0
0
The biggest showcase PPV for AEW just took place. New champions were crowned, new feuds have been ignited, new stars have emerged. All the good vibes after the best AEW PPV of 2024, but what happens next? Four full months remain in the calendar year and four more PPV, starting with All Out in less than two weeks time. Where does AEW go from here to ride the momentum from All In and head into 2025 on a hot streak.
Who are the breakout performers of 2024 to this point? Will Bryan Danielson drop his newly minted title before the end of 2024, and to whom? What storylines and matches should we be expecting for All Out? Who will be the stars to rise to the top and guide the company to 2025. Will there be a major debut that will change the landscape of AEW, heck, professional wrestling?! I have all these answers for you!
MATCHES & FEUDS FOR ‘ALL OUT’:
Swerve Strickland vs Adam “Hangman” Page:
This one shouldn’t be a surprise to anyone. Their feud has been going on since the spring, with a break in the summer so Swerve can continue his championship reign. Page made his return leading up to All Out and reignited the feud by interfering and costing Swerve his AEW World Championship. It was announced on Dynamite that Swerve and Hangman will try to settle the score in a steel cage at All Out. Sounds like a good set-up for these two. I do expect the feud to last a little longer after the PPV, but it’s a good rematch for All Out with higher stakes in a cage.
Saraya vs Jamie Hayter:
This one has been brewing for well over a year after the on-screen (and maybe off-screen also) besites torched their friendship when Saraya with the now defunct “Outcasts” group (Toni Storm and Ruby Soho) turned on Hayter. After a long layoff from an injured shoulder, Hayter is finally back with a new look and ready to take out her pent up rage on Saraya.
These two should have a fun match. Two Brits. Should have good chemistry based on their familiarity with each other. The fans were jacked to see Hayter return in London at All In, now they will get to the fighting at All Out. Hayter should go over and continue riding the wave of momentum all the way to an eventual feud with Mercedes Mone.
MJF vs Daniel Garcia:
Welcome to the big time Daniel. In what should be his biggest high profile match, Garcia finally gets the spotlight in a showdown with MJF. You know the company must have high hopes for you if you get MJF at a PPV. We will see if Garcia has what it takes to be a main event player. If he can hang with MJF and get the crowd behind him, there could be some hope of having Garcia become a main event player (I doubt it).
On the other hand could MJF potentially drop another consecutive PPV match? It would do wonders for Garcia. Should be a good match either way. All will depend is on how the crowd reacts to Garcia and how strong he’s booked.
Bryan Danielson vs Christian Cage:
I mean this seems like it should happen now. Christian just won the Gauntlet match at All In for a shot at the world title, so why not have him cash in right away and main event All Out in Chicago against Danielson. I get it if the plan is for Christian to actually win the title and have a run with it, but if that isn’t the long-term plan, have him headline All Out in front of a fiery Chicago crowd against the fan-favorite Danielson. I’d go for that, unless there is a bigger plan for Christian Cage, who has been one of the MVP’s of AEW over the past year. Speaking of that…
WHO HAVE BEEN THE AEW MVP’S OF 2024:
Christian Cage:
The aforementioned Christian Cage has been the single best thing in AEW in 2024. His gimmick and his promos have been fire! This is the best run of his career, and that’s saying something. His heel work has been impeccable. The Patriarchy has been a hit. He’s the most entertaining part of AEW every week. It’s great that he was rewarded with a world title shot, and hopefully a world champion soon after. He has earned it. Fantastic top performer in the company and he hasn’t even been in the main event scene for majority of his current run.
“Timeless” Toni Storm:
If Christian Cage is 1A, then Toni Storm has been 1B. Mercedes Mone has gotten all the shine, but it’s been Storm who has outshined everyone, not only on the women’s roster, but all of AEW (Christian Cage, aside). The “Timeless” gimmick has been a gold mine. Fans are so invested in Storm. She started out as a heel and the fans passion for the gimmick turned her into a face. She’s elevated Mariah May to champion status. She’s carried the title through tough times in the women’s division where budding stars like Jaime Hayter has been on the shelf and the injuries/personal matters have kept the likes of Britt Baker out of the ring, it’s been Storm whose taken the reigns of the division.
WHO IS GOING TO LEAD AEW INTO 2025 AS A FEATURED TALENT:
Adam “Hangman” Page:
Page has fallen off a proverbial cliff since his underwhelming world title run. Prior to that he was viewed as a top star in the company. The fans were behind him and then poof, it all sort of faded, quickly. With the recent return, new theme song, changing of his look and a vicious mean streak, Page has the look of someone the company is ready to invest big into, again. He’s sliding into a big feud with recent champion Swerve and seems to be getting prominent billing. I’m looking for this push to continue in hopes of Page becoming a top heel in the company leading into 2025.
AEW Dynamite
Will Ospreay:
I’m buying Ospreay. The hottest free agent of 2024 was supposed to be MJF, but it turned out to be Will Ospreay. Quickly after his AEW debut he’s become a top player in the company. The fans turned him into a babyface and he’s been one of the top faces since. Ospreay is magical in the ring. His high-flying style is a sight to see. His mic skills are damn good also. He’s got a fantastic look. Plus, he’s still young. A perfect mix for a top star. Seems like Tony Khan sees the same thing and they aren’t waiting to push him to the moon. He’s already had bangers with Swerve and MJF. This is the guy who has soon-to-be world champion written all over him and the star that will lead AEW into 2025 and beyond.
WILL BRYAN DANIELSON DROP THE TITLE IN 2024 & TO WHOM:
So much has been talked about Danielson hanging up his boots in 2024. His contract was set to be up after All In. Much of the promos leading up to the match was about it being likely his last match, but Tony Khan and company swerved (no pun intended) the audience and Danielson left All In with the AEW World Championship. This is a rightful feel good story, but it’s not a long story. I do fully believe and expect Danielson to call an end to his full-time career as a wrestler, but I don’t believe he’s “done, done”. Danielson will still probably work special occasions and big matches once or twice a year.
If this is it for his last title run (which it will be), then how long will it last? It just makes too much sense for him not to drop it at WrestleDream in October in Tacoma, Washington, in his home state. Just makes a lot of sense he’d want to go in his backyard. Now, who could be the one to take that title of him? Four clear choices come to mind.
- Swerve Strickland – He lost to Danielson at All In, but he should have a rematch clause. Seeing these two go at it in their native Washington state would be a hell of a rematch with all the stakes and story.
- MJF – Why? Because it’s MJF. He’s always going to be a top star in AEW and a feud and match with Danielson would be huge money.
- Christian Cage – This is easy. A current fan’s top babyface against the top most despised heel. Cage has the guaranteed title shot. Easy way to book this. The fans would be salivating for this feud to happen. Christian wins his first AEW World Championship at the expense of Danielson. Imagine heat that would get?
- Will Ospreay – Money! Arguably two of the best in-ring workers in AEW in what would be a instant classic. Danielson passes the torch to the next face of AEW.
SHOCKING MAJOR IMPACT DEBUT :
There are some major notable free agents currently available. One of them made their AEW debut at All In, Ricochet. I expect him to be featured at the top of the card regularly. His in-ring style perfect for AEW. But, it’s not Ricochet who will make a major company impact. Could Bobby Lashley be that guy? Yes, and no. He’s a big name and someone who would be an instant main eventer, but he doesn’t send shockwaves.
Becky Lynch, ok now we are getting really close. She’d be a major impact signing and easily the biggest star in the women’s division and one of the biggest stars in AEW (sorry Mercedes, but you aren’t Becky Lynch kinda star). She would get the wrestling world buzzing. Ultimately that just won’t happen. There is less than 10% (according to my math calculations) that she would ever leave and jump ship, all while her husband is a top star in the WWE. Add the fact they have a small child, I just don’t see a scenario why should would leave. No dice.
Enter the single most influential and potential debut that would undoubtedly shake the wrestling world to its core. SHANE MCMAHON! Yes, that McMahon. We heard the rumors. We saw the picture of Shane with Tony Khan at a Dallas airport (allegedly). Now, Moxley returns on Dynamite and offers a little tease, telling Tony Schiavone that company isn’t his, or something along those lines. Hint, hint, is someone else taking over on-screen?
Shane McMahon would be the closest bombshell event next to, well Shane McMahon, showing up on WCW television about 24 years ago. It would transcend the wrestling world. Back then it wasn’t the social media age it is now. The buzz this would ignite AEW with could be monumental. The sheer curiosity of what Shane’s role in AEW would be, that would be appointment television.
I feel this will happen. It needs to happen. All Out is the place. Right here in the best wrestling city in the world (my biased unbiased opinion). The roof would explode off the NOW Arena. Imagine All Out ending with Shane in an AEW ring?! Bonkers. Whether it’s at All Out or another show (Grand Slam?). This has to happen in 2024. Ohh what a final few months of the year this can/will be!
