All Elite Wrestling
Update: check out our review for AEW Revolution 2021 right here.
Early last year, All Elite Wrestling produced one of the finest PPVs since its inception – Revolution.
The landmark event played host to one of the best tag team matches of all time, a fiery feud-ender between former best friends, the exciting in-ring debut of an indie gem, and a major title change at the top of the card. Now that we’ve finally entered 2021, everyone is looking to AEW to see if the upstart wrestling company can strike lightning twice with the same event. This year’s Revolution is set to feature major championship bouts, the in-ring return of a bonafide legend, and the biggest stars from up and down the card vying for the biggest wins of their career.
Let’s get to the nitty-gritty and detail who we think we’ll prevail at the second-ever installment of AEW Revolution.
Riho and Thunder Rosa vs. Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. and Rebel
All Elite Wrestling
Predictions & Winners: Going into the women’s elimination tournament, I figured three of the women involved in this Buy-In match would most likely go the distance. In that case, my predictions were all the way off.
But hey, at least Riho, Thunder Rosa, and Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. are all getting onto this PPV anyway (Rebel’s terrible in the ring, so I’m not keen on watching her here). Baker needs a victory to get back to her winning ways and build her back up into the next viable challenger to the AEW Women’s World Championship. So yeah, Baker and her trusty assistant are nabbing the big W here.
Miro and Kip Sabian (with Penelope Ford) vs. Best Friends (Orange Cassidy and Chuck Taylor)
Predictions & Winners: Chuck Taylor and Orange Cassidy’s meddling in Kip Sabian and Penelope Ford’s public wedding has (unsurprisingly) earned the ire of them both. That unfortunate event has also pushed Miro into wanting revenge, which is why we’ve arrived at this tag team affair.
Best Friends have come out on the winning end more than usual these days, which is why I feel they can afford to take a loss here. Miro and Sabian need a major win to at least make them a bit more viable in the fans’ eyes. Plus it makes sense for them to get their much-needed revenge at this point, so a heel victory is in order here.
Bear Country (Bear Boulder and Bear Bronson) vs. The Dark Order (Alex Reynolds and John Silver) vs. The Dark Order (Evil Uno and Stu Grayson) vs. The Inner Circle (Santana and Ortiz) vs. The Butcher and The Blade vs. Private Party (Isiah Kassidy and Marq Quen) vs. Top Flight (Darius Martin and Daunte Martin) vs. Death Triangle (Pac and Rey Fenix) vs. Varsity Blondes (Griff Garrison and Brian Pillman Jr.) vs. Matt Sydal and Mike Sydal vs. SCU (Frankie Kazarian and Christopher Daniels) vs. The Natural Nightmares (Dustin Rhodes and QT Marshall) vs. Chaos Project (Luther and Serpentico) vs. TBA (Casino Tag Team Royale for a Future AEW World Tag Team Championship Match)
Predictions & Winners: This match is going to be pure insanity. There’s going to be a ton of duos brawling in the ring at the very same time, which means it’s going to be pretty hard to follow at times. But I’m all the way here for the madness that will ensue once the bell rings.
Out of all the teams vying for a title shot here, the ones that stand the highest chances of winning are Death Triangle, The Butcher and The Blade, and whoever the unannounced team ends up being. Seeing a debuting tag team waltz right in to win like Brian Cage did during his ladder match introduction would be pretty cool. But I think the tandem of Pac and Rey Fenix are going to pull off a big win here. They’ve been looking great in their most recent performances, which makes me think they’re going to be rewarded for their quality work.
Adam Page vs. Matt Hardy (Big Money Match, Winner Receives All of Loser’s 2021 First-Quarter Earnings)
All Elite Wrestling
Predictions & Winner: “Big Money” Matt Hardy got the tables turned on him pretty badly, huh? His Suge Knight approach to contract negotiations ended up backfiring and leading him right into a Big Money Match with the man he tried to get one over on. After all those tag team match victories, I figured Adam Page and Matt’s partnership would strengthen and continue.
But Page is none too keen on losing a huge percentage of his money to his latest tag team partner. So now we have both men locking horns to determine who’s first-quarter 2021 earnings will go to the victor. I’m sure this match will see Private Party and The Dark Order run in at some point on behalf of their associated competitor. Once all the outside madness concludes, I envision Page overcoming Matt to claim a whole lot of extra funds for himself.
Hikaru Shida (c) vs. Ryo Mizunami (AEW Women’s World Championship)
Predictions & Winner: Anyone else feel like the matches we got during the AEW Women’s World Championship Eliminator Tournament were better than the booking decisions? A ton of people figured Britt Baker, Maki Itoh, and Riho would be going a lot farther than they actually did. But to the surprise of many, Nyla Rose and Ryo Mizunami ended up going the farthest. And to my surprise, Mizunami ended up winning the entire thing.
Based on the immense chemistry Joshi wrestlers seemingly have with each other, this one’s going to be a banger. AEW flew out Mizunami to Jacksonville, FL for good reason. That reason being a continued push that will result in her overcoming Hikaru Shida. Shida’s been holding the AEW Women’s World Championship for a good while now, so it’s about time for her to drop it to someone fresh. Mizunami’s going to be in the States for a while longer, so I think her American AEW tour will result in her getting the belt she’s fought so hard for.
Cody Rhodes (with Arn Anderson) vs. Scorpio Sky vs. Penta El Zero Miedo vs. Lance Archer (with Jake Roberts) vs. Max Caster vs. TBA (Face of the Revolution Ladder Match for a Future AEW TNT Championship Match)
Predictions & Winner: The lineup for this ladder match is pretty stacked. Cody and Lance Archer have some history with each other and the TNT Championship, so you know they’re going to go extra hard to slot themselves into another match for the title. Scorpio Sky and Penta El Zero Miedo are two midcard talents that definitely deserve more, while Max Caster is a dark horse contender since he’s most known for being a tag team specialist.
But what about the final mystery guy? I’m going to go out on a limb here and say it’s going to be Carlito! The apple spitting maestro is in awesome shape and looked great during his Royal Rumble appearance. Rumors are saying he’s still a free agent out here, so seeing him here would be a nice surprise. As for who’s winning this one, I’m placing all my bets on Archer. The man’s been getting a ton of TV time lately and he’s been on the winning end of most of his matches. That mega push will continue here and hopefully result in him claiming the title he fought so hard to claim when he first arrived in AEW.
The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) (c) vs. The Inner Circle (MJF and Chris Jericho) (with Wardlow) (AEW World Tag Team Championship)
Predictions & Winners: AEW’s tag team division has ballooned to insane levels lately. With so many fresh tandems in tow, the latest contenders for the tag team titles had to be decided with a battle royale featuring AEW’s very best (sans FTR, sadly). After a whole bunch of in-ring anarchy and big eliminations took place, the Inner Circle combination of MJF and Chris Jericho emerged as the winners. So now we’re getting them vs. The Young Bucks on PPV for the AEW World Tag Team Championship. The stakes are certainly high when it comes to this first-time matchup. I presume the winners of this match will ultimately be decided by the inner turmoil that’s been brewing within the Inner Circle (see what I did there?).
Ever since MJF aligned himself with Jericho’s stable, it’s been abundantly clear that the cocky upstart has been attempting to wrest control of it away from the “Demo God.” Sammy Guevara can obviously see right through MJF’s facade, yet Jericho doesn’t seem to take notice of MJF’s grand plan unfolding. By the looks of things, it looks like MJF is trying to get the rest of the Inner Circle on his side and leave Jericho & Guevara on the outside of things. This tag team title match will play out as the hotly contested bout we all expect it to be. Near the closing moments of this affair, I get the feeling that Guevara will emerge and try to enact his revenge on MJF. However, his furious attack will take out Jericho instead and lead to the Bucks capitalizing on his error. The Bucks will retain, Jericho will be pissed at Guevara, and MJF’s machinations will continue to take shape.
Team Taz (Brian Cage and Ricky Starks) (with Taz) vs. Darby Allin and Sting (Street Fight)
All Elite Wrestling
Predictions & Winners: One of the biggest shockers in the world of wrestling for 2021 came when The Man Known as Sting made his onscreen debut as a member of the AEW roster. The last time we saw him, he was dealt an incredibly bad hand after being injured during a WWE World Heavyweight Championship match with Seth Rollins. Because of that bout, Sting’s neck isn’t in the best of states. But due to him getting involved in Darby Allin’s continued scuffles with Team Taz, Sting now finds himself in a big match situation. And on PPV, no less! The machine known as Brian Cage and the self-proclaimed “Stroke” Daddy” Ricky Starks will do battle with Allin and Sting in a PPV Street Fight.
Rumors were running rampant regarding Sting’s well-being before this match was even announced. But ever since he took a massive powerbomb from Cage of all people, it looks like the “Stinger” actually has it in him to compete in the ring. I figured this relaxed rules affair would be of the cinematic kind at first, but now I’m guessing this bout will be contested inside (and all around) the squared circle. With three younger guys in his midst, Sting will get the chance to look as good as he’s ever been and also give the rub to them in the process. I’m expecting plenty of madness and run-ins from some expected (and unexpected) supporters on both sides. Ultimately, the reigning TNT Champion and his mentor will overcome Team Taz. I say all that to say this – there’s no way in hell Sting is losing in his AEW PPV debut!
Kenny Omega (c) vs. Jon Moxley (Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch for the AEW World Championship)
All Elite Wrestling
Predictions & Winner: Ever since Kenny Omega defeated Jon Moxley to win his first-ever AEW World Championship, he’s been running around with Don Callis and wrestling in different promotions in order to magnify his greatness. While Moxley has had his hands full with NJPW’s KENTA over the IWGP United States Championship lately, he’s found time to keep Omega in his crosshairs. Weeks and weeks of multi-man brawls and heated promos have now led to this – a rematch between Omega and Moxley for the title that will take place as an Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch. The over-the-top match type that Mick Foley and Terry Funk know all too well will now take place here in the States on a major PPV scale. Ladies and gentleman, this one’s gonna be quite the jaw-dropper!
Omega and Moxley thoroughly entertained me with their Unsanctioned Lights Out Match from Full Gear 2019. This match will be along the likes of that encounter, but with an even higher propensity for brutal hardcore action. I get the feeling that Omega’s stablemates won’t be running out here to aid him – the champ’s going to do this all on his own in order to prove a point. I’m expecting a whole bunch of brutality that will treat fans to the types of moments that will make them wince and jump out of their seats. When the time comes for the ring to finally explode, Omega’s going to find a way to put Moxley down long enough for him to get caught in the ensuing explosion. After that climactic moment, Omega will run back into the ring for the final pin to retain his AEW World Championship. It’s too early to end Omega’s strong title run, so it’s clear to me that he’s going to earn the tie-breaker win here.