds-on favorite to accept the challenge would be either Dani Luna or Mara Sade (f/k/a Jakara Jackson in NXT), as both have reportedly signed with the company. By the way, if you’ve never seen Luna wrestle, you’re in for a treat.
Don Predicts: Persephone retains the TBS Championship.
Quick Pre-Show Match Predictions
Jack Perry defeats Katsuyori Shibata.
Jay White, Ace Austin, Austin Gunn, and Colten Gunn defeat David Finlay, Clark Connors, Wheeler Yuta, and Daniel Garcia in a Tailgate Brawl.
AEW pay-per-views cost $49.99 (or $39.99 via HBO Max). Join Jason Powell for his live review of All Out starting with the one-hour pre-show as it airs on TNT at 6CT/7ET, or the pay-per-view at 7CT/8ET. A Dot Net Triple Threat same-night audio review of All Out hosted by Jake Barnett, Will Pruett, and Jason Powell will be available for Dot Net Members (including our Patreon patrons). Enjoy All Out and enjoy wrestling!
