The latest AEW pay-per-view should be another banger based on the match card. Let's get started with the first match.
AEW World Championship: Hangman Page (c) vs. Samoa Joe
This is a filler feud, nothing less, nothing more. It’s great that Joe gets a rematch for the world title, but the build started a little too late. Still, this should be a great match.
There’s a black cloud hanging over Page because him and MJF will cross paths again, but there’s nobody that particularly stands out as Page’s next opponent. Perhaps Konosuke Takeshita or Kazuhika Okada are next. Both would be worthy opponents, though I don’t know if New Japan would be thrilled to see their world champion lose so soon. Nevertheless, Joe’s just not winning. It’s still too early for Page to drop it and the build hasn’t convinced me that there will be a chance that he will.
Winner: Hangman Page
AEW Women’s World Championship match: Kris Statlander (c) vs. Toni Storm
I can actually see Toni Storm winning back the AEW Women’s World title here. Her “who I am” story could result in a heel turn. Perhaps Toni does something despicable and desperate to recapture the title. Or, maybe The Death Riders cost Statlander the match as they still aren’t happy with Statlander’s betrayal. There’s compelling options here.
Though the title change felt random, I do believe that Statlander is going to keep it for a while. It’s a shame we never got that Hayter/Storm feud though. While the possibility of a title change is actually high, I’ll put my money on Kris Statlander retaining. I can see Toni moving on to Mercedes Mone. She does own a victory over the TBS Champion so shooting her into contender status wouldn’t be weird at all.
Winner: Kris Statlander
TNT Championship match: Kyle Fletcher (c) vs. Mark Briscoe
I genuinely don’t know about this match. This and the tag team title match are the unpredictable ones. AEW spent time building up Mark Briscoe. But AEW has also spent a considerable amount of time building Kyle Fletcher.
Even though he lost at All Out, that match and build was about showcasing him as the future of the company. I do see Kyle Fletcher as an AEW World Champion. I also see Mark Briscoe as the TNT Champion. And honestly, it’s time for him to grab a singles title.
But there’s always a chase. I do believe that Mark will walk out of this feud as the TNT Champion. But heel shenanigans will prevent him from winning the first couple of times. But I also see Kyle Fletcher having a lengthy title run because AEW clearly sees him as a star. Oh darn…
I can see this being a situation where Fletcher wins here and ducks Mark for a couple of months. Perhaps at Revolution, Mark will finally get another opportunity and he wins the belt. Perhaps a career vs. title stipulation is attached. Long story short, Fletcher isn’t losing just yet.
Winner: Kyle Fletcher
AEW World Tag Team Championship match: “Brodido” Brody King and Bandido (c) vs. Kazuchika Okada and Konosuke Takeshita
At first I thought that Brodido was going to win. AEW is obviously building towards an Okada vs. Takeshita match, so I thought this would advance the story forward. Then Takeshita won the IWGP World Heavyweight title. It’s doubtful that AEW would have the New Japan world champion take the pin. That leaves Okada. I just don’t know about him taking the pin either.
I didn’t see Brodido having a long title run, but I felt that they would at least keep it until World’s End. Brody King and Bandido are clicking right now. If Okada and Takeshita win the belt then it’s just a prop to continue their rivalry. Given the long term build that the company is giving this, could it be possible that they save the match until All In? Nah. I see Okada losing the titles by then.
I don’t feel that Okada and Takeshita need this title reign to heat up their feud, so I suspect that this match moves them one step closer to an eventual showdown. Bandido will likely get the pin and we’ll probably get a Bandido vs. Okada for the Unified titles after this. It would not surprise me if Okada and Takeshita win these belts and honestly, I would give it some serious thought if I had to bet my house on this.
Winner: Brodido
Six-Man Tornado Tag Team Match: “The Hurt Syndicate” Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, and MVP vs. “The Demand” Ricochet, Toa Liona, and Bishop Kaun
The Demand should really win this feud. In fact, it would be cool if Ricochet got the pin on Lashley or Shelton. He could be a great challenger for Page’s world title next. But, given that Lashley and Benjamin just took the pin from Toa and Bishop on Dynamite, I’m having serious doubts that The Demand will walk out as winners.
Realistically, I don’t know where either team goes from here. The Demand will likely become the next AEW Trios Champions. There’s not a feud that screams out for the Hurt Syndicate right now unless these two go after singles titles. The Demand needs to really win a feud if AEW wants us to take them seriously. While it wouldn’t shock me if the Hurt Syndicate gets the win, I suspect a new member will help The Demand beat The Hurt Syndicate once and for all.
Winner: The Demand
“The Young Bucks” Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson vs. “Jurassic Express” Jack Perry and Luchasaurus for $500,000
This match doesn’t need the $500,000 stipulation, but okay. This is another bout that could go either way. The Bucks have been taking some major losses in the past couple of months. Sure, they usually get their wins back in party matches on Dynamite, but I feel that they need a big match win.
This feud doesn’t feel one and done, and it won’t kill the Jurassic Express if they lose here. Likely, the Bucks will cheat to necessitate a rematch. It’s not impossible for Jurassic Express to win as down on their luck Bucks has been a fun story, but there’s more mileage in saving that big win over the Bucks.
Winner: The Young Bucks
I Quit match: Darby Allin vs. Jon Moxley
I’m curious about this match. I joke about Moxley and Allin trying to kill each other, but it does seem that they’re going to come up with the most over-the-top and insane ways to torture each other based on the flamethrower and moztov cocktail. But I don’t expect Allin to quit.
Moxley easily quit at All In, so it doesn’t exactly take much to get him to give up. Another screwjob finish is possible, but at that point it’ll just be an eye roll. The build has been fun, but there’s only so many times we can witness Moxley and Allin try to one up each other with violence every week. I’m going with Allin here because there’s just not that much more material you can pull out of this feud.
There’s something interesting to get out of Allin saying that he’s thought about joining the Death Riders, but Moxley would willingly have to show mercy and quit himself to get that angle going if they wanted to explore it. Either way, it’s time to move on. If not, then hopefully there’s a compelling angle to carry the story forward.
Winner: Darby Allin
Jamie Hayter vs. Thekla
With the Blood & Guts match coming up, I suspect the heels are going to get most of the wins leading into it. Hayter and her team is definitely winning that bout, but I do think that beating Hayter serves more of a purpose beyond their feud.
The Triangle of Madness did beat the AEW Women’s World Champion in a tag match, so it’s quite possible that AEW will use that to elevate Thekla into number one contender status. I don’t think she’ll beat Statlander. Then again, she is undefeated in singles matches and Tony does seem to like her. Whether she loses or wins her potential world title shot, she’s definitely not taking the loss here.
Winner: Thekla