The Biggest Event in Wrestling History.
Four and a half years ago, All Elite Wrestling began as an upstart, “pissant,” company with a vision to change the world. They tried to change a wrestling culture dominated by one company for close to three decades.
It’s safe to say they succeeded.
Wembley Stadium is about to be packed to the gills with over 80 thousand roaring and raving AEW fans. The biggest AEW show, up until August 27th, was Grand Slam, with 21 thousand strong. Wembley Stadium is over four times that number. The only comparable wrestling events are Wrestlemanias, and it’s not difficult to imagine the intensity of an AEW show of that caliber overshadowing the Showcase of the Immortals.
The biggest event in history, indeed. Now let’s predict this bad boy.
ROH Tag Team Championship: Aussie Open (c) vs. Better Than You Bay Bay
Zero Hour matches rarely get predicted due to their usual late additions to PPV cards, but this Ring of Honor Tag Team Championship is about to be a meaningful story point in one of the biggest and best storylines of the year. It was imperative to predict this one because of its bearing on the main event.
Adam Cole and MJF are one of the best stories of 2023. Probably the best story. The unlikely friendship is about to crumble after they lose this match against Aussie Open. This match will be a highlight of the show, regardless of its position on Zero Hour. Aussie Open takes advantage of some sort of miscommunication between Max and Cole to win. Perhaps Cole superkicks Max “by accident” or something.
Winner: Aussie Open
When Max or Cole turn on each other is the lone question that still stands. Will it be here or during their match? Something that big will probably be saved for the main event. Seeds will be planted, though.
Will Ospreay vs. Chris Jericho
Let’s begin the main show with one of the most anticipated matches of the evening, while also being one of the easiest to predict. Hometown boy Will Ospreay faces wrestling legend Chris Jericho. This entire match will be a huge event, with Jericho even singing himself to the ring! There’s a first for everything!
Two things are guaranteed for this match. First, both guys will bring their A-game to the biggest wrestling show ever. Ospreay is on home turf, and Jericho is way better than he has any business being at 52. Second, this match is as easy to predict as the sun rising every morning. Ospreay beats Jericho at home and adds to his already incredible 2023 on an almost guaranteed path to wrestler of the year.
Winner: Will Ospreay
“Real World” Championship: CM Punk (“c”) vs. Samoa Joe
Collision on Saturday nights has become a fantastic addition to the All Elite Wrestling catalog, yet I still find it difficult to tune in every week. To paraphrase Ian Malcolm from Jurassic Park, “Life finds a way,” to get in the way of wrestling. That’s how that line was meant to be intended, right?
Not being able to review Collision hasn’t given me an avenue to address the displeasure of the “Real World Championship.” The belt just feels like a bone thrown at CM Punk because he “wasn’t pinned” to lose the title. Unless MJF somehow comes out of this Adam Cole feud on top (more on that later), then the assumed unification probably leads to a CM Punk undisputed AEW champion. It’s difficult to not have a bias against Punk, but this just feels like the wrong move.
But, back to the match at hand: CM Punk versus Samoa Joe III was a little underwhelming, so IV should overdeliver. The match between long-time rivals will be great, but CM Punk isn’t losing his made-up title.
Winner: CM Punk
Coffin Match: Darby Allin & Sting vs. Swerve Strickland & Christian Cage
AEW packing Wembley Stadium is almost as insane as Sting wrestling in a packed Wembley Stadium in 2023. Sting is 64 years old and hasn’t slowed down in the ring. He can still go when the bell rings. He and Darby are an amazing team, and the fans only have a handful of Sting matches left. Wrestling in front of 80 thousand people once again was probably on Sting’s list of things to do before retiring.
This match feels fairly easy to predict after Swerve kicked AR Fox out of his Mogul Embassy. Darby Allin is getting ready to challenge for the TNT Championship against Luchasaurus at All Out, which probably means he pins Christian Cage, yet again.
Winners: Darby Allin & Sting
Who does the crazier stunts in this match: Darby or Sting?
AEW Tag Team Championship: FTR (c) vs. The Young Bucks
The Young Bucks and FTR for the AEW World Tag Team Championships. A rubber match between two of the greatest tag teams on the biggest stage. Four master storytellers are about to blow the minds of 80 thousand people. Unfortunately, this match had a little outside drama revolving around Cash Wheeler, which put the whole thing in limbo.
With the future of FTR and Cash Wheeler up in the air, this feels like a great time to strap up the Young Bucks once again. What better way to cement a wrestling legacy, than to have a perfect match at the biggest event in wrestling history. Young Bucks pull off the win in an incredible match.
Winner: Young Bucks
AEW Women’s Championship: Hikaru Shida (c) vs. Dr. Britt Baker DMD vs. Toni Storm vs. Saraya
On the surface of this AEW Women’s Championship match, this is an easy prediction. Hikaru Shida just won her second title a few weeks ago in an amazing moment, so she should retain on the biggest stage…right?
It might not be that simple.
Dr. Britt Baker is one of AEW’s biggest stars, Toni Storm has found an amazing character shift and was an amazing champion, and Saraya is Saraya. Could AEW take the belt off Shida so quickly?
This match could steal the show, that’s for certain. What’s also guaranteed is that Wembley is literally Saraya’s House. The former porcelain princess can actually say that, and it means something. All four ladies have a legitimate shot at winning this match, but I think Shida barely wins an intense match.
Winner: Hikaru Shida.
A huge hometown victory for Saraya is possible.
The Golden Elite vs. Konosuke Takeshita and Bullet Club Gold
And these matches become more and more difficult to predict. Don Callis has been a thorn in the side of Kenny Omega since he betrayed the Best Bout Machine back in May. Don corrupted Konosuke Takeshita into his family, and seemingly hired Bullet Club Gold into the service to take out Kenny Omega and The Elite. Well, Omega responded by teaming up with the two best tag partners he’s ever had, Kota Ibushi and Hangman Adam Page.
The first thought seems to indicate an easy Elite prediction, but there’s probably more at play here. It’s the Elite we’re talking about. Always a story to tell. Let’s put on a booking hat:
Hangman Adam Page and Kenny Omega were awesome together, except it was a dark time for the Hanger. He drank a lot to cover up his insecurities about living up to his amazing Elite partners. Just a week ago, we saw Hangman in a backstage vignette, drinking a beer. Those insecurities are coming back. Perfect time to be teaming up with Omega’s other amazing partner, Ibushi.
Enter Jay White, one of the most cunning wrestlers around. Hangman’s insecurity about Omega and Ibushi will pop up somehow, and White will take advantage. Don Callis and his cronies get the win.
Winners: Konosuke Takeshita, Jay White, and Juice Robinson
Stadium Stampede
One of the wackiest feuds in AEW right now comes to a head with a larger-than-life Stadium Stampede that is sure to be one of the best matches of the night. Best might not be the correct word. Most memorable, that’s for sure.
This feud just feels like The Blackpool Combat Club picking on AEW originals for no reason, with a little Moxley and Kingston beef thrown in. Randomness aside, it’s been fun watching the Best Friends get into a premiere feud against the top dogs. It’s also great to see Santana and Ortiz back together. We haven’t seen Santana in action since his brutal injury last year at Blood and Guts.
Whoever wins, this match will be insane. Last night on Collision, Eddie Kingston literally promised to kill Claudio and Wheeler and threatened Moxley to stay out of his way. This feud is not over and will probably continue at All Out. BCC wins to drive Kingston even more insane.
Winners: Blackpool Combat Club, Santana and Ortiz
AEW Trios Championship: House of Black (c) vs. The Acclaimed
The House of Black have been incredible AEW Trios champions. This will always be a Malakai Black fan account, so the bias is real, but will they retain their belts on the biggest stage? Or will The Acclaimed overcome Billy Gunn’s almost retirement and become champions once again?
It all revolves around Billy Gunn. His leaving boots to signify retirement a few weeks ago felt out of the blue because the man is in the best shape of any *checks notes* 59-year-old in history. Nobody would blame the man if he wanted to go out on top without any injury causing it. It could be his last ride, or he could join The Acclaimed and be a champion one last time, like Max Caster promised.
As hard as it is to go against a favorite, I think The Acclaimed pulls it off.
Winners: The Acclaimed
AEW World Championship: MJF (c) vs. Adam Cole
Time to get hurt.
Better Than You Bay Bay is one of the best stories in wrestling this year. It’s probably the best story. MJF and Adam Cole have told an unbelievable story of rivalry, forced partnership, unlikely friendship, and back to rivalry. The cracks of betrayal have shown in both guys, with a guaranteed major story moment happening during this match. Will there be a turn? Maybe even a double turn?
All good things must come to an end, right?
There have been hints about the real Adam Cole making himself known. Anyone who’s watched Cole for a while knows that Cole has the capability of becoming the best bad guy in the business. That’s going to happen here. Whether or not it involves a title change remains to be seen. The unknown is what causes the turn. If the turn happens during the match, Cole will win. If it happens after the match, then Cole probably lost but will win the rematch (in theory).
I think it all happens on the biggest stage. Adam Cole screws over his best friend to become AEW Champion.
Winner: Adam Cole