AEW’s TV product may be inconsistent at times, but their pay-per-views rarely disappoint. With their first PPV of the year being at Staples Center (I refuse to call it anything else) and a last-minute extra ticket in hand thanks to a friend, I made the trip to LA for some live wrestling. Was it worth a late Sunday night? Let’s find out—onto the results and my thoughts!
MJF vs. Hangman Adam Page
A heated grudge match between two AEW originals kicked off the show in style. After a back-and-forth battle—including MJF hitting a Tombstone Piledriver on a steel chair—Hangman secured the win with a Buckshot Lariat. Given their intense buildup, this rivalry feels far from over, and I’m all for it. These two have been AEW cornerstones, and title or not, there’s plenty left to explore in future clashes.
Momo Watanabe vs. Mercedes Mone (TBS Championship)
The first of six title matches on the card saw Mercedes Mone (fka Sasha Banks) defend her TBS Championship against Stardom’s Momo Watanabe. I’m not too familiar with Stardom and its product, but Momo’s performance made me want to find a way to see more of it. The result was never really in doubt, but it was a fun, fast-paced match where Mone was pushed to the limit before forcing Watanabe to tap. Who will dethrone Mone? Only time will tell!
Swerve Strickland vs. Ricochet
One of AEW’s hottest new rivalries took center stage in a high-stakes battle to determine the next AEW Title contender. This was a brutal war of attrition, with both men pulling out all the stops—not just to win, but to inflict as much damage as possible. In the end, Swerve had the last laugh, securing the victory and a title shot against either Jon Moxley or Adam Copeland. A strong match, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this feud continues into Dynasty or is revisited down the line.
Kazuchika Okada vs. Brody King (AEW Continental Championship)
Next up was the Continental Championship, with Okada aiming to extend his reign against the powerhouse that is Brody King. Though the outcome seemed fairly inevitable, both men delivered a hard-hitting, entertaining battle. King’s brutal offense, highlighted by thunderous chops that could probably be heard in San Francisco, pushed Okada to his limit. But after weathering the storm, Okada sealed the win with a perfectly timed Rainmaker, keeping his championship run alive.
Hurt Syndicate vs. The Outrunners (AEW Tag Team Championship)
No offense to the talent involved, but with such a stacked card, this match became a strategic bathroom break—I didn’t want to miss what came next (hence the pre-show photo). It’s a shame because I was excited to see Lashley and Shelton Benjamin in action, but judging by the restroom lines, I wasn’t the only one with that mindset. As expected, this was the most predictable title match of the night, with the Hurt Syndicate retaining in what amounted to a slightly competitive squash.
Mariah May vs. ‘Timeless’ Toni Storm (AEW Women’s World Championship)
Holy crap, this match was absolutely brutal, cramming an insane amount of violence into less than 15 minutes while delivering a bloody, definitive end to one of AEW’s best women’s rivalries—if not one of its best rivalries, period. The bad blood between these two was literal, with chairs, tables, and broken glass leaving both women drenched in crimson. In the end, Toni Storm sealed the win and retained her title with a Storm Zero through a table at the top of the stage. One of AEW’s best women’s matches to date, and with “The End” flashing on the screens afterward, this easily could’ve been the main event—and probably should’ve closed the show given what we got at the end.
Konosuke Takeshita vs. Kenny Omega (AEW International Championship)
The match quality kept escalating as Takeshita and Omega clashed for the third time in singles competition, this time with the International Title on the line. With Don Callis on commentary, interference for Takeshita was expected, but thankfully, it didn’t decide the outcome. Like their previous encounters, this was an instant classic—a nearly 30-minute war where Takeshita ruthlessly targeted Omega’s midsection, exploiting his recovery from a year-long battle with diverticulitis. Despite the punishment, Omega secured the win with a roll-up, reclaiming championship gold. With this victory, a showdown with Okada at All In to potentially unify their titles feels inevitable—and given their legendary battles in Japan, I’m all for it.
Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher (Steel Cage match)
Former friends turned bitter enemies, Fletcher and Ospreay met for the third time to settle this rivalry which was tied at one match a piece once and for all, and what a brutal and bloody war it was. The steel cage was used to full effect and it didn’t take long for Ospreay to be busted open, but Fletcher would soon be sporting a crimson mask himself. A match that saw barbed wire, a screwdriver and thumbtacks also used to great effect produced a few spots that elicited a ‘you sick fuck’ and ‘holy shit’ chants from the audience, including a brutal Styles Clash to Fletcher on thumbtacks and a Spanish Fly from the top of the cage. In the end, Ospreay hit the Tiger Driver to get the pinfall victory and even though he lost, Fletcher still comes out of this looking insanely strong. What a brutal match, the main event has a tough act to follow!
Adam Copeland vs. Jon Moxley (AEW World Championship)
To say this match fell flat would be an understatement. Even with low expectations, it still underdelivered. No knock on Moxley—who has carried AEW on his back more than once—but his fourth world title reign has been lackluster, especially with the Death Riders faction failing to gain momentum as AEW’s version of The Bloodline. The decision to keep the AEW Title locked in a briefcase hasn’t helped either, making the championship feel devalued.
Unsurprisingly, the crowd was dead for most of the match, only waking up near the end when Wheeler Yuta ran interference for Moxley, only to be chased off by Jay White. Cope looked set to win after a trio of spears, but Christian Cage pulled the ref out and cashed in his contract, turning it into a triple threat. A spear and a Killswitch nearly made him champion, but Moxley choked him out to retain—much to the frustration of the 12,000 in attendance.
Final Grade: B+
Even though I hated the finish to the main event, it wasn’t enough to truly drag this PPV down as it was yet again, another solid event made better by being there in person and totally worth being tired the next day. For the love of God Tony Khan, please end the Death Riders angle and give someone else a run with the AEW Title!
The Casual Otaku 