All Elite Wrestling
ALL OUT 2022
September 4, 2022
NOW Arena
Hoffman Estates, IL

Watch: PPV & FITE (Non-US)

Meet Your Previewer!

Steve Case: It’s Labor Day, and you know what that means? AEW ALL OUT is coming to Chicago and WHEW BOY does this company have some intrigue! Backstage fights, wrestler-to-wrestler hatred, wrestlers going into business for themselves and taking pot shots at one another (allegedly). Pro wrestling is back baby! All of that dumb BS aside, this show is coming off one of the best go-home Dynamite shows the company has ever done, and has well-built matches with well-built, long-term stories up and down the card. Remember when AEW PPV’s fell short? Yeah, seems like a distant, made-up memory as this company has put out great show after great show for quite some time now. There’s no doubt here that this will be any different. Follow Steve @Coachcase44 on Twitter.

Zero Hour
AEW All-Atlantic Title Match
PAC (c) vs. Kip Sabian

We finally get to see Kip unmasked! I know you all were waiting with bated breath for this landmark moment. I don’t think I’m speaking out of line when I say Kip’s return doesn’t exactly set the wrestling world on fire, but this could be an opportunity for him to start anew. With PAC as your dance partner, I don’t know if you’ll get a better chance to prove you belong. If you can’t show out against PAC, I’m afraid you may need a new line of work. I think this can be a surprise, as Kip is good enough and will hopefully be very motivated to perform on a big stage. Look, the winner is not in doubt. The intrigue is whether AEW might have lucked into a returning, improved wrestler. Prediction: PAC

Zero Hour
FTW Title Match
Hook (c) vs. Angelo Parker

This is solely to get the obligatory HOOK pop from the crowd to show off the hot atmosphere that can hopefully convert some folks into PPV buyers. I doubt this lasts more than five minutes, two of which are a 2point0 promo, lord willing. Prediction: HOOK

Zero Hour
Eddie Kingston vs. Tomohiro Ishii

Well, this is a nice surprise. This was supposed to be Eddie vs. Sammy, which had a nice story and good potential, but got torpedoed by their now squashed backstage spat. As much as that match had going for it, I don’t know how anyone could not think this match is a huge upgrade. These two will beat the hell out of each other just like they did a few months ago for the enjoyment of the adoring crowd. Ishii might be the guy that tours the world having fun dream matches as he winds down into New Japan Fatherhood now, but if anyone is going to pull prime G1 Big Tom out, it’s Eddie. I don’t know who will win this, and really who cares? Eddie might take the fall as punishment, but it seems like we are passed all that so I’m hoping he gets the win. Prediction: Eddie Kingston

AEW World Trios Title Tournament Final Match
The Elite (Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson) vs. TBD

I know AEW Rampage hasn’t happened yet, and with all due respect to the Best Friends, Dark Order will be in this match. With Hangman firmly in there with Silver and Reynolds, it’s too perfect to pass up. You add more fuel to the Hangman and Elite story that helped build this company, give your new titles some proper prestige with the individuals involved and give the Dark Order some credibility by adding Hangman. I’m over the Dark Order, but if AEW insists on them being a part of main stories, this is how you make them matter. This is another match that can go either way with equally great results. Again, you can give the Dark Order credibility and keep Hangman hot.

On the other hand, you make the first trios champions The Bucks and Kenny, which gives the belts instant credibility. I would have said they then have a built-in feud ready with Cole and reDRagon, but with the Bobby Fish news that is up in the air. My guess is Dark Order takes it and they play up that Kenny isn’t quite back yet, even though he just tore the house down with Ospreay and friends this past Wednesday. Let’s fast forward to THAT match, please. Prediction: Dark Order

Darby Allin, Miro & Sting vs. The House Of Black (Brody King, Buddy Matthews & Malakai Black)

Another fun, random surprise! As much as I’d prefer to see Miro against any one of the three HOB fellas, throwing in Sting and Darby makes sense given the issues they have all had. I’m very curious how Sting will be used here. He’s been booked perfectly in AEW as a strong legend, but it feels like HOB is big enough that his age should make him inferior. The other five competitors should be flying all around him regardless, so whatever they decide will likely be acceptable. Since they lost in the trios tournament, I think HOB needs the win here to stay strong. Perhaps a lifeless Sting eats a roundhouse from Black, leading to some more singles matches between the others on television in the coming weeks. Prediction: House of Black

Christian Cage vs. Jungle Boy

How good is Christian? As I have gotten older and have gone back and watched many old WWE and TNA shows, along with what both have done in the last few years, I will confidently say that Christian > Edge. That will likely never be the popular take, with the WWE machine and Edge’s “accolades.” You look at the two of them when it comes to bell-to-bell and promos, I don’t think it’s close. 

The heel turn against Jungle Boy and the Jurassic Express has been terrific and Christian has been all-time good on the mic. He’s become an absolutely detestable piece of human garbage and SHOULD be making Jungle Boy an even more lovable babyface in comparison. Here’s the thing, though, Jungle Boy simply can’t hang with this level of promos. He hasn’t been flat-out bad like some say, Christain has just been so good that he looks like a novice in comparison. He is a white meat babyface through and through, and I can’t buy him as a hardened, tough, and angry man hell-bent on vengeance, regardless of how much leather he wears. Jungle Boy will always have a firm spot in the upper mid-card due to his in-ring ability and crowd connection. Once the bell rings, he’s money, and this match will be no exception. Until he can find himself on the mic, there’s a ceiling on him. He’s young, so he’s got time. That said, he’ll need to show improvements in the next few years, or he will get passed quickly by Garcia, Starks, Yuta, and the like. Prediction: Jungle Boy

Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Ricky Starks

Speaking of dudes who are quickly ascending, enter Ricky Starks. I know folks on this site have been singing his praises for much longer than I, but I first watched Ricky on the first season of NWA Powerrr. I think this may be wear he popped up on the radar of many. I’ve been a big fan of his ever since and watching him start to take a leap over the summer has been an absolute joy. He’s gone from an arrogant prick, dripping with confidence and charisma, to a fiery passionate babyface. The segment where he dropped the FTW belt to HOOK and his subsequent promo afterward was PERFECT wrestling television. The fact that he was asked to give a promo after the Punk/Moxley match speaks volumes. He’s the real deal and is here to stay. The Hobbs turn was also timed perfectly and his reasoning makes all the sense in the world as a no-nonsense ass kicker. Hobbs needs to be commended for his improvements as well. His look, aura, and work have all been terrific when he’s been asked. This match should elevate both men, but this needs to be Ricky Starks’ night. This man needs to go after some gold by the end of this calendar year. Prediction: Ricky Starks

Bryan Danielson vs. Chris Jericho

The battle for the soul of Daniel Garcia. These two are two of the greatest to ever do this and it should be no surprise that they have made a new, bright, and shining star out of Garcia. Garcia has gone from a promising prospect with tons of in-ring talent, to a well-rounded character with in-ring talent. He is the perfect blend of these two, and should be a top-level guy for the next 15-20 years because of it. 

As for the match, it should be outstanding. If Jericho can have the match he did with Moxley a few weeks ago, you’d think he can have an even better one with a guy like Bryan. I feel that Jericho may be winding down a bit after this. Outside of an eventual match against Garcia, I don’t know how many top-level matches are left for him. Plus, he’s dropped many subtle hints in his promos, gear, and using the Lionheart moniker that seem very full circle. He seems like a guy that wants to go out before he starts to slip, so don’t be surprised if we see a bit less of Jericho moving forward. Prediction: Bryan Danielson

AEW World Tag Team Title Match
Swerve In Our Glory (Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland) (c) vs. The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster)

I like The Acclaimed a lot. They are super entertaining and over everywhere they go. Their feud with The Gunns is the kind of lower card story that is what REALLY makes the Attitude Era as fondly remembered as it is. That said, being in this match is their reward. Lee and Swerve have tremendous chemistry as a team and hopefully in for bigger and better things as a team and individually moving forward. I can see both of these guys as World Title contenders eventually after their tag run is over and an almost certain feud to follow. I don’t know if The Acclaimed can get any higher than this, but how this match goes may show us. Prediction: Swerve in Our Glory

AEW Interim World Women’s Title Four Way Match 
Hikaru Shida vs. Toni Storm vs. Dr. Britt Baker DMD vs. Jamie Hayter

Steve: Oh, the drama! I won’t get into all the stuff surrounding Thunder Rosa and why this title has been vacated for now. Look that up on your own. After the really fun tag sprint these four had on Dynamite, my expectations for this are quite high. I would be okay with any of these four winning this, but for the fun of it, let’s do a little ranking!

Hikaru Shida

Shida would bring some stability to the top of the division after what seems to be some tumultuous waters. She can have good matches with many new women on the roster. It would also be a nice little reward for her being the first two-time champion in the division (get outta here with the interim reigns not counting) after being there from the beginning. That said since she hasn’t been on television that much all summer, she feels like the coldest and least exciting option. 

Britt Baker

She is the biggest star in the division. No one would bat an eye if she was the first two-time champion in AEW. Her reign from an in-ring standpoint wasn’t the greatest outside of her Thunder Rosa matches, but the belt just feels like it belongs to her, even if others are in possession of it. That said, you can go back to her at any time and she doesn’t need the title. She’s already made.

Jaime Hayter

She might be the best wrestler in the division. She’s young, she’s new, and she’s been getting a great rub from being attached to Britt. There has been low level simmering tension between her and Britt for months, and they could easily due a rehash of the HHH/Orton Evolution storyline between these two moving forward. She can have great matches with every woman on the roster. That said, strapping her up might feel a little too out of nowhere.

Toni Storm

Toni Storm was brought in to AEW to be a big deal and she’s ready to be handed the ball. She’s looked terrific ever since she’s started, but injuries and things backstage have seemed to prevent her from getting the chance to shine. She is a great wrestler who can have great matches with everyone and already has built in history with Britt and Hayter. I don’t see any reason not to strap her up. 

Prediction: Toni Storm

Casino Ladder Match
Claudio Castagnoli vs. Rey Fenix vs. Andrade El Idolo vs. Rush vs. Penta El Zero Miedo vs. Wheeler Yuta vs. Dante Martin vs. TBD

This should be a wild spotfest like all these matches. Though with the level of talent involved, there may be a little more structure and story to this than others in the past. The real intrigue, though is who is the joker? And who will win to be the next challenger? There are many theories on the joker. Will Ospreay is probably the sexiest pick. But do you want him to lose before facing Kenny? Even if it is to the world champion? Jay White is the current IWGP champion, so I don’t see that happening, either. A lot of other cool options are working that day in other promotions. If he’s healthy, which I truly do not know, I think it might be Adam Cole. Which, for me, would be the least exciting option, even if he would get a huge pop in the building. If it’s him, he’s absolutely winning this as well. As for my winner, I will go out on a limb a little. I think it’s time for Andrade to get into the mix. He’s been tremendous in the ring, he’s got his character down after his slightly rocky start, and he’s a credible challenger that can still lose a first defense. Prediction: Andrade El Idolo

Jay Lethal & The Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley & Chris Sabin) vs. FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) & Wardlow

And your winner for the weirdest match on the card goes to……this random trios match. The last vestiges of the Pinnacle vs. Team TNA. Hopefully, this is an excuse to get the Motor City Machine Guns in front of the AEW crowd to set up a future ROH tag title match with FTR. The REAL reason this match exists is for Wardlow to powerbomb Singh. I was in the crowd for Battle of the Belts when it was teased, and just the possibility of it whipped the crowd into a frenzy. Even if he’s not in the match, expect that to be the crescendo of whatever this match proves. Prediction: FTR & Wardlow

AEW TBS Title Match
Jade Cargill (c) vs. Athena

This would probably be Statlander’s spot before she got injured. Nonetheless, Jade will finally have a worthy adversary. Jade needs to deliver in the ring here. There’s no reason she shouldn’t be able to have a good match with Athena. They’ve shown good chemistry in the limited interactions, and Athena should be able to lead her through a solid match. That said, this does have trainwreck potential. Jade has all the tools to be a star, but if the in-ring doesn’t start to catch up, it will stunt her progress. I think Jade is winning this, but don’t be shocked if Athena pulls it out, leading to more matches down the line. Prediction: Jade Cargill

AEW World Title Match
Jon Moxley (c) vs. CM Punk

Well, this has turned into quite the story, hasn’t it? An injury that turned into some shoot promos, that turned into guys going into business for themselves, going into a squash match. These two PROS have whipped up wrestling media into a frenzy magnificently. All of this led to the promos last night. Moxley has been on a career-defining tear since he returned early this year, putting in some of the best promos, matches, and character work of his career.

CM Punk is the lightning rod he’s always been.

What these two have put together has been beautiful. Punk’s promo last night, with an assist from Ace Steele, made him the biggest babyface in Chicago. Moxley will get his cheers, from myself included, but he has to revel in being the heel to the local hero. This will create an incredible atmosphere for Sunday night. I see Punk gutting through the pain as his hometown crowd cheers him on, finally slaying the unstoppable machine, Jon Moxley. A familiar figure appears just as he’s about to put Moxley down for good. One that promised to hand Punk the most embarrassing loss of his career.

I’m calling it that MJF will return Sunday night and cost CM Punk the match and title. The heat MJF would get would be off the charts, and white hot. That’ll make the roster stronger than it’s ever been and I think that’ll make for some pretty damn good television moving forward, don’t you? Prediction: Jon Moxley