AEW’s quarterly pay-per-views have become a special treat for wrestling fans. Sunday’sAEW Revolutionevent was no different. With a stacked 12-match card, there was a little something forall walks of wrestling life, from brutal fist fights to blood-laden grudge matches to adrenaline-filled multi-man matches that raised the bar of enjoyment as well as the fans' collective heart rates throughout the night.The main event would see “Hangman” Adam Page just barely able to eke out his rival Adam Cole (BAY BAY) to retain his AEW World Championship. The two men matched each other strike-for-strike and Cole gave Page everything he could handle and then some, including a bevy of pinpoint superkicks and outside help from his friends Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish of reDRagon, but a pair of vicious Buckshot Lariats would finally put the Panama City Playboy away for good.RELATED:AEW Revolution Features Adam Cole and Jade Cargill Dressed as Video Game CharactersThe official opener toAEW Revolutionwas no less intense, with Eddie Kingston finally laying claim to his first PPV victory sincecoming to All Elite Wrestlingwith a hard-fought victory over Chris Jericho. These two matches book-ended a PPV full of drama, impressive displays of athleticism and strength, and artistry defined by a blood-stained canvas.
1. Buy-In Match: “Legit” Leyla Hirsch vs. Kris Statlander
WINNER:Leyla Hirsch(9:51, via pinfall - Top-rope moonsault)
THOUGHTS: This was a solid effort from both women once they found their footing and got over the initial clunkiness at the beginning. While there is always an appreciation for the rest of AEW’s Womens' division getting screen time, though, this particular feud has been brewing in the background for the most part onAEW DarkandAEW Rampageand would have probably been better suited foran episode ofDynamitethan on PPV.
2. Buy-In Match: Hook vs. QT Marshall
WINNER:Hook(5:01, via submission - Locking in “Redrum” on Marshall)
THOUGHTS: This was probably Hook’s biggest challenge to date and a real proving ground for the young grappler against a veteran in QT Marshall on a PPV stage. That said, the result was never really in doubt here, as the son of Taz continues to impress and flesh out his character and in-ring style. The short-burst style of match works well for him for now, but there will come a time when Hook sees much stiffer competition and will be stretched for longer periods of time. That will be the true test of his personality and overall ability.
GRADE:C+
3. Buy-In Match: The House of Black vs. PAC, Penta Obscuro & Erick Redbeard
WINNER:The House of Black(17:22, via pinfall - Malakai Black pinned Redbeard following a Brody King piledriver)
THOUGHTS: This was probably the best match to send the audience into the main card ofRevolution. With moments like Obscuro’s rolling Destroyer piledriver to Buddy Matthews or King powering up Redbeard onto his shoulders for a massive Death Valley Driver, there was plenty of hard-hitting, pulse-pounding action to get the live crowd fired up for the event. Given that Redbeard is filling in for the injured Rey Fenix, it stands as no real surprise that he took the fall here,and Fenix’s impending returncan only mean more of the same kind of adrenaline-fueled action from him and the other five men as this feud likely continues.
GRADE:B
4. Chris Jericho vs. Eddie Kingston
WINNER:Eddie Kingston(12:19, via submission - Kingston trapped Jericho in the “Stretch Plum”)
THOUGHTS: Kingston finally wins the big one as he submitted the legendary Chris Jericho in a very hard-hitting affair that kicked off with Kingston nearly dropping Jericho on his head seconds into the match with a half-and-half suplex. This would set the pace of the two veterans simply beating each other into the mat and Jericho nearly winning after a Lionsault to Kingston’s face, followed by an extended stay in the Walls of Jericho and a pair of pinpoint Codebreakers. Kingston would not surrender though, coming back with a pair of spinning backfists and trapping Jericho in the Stretch Plum submission for the win. A great win overall for Kingston, and Jericho was just the man to help get him over.
GRADE:B+
5. AEW World Tag Team Championship - Jurassic Express (c) vs. The Young Bucks vs. reDragon
WINNER:Jurassic Express(18:36, via pinfall - Jungle Boy pins Matt Jackson after hitting “Throw-assic Express”)
THOUGHTS: A crazy, high-energy spectacle of a match, but with Matt and Nick Jackson involved, fans often knowwhat to expect with the Young Bucks. The only real gripe here was the tenuous “alliance” between the Bucks and reDragon. Given the context of a one-fall, three-team match, there was no sense to it, as things quickly broke down between the two popular teams anyway, allowing for Jurassic Express to come in and pick up the win to retain their titles. A win over the Bucks will hopefully help to cement the Express at the top of AEW’s tag division, while moving the Super Elite’s internal struggles away from the limelight.
6. “Face of the Revolution” Ladder Match (Keith Lee vs. Orange Cassidy vs. Ricky Starks vs. Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Wardlow vs. Christian Cage)
WINNER:Wardlow(17:08, Wardlow takes down the ring after powerbombing Starks on the ladder)
THOUGHTS: This was yet another big-time spot fest, but one with many more crashes and unique spots as the three powerhouses in Hobbs, Lee and Wardlow tossed each other and the rest of the competition all around ringside, through ladders and even through the stage at one point. That’s not to say the other men didn’t have their fair share of moments, such as Cassidy “skinning the cat” onto a ladder held by two other competitors, Cage showing his veteran prowessin ladder matches bytaking out the big men early, or Starks showing innovation with a diving spear to Cage through an open ladder. In the end, though, Wardlow takes the win, guaranteeing himself a future TNT Championship match and raising his stock even further with the AEW faithful.
7. AEW TBS Championship - Jade Cargill (c) w/“Smart” Mark Sterling vs. Tay Conti
WINNER:Jade Cargill(6:50, via pinfall - Cargill dropped Conti on a turnbuckle and hit “Jaded” for the win)
THOUGHTS: Much like Hook’s growth in the last few months, Jade continues to come into her own a year after her debut with her latest, most high-profile win over Conti to retain her TBS title and running her record to an impressive 28-0. This was a solidly done performance by both women. While Jade’s reign was never really in danger, Conti brought forth an impressive challenge, and fans can only wait and see who will step forth next to really challenge the mettle of the undefeated Cargill.
8. Dog Collar Match: CM Punk vs. MJF
WINNER:CM Punk(26:22, via pinfall - Punk pinned MJF after punching him with the Dynamite Diamond ring)
THOUGHTS: For anyone expecting any sort of technical classic in this match, hopefully they averted their eyes. This was every bit asbloody, gruesome, and methodicalas one would expect from such a brutal affair and told the exact story that Punk hoped for, a match where MJF could not run from Punk and would indeed face his comeuppance as the scumbag that he was. The blood-laden spectacle was bookmarked by excellent storytelling: Punk comes out to his old ROH theme to counter MJF’s mind games at the beginning. The finish would come when MJF’s beleaguered bodyguard Wardlow came to ringside and conveniently “forgot” the ring, allowing Punk to hit the Go To Sleep on MJF, followed up by Wardlow “remembering” the ring and leaving it for Punk to use on MJF for the cathartic victory. It was an amazing match on all fronts.
GRADE:A-
9. AEW Women’s Championship - Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. (c) vs. Thunder Rosa
WINNER:Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D.(17:19, via pinfall - Baker hit a curb stomp on Rosa for the three count)
THOUGHTS: There was really no way to follow up on the dog collar match, not to mention that this was supposed to be the followup to their MOTY unsanctioned match from 2021, and it came up rather flat on that account. Admittedly, it wasn’t a bad match, per se, but a cooled-off live audience, a lack of proper pacing and the flat finish took away a lot. Plus, if Rosa isn’t going to be the one to dethrone Baker, then who is at this point?
GRADE:C
10. “The American Dragon” Bryan Danielson vs. Jon Moxley
WINNER:Jon Moxley(21:02, via pinfall - Moxley counters the triangle choke into a cradle for the three count)
THOUGHTS: This was another brutal, bloody affair, but with a much greater technical focus, with Moxley and Danielson not only busting each other’s heads open, but being just as determined as the other to prove who is the superior wrestler. While Danielson dominated a good portion of the match, Moxley held out long enough to counter Danielson’s trademark triangle choke into a pin for the win, but the fighting wouldn’t stop there, and it would ultimately takethe debuting William Regal, a legendary technical wrestler in his own right and mentor to both Moxley and Danielson, to literally slap some sense into both men and get them to shake hands. A fun, brutal match, and the post-match happenings certainly open up a world of intrigue between Moxley, Danielson and now Regal.
11. Six-Man Tornado Tag Match - Matt Hardy, Andrade El Idolo & Isiah Kassidy vs. “The Icon” Sting, Darby Allin & “The Spanish God” Sammy Guevara
WINNER:Sting, Darby Allin & Sammy Guevara(13:12, via pinfall - Allin pins Hardy following a Coffin Drop)
THOUGHTS: Most wrestling promotions would put out a relatively harmless filler match to cool down an audience after an intense match like what was seen with Moxley versus Danielson. AEW? It’s a literal tornado, a six-man war full of plunder, stage dives and Sting doing his best “New Jack” impression at 62 years of age. It was fun all around, but an outstanding example of AEW needing to let its audience take a breather between intense matches.
GRADE:B-
12. AEW World Championship - “Hangman” Adam Page (c) vs. Adam Cole
WINNER:“Hangman” Adam Page(25:41, via pinfall - Page pins Cole after a Boom and a Buckshot Lariat)
THOUGHTS: There are very rare cases where the World Title of a promotion shouldn’t go on last as the main event, and this was one of those rare occasions. The dog collar match should’ve gone on last here.MJF-Punk has been one of AEW’s better feudson the mic, in the ring and from a pure storytelling standpoint, and had that “old-school feel” of fans wanting to see the unrepentant heel finally get his comeuppance. Add in the overdue, but well-done twist by Wardlow, and its a classic match on all accounts. Not to say the main event didn’t have its own personal stakes and little twists, but not to the degree of MJF vs Punk.
Speaking of the main event, it was well-done going by what Jim Ross pointed out midway through the match: Page and Cole weren’t looking to outwrestle one another like Danielson and Mox did, but merely go out there and throw bombs at one another until one man simply drops. No forced technical spots, just two men throwing their best shots and punching/kicking the stuffing out of one another. The tape spot was a bit of comeuppance for Cole, but it should have been saved for a future blowoff match, especially since it took the crowd out of their rollicking back-and-forth “Adam” mindset.
GRADE: B+
Final Thoughts
AEW certainly knows how to pack all sorts of action into 4-5 hours, but the company has yet to learn that the difference between a “classic” PPV like the shows they have put on and a masterpiece like, say,WWE’s WrestleMania X7 from 2001, is giving the audience time to properly absorb what is happening on a mental and emotional level, take a collective breath between matches, and come back rested, ready and eager for the next part of the show. Otherwise, there’s a burnt-out crowd or an audience that goes into business for themselves, like what was seen with the volleying “Adam” chants in the main event. All in all, though, a fantastic show and a definite must-see.
NEXT:WWE Looking Into Possible Breach of Jeff Hardy Contract By AEW, Possible Lawsuit Forthcoming
