Tag: AEW Revolution

10 best AEW PPVs of all time: Which AEW shows were the greatest so far?

AEW has put on some classic pay-per-views since it came into existence in 2019. Here’s our list of the top 10 to date.

No matter how you feel personally about All Elite Wrestling, there’s no denying the boost that the company has given the U.S. pro wrestling scene in just its first few years of existence. A truly healthy, strong alternative to WWE had been missing for more than a decade before AEW came to life in 2019, and almost anyone you ask in the business will tell you that it’s been a net positive.

One of AEW’s calling cards from the very start has been a strong offering of pay-per-view shows. Driven by his days as a wrestling fan, Tony Khan tries to load up each event in a way that he might have once dreamt about, and while they often tend to run a little long and occasionally seem to come together at the last minute, they nearly always deliver in terms of the in-ring product.

That makes picking the best AEW PPVs to date a bit challenging. Since the company has been cautious about not running too many big cards — though that’s starting to change with the addition of Forbidden Door in 2022 and All Out and WrestleDream in 2023 — it’s not like there have been a bunch of mediocre shows to help separate the ones that have shined brightest.

Still, if there’s one thing that unites wrestling fans, it’s opinions on which things are better than others, and no site is better for that than Cagematch. Using both the user votes on that site and Dave Meltzer’s ratings, we’ve cobbled together a bit of a consensus opinion on the top AEW PPVs, just like we did for WWE.

You’ll see that even the awe-inspiring backdrop of 80,000+ fans at Wembley Stadium in 2023 didn’t sway these ranking too much, since All In London isn’t even in the top 10.

Which shows are? You’ll have to read on to find out.

AEW deserves credit for its masterful presentation of Sting

AEW absolute nailed it with the farewell match it put together for Sting.

Tony Khan, despite being a three-time Wrestling Observer Best Booker award winner, has had his share of misses during AEW’s five-year lifespan.

The story surrounding the reveal of the so-called “Devil,” while being hampered by Adam Cole’s injury, dragged out far too long for even the most diehard of AEW’s fans. The women’s division has received more prominence in recent weeks, but when the bar is in hell, it’s not exactly a difficult task to clear it.

When it comes to Sting, however, Khan and his team have done a masterful job, one that culminated in the legendary wrestler’s final match on Sunday at the Revolution pay-per-view.

Landing someone the stature of Sting is obviously a coup for any wrestling promotion, but the pressure to do right by this legendary figure also comes with that.

Khan never asked Sting to do more than what he was capable of and never had him steamroll through talent on his way to yet another world championship. Instead, Khan aligned Sting with Darby Allin in an effort to give the latter the proverbial rub from an icon. 

Together, the two went undefeated in AEW competition. That includes Sunday night, when Sting and Allin defeated the Young Bucks to retain the AEW World Tag Team titles.

Sting winning his final match is not typical wrestling tradition, where it is almost the soon-to-be-retired wrestler’s duty to lose their final match in an effort to pass the torch to someone else. AEW rightfully broke from that tradition and had Sting and Allin win the match, which allowed the former to go out on top as a champion.

In doing so, Khan orchestrated possibly the greatest send-off in wrestling history. For as great as Ric Flair’s “retirement” was in 2008, it came after a loss to Shawn Michaels. There’s also the issue of Flair actually wrestling again, but that’s a different conversation.

Sunday night felt different. It didn’t feel like the end of a storied career as much as it felt like the celebration of one. There are very few wrestlers from Sting’s generation that can say they have experienced the same. Most of them were unceremoniously booted out of the business for one reason or another.

But the fact that Sting is still around and is in good enough health to even have a match at his age (he turns 65 later this month) — and not completely embarrass himself and AEW in the process — deserves to be celebrated.

More than 16,000 people packed into the Greensboro Coliseum Sunday to see their face painted hero have one last hurrah, and Sting was allowed to go out in a blaze of glory.

No, his final match wasn’t a 60-minute draw like Clash of the Champions or a world title match like Starrcade ‘97. Instead, it was Sting giving it his all alongside very talented performers who put their bodies through pain and destruction all in the name of delivering one final banger in Sting’s career.

Mission accomplished by Sting, Allin, the Young Bucks and AEW.

And Sting, thanks for everything.

One other note about Revolution

The long running streak of fans having issues with watching an AEW pay-per-view through Bleacher Report continued on Sunday night, with many viewers, myself included, expressing their frustration over the lack of functionality with the streaming platform.

I personally missed almost all of the first two matches on the show, as I was dealing with a number of technical issues, including not being unable to put in my credit card information to purchase the show.

Once I was eventually able to do that, I still endured a litany of streaming issues. So despite paying full price, I was able to see about 80% of the show. 

Simply put, that is unacceptable, and something seriously needs to be done about it.

For as much praise as I’m willing to give Khan and AEW for its presentation of Sting for the last three-plus years, I have an equal amount of ire for the company when it comes to the pay-per-views.

My complaints are not new or uncommon. It has become a bit of a running joke amongst wrestling fans on social media. Although everyone gets a good laugh out of it, it is a serious issue for AEW that could potentially cost the company paying customers.

Full disclosure, AEW was close to losing my money Sunday night until Bleacher Report finally got its act together during the tail end of the Continental Crown title match between Eddie Kingston and Bryan Danielson.

But I am only one person. Chances are there is someone out there who was more than willing to part ways with $49.99 (plus tax) to watch Revolution, but decided not to because of issues with Bleacher Report.

And because of that, Khan and company need to address this issue as soon as humanly possible. This is not a backburner issue. This is urgent, as one of the company’s top priorities is to make its content as accessible as possible. If people can’t even pay to watch it, what are we even doing here?

For all of the complaints people levy against Peacock, at least it actually works when you turn it on. With Bleacher Report, I may have to start logging in the day before to ensure I see the opening match.

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AEW Revolution 2024: Best photos from Sting’s last match

Check out some of the best photos from Sting’s last match at AEW Revolution 2024.

It’s hard to come up with the proper send-off for a legend. It’s even harder for an Icon.

Yet AEW managed to pull off one heck of a memorable night at AEW Revolution 2024, which culminated in a wild tornado tag team title match pitting Sting and Darby Allin vs. The Young Bucks (or as they prefer to be called at the moment, Matthew and Nicholas Jackson, AEW EVPs).

It was hard not to get emotional seeing Sting go out on top after nearly four decades of entertaining fans everywhere. See why in this look at the best photos from Sting’s last match (photos courtesy of All Elite Wrestling).

AEW Revolution results: Complete history of matches, winners for every Revolution

Check out the winners at AEW Revolution throughout history, the first PPV in every AEW calendar year.

The start of any AEW calendar year begins in earnest at Revolution. Held annually in either late February or early March, this event was the last of the company’s four pay-per-views to be introduced, with the first one taking place Feb. 29, 2020.

That show also earned a distinction as AEW’s final PPV card before the COVID-19 pandemic hit and forced pro wrestling to be held before empty buildings or small crowds for some time. When Revolution returned in 2021, it was presented in front of an audience of just over 1,000 fans at Daily’s Place in Jacksonville.

So while it can be argued that Revolution hasn’t had as much of a chance to build an identity as other big AEW branded events, it has had some memorable moments, including the superb 2020 show (which won Best Major Wrestling Show from Wrestling Observer) and the infamous Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch (with its glitch-plagued finale) in 2021.

That’s all to say that Revolution will likely develop its own feel as it has more time to evolve. Let’s take a look back at the details of all AEW Revolution results to date.

AEW Revolution 2024 results: Sting ends storied career on high note

See how Sting delivered one final indelible moment, and who else won at AEW Revolution 2024 in Greensboro.

It’s time to say goodbye to Sting. The Icon ends his nearly 40-year career in pro wrestling tonight at AEW Revolution in front of what’s sure to be a very emotional crowd in Greensboro, N.C.

Sting and Darby Allin will take on the Young Bucks … excuse me, AEW EVPs Matthew and Nicholas Jackson. The AEW World Tag Team Championship is on the line as well, but the real stakes involved are because it will be Sting’s last match.

Will he go out on top and retire a champion? Or will he think it’s the right thing to do to pass the torch (though it must be said, the Bucks are far from young up-and-comers themselves at this point) and take the pin in his farewell bout? And what part will Ric Flair play in the whole affair?

The rest of the card looks very promising to boot. There are five other championship matches in store, including a three-way dance for the AEW World Championship between Samoa Joe, Hangman Adam Page and Swerve Strickland. The AEW Women’s World Championship also figures to be a hard-hitting, top notch showdown as “Timeless” Toni Storm collides with former friend turned dangerous rival Deonna Purrazzo.

Even the 8-man All-Star Scramble figures to provide some intrigue, as the winner earns a world title opportunity. Could it, for instance, be used to point Wardlow toward the top of the card? It will be interesting to see.

AEW Revolution Zero Hour results:

  • Bang Bang Scissor Gang def. Jay Lethal, Jeff Jarrett, Satnam Singh, Willie Mack and Private Party by pinfall when Jay White pins Mack
  • White cuts a promo after the match that promotes the Big Bang Scissor Gang while also teasing some “big business” for the Big Business episode of Dynamite in less than two weeks
  • Lexy Nair catches up with Orange Cassidy, who tells Best Friends he wants them to stay in the back tonight for his match with Roderick Strong
  • A vignette airs with Pac vowing to be back very soon whether we like it or not
  • Willow Nightingale and Kris Statlander def. Skye Blue and Julia Hart by pinfall when Nightingale pins Blue

AEW Revolution 2024 results from Greensboro:

(please tap or click on any match with a link for full details)

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AEW Revolution 2024 results: Sting goes out a winner in insane last match

With family and friends all involved, Sting emerged from his last match a winner at AEW Revolution 2024.

Not only is Ric Flair here for this one, but Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat walks out next to serve as the special guest timekeeper. A number of other retired wrestlers are shown in the ringside seats.

Matthew and Nicholas Jackson are greeted by plenty of boos despite their cool entrance, rising from the floor and sporting some old school robes. Darby Allin comes out by himself, a nice touch to allow his partner to get the proper spotlight.

Sting gets a long entrance video that features a movie theater where the Icon sits and watches highlights from throughout his career, right up to the present. “It’s showtime … showtime for the last time,” Sting says before adding, “Let’s do this!”

His sons appear as two different, earlier versions of Sting on stage to walk the aisle with their dad, and they also get in on the early action. The EVPs are the worse for wear as they take Stinger Splashes from father and sons.

Sting gets both Jacksons into the Scorpion Deathlock at once but can’t hold onto it. The action quickly turns into chaos outside the ring, with Nicholas getting sent over the barricade and Matthew thrown out the other side.

A ladder and tables are already out there as Sting throws Nicholas back onto the floor. Matthew gets back body dropped too before Allin delivers a Coffin Drop onto both Jacksons.

Sting looks under the ring for several panes of glass and has Allin and his sons put them over six chairs out on the floor. The Icon has a baseball bat too, sending Nicholas into the crowd … but that doesn’t help him as Darby and Sting pursue him out there.

All four combatants end up on stage, where Nicholas hits Allin with a jawbreaker. That’s only the precursor to a Falcon Arrow off the stage and through a table.

Sting wants a Scorpion Death Drop on the stage, but Matthew gouges his eyes and suplexes him back off the stage and through a table. Allin is dragged to the ring, where a ladder is set up in one corner. The EVPs throw Darby into it, but he battles bravely two-on-one.

Allin smashes Nicholas’ head into the steel steps and eyes a very tall ladder now set up in the ring. He leaps with a swanton, but Matthew pulls Nicholas out of the way so Allin falls through the glass.

Sting is now back at the ring, but that might not be great as he’s going it alone. He does get the Bucks to catch each other in some friendly fire, then just chokes and bashes Matthew until he’s on top of a table under the ladder.

Up climbs Sting, though Nicholas is up and has a pane of glass with him. Matthew is up too and slams Sting through a table, but he no sells it as the fans roar. Sting battles but is sent through the glass in the corner.

A low blow sets Matthew up for a Scorpion Death Drop, but the smiling EVP is surprised when the Icon kicks out at two.

Steamboat has enough when he sees the Bucks go for the title belts, but he pays for it. Flair goes to check on Sting, putting himself in the way of Matthew’s attempted belt shot. He also suffers from double superkicks, and Steamboat gets the same.

A belt shot puts Sting down, yet he’s able to kick out again. He beats his chest and starts running over his foes, with one Jackson able to save the other from a pinfall. Sting eats the EVP trigger and barely is able to get his shoulder up in time.

A second EVP Trigger is on target, but Sting kicks out at one. The Jacksons deliver another double superkick, setting up for the Tony Khan Driver. By now Allin has revived, pushing Nicholas off the top rope and through a table on the floor. Sting hits a Scorpion Death Drop but sees Matthew kick out.

Allin hits a Coffin Drop, allowing Sting to put Matthew in the Scorpion Deathlock. Matthew strains for a second, then taps out.

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AEW Revolution 2024 results: Samoa Joe survives Hangman Adam Page, Swerve Strickland

See how Samoa Joe barely retained his AEW World Championship at Revolution.

Jim Ross joins the announce team for this one, which feels fitting. All three men head to the center of the ring when the bell rings, with Swerve Strickland and Hangman Adam Page staring each other down until both get beaten up by Samoa Joe.

The champ does his walking away spot on Swerve, which gets the fans to pop. Joe hits a tope suicida on Strickland and quickly turns to prevent Hangman from doing the same to him. Joe lights up some chops until the challengers can send him to the outside.

Page delivers a fallaway slam, but Swerve is up quickly to hammer him with a high boot and corner stomps. Strickland hits the Griddy as he’s put Page down, then makes sure Joe stays down on the floor and has time to dance again.

Swerve is back in with a dropkick to Page, but it’s only good for one. Joe re-enters the fray and battles it out with Strickland before nailing Page with a running knee shot. A vicious powerbomb forces Hangman to kick out at two, so the champ transitions right into an STF. Swerve breaks that hold as he flies back in.

Strickland slugs it out with Joe, which might be a mistake. They end up atop the top rope together, though Swerve falls all the way to the floor after a headbutt. Swerve returns with thoughts of powerbombing Joe, then gets help from Hangman to pull off the move.

Page peppers Strickland with right hands, drawing only laughs from Strickland. A slick counter has Strickland looking for a pin that is broken up by Joe.

The champ blunders into a kick to the head out on the floor, but Strickland is caught by Page going back into the ring. They counter each other several times until Page moonsaults into a tombstone, forcing Joe to hustle to break that up as well.

A high boot smacks Joe back down to the mat, leaving Page to hunt a Deadeye on Strickland … who counters with a powerbomb that leads to a flurry of offense ending with a vertical suplex. For the third time, Joe needs to break up a pinfall attempt.

Hard chops from the champ drop Strickland, and Joe sets his sights on a Muscle Buster to Hangman. That’s in target, but Strickland immediately hits Joe with a Swerve Stomp. A House Call also finds the mark on Joe, but Swerve is occupied with Hangman.

The House Call hits Page in the back of the head, but he kicks out at 2 1/2. Now it’s Joe and Swerve left to battle amidst themselves, and Strickland hits a big DDT out of the corner. There’s a 450 splash onto Joe’s back, though Swerve can’t cover. So he goes up top again, hitting the Swerve Stomp. It looks like the end until Page hauls the ref out to the floor.

Hangman grabs the title belt and annihilates Strickland with it. He yells down at Swerve on the floor, saying “you will never have this,” then returns to the ring for a Buckshot on Joe … then another. He covers but realizes that there’s no ref. A second ref arrives to count but gets to only two.

Joe sees a third Buckshot coming and drops back into the Coquina Clutch. Swerve is up too and hits a sky twister press to break up the pin.

Prince Nana tries to give his boss a weapon to win but he shakes it off. Swerve might win it anyway, but Hangman pummels a second ref to keep the match going. An angry Swerve is beating on both of his opponents until Page drops him with a clothesline and Joe does the same to Hangman.

A Buckshot floors Joe, and Strickland does the same to Page. A JML Driver smashes Page, but Joe chucks Strickland out of the way and chokes out Hangman until he taps out, with original referee Paul Turner crawling back in to see the submission.

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AEW Revolution 2024 results: Will Ospreay tears it down in victory over Konosuke Takeshita

See how Will Ospreay won his AEW debut against Konosuke Takeshita at AEW Revolution 2024.

The fans already seem very glad to see Will Ospreay in AEW in an official capacity as Daon Callis joins the announce team for this one. Konosuke Takeshita looks ready for him too, and they lock up to a bit of a stalemate.

Ospreay gets in some stiff slaps, then a headscissors before blowing a kiss to the crowd. Here comes strikes in both directions again, and a jumping clothesline from Takeshita to finish the exchange.

Takeshita crotches Ospreay in the corner and smashes a forearm shot, then executes a delayed vertical suplex that’s good only for a one count. He stays in control and hears some jeers from the fans.

A forearm to the chest puts Ospreay back down, but he rises with some chops and an uppercut. Takeshita’s hip toss is countered by an abdominal stretch, and Ospreay takes to the skies for the first time for an elbow strike.

Ospreay’s rebound handspring corkscrew kick lands, and Takeshita finds no respite on the floor as a springboard cross body finds him. A belly-to-back suplex is on target, but Takeshita quickly kicks out at one.

Kicks to the face lead to another big Ospreay chop, but Takeshita fires right back with a facebuster, a big kick and a tope con hilo. Referee Bryce Remsburg is up to about six when both men return to the ring.

Takeshita launches into a senton but catches knees, yet he’s able to avoid an Ospreay top rope move and hit a German suplex for a near fall. Back and forth come the big moves, leaving both men on the mat while the fans rise to their feet.

Loud “this is awesome” chants break out as the combatants deliver forearm shots on their knees. That battle continues on the feet, and Takeshita wilts first.

A rolling elbow strike has the referee checking on Takeshita, but he’s good to go. He even grabs Ospreay’s boot in the corner for his own big forearm shot, wobbling his foe. An even bigger shot is next, dropping Ospreay to his back though Takeshita is too worn out to cover.

A series of counters leads to a series of kicks from Ospreay, as well as a Tiger Driver for two. An Oscutter comes next, but it’s countered by a Blue Thunder Bomb for two right back.

Now it’s a “Fight Forever” chant, and well deserved. More kicks force Takeshita back, and an Oscutter finally connects for a near fall. Can Ospreay seal the deal here? Nope, as Takeshita sees the Hidden Blade coming and very nearly wins it with another stiff strike.

A battle in the corner ends with Ospreay’s thrust kick to his foe’s exposed face. However, Takeshita fends off a hurricanrana and drops Ospreay with a sheer drop brainbuster onto the turnbuckle that is a wicked bump for sure. Neither that nor a running knee, however, are enough to pin Ospreay.

Another exchange of counters leads to a Stundog Millionaire and a poison rana, but Takeshita fights right back with two impressive moves. Ospreay flies across for a clothesline only to have Takeshita kick out at one.

Takeshita runs over Ospreay but sees the running knee countered by a powerbomb. A Styles Clash is next, and yet it’s still not enough to wrap it up.

A Tiger Driver ’91 puts Takeshita down, and the Hidden Blade keeps him there. Kyle Fletcher joins Ospreay in the ring afterward, throwing up the United Empire sign with him.

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AEW Revolution 2024 results: ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm plays numbers game to defeat Deonna Purrazzo

It might not have been a “Timeless” finish, but Toni Storm held off Deonna Purrazzo’s title challenge at AEW Revolution 2024.

Since Deonna Purrazzo claimed she wanted to face the “old” Toni Storm for this one, Mariah May obliges by dressing like Storm used to dress. Grade A trolling there.

Purrazzo seems comfortable early, on, though Storm is able to escape the first submission attempt fairly easily, and they trade hard shots until the Virtuosa runs over the champ and sends her to regroup on the floor.

Purrazzo finds Storm with a sliding dropkick, but Toni backs her into the corner and smashes home some right hands. A back kick and a Thesz press, sort of, allows Storm to cover for two.

Storm works over the challenger’s back and wrenches Purrazzo to the mat by the hair for another quick two count. Toni pulls back on Deonna’s throat while sitting on Purrazzo’s back. There’s a stomp to the chest for good measure too.

A headbutt puts Purrazzo back on the mat, as does another right hand. Some of the fans start chanting for Toni as she continues to paintbrush her challenger, but they soon resort to stiffer stuff.

A hip attack/DDT combo have Storm looking good, but Purrazzo kicks out from the ensuing cover. Purrazzo is able to kick Storm out to the floor, and even though Luther catches her there, Deonna ends up diving on both of them.

A spinning headscissors leaves Purrazzo in position for an armbar, and she works hard to ensure Storm can’t reach the ropes. Toni does pivot Deonna’s shoulders to the mat for two, and though Storm taps out to the armbar right after that, distractions from Luther and May prevent the champ from losing.

Immediately after that, Storm delivers a piledriver, and that’s enough for the champ to retain.

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AEW Revolution 2024 results: Roderick Strong batters weary Orange Cassidy to claim International title

Roderick Strong took advantage of a beaten down Orange Cassidy to win gold at AEW Revolution 2024.

As we saw during the Zero Hour pre-show, Orange Cassidy has taped up ribs and back, the telltale sign of an angle where someone is going through too much ahead of a title defense. Roderick Strong wants to take full advantage of that perceived weakness, controlling the opening moments until Cassidy can connect on a tope suicida.

A high cross body also hits Strong, but he comes right back with a uranage of sorts. Roddy keeps the pressure coming on the champ’s back, then covers with a lateral press for two.

Strong is talking to Cassidy in the corner, but the champ is able to mount a rally by taking Strong’s head from one turnbuckle to the next. Orange gets dropped back first on one of those turnbuckles, though, and in painful fashion.

Roddy follows up by wrapping Orange’s back around the post, getting him an earful from the referee. The champ eventually just collapses on his face in the center of the ring, and his attempt at a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker is countered into a ribbreaker.

Cassidy tries for the Stundog Millionaire, getting part of it before ending up in the Stronghold. The announcers think Orange is in trouble, but he wills himself to the side of the ring for a rope break.

Undeterred, Strong puts his foe back in the Stronghold. Cassidy finally kicks his way out, leading to a tilt-a-whirl DDT. He goes up top for a diving DDT, covering Strong for two.

Taking a page from Adam Cole’s book, Cassidy hits a Panaman Sunrise on Strong for another near fall. Strong sees an Orange Punch coming and hits a backbreaker, but his rising knee strike is immediately answered by an Orange Punch. Cassidy tries to power up for the Beach Break and finally does it, but it’s too close to the ropes and Strong grabs them for a break.

After some jostling for position, Strong hits double knees to the back and holds on for three, giving us a new champ.

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