Well I wasn't sure All Out 2024 would upstage All In 2024 like All Out 2023 did All In 2023, but after watching Hangman Page BURN DOWN Swerve's childhood home, and with how many absolute bangers are on tap this Saturday, AEW might pull it off a second time.
AEW returns to Chicago for All Out, two weeks after their second annual Wembley show, and once again, while this lineup isn't as stacked as All In, I could see All Out being the superior PPV. Danielson's first title defense, Ospreay vs. Pac, two really strong women's title matches, an MJF-Garcia grudge match, and the mother of all blood feuds, Hangman Adam Page vs. Swerve Strickland, in an unsanctioned cage match (Dammit, how cool would it have been to see that happen at Wembley?). This show is going to slap, as the kids say.
Not all the matches have been announced yet, so maybe after Friday's Collision/Rampage shows I'll update this piece. But for now we have eight matches to predict.
Chicago Street Fight: Willow Nightingale vs. Kris Statlander
I'm not sure if this is for the CMLL Women's Title or not. I thought their previous match was an eliminator; maybe CMLL didn't agree to putting their belt up in a street fight or something. Anyway, this should be excellent as Willow and Kris have great chemistry and Willow's delivered in No DQ matches before. I think Willow wins this since she's CMLL Champion and Kris beat her last time.
Pick: Willow
AEW Tag Team Championship: Young Bucks vs. Claudio Castagnoli/Wheeler Yuta
This was just added and there's no suspense over the winners, but this should be a hellva tag match. Good to see the Bucks face someone that isn't FTR for a change; Bucks-FTR always delivers but they've done that one too many times lately. Matt and Nick will get a tainted win no doubt.
Pick: Bucks retain
Continental Championship: Kazuchika Okada vs. TBD vs. TBD vs. TBD
Collision/Rampage will feature three qualifiers for this: Orange Cassidy vs. Bryan Keith, Mark Briscoe vs. Lance Archer and Konosuke Takeshita vs. The Beast Mortos. Seems pretty obvious the winners will be Cassidy, Briscoe and Takeshita, and they've already set up a future feud between Okada and Takeshita. Hopefully this match protects Konosuke so they can build to a Continental Classic final between them. I don't see Okada dropping the title before then.
Pick: Okada retains
MJF vs. Daniel Garcia
So, people are complaining about the go-home angle between these two, where Garcia stormed up into the stands to get to MJF, tossing aside security guards left and right, only for MJF to smash a bottle over his head and leave him bloodied and unconscious. The thinking is that no one thinks Garcia has a chance so you have to book him strong here. But what if the plan is for Garcia to win? Felt like that to me. If the idea is to elevate Garcia then surely it makes the most sense to have him beat MJF, who's already got a win over him, even if it's a flash pin or something. Am I wrong? Vegas odds have MJF as a solid favorite but I think Garcia pulls off an upset.
Pick: Daniel Garcia
TBS Championship: Mercedes Moné vs. Hikaru Shida
Mercedes' match with Britt Baker two weeks ago wasn't all that well-received but I enjoyed it, dead crowd aside. But Shida is a stronger in-ring wrestler than Britt so this match should top that one pretty handily. Shida won't win but she'll give the champ a helluva fight. Kamille is banned from ringside so Mercedes will have to either win clean or find a different way to steal it.
Pick: Mercedes retains
International Championship: Will Ospreay vs. Pac
God. Damn. This will be great. These two have only met once in singles action and it was in early 2019. Both guys are even better now than they were then. Add another likely show stealer to Ospreay's resumé.
Pick: Ospreay retains
AEW Championship: Bryan Danielson vs. Jack Perry
Another match that should crush it, this is Perry's first one-on-one PPV World Title shot. Perry has a win over Danielson from Double or Nothing, where he pinned the future champ in the Anarchy in the Arena match. Danielson will obviously get revenge here but this will be an excellent proving ground for young Master Perry, and certainly not the last AEW World Title match he gets. I wonder if Omega is ready to come back, maybe he'll get involved somehow to set up Danielson-Omega II. Or Okada-Omega V.
Pick: Danielson retains
Steel Cage Match: Swerve Strickland vs. Hangman Adam Page
WWE's hottest feud of the year was fought over a friendship bracelet. AEW's is being fought because one guy BURNED DOWN ANOTHER GUY'S CHILDHOOD HOME. These two companies are not the same. Holy shit this feud rules, and this won't be the end of it I don't think. Last year these two had the greatest-ever Texas Death Match, this year they just might have the greatest ever cage match. This will be violent as fuck and hopefully will also draw a strong buyrate and move some tickets. Hangman HAS to win this round; he has yet to beat Swerve and as far as I'm concerned he should be the guy to dethrone Danielson, so Swerve can chase him through mid-2025. Give the man a much-needed big win.
Pick: Hangman
So yeah, if the show consisted of only these eight matches it would already be a stellar lineup. Not sure what will be added, maybe a Mariah May title defense or something involving Moxley? Either way, strap in for a helluva show.
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