AEW Revolution is shaping up to be a great card. This is no surprise, as AEW tends to give their fans more than their money’s worth at these events. The highlight of the match will, of course, be the final match for Sting. While he could go out a winner or loser, it does not really matter. The legend gave us everything he had for his entire career across the NWA, WCW, TNA, WWE, and now AEW. Of course, this is not the only match worthy of note on the card.
This will technically be the first PPV event for Will Ospreay under an AEW contract, which is a pretty big deal. Orange Cassidy has also had a stranglehold on the AEW International Title since winning it, but Roderick Strong is capable of taking this title. On top of that, we finally might be getting some real love for the women”s division with Toni Storm taking on Deonna Purrazzo.
Plus, we”re supposed to be seeing the AEW debut for Mercedes Moné!
Who will go over in these matches? Let’s talk about the AEW Revolution card and make some predictions!
FTR vs BLACKPOOL COMBAT CLUB (CLAUDIO CASTAGNOLI AND JON MOXLEY)
This should be one of the most brutal matches on the card. We have four stiff workers who love getting incredibly physical in every match they have. Moxley doesn’t lose often and that should be factored in when thinking about who goes over. Then again, Moxley is not a guy who needs to win. AEW knows they can heat him up on a moment”s notice whenever they need him to be a major threat. FTR needs this win more.
At the same time, there is a theory that with one-half of FTR having some legal issues…there might be a need to heat up another tag team. You know, for a “just in case” situation. With FTR being one of the best tag teams on the planet, it only makes sense that they could put over the BCC. In the end, though, we still think FTR probably needs this win to stay in contention for future tag gold again.
Prediction: FTR
ALL-STAR SCRAMBLE
This was initially supposed to just be about three men: Wardlow, Lance Archer, and Powerhouse Hobbs. Yet then Tony Khan changed things up a bit to give us this All-Star Scramble concept. Which added in Chris Jericho, Brian Cage, Hook, and a few “surprise” additions. Who those surprise people are has not been determined yet, but some believe it could end up being a few debuting people.
We were supposed to get this Meat Madness Match that would have only been Wardlow, Archer, & Hobbs. We were never sure what that match was supposed to be, in the first place. Of course, we now know this All-Star Scramble will be for a championship opportunity, so perhaps the Meat Madness Match was supposed to also lead to that. Why did they change things randomly?
The AEW Revolution PPV is a relatively big show, and people like Chris Jericho & Hook not being on it seemed odd. Hook has likely done more than most when it comes to earning another title shot. By making it a scramble, you also add in a veteran like Jericho who could make things interesting, and another hoss like Brian Cage. Plus, it gives AEW a chance to bring in some unique additions to the match with the surprise element.
We initially were going to give Wardlow the win in the Meat Madness Match. While the additions of others and the surprise element have thrown us off on who we”d pick now, we”re still going to predict Wardlow will walk away with the win.
Prediction: Wardlow
KONOSUKE TAKESHITA vs WILL OSPREAY
Neither guy technically “needs” a win here. Plus, neither man really needs to be built up, least of all Will Ospreay. However, Ospreay just arrived in AEW under an official contract. If they have designs on him becoming a major player, you could see him going over clean in this one. It won’t hurt Takeshita but it’ll help build momentum for arguably the company’s best performer.
At the same time, there is an interesting way to play things too. What if Ospreay lost in his first real PPV match under an AEW contract? Clearly, the AEW Revolution PPV is a big event and Ospreay knows that. If he”s going to be a heel, having him lose to Takeshita and then mercilessly beaten down by Ospreay could set Will up just as well as winning the match. Plus, it also helps Takeshita too.
Of course, we do not feel AEW is going to go in that direction so we might as well say what everyone is thinking. Ospreay HAS to go over in this one. To us, “AEW Revolution” is an interesting name for this PPV. It could be the coming out party for Will Ospreay and forever be remembered as his revolution.
Prediction: Will Ospreay
EDDIE KINGSTON vs BRYAN DANIELSON – AEW CONTINENTAL CROWN CHAMPIONSHIP
This match comes with some interesting storyline implications. In fact, it”s giving AEW Revolution a weird ROH Final Battle type of vibe.
For those unaware, Bryan Danielson and Eddie Kingston come from the Ring of Honor world. Before any match took place, you shook your opponent”s hand. That was how it used to be, hence the word “honor” in the name of the promotion. While handshakes were sort of relaxed after a while, they still meant something to the OGs. Kingston & Danielson certainly still subscribe to that mentality.
Danielson does not seem to have any respect for Kingston at this point though. The AEW Continental Champ realizes this. This is why he added the stipulation that, should Danielson lose, he MUST shake Kingston”s hand.
We feel that it”s a nice touch and one that we think is easy enough to see Danielson losing and having to do. On the other hand, Kingston works better as a guy who is always a day late and a dollar short. He works better as a guy with a chip on his shoulder. Beating Danielson twice in the last few months basically takes that chip all the way off his shoulder.
We have to then ask, where does he go?
AEW loves to let Danielson lose but we don’t think it’s going to happen this time. Yet Eddie could still get the handshake he wants after the match anyway. Bryan likes to be a little fun and petty like that, so this could get interesting.
Prediction: Bryan Danielson
CHRISTIAN CAGE vs DANIEL GARCIA – AEW TNT CHAMPIONSHIP
Adam Copeland and Christian Cage aren’t close to being done with their feud. However, many believe they need to do it without the championship. The story can’t be that they keep trading championships from each other. This means that AEW needs to get the title off Christian so they can finish the Copeland rivalry. Plus, it could be that once that rivalry is over, they could get back together as a tag team. Who knows?
This is why we feel Daniel Garcia wins here, but, likely, he does so because Copeland costs Christian the match. This would make the most sense and allow a guy like Garcia a run and some new challengers. The issue here is that Cage is often not going out to the ring alone. He usually has someone like Luchasaurus or Nick Wayne around to help him out. Even if no one comes to ringside to help him out, that does not mean Cage does not have tricks up his sleeve.
Christian is a veteran with over 25 years of experience, having been a multi-time World Champion in two different companies throughout his career. Garcia is still technically getting started in his career. That said, having help from Copeland makes a lot of sense. Yet Garcia may also need to get this done alone. Distractions only help so much. In the end, though, we feel AEW Revolution is going to be a great night for Garcia.
Prediction: Daniel Garcia
STING AND DARBY ALLIN vs MATTHEW AND NICHOLAS JACKSON – AEW WORLD TAG TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
We think this might be the easiest match on the card.
This will be emotional but Sting is an old-time guy and a pro, so he’s going to do the time-honored tradition of “going out on his back.”
However, while this could be the case under a normal situation when we”re talking about a singles match….this is a tag team match. Darby Allin could ensure that they get the win and merely replace Sting as he heads into retirement. The story of finding a new tag team title partner could be pretty interesting.
Matt and Nick are both really embracing their EVP heel characters, so it shouldn’t be without controversy. Yet we think that when all is said and done. it’s time to set them up as the next big heel run in the tag team division. While these guys are no longer “Young Bucks,” they do make the big bucks in their EVP positions. This means they can always hire someone to help them, if necessary. They can bribe the referee, timekeeper, and so much more.
While AEW Revolution will be remembered for being Sting”s last match, it might also be remembered as the night Matthew & Nicholas Jackson became too corporate to stomach. We”re totally here for that!
Prediction: Matthew and Nicholas Jackson
ORANGE CASSIDY vs RODERICK STRONG – AEW INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
What’s the difference between the Continental and the International Championship? Well obviously one involves whatever continent you”re on at the time and the other represents ALL continents. Does this mean we need both titles? Of course not. Yet we love Orange Cassidy and how great he has been as the AEW International Champion since his first reign.
There’s always a world where Roderick Strong wins this match. After all, this man is not known as “The Messiah of the Backbreaker” because he”s an easy out. Plus, it is not as if Strong has not been a major champion in the past. Keep in mind that Strong is a former ROH World Champion, PWG World Champion, & NXT North American Champion. Basically, Roddy can get it done.
Truthfully, the most likely scenario is that Cassidy retains. He’s been a long-time breakout star of the company. Keeping this championship on him is a good idea and we think it’ll stay that way. Yet we would not be shocked at all if Strong pulls out a win here.
Prediction: Orange Cassidy
“TIMELESS” TONI STORM vs DEONNA PURRAZZO – AEW WOMEN’S CHAMPIONSHIP
This match is really a tough call. We think it all depends on what they want to do with Mercedes Moné. Keep in mind that the AEW Revolution PPV is taking place in the hometown of “the bankable one.” She very well could make her big debut sometime during this match.
If the goal is to put the title on her quickly, then you don’t want to have Deonna Purrazzo win. That is mostly because it wouldn’t make booking sense to put the title on her and then, in just a few months, take it right off her.
On the other hand, if you have her come up short and then put the title on Moné you could set up a feud in the future between the two stars. That allows Purrazzo to have a nice run with the championship down the road.
On the flipside, giving Purrazzo a quick run at the title if only a few months doesn’t really hurt anyone in the long term. After all, you”re still becoming a champion if you”re Deonna. Sure, you might lose it quicker than you”d like but you were a freakin champ!
This is a tough call either way, but we”re thinking that the Timeless vs the Bankable One could become a fun concept. Storm/Moné is seriously a money match all day long, so it would make sense to have this become the first rivalry for Mercedes.
Prediction: Toni Storm
SAMOA JOE vs ADAM PAGE vs SWERVE STRICKLAND – AEW WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP
Now to your “technical” main event for the AEW Revolution PPV.
This one honestly seems pretty cut and dry. While Swerve Strickland is one of the hottest stars in the company, this feels like the wrong way to put the title on him. Meanwhile, Adam Page seems like a no-go right from the start. The build to this match has been ho-hum for the most part sadly. If you want to make a star out of Strickland then AEW should give him the title in a spotlight match, one-on-one. We think that would be better here.
On top of this, Samoa Joe has been a great AEW World Champion so far. He is one of the few guys who can get it done on the mic and in the ring, who is a legitimately tough out for anyone you put up against him. Of course, we”re not saying Page or Strickland are not great in the ring and on the mic too. It”s just that, well, Joe is really cooking right now.
Why disrupt this unless there is some great reason to do so? Sure, a triple threat takes the odds down for Joe to retain. At the same time, a match like this can favor Samoa Joe because of how destructive he can be. This man went up against Brock Lesnar once and destroyed him. If not for a random F5, Joe would own a win over the Beast Incarnate. If we”re trying to say that Samoa Joe is more of a threat in today”s AEW than he was back then, well, Page and Strickland have a real problem on their hands.
Prediction: Samoa Joe