The ongoing march towards a while with per 30 days AEW pay-per-views continues with this Sunday’s WrestleDream from the Circumstance Word of honour Area in Seattle—a display that when once more has as a lot intrigue for causes out of doors the hoop as inside of it.
Then again, that intrigue isn’t for a adverse reason why. In a up to date promo for the development, AEW head Tony Khan stated that on Sunday “an era will end and a new era will begin,” which were given Wrestling Twitter all abuzz. Khan didn’t do a lot to explain his feedback throughout a Tuesday media name, joking (rather) that he sought after to promote extra PPVs and didn’t wish to spray the beans on what he supposed.
It’s in doubt it’s going to heartless a merger with Khan’s alternative wrestling corporate, Ring of Honor, as at the identical name, Khan stated how a lot he’s been playing the promotion’s TV product lately. It’s no longer his buying Unused Japan Professional-Wrestling (because the wild on-line rumor would have you ever imagine this presen) that Khan rather denied at the name.
Khan is aware of that via making that remark and no longer looking to downplay it, there’s now an expectation of one thing newsworthy taking place Sunday. Since AEW has been round for handiest 4 years, which “era” wouldn’t it be announcing see you to in an important method that enthusiasts would help about? I assumption we’ll have to shop for the PPV to determine.
This Sunday will probably be an enchanting take a look at for AEW. It’ll be the corporate’s 3rd PPV providing in 5 weeks, that means home enthusiasts can have needed to phase with $150 to look at the entire motion. Hour on no account extraordinary in wrestling, it’s untouched field for AEW and rather of a untouched age in that regard. Having per 30 days PPVs is usually a certain for extra than simply monetary causes as it’s going to pressure Khan to preferably carry tale traces to a head extra often. Generation will inform whether or not the enthusiasts are keen to just accept the untouched PPV truth as they have got within the year with WWE, WCW and others.
It’s additionally AEW’s 2nd immediately PPV with out an AEW global name protection because of the continuing MJF–Adam Cole tale sequence. Because of Cole’s freak ankle shock sustained hour operating out to the hoop and leaping off the ramp endmost Wednesday, he’s off the display. But if given the chance to have MJF guard his global name, Khan selected to pivot to a two-on-one duel for the ROH tag group titles rather.
Probably the most key variations between WWE and AEW is the consistent emphasis at the global name being essentially the most noteceable factor or, in AEW’s case, the rarity of emphasis. It’s a call, however a curious person who leaves Sunday with out an perceivable major tournament.
Regardless of all that, I’m excited and constructive about Sunday’s card. As ordinary, there’s a batch of skill being thrown into multiman suits with out a ton of tale traces to get extra society at the display, however that’s year gazing AEW. As all the time, the in-ring property will probably be A+, the display will probably be a cast 5 hours together with the preshow and most likely we’ll have our solution to what Khan supposed via “new era.”
So let’s get to this card with the asterisk that refer to is as of Thursday morning. As all the time, the cardboard is topic to modify.
Bryan Danielson vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
This will probably be their 3rd crash and their first since 2009 for Germany-based wXw. It’s additionally the de facto major tournament because of the probability, the truth Washington is Danielson’s residence shape and that there is not any AEW global name duel.
If that is certainly Danielson’s endmost large push as an energetic wrestler, he’s doing it proper with fighters like Sabre, the tide NJPW TV champion. He’s had a couple of appearances on AEW TV and has dazzled as anticipated. Is he at the identify degree of alternative NJPW stars like Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi and Tetsuya Naito? I’d argue negative, however his in-ring skill suits up with any of them. He’s impressive and in this kind of other method than any individual else within the industry. Hour there are enough of wrestlers who paintings a grappling-based taste, his aptitude in doing so is unrivaled.
He’s going to discover a keen and ready opponent in Danielson that are supposed to assure this isn’t simply just right however splendid. Then again, the Danielson vs. Okada duel from endmost June’s Restrained Door left me in need of so there’s the chance this does the similar, however I’m keen to wager this beats expectancies.
Prediction: Danielson wins
“Hangman” Adam Web page vs. Swerve Strickland
Just about 18 months next his first AEW duel, Strickland in the end will get a singles bout with a former AEW global champion. What took see you later? Just right query. The homeland man Strickland has all of it: the air of mystery, the glance, the in-ring abilities and the mic abilities. There’s negative confusion he’s any individual who generally is a large a part of wearing AEW over the later 5 years, however he’s been caught in impartial and with diverse factions for some distance too lengthy.
Web page has had a peculiar 2023 next defeating rival Jon Moxley in a Texas Loss of life Fit again in March. He ignored two months within the early spring and used to be later a part of the larger tale sequence between his Elite teammates and their Blackpool Struggle Membership competitors till a date in the past. He seems to be again to singles as a focal point, however I don’t have any sense of the place he stands now in comparison to alternative former AEW global champions, the just lately fired CM Punk however.
At the show-closing promo on Wednesday’s Dynamite, Web page stated there’s been a lightless cloud over him for 18 months that seems to be lifted. I guess that cloud used to be Punk with whom Web page had well-documented problems. It wasn’t the most efficient go-home promo I’ve ever perceptible, however the placement at the display tells me this will have to be a fairly lengthy duel positioned in an noteceable place.
This can be a splendid crossroads duel that can confidently lift Strickland to a better degree. My intestine and historical past tells me this gained’t be Strickland’s evening, as I’m no longer assured in AEW’s getting totally at the back of Strickland at this level.
Prediction: Web page wins
ROH tag group champion MJF defends in opposition to The Righteous (Vincent and Dutch) in a handicap duel
For the second one immediately PPV, the AEW global champion is not going to guard his name. Hour he did effectively keep on the “Grand Slam” version of Dynamite at Arthur Ashe Stadium in Queens lower than two weeks in the past, it provides to the historical past of the arena name being lost sight of every now and then.
This took a flip Wednesday when it used to be discoverable Cole poor his ankle in 3 playgrounds and would require surgical treatment. That shock took park when Cole used to be operating to help MJF at Brilliant Slam and leaped off the ramp. Wrestling accidents are bizarre now and again.
In lieu of constructing a pivot to an AEW global name duel, Khan determined to build this a handicap duel rather for the ROH tag titles. Hour it’s going to detail MJF in, necessarily, a singles bout, it’s in opposition to The Righteous, who simply began out on AEW TV this date and aren’t alike the “level of the Devil.”
For the reason that Jay White got here out to confront MJF on Dynamite, that might seem to be the route for November’s Complete Equipment. White used to be jumped via a secret crew on the finish of Dynamite, with indications that MJF used to be at the back of the assault.
With Cole most probably out for the extra of the generation, that makes the ROH tag group titles meaningless for MJF. However this seems like the proper spot for Cole good friend and MJF hater Roderick Robust to rush Cole’s park and guard the titles along his enemy, which can aid store this lengthy and lately idling tale sequence going.
Prediction: MJF keeps
AEW tag group champions FTR (Dax Harwood and Money Wheeler) guard in opposition to Aussie Revealed (Mark Davis and Kyle Fletcher)
This will probably be a rematch from their very popular NJPW Royal Quest II duel, which took park one generation in the past Sunday. FTR were given the win that evening to effectively guard their later IWGP tag group titles, and the 2 groups had been stored aside till now.
Upcoming being so very popular in NJPW, Davis and Fletcher haven’t totally discovered their foot within the U.S., which they admitted in a promo on endmost Saturday’s Crash. A part of the rationale used to be their taking a number of losses once they first debuted in AEW greater than a generation in the past hour nonetheless contributors of the NJPW roster. A part of it’s because of unreal expectancies and a part of it’s the rarity of a signature win in AEW. Popularity isn’t just right enough quantity to hold them rejected.
FTR will proceed their contemporary name run that began in April and has perceptible seven name defenses. Those two are as constant as they arrive, however this doesn’t really feel like the proper day for them to lose the titles—despite the fact that it might give Aussie Revealed that aforementioned signature win.
Prediction: FTR keep
Don Callis Society (Will Ospreay, Konosuke Takeshita and Sammy Guevara) vs. Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi and Chris Jericho
I’m in most cases no longer keen on multiman suits on PPVs to exit feuds, however I’ll build an exception right here. I feel this will have to be lovely splendid with a batch of attention-grabbing dance companions and mixtures. Essentially the most impish combo for me is Guevara and Omega, who haven’t combined it up since 2020, which is an entire life in the past in wrestling. There may be the brandnew Takeshita-Jericho pairing.
This will probably be Omega’s in-ring go back next Takeshita defeated him at this date’s All Out. He returned on the “Grand Slam” version of Rampage to aid impaired rival Jericho fend off an assault via Takeshita and Guevara, newly aligned beneath the sinister Don Callis’s monitor. There’s intrigue with Jericho and Omega being at the identical group as the 2 had two classics in opposition to each and every alternative, however the endmost one used to be again in Would possibly 2019—once more, an entire life in the past in wrestling. This turns out like any other imminent leaving bucket listing merchandise for Jericho in a run to the top, however we’ll see the way it performs out.
I’d be remiss to not point out Ospreay, who has had two classics of his personal with Omega and just lately defeated Jericho at endmost date’s All In. He right away improves any duel he’s inserted into. The similar can’t be stated at this level for Ibushi, who seems like a shell of himself next getting back from a protracted absence because of an injured shoulder.
Callis is a hated villain, and his untouched Society is truly simply launch to take off. The sinister guys will win once more right here.
Prediction: Don Callis Society wins
Lucha Brothers (Rey Fénix and Penta El 0 Miedo) vs. Hook and Orange Cassidy vs. The Gunns (Austin and Colten) vs. The Younger Dollars (Matt and Nick Jackson) for a while AEW tag group name shot
The duel will detail 3 former AEW tag group champions along with the ordinary group of Hook and Cassidy. We were given a style of this Wednesday with a four-way singles duel that used to be truly amusing. There’s a batch of historical past between the groups concerned, particularly with The Dollars and Lucha Brothers. Dislike them or love them, the Gunn brothers are a truly magnificient group, and their contemporary inclusion in Bullet Membership Gold has handiest increased them additional. Hour The Acclaimed has been lauded as homegrown stars, those guys are proper up there with them.
This will probably be a spectacle and a truly amusing one at that. I guess the name duel will rush park at Complete Equipment and that it’s going to be The Gunns who problem FTR in a rematch from previous this generation.
Prediction: The Gunns win
NJPW Robust and ROH global champion Eddie Kingston defends each titles in opposition to ROH Natural champion Katsuyori Shibata
Hour a random pairing, this display is designed to be a tribute to Antonio Inoki, who died one generation in the past Sunday. This may definitely be an homage to Inoki and his taste of wrestling, and most probably a in lieu just right one. Hour they have got by no means confronted off, Kingston and Shibata have teamed up sooner than. Because of each the unknown nature of Shibata and NJPW’s courting and the truth Kingston simply gained the ROH global name two weeks in the past, Kingston will have to keep.
Prediction: Kingston keeps
TNT champion Christian Cage defends in opposition to Darby Allin in a two out of 3 falls duel
Allin has accident a ceiling in AEW and person who I don’t know whether or not he can fracture thru. He’s unsuccessfully challenged for the AEW global name sooner than and has held and misplaced the TNT name two times. His 2nd reign lasted all of 28 days and given that is his residence shape and that Khan loves making moments, I feel Allin will finish Cage’s scale down reign partly because of Luchasaurus’s interference. This will have to be spirited to mention the least.
Prediction: Allin wins
TBS champion Kris Statlander defends in opposition to Julia Hart
Hart will raise a 27-match profitable streak into her first TBS name alternative, difficult the champion who used to be the endmost particular person to defeat her again in April 2022. Is there a signature win for her throughout that day? Now not truly, however she used to be additionally out of motion lots of the summer time so there’s no longer a batch of momentum going into this.
Statlander has been constant as champion, just lately dispatching former titleholder and WWE-bound Jade Cargill in a rematch. She continues to be lacking a juicy feud in her name run rather of protecting in opposition to the untouched contender of the presen.
As of now, there’s negative AEW girls’s name duel at the display for the second one immediately PPV, which can get some society speaking on-line.
Prediction: Statlander wins
Wheeler Yuta vs. Ricky Starks
Do you remember the fact that Starks gained this generation’s Owen Hart Footing males’s event? Me neither. In two months, AEW has made the event a moot level. Starks has misplaced his year 3 high-profile singles suits (two in opposition to Danielson and one in opposition to Punk) and isn’t committing to lose right here to Danielson teammate and perennial loser Yuta, who hasn’t gained an AEW singles duel since November 2022.
Prediction: Starks wins
Extra From Wrestling Eyewitness:
- Bryan Danielson ‘Fully Cleared’ for Fit vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
- WWE Pronounces ‘NXT Deadline’ for December
- Tony Khan Apologizes for Technical Difficulties All through ‘Dynamite’
- NJPW, MLW and CMLL Announce Strategic Partnership
- Malakai Lightless Refutes Rumors of Some other Again Trauma
