The biggest event of AEW’s summer is approaching fast. We’re only four Dynamites away from All In at Wembley Stadium.
Five matches are already slated. Surely more will be made this Wednesday?
Compared to this time last year, the build to All In feels huge with the focused creative that was lacking in 2023. However, a commonly repeated point of discussion online around AEW’s World Championship picture is a sticking point.
Many are hoping this Wednesday night will be a turning point. It could be argued that, just like how before Double or Nothing, fans were already looking past the World Championship match between Swerve Strickland and Christian Cage.
Instead, many were waiting to see Strickland vs. Will Ospreay at All In. A similar feeling is present with the prospect of Bryan Danielson vs. Strickland.
Although like Strickland vs. Cage, this match will likely prove to be an awesome spectacle, folks are looking ahead to Strickland vs. “Hangman” Adam Page. It is being argued that this is the biggest world championship program in AEW right now.
What’s needed, now that Blood and Guts is over, is the sales pitch.
If there is one man capable of selling such a story, it’s Bryan Danielson. News over the weekend that Danielson’s contract is up from August 1st and how Danielson has been told not to wrestle until All In has caught attention.
Whether real or part of the narrative, Danielson on Wednesday needs to convince fans why the Wembley main event cannot be overlooked. Elsewhere, two matches with history have been announced. Plus Darby Allin vs. “Hangman” Adam Page.
Another important women’s segment will involve Mariah May. There is sure to be more follow-up post-Blood and Guts. More to follow after Kamille’s debut last week.
Five… Four… Three… Two… One…
Announced Card Thus Far:
Matches announced:
- “Hangman” Adam Page vs. Darby Allin
- Will Ospreay vs. Lance Archer
- CMLL World Women’s Championship Eliminator: Willow Nightingale vs. Kris Statlander w/ Stokely Hathaway
- The Conglomeration (Mark Briscoe, Orange Cassidy, Tomohiro Ishi) vs. The Beast Mortos, Roderick Strong and RUSH
Other segments announce:
- Mariah May sit-down interview with Renee Young ahead of All In
- Bryan Danielson will speak live
Speculation:
- Fall out from Blood and Guts
- More matches to be made for All In
Women’s Division Progression
For many fans, AEW’s women’s division has been a signpost of AEW’s creative improvement in 2024. After several failed women’s revolutions (a history you can read about here), AEW has learned from its biggest repeated mistakes.
With three primary feuds on Dynamite, excluding Thunder Rosa vs. Deonna Purrazo on Collision, will Wednesday’s show result in a third women’s match being added to All In?
Kris Statlander takes on her former best friend and current CMLL World Women’s Champion, Willow Nightingale, in their fourth singles encounter. This is eliminator rules meaning that, if Statlander beats Nightingale, she will receive a future title shot.
Whether in London or Arena Mexico is unknown. That’s assuming Statlander can get the victory to level their series at 2-2.
With Stokely Hathaway in Statlander’s corner, miscommunicating and mistiming cost her during the Owen Hart Tournament. Do the pair resolve these issues on Wednesday to ensure Statlander gets a title shot?
Or does the Babe with the Power prevail again?
Could Mariah May’s sit-down interview with Renee Young find a new vein to bleed? Already a blood feud, I would not be surprised to see a stipulation added.
Given Toni Storm promising the only way to put her down would be to cut her head off, is a traditional title match going to be enough to contain Storm and May?
May believes she has proven she can be a better Storm than Storm herself. Young has been there from the start interviewing and watching (for the shoe!) the rise and formation of the Toni Storm character.
Storm’s evolution you can read a full analysis of here. As the moral foil to May, there will likely be some probing questions and emotive answers.
Whether things run smoothly also without interruption… we will see.
Gamble of the Night: Will Ospreay vs. Lance Archer
Everybody dies!
For a few weeks, Lance Archer has been decimating local talents and throwing security and backstage staff around like a kaiju throwing tanks. Being cynical, this was leading to a big clash with someone.
In fact, it was for Will “by God” Ospreay! Archer and Ospreay, like Statlander and Nightingale, have fought three times before.
Each time in NJPW. Ospreay beat Archer in the New Japan Cup 2019.
Archer defeated Ospreay in the G1 Climax 2019 in Dallas. Ospreay won the third match in Osaka last year in a tournament final
Likewise, the two have already crossed paths in AEW. Most recently, the first Casino Gauntlet match in Jacksonville, Florida.
Chemistry pre-exists. This isn’t going to be the usual powerhouse giant vs. smaller, quicker but outsized opponent.
Although the Murderhawk Monster is a powerhouse, Archer is also athletic. It will be interesting to see if, within the story of this match, the effects of 58 minutes with MJF will have a lasting impact on the Billy Goat.
Speaking of the new AEW American Champion, what exactly is the Salt of the Earth doing this week? Will MJF in some way become involved in this match?
Or before or afterwards will MJF try to throw another problem at Ospreay? Just as MJF has done to countless other opponents?
At worst, this could be a monster of the week for Ospreay to vanquish on the road to London. At best, another banger and impressive outing by a man looking to take back his championship in his home country?
Bryan Danielson Speaks
In many respects, Danielson’s selflessness and openness with the wrestling media about not feeling like he needs to win the AEW World Championship has dampened expectations heading to All In. Danielson’s Owen Hart Cup tournament victory and subsequent title shot were well-received.
I was extremely happy for Danielson to get the big win he has missed out on this year. Although it seems to some that Strickland retaining will be a foregone conclusion.
Strickland is a champion plagued by criticism. Both from outside of AEW and some fans who want Strickland to be treated as a true world champion.
I would argue Strickland, in his responses as a wrestler (in promos and answering back to the media), has shown differently. AEW has had to pivot to align his character with the audience’s desires.
Also while avoiding a mistake with previous champions like Page (which I’ve written about here). Strickland proved to be the best by defeating Ospreay.
The doubt is not on Strickland but on Danielson who, in the weeks since his victory over Page, has been in the background while Blood and Guts played out. When Danielson speaks to the crowd, his response is key for the meta investment of fans in the match, as well as in the storyline.
One of the most beloved wrestlers in the fandom needs to find a way to draw fans into his journey. Yet, given Danielson’s contract is expiring and his statement before that this was his final full-time wrestling contract, is this the end?
Is this Danielson’s final match? Will another stipulation be added?
Or will Danielson tap into another aspect of fans’ psyches that we have not considered?
Looking for an AEW Deep Dive?
James has also written a series that takes a deep dive into AEW’s short but impactful history. In part 1, James discussed how AEW changed the wrestling industry (here). In Part 2, James discussed how AEW’s continued existence benefits wrestlers and fans alike (here).
Part 3 has been divided into two articles. One discusses the differences between in-ring action and storytelling (here). The other excellent in-ring action is compensating for wider issues in AEW creative (here). The final part will discuss AEW’s future. Including discussing the problems that AEW faces and questions Tony Khan will have to address. In a bonus article, James evaluates the criticism levelled at the company on social media and podcasters as well as the company’s response (here). In the final upcoming part, James examines how for AEW’s future Tony Khan can compete with WWE beyond just in the ring (here).
More From LWOS Pro Wrestling
Header photo – AEW – Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world. As well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. You can catch AEW Dynamite on Wednesday nights at 8 PM ET on TBS. AEW Rampage airs on TNT at 10 PM EST every Friday night. AEW Collision airs Saturday at 8pm Eastern on TNT. More AEW content available on their YouTube.
