AEW's big show is finally here. There’s eight matches (with a possible addition) on the card and All In has a chance at being a memorable pay-per-view since there’s numerous matches that have match-of-the-year written all over them. Let’s get started with the first match.
Texas Death Match for the AEW World Championship: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Hangman Page
Alot of people believe that Moxley is finally going to drop the belt here. And it would make sense. Personally, I would’ve given that nod to Will Ospreay as I feel he’s earned it. Plus, it will cement his status as a top level star. However, I’m not complaining about Hangman Page possibly becoming the next AEW World Champion as his character work has been so damn good.
The Death Riders angle hasn’t worked out. The overall story has been inconsistent and the weekly programming is mainly Jon Moxley spewing the same mumbo jumbo, with some kind of brawl breaking out between The Death Riders and whoever they’re feuding with. The mission statement never came to fruition as the group settled into generic faction number 1,228.
Now would be the perfect time for Moxley to drop the belt. But I just don’t think he will drop it. And I don’t have a good reason why. Maybe it’s because it doesn’t feel like we’re reaching a climax here. This feels like the first chapter between Page and Moxley, even though they’ve previously feuded before and this is a Texas Death Match. But it’s not just about Moxley and Page, but the entire faction in general. I get the sense that the Death Riders still aren’t going anywhere soon.
I fully expect them in a Blood & Guts match. Page doesn’t feel like the guy. This is strange because he’s perfectly positioned as the guy, but the storytelling doesn’t make it feel like Page is the special one that can finally end this Death Riders nonsense. I certainly wouldn’t complain if I was wrong and Page won the belt though. It’s time for a new world champion.
Winner: Jon Moxley
AEW Women’s World Championship match: Toni Storm (c) vs. TBS Champion Mercedes Mone
I really don’t know. All In has several matches where it could go either way. Not only is Mone doing the whole belt collector gimmick, but she remains undefeated in singles matches. Someone beating Mercedes Mone can really do wonders for their career. Perhaps a Willow Nightingale or Harley Cameron is perfect for that spot.
Toni Storm does not need this win. She’s already a star. But Mercedes Mone doesn’t need this win either. Does AEW really want her to dominate the entire women’s division? Granted, Mone’s AEW run has gotten so much better since that failed Britt Baker match, but I do think it will be overkill to have her as both the TBS and AEW Women’s World Champion.
Mercedes Mone will be the AEW Women’s World Champion. I just don’t think that will happen at All In. If this was a title vs. title match then I would’ve gone with Mone, but since it’s Storm’s belt on the line then I can see her establishing her place as a top star by beating Mercedes. Mercedes losing won’t damage her in the slightest.
Winner: Toni Storm
TNT Championship match: Adam Cole (c) vs. Kyle Fletcher
Adam Cole’s TNT Championship run is so cold right now. But that’s not Cole’s fault. The guy is a great talker and wrestler yet, AEW can’t seem to give him a solid feud that allows him to showcase how dynamic of a performer he is. But, this should still be a great match. AEW seems to be high on Kyle Fletcher at the moment.
I know that Adam JUST won the TNT title, but this company has given no indication that they plan on giving him the proper spotlight despite being a champion. It’s so crazy to think how hot Cole was in 2023 and that he and MJF produced one of AEW’s best feuds until it went off the rails.
I think it’s Kyle Fletcher’s time. I’m not opposed to keeping Cole as champion, but creative just needs to give him more to do. But Fletcher has been featured in a prominent spot since his feud with Will Ospreay and I think now is the right time to give him a singles title. I don’t think this is the last match between these two and perhaps Cole will be given something of substance when he’s in chance mode.
Winner: Kyle Fletcher
AEW International Champion Kenny Omega (c) vs. AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada (c) for the new AEW Unified Championship
This could go either way. Kenny Omega seems ripe for the win here since this rivalry has been building from the moment Okada stepped into AEW. But, I don’t see this feud ending in one match. Perhaps they’ll finish off the next chapter at Forbidden Door next month. Or they'll do it at All Out.
I can see Okada winning because there has to be a reason they aligned him with Don Callis. Callis and his family will do everything in their power to make sure Okada walks out the winner, HOUSE OF TORTURE style. That would negate their past New Japan matches as they were clean for the most part, but this is a different Okada. I imagine this story will be different from their previous matches and it should be one hell of a contest.
AEW has been teasing a feud between Konosuke Takeshita and Okada. Takeshita has a history with Kenny Omega as well. In fact, Takeshita owns a couple of victories over Omega. I expect Okada vs. Takeshita for the belt soon. Okada will lose the war against Kenny Omega. It just matters when the war ends. Since I don’t think it’ll end at All In, my decision is…
Winner: Kazuchika Okada
Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay vs. “The Young Bucks” Matthew Jackson and Nicholas Jackson for the Executive Vice President titles or Swerve and Ospreay can’t challenge for the AEW World Championship for one year
Another hard one. I don’t like the notion of Will Ospreay and Swerve Strickland being out of the world title picture for a year. I’m worried that if this does happen then Ospreay may cool off by the time the stipulation ends. But if booked right, Ospreay and Swerve will be just fine.
There’s multiple ways to go with Swerve and Ospreay not challenging for the AEW World title for a year. Plus, AEW does love a long term story. However, this whole “Bucks abusing their power” thing has to end. Unless Moxley turns on them, Will and Swerve seem to be the only guys who can strip them of their power. There’s Joe and Hobbs, but there hasn’t been much interaction between them and the Bucks. I’m going with Swerve and Ospreay, though I wouldn’t be surprised if the Bucks win.
Winner: Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay
Triple Threat match for the AEW World Tag Team Titles: Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin (c) vs. Kevin Knight and Mike Bailey vs. Nick Wayne and Christian Cage
Bailey and Knight are just challengers of the month. Though given the build, THEY NEED to win the AEW World Tag Team titles or they’ll simply look weak. I get the purpose of their beatdown segment was to show how resilient the challengers are, but it just made them seem pathetic in my eyes. AEW needs challengers who look like a credible threat. That’s actually FTR and The Young Bucks, but they’re busy doing something else.
Christian and Nick are headed for a break up soon. It’s possible that they can win the tag belts by pinning Knight or Bailey. And The Hurt Syndicate can win after the Trios Championship. Realistically, AEW isn’t really priming up anyone to take down Benjamin and Lashley, so a loss here wouldn’t be too shocking. I suppose Knight and Bailey can pin Christian or Nick, then get a clean win over Benjamin and Lashley in a rematch. That would definitely need to happen since The Hurt Syndicate has made the challengers look weak for the most part. It was nice that The Hurt Syndicate finally showed some vulnerability heading into a title match, but it still doesn't negate how bad Jet Speed has looked.
Benjamin and Lashley have a story. But that story doesn’t pertain to the tag titles themselves, so they don’t need them. There’s really only one team where the titles is a crucial part of the story.
Winner: Christian Cage and Nick Wayne
Men’s Casino Gauntlet match for a shot at the AEW World Championship (Entrants: Mark Briscoe, MJF, Mistico, Ricochet, Brody King, and ROH World Champion Bandido)
Despite me picking Jon Moxley, I’m considering Hangman Page winning here. For that, MJF and Ricochet stand out. MJF has been talking about going for the world title since returning. And Ricochet just formed a new faction that should elevate him up the card.
Realistically speaking, I don’t see any one on this list beating Moxley or Page for the title. Tony Khan likes Brody King, but I don’t get the vibe that he’s winning any singles belts anytime soon. Same thing with Bandido, even though he’s the ROH World Champion.
Mark Briscoe has already lost to Jon Moxley. While there’s an inspiring story that could culminate to a world title win, Briscoe is simply the good hand at this point. You know what, since I don’t see anybody from this list beating the world champion then AEW is going to throw out a name that can take a clean loss. So…
Winner: Mistico
Women’s Casino Gauntlet match for a shot at the AEW Women’s Championship (Entrants: Kris Statlander, Megan Bayne)
It’s really hard to make a prediction when you don’t know the full list. But then again, that’s kind of the fun of these Casino Gauntlet matches. I don’t see Bayne winning. That would mean she would have to lose again and I don’t think AEW is ready for her to drop her powerhouse mystique with a clean loss to either Storm (again) or Mercedes Mone.
Statlander is an option for Storm since she’s heel again. She would’ve been a good choice for Mone if she won since it seemed that AEW was building a story about her coming close to beating Mone each time they fought.
I think Isla Dawn will be in this match. And I think she’ll win. I don’t see anyone here taking the title off Storm or Mone, though it’s more of the case that AEW hasn’t really been building challengers for the future.
Winner: Isla Dawn
Dark Horse pick: Kris Statlander
Possible Bonus Match: Six-Man Tag Team Championship Match - The Opps (Samoa Joe, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Katsuyori Shibata) (c) vs. Gabe Kidd, Yuta Wheeler, and Claudio Castagnoli
I’m assuming this match is happening because Claudio issued a challenge for the belts. I wish AEW put the time in to really explain why Kidd is with the Death Riders, but it is what it is. I don’t see the purpose of putting the belts back onto The Death Riders. It’s the six man tag team titles so anything is possible, but I think the Opps are leaving with the belts. However, I can see Hook screwing over Joe and his boys, giving the way he left them hanging in the Anarchy in the Arena match. Nah, The Opps are retaining.
Winner: The Opps