A night of grudge matches, a night of bloodshed, and a night of some very eyebrow-raising outcomes. All Out 2024 may not stand out as a great PPV on its own, but it most certainly delivered in the match this was built upon, Swerve Strickland vs. “Hangman” Adam Page, along with a major surprise in the title picture.
It seems the theme of AEW All Out is “ how to get away with murder.”
Not once but twice did it appear that someone was legitimately going to die.
I haven’t seen crazy things like this since the Glory Days of ECW.
The match of the night, and possibly match of the year, clearly goes to Will Osprey and PAC, but the main events did not disappoint either.
Let’s get right to the meat of it. This was an old school WWF/WCW/ECW scenario, as Bryan Danielson successfully retained the championship against “Scapegoat” Jack Perry, he was ambushed by Luchasaurus/Killswitch. This was so bizarre, watching the two former tag partners acknowledge each other. Any moment to come would not come to pass, as Christian Cage came down to the ring to cash in his shot, but was immediately stopped by Mox, Claudio, Yuta, and PAC! What a staredown! Christian takes his stable and they reluctantly back off, as Mox and company embrace the champion… UNTIL CLAUDIO UPPERCUTS DANIELSON!
Danielson, reeling out of shock, is then ambushed when Mox wraps a plastic bag over his head! Yuta is screaming while being restrained by PAC. For those wrestling historians out there, this is a callback to Terry Funk and Ric Flair at Clash of Champions VIII on September 12th, 1989! For those who are unfamiliar, Terry Funk known as the Hardcore Legend, took a plastic bag and wrapped it over the head of the Nature Boy. We see the very same scene unfold, as the Blackpool combat Club have now betrayed Bryan Danielson. talk about multiple turns within the span of minutes. Yuda screaming and being prevented from saving his mentor was gut-wrenching to see. It seems as though Mox has some bigger plans in mind, likely the BCC and forming a new stable. It appears Danielson may have to go through each member while on his final run with AEW.
I guess Eddie Kingston was right after all!
The show kicks off with MJF defeating Daniel Garcia in the opener. A bigtime grudge match. Despite what the internets may say, Garcia brought the fight to MJF. Garcia surprisingly got bloody early, which did add fuel to the intense fire of this one. Unsurprisingly, MJF used a number of inappropriate antics in attempts to steal a win. Garcia fought back harder and harder, and boy, the crowd fed into it. However, it seemed apparent how this would end as Garcia had MJF in a front guillotine, but would not let his arm fall. He went for a piledriver, but couldn’t pull it off. Even when he did, MJF managed to kick out. After some dueling submissions, MJF managed a low blow and a rollup to score the win.
This was a great match. Garcia really had the crowd behind him, which helps when MJF is the best heel in the business.
However, I disagree with Garcia taking the L. Granted, it wasn’t a clean loss, but this is a guy who has been teased so many times, yet never seems to get a big win.
After the match, Garcia spiked MJF with a turnbuckle piledriver, getting some sort of revenge. Let’s see what happens with both wrestlers in the next few months.
The Young Bucks retained the AEW World Tag Team Championships against Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta
A fun tag team match. I didn’t expect a title change, but then again I don’t think anyone would have expected one either. Initially did not have the same energy as the opener, but thanks to Claudio it picked up later on. Swinging Matt Jackson around 20 times will do it. Claudio is nuts, steamrolling over everyone, and pulling off some damn good look powerhouse moves. This time around, the Bucks did not need to resort to any underhanded low blows to get the win.
I was worried about the finish, as the Bucks typically utilize the low blow for a finish, but thankfully this ended without incident.
Will Ospreay retained the AEW International Championship against PAC
Loss for words. Just a complete loss for words. Fast paced from the start, slowed when needed. The pace Ospreay and PAC managed to keep for 20 minutes was inhuman. I don’t think anyone expected anything less from them. Ospreay was in top form, but I have to give it up for PAC. Probably one of his best outings since his 5-star match with Kenny Omega. To be honest, the “Bastard” has been at his best level since joining AEW. If there was a night to call an audible, this was it to give PAC another singles title. Even though Ospreay retained, PAC truly earned the MVP award tonight. I was so damn impressed with what I saw, and astonishingly shocked no one’s neck was broken. The things these guys were doing in the ring looked completely inhuman, and let’s not forget that Ricochet is now waiting for his turn. could you imagine the damage these guys can do given their history?
Kris Statlander defeated Willow Nightingale in a Chicago Street Fight
Concerns about this following up after that epic match? Nope! Willow and Statlander have put on great matches against each other and this was no different. Deserved “EC-Dub” chants from the live crowd during some pretty wild moments. Some insane spots with tables, chairs, chains, and thumbtacks. If this is the end of the feud, I’ll accept it, but I won’t like it. The matches have been great each and every time. They were great as partners, but better as rivals. Kudos to them both.
Where they each go from here, I have absolutely no idea. This feud carried both of these wrestlers for the past few months, to see them go in separate directions will be interesting to watch. My guess is Statlander may go after some of the popular baby faces in the women’s division. It’s hard to see her challenge for either Women’s Championship currently held by heels. Willow on the other hand could make another run at Mercedes Mone, for the New Japan Strong women’s championship.
Kazuchka Okada retains the Continental Championship against Konoske Takeshita, Orange Cassidy, and Mark Briscoe
This was your fun match of the night. Four-way matches tend to become a little chaotic, and very fast paced, however these four were the right wrestlers to make that happen and look good in doing so. If you were watching, then you know the highlight was Takehsita and Okada squaring off. Briscoe and Cassidy had some fun spots and ultimately they came to blows as well. It’s nice to see a pay-per-view with a match like this where even if the title does not change hands can still come away enjoying a good 15 minutes of fun wrestling just for the sake of wrestling without any pivotal or dramatic story. I may be an old fart here, but growing up we didn’t always rely on the stories, very often the matches were made first, and then the stories came following those announcements. if you watched WWF or WCW in the 80s and 90s, this was the norm.
I can’t wait to see Okada and Takeshita go one-on-one
Mercedes Mone retains the TBS Championship against Hikaru Shida
I might get some hate for this, but I felt this was the weakest match of the card. Nothing against both wrestlers, but this didn’t click for me. Shida is one of the best female wrestlers not just in AEW, but in all professional wrestling promotions. It’s no secret I’m not the biggest fan of Mercedes, however I will give her credit as she did seem to hold her own against her challenger. the one thing I will call out, and I reserve the right to be wrong, it did appear on more than one occasion, Shida seem to hold back or protect a little too much on some moves, specifically on the triple Falcon Arrow. While I would have liked for Shida to win, I know they’re saving Mone for someone special down the road. who that might be? I haven’t the foggiest.
Bryan Danielson retains the AEW World Championship against “Scapegoat” Jack Perry
Getting into the match details, this was a lot of fun to watch. If 3 years ago you would have asked me if Danielson and Perry would ever Main Event a pay-per-view I would have laughed in your face and thrown your bingo card at you. but here we are in 2024 and these guys put on one hell of a show. not only did Danielson wreck Perry, but the scapegoat sold everything like death itself had come for him. and have to give credit to Danielson who sold Perry’s onslaught as though he was shocked at the ferociousness and intensity in which Perry fought. The final running knee strikes were fantastic, even when Perry knew it was over for him he took it like the champ that he currently is.
As covered earlier the ensuing chaos really felt like some old school, Attitude Era level drama. Mox clearly has plans to overthrow someone in the company, and it seems that there’s the distinct possibility Wheeler Yuta might be out and PAC is in. Now seems like a good time for Eddie Kingston to come back now doesn’t it?
“Hangman” Adam Page defeated Swerve Strickland in a lights out steel cage match
If this isn’t one for the history books, then I don’t know what is. I’ve seen Bloody and brutal matches before, in fact these two had one of those not that long ago yet this one seemed to surpass it. matches like these are not meant to be pretty, they’re not meant to be wrestling clinics, or a guide book technical skills. and I can’t wait for the wrestling purists out there to say matches like these should never happen. Modern day extreme wrestling is very different from the crimson mask, brass knuckle, Blood and Guts type matches from the ’70s and ’80s. Terry Funk, Ric Flair, Dusty Rhodes, and others have plenty of brutal matches ending in a slippery canvas blood soaked red.
This one just got way more violent. I won’t call this a work of art, but there is no denying the story between Adam Page and Swerve Strickland has been by far the best single storyline in AEW history. This has been a storyline for a year. If you recall it was Swerve who interrupted Page’s promo when he put over teachers and educators everywhere. The roles were reversed, and it’s remarkable how in just 12 months the personalities changed and evolved, with Hangman growing more unhinged and more dissatisfied with his lack of success in the company. granted he was world champion once, but unfortunately many deem it an afterthought. Hangman successfully accomplished the goal of avenging a year’s worth of pain and loss.
There were too many gruesome moments to list, but highlights involve a staple gun, table spots, and barbed wire. Ultimately it came down to Hangman using a syringe loaded with Lord knows what followed by the most violent chair shot in recent memory. Raven would be proud.
I certainly hope everybody involved in this pay-per-view gets some time off. From All In just two weeks ago in London to an absolute barn burner of a pay-per-view at All Out 2024, it’s clear AEW is kicking things up as we come into the home stretch of 2024. I have a sneaking suspicion we will not see a lot of resolution as the year concludes but a lot of setups for 2025. Once again AEW put on a stellar show which will be talked about until the next breathtaking event.
