Sunday’s four-hour (not including it’s lead-in ‘Zero Hour”) AEW All In 2024 pay-per-view from Wembley Stadium delivered AEW’s best overall product to-date.
With its stepped-up production values, big event ‘feels’, its storytelling within the ring during its matches which took the audience and the viewers at home on a ride, and as its signature, the best wrestling in the world – move per move – it was overall an entertaining and solid night for wrestling lovers. Let’s take a look at what went down in the biggest matches from AEW’s biggest show of the year!
Bryan Danielson vs. Swerve Stickland
In a career vs. title match, and with his wife Brie Garcia and their two children watching in the seats at ringside, would AEW bestow their World Championship on Danielson? Since his arrival in AEW, Bryan has never had the belt. Now, especially in the twilight of his legendary career, would the creatives continue to build Swerve Strickland’s groundbreaking run as the first Black AEW world champion, or give the title to Danielson? During the match, and in a shifty move, Prince Nana, brought the ringside bell to the ring apron and when the refs back was turned, Strickland delivered a piledriver to Danielson head first into the bell. That caused a severe laceration on Bryan’s head throughout the match and got his young daughter crying for a minute in the audience. As things looked bad for Danielson, he looked over to his wife and kids and told them he loved them with all his heart, before seemingly going down for the count … but wait! A crazed Hangman Adam Page arrived on the scene and momentarily distracted Swerve to enable Danielson to get a second wind! Next, Danielson put Swerve in the LeBell Lock and Swerve tapped out! Bryan is the new AEW World Champ.
Photo: AEW
Will Ospreay vs MJF
After an electrifying ring entrance, Will Ospreay, “the aerial assassin’ on his home turf in the UK, looked to be unbeatable. Enter MJF, who changed the “International” Championship to the “American” Championship when he won it from Ospreay in a nearly 60 minute draw, was set on retaining his title no matter what/
As the match went on both men delivered move after move that had the fans chanting “This is awesome!” – from Kangaroo kicks, to Os-cutters, Hidden Blades and more. Eventually, MJF resorted to brass knuckles, and he was was ready to use them on Ospreay, when a masked man jumped onto the ring apron and grabbed the ‘knucks ‘from Max. The man revealed himself to be Daniel Garcia, who MJF annihilated when he double-crossed him weeks ago.
Next, Ospreay delivered a Hidden Blade on MJF and then picked Max up and planted the lethal Tiger Driver on him and secured the win. After winning back the championship, Will would not accept Max’s version of the belt. So, AEW official Christopher Daniels handed him back the original International Championship and all is good in London town! Will Ospreay is the new AEW International Champ.
Mercedes Moné (with Kamille at ringside) vs. Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D.
The best entrance of the night belonged to the C.E.O. as Mercedes Moné played the queen- complete with two Corgi’s in her carriage and her long train of the queen’s cloak as she came down to ringside, and then launched into her “C.E.O.” dance.
As the matched progress, Mercedes was in top form, while Baker, who was coming back from multiple injuries with two herniated discs and a hip issue, looked slower in pace. It might have been too big a match for Baker to get her legs back under with this her first major bout back. In the end, The “C.E.O.” retained the TBS Women’s Championship.
“Timeless” Toni Storm vs. Mariah May
This match had it all. Great storytelling, a great pay-off and fan investment. Would the All About Eve storyline have its conclusion, where the understudy/student winds up taking the place of the star? As the match went on, Mariah May in her home country, was clearly the villain, and when she slapped her own mother at ringside, and that cinched it!
Even the tag partner of May’s, RevPro champ Mina Shirakawa was sitting in the royal box, torn between rooting for Toni and Mariah as she was friends with both women.
Storm’s second, Luther returned for this match and was ar ringside in her corner. When Storm spiked Mariah with the Storm Zero on the steel ring steps, it caused May to bleed. This was “turn about is fair play” after Mariah took the heel of Toni’s shoe and bloodied her weeks ago. On Sunday, Toni, even went over to Mariah’s mother and hugged her after the despicable act by her once protege slapping her. When Mariah had the dreaded shoe in her hand, Toni spotted it and yanked it away from her. The turning point in the match came when Toni considered using the shoe on Mariah’s head, but became conflicted and began to cry as she threw the shoe out of the ring. That enabled May to deliver two knee strikes and win the match. Mariah May is the new AEW Women’s Champ.
Courtesy/AEW
In other key developments and match-ups:
Jack Perry defeated and retained his TNT Championship over Darby Allin in the Coffin match. Afterwards, with the help of The Young Bucks, Perry and company tried to set Darby on fire, when none other than the icon Sting, came to the ring and rescued Darby!
The Young Bucks retained their AEW World Tag Titles over The Acclaimed, and FTR – After The Young Bucks won the titles, the UK tag team of Drake and Gibson showed up in the ring and went after FTR making a statement that they are to be feared.
Courtesy/AEW
Christian Gage wins Gauntlet Match for a shot at the AEW World Title – This was a ride as different competitors showed up in the ring during intervals. Eventually, Ricochet made his highly-anticipated AEW debut and had a showdown with Hangman Adam Page. Meanwhile, Cage with the help of Luchasaurus, pinned Kyle O’Reilly to get a shot at the title.
Hook defeated Chris Jericho for the FTR championship
Finally, Taz got into the action to help his son, Hook, after Jericho’s ‘Learning Tree’ buddies (Big Bill and Bryan Keith) were demolishing him inside the ring and out. Hook revealed that he has sight in both his eyes (no thanks to Jericho’s fire ball). While at the play-by-play announce desk, Taz declared, “I understand these are FTW Rules but I’m going to have to play by my own rules!” Next, Taz dropped his headset and put Bryan Keith in the Tazmission! Next, Hook grabbed Jericho, and put Jericho in the Red Rum, and Jericho tapped out! Father and son hugged it out at ringside.
Overall, we give the show/card a solid A.
What did you think of the AEW All-In 2024 pay-per-view and results? How would you grade the show? Comment below, but first check out “What’s Up? Wrestling’s” AEW All In Post-Show/Reactions episode.
