Part 2 of this weekend's pair of hard-sell PPVs is AEW All Out (Holy shit, it's the FIFTH edition!), emanating from the United Center in Chicago, home of the guy who's suspended again. A more easily-baited grown-ass man I don't think we've ever seen in pro wrestling. Phil Brooks desperately needs anger management classes if a coworker throwing shade at him on camera causes him to fly into a rage right before his own match. Both guys are at fault here but Jesus H. Christ, Punk, let shit go.
Anyway this show of course comes one week after the massive extravaganza at Wembley and it kinda feels like it. There are some surefire bangers on this card but it mostly feels like a loaded Dynamite/Collision lineup and a few of the inclusions here are a little baffling. That said I'm sure they'll pull off a very good show at worst, like always. But man, I dunno if this back-to-back PPV strategy is sustainable every year. Move All Out to late September or move All In to early August. Side note: This show marks the first AEW PPV without Chris Jericho on the card. That just seems wrong. But let's dive in....
Eddie Kingston & Katsuyori Shibata vs. Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta
See this one right here is a weird choice. Considering how stacked this lineup is not, maybe Claudio vs. Eddie for the ROH Title would've made sense here. Are they saving it for Final Battle, because that's almost four months away. Seems like this show could've used a big grudge match for the title. I'm sure this tag match will be very enjoyable though. I guess I'll go with the good guys to win?
Pick: Eddie and Shibata
Miro vs. Powerhouse Hobbs
Miro's first PPV match in almost two years will be a big hoss fight against one of the company's most promising young bruisers. This should be hard-hitting and intense, and likely on the shorter side. Hard to pick a winner here since both guys need a win. Hobbs seems like a future main event guy to me, but it's Miro's first PPV match in literally years, so I guess I'll go with The Redeemer.
Pick: Miro
ROH TV Championship: Samoa Joe vs. Shane Taylor
This is another odd one for an AEW PPV, since Taylor hasn't ever been featured on AEW television. Much of this show feels like an ROH PPV, which further begs the question why they didn't add Claudio vs. Eddie one-on-one. Anyway this should be another good hoss fight but I don't see Joe dropping the title on a non-ROH show.
Pick: Joe retains
FTR/Young Bucks vs. Bullet Club Gold
This one was thrown together backstage at All In and should be a super fun 8-man. I could even see it maybe stealing the show. FTR and the Bucks used to team together prior to their first match in 2020 so they're probably heading that way again for a fourth go-round. But for now it's a feud with BC Gold. Jay White won't be eating any pins but Juice or one of the Gunns could do so easily, and that's what I think will happen.
Pick: FTR & The Bucks
ROH Tag Team Championship: MJF & Adam Cole vs. The Dark Order
Putting an MJF-Cole match on this show was a smart move, but booking Alex Reynolds and John Silver as the title challengers was a weird one. I assume when the time comes Better Than You Bay Bay will drop the titles either back to Aussie Open or to The Kingdom, but surely there were other, more threatening challengers than The Dark Order? Anyway this will be fun and story-driven, and BTYBB will see their first successful title defense.
Pick: Max and Adam retain
TBS Championship: Kris Statlander vs. Ruby Soho
The lone women's match on the show (as of now anyway) sees the TBS Champ against the Outcasts veteran, in a rematch from the Owen Hart Cup 2022 semis. I wonder if Toni Storm will get involved somehow since she and Ruby had issues at All In. Regardless Kris isn't losing this title anytime soon, so she's my pick.
Pick: Kris retains
TNT Championship: Luchasaurus vs. Darby Allin
The first match announced for this show was this TNT mismatch of styles. Darby is looking for his third TNT reign and will do some insane things in this match. That young fella's antics are always fun (and sometimes painful) to watch. I think Lucha probably keeps the title for now.
Pick: Luchasaurus
Kenny Omega vs. Konosuke Takeshita
This here is the big one for me. It's been a long wait to see these two in a singles match and I think this steals the show. Kenny is a big-match machine and Takeshita is one of the best 20-somethings in the business right now. Add Don Callis's always entertaining shenanigans and this one should be quite memorable. Since Konosuke scored a pin on Kenny at All In, I think Kenny gets the duke this time.
Pick: Kenny
AEW International Championship: Orange Cassidy vs. Jon Moxley
I said Kenny vs. Konosuke would steal the show, but don't sleep on this one either. The way Dynamite ended last night this should definitely headline this PPV unless Punk's suspension gets lifted in time. Looks like Ricky Starks is going to have a strap match with someone, as he's challenging Ricky Steamboat on Saturday. But since Ricky is 70 I have to think someone else will answer the challenge. Anyway that's neither here nor there; Mox vs. OC should be spectacular. Cassidy's International Title run has been a joy to watch these past ten months or so, but I think he's about to run into a brick wall named Jon Moxley. Once again when dumb locker room shit goes down, leave it to the company MVP to pick up the ball and score a touchdown with it. Mox is the hero we deserve.
Pick: Jon Moxley
So yeah, this lineup is a far cry on paper from what we're used to getting with an AEW PPV but I don't doubt they'll give us a fine show. Maybe even a great one.
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