AEW Revolution results: Jon Moxley vs Kenny Omega

Tonight, AEW Revolution featured a wild Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch between Jon Moxley & Kenny Omega.

The pre-show opened with a hype video for The Young Bucks vs. Chris Jericho & MJF, before Britt Baker made her way out for her match with Rhio & Thunder Rosa. Rebel (Not Reba) was injured, and had a doctor’s note that she wrote for Rebel (not Reba), which Khan rejected, but the doctor of the Jacksonville Jaguars agreed with Britt, so Britt had a new tag partner: Maki Itoh! Maki made her entrance, to a great reaction from the fans.

The Buy In: Britt Baker & Maki Itoh vs. Thunder Rosa & Riho

Baker started the match with Riho, but Riho cartwheeled through a clothesline attempt, hitting a dropkick and then a headscissors takedown. Both tagged out, and Thunder Rosa started with Itoh, who flipped everyone off before locking up. Thunder Rosa no sold some and then they exchanged some forearms, with Itoh eating most of them. Itoh burst into tears, which alarmed Rosa, which Itoh took advantage of by stomping on her foot and hitting a few moves.

Riho tagged in and hit a 619 on Itoh. Both women exchanged forearms in the middle of the ring, and as Riho hit the ropes, Britt Baker tripped her. Maki went for her Kokeshi headbutt, but Riho moved. Baker tagged in and started beating down Riho. Baker got the heat for a bit before Riho managed to tag out and hit a senton on Baker. Itoh tagged in when Rosa was shoved back into the turnbuckle, and she sent Rosa into a slingblade before hitting her Kokeshi headbutt.

Riho hit a V-Trigger on Itoh, Baker hit a superkick on Riho, Rosa took out Baker, and then Itoh hit a tornado DDT on Rosa before going for the top rope Kokeshi headbutt, but Rosa moved. Riho charged at Itoh, but Itoh rolled through into a beautiful half crab. Riho made the ropes, then both exchanged forearms in the middle before Itoh blocked one with her concrete forehead, and then hit a headbutt.

Both tagged out and Rosa and Baker exchanged a few moves before Baker hit a DDT for a 2 count. Rebel got on the apron, but Baker ended up hitting her by accident. Rosa went for the Fire Thunder Driver while Riho dived of Maki Itoh, but Baker slipped out and hit a superkick, sending Rosa towards the ropes. Rebel hit Rosa with her crutch, leading to Baker getting the pin.

Result: Britt Baker & Maki Itoh

Rating: *** (3 stars)

This was a very fun tag match, with all 4 women looking great and getting a chance to shine. Maki Itoh officially debuting for AEW was a delight, and she clearly got over very well with the audience. Once this pandemic ends, Itoh is going to be a wonderful part of AEW going forward. She did tweet after losing in the tag tournament in TJPW the other night that she needed to go away for awhile, so maybe this is where she has gone.

Main Card :The Inner Circle (MJF & Chris Jericho) w/ Wardlow vs. The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson)

The Young Bucks did not take kindly to what happened with their dad, so they immediately went after Jericho and MJF, brawling to the outside of the ring to start the match. The Bucks hit stereo dives onto both MJF and Jericho, and then hit stereo sunset flips into the ring that they transitioned to stereo Sharpshooters, but MJF and Jericho escaped.

Jim Ross asked, “Does it please you to see MJF get beat up, Tony?” Tony Schiavone responded, “Yes it does. I want to see him double teamed, triple teamed, whatever.” Schiavone clearly doesn’t like MJF. Jericho and MJF managed to get the heat on Nick Jackson for a bit, doing the Young Bucks pose, but Nick got away and tagged in to Matt Jackson who hit MJF with several punches and kicks before faking a superkick and hitting a DDT.

Wardlow low bridged Matt as he hit the ropes, sending Matt Jackson to the floor, and they began to get the heat on him for several minutes. Jericho and MJF worked him over, but when they went to hit a double back drop on Matt, he hit a double DDT on both of them and tagged out to Nick Jackson, who went on his usual hot tag run, which is one of the best in the business. Jackson hit his kick, face buster, moonsault to the floor combo, but ended this one with a slingshot into a Canadian Destroyer on MJF.

Nick Jackson hit a Cheeky Nandos on MJF before they hit a combo sliced bread/powerbomb for a 2 count. Jericho came in and went for a Judas Effect, but Matt Jackson superkicked his arm. He picked Jericho up for the Meltzer Driver, but MJF grabbed Nick Jackson’s foot and Jericho tombstoned Matt Jackson. Nick Jackson went for a flip into the ring, but Jericho countered him and locked in the Liontamer.

Nick dragged himself to the corner and tagged out to Matt, but Jericho knew it and countered a superkick into the Liontamer. Matt Jackson got out and drove Jericho into the turnbuckle. MJF tagged in and hit a backslide and sunset flip on Matt Jackson. MJF told Matt Jackson to suck it, which was a callback to earlier Young Bucks actions, which was a call back to DX. Matt Jackson countered into position for the Meltzer Driver, but as Nick springboarded into the ring, Jericho caught him with a Code Breaker.

MJF rolled up Matt, but only got a 2 count. Jericho hit Matt Jackson with a baseball bat and MJF hit the Heat Seeker Piledriver on Matt, but Matt kicked out. Nick made the save and the Bucks hit a stereo dive on both men, before hitting a BTE Trigger on Jericho, but MJF made the save. The Bucks hit a superkick party on MJF, then on Jericho, which made Tony Schiavone mark out because it was a literal slobberknocker for MJF. The Bucks hit the Meltzer Driver on Jericho for the pinfall victory.

Result: The Young Bucks

Rating: **** (4 stars)

This was an excellent tag match and opening match for the PPV. The Young Bucks are always incredible, and the best position for them is either in the opening match or in the main event, where they absolutely shine in both and help set the tone for the show, or send everyone home happy. They’re the best tag team in the world, and I don’t think it’s even close.

The Casino Tag Team Battle Royale

The Natural Nightmares (Dustin Rhodes & QT Marshall) started the match with “10” & “5” of the Dark Order. The Nightmares gave Alan Angels and Preston Vance a ton of offence to help highlight them. Santana and Ortiz entered, running wild. Matt and Mike Sydal made their way down after Angels was eliminated by QT. The Dark Order (Stu Grayson & Evil Uno) made their way in.

Austin and Colton Gunn made their entrance, and Colton looks exactly like Billy Gunn. Cezar Bononi and Peter Avalon made their way in, followed by the Varsity Blondes (Brian Pillman Jr. & Griff Garrison). Austin Gunn threw out Peter Avalon, and QT Marshall eliminated the Gunn Club. Dustin Rhodes argued with him as the Gunn Clubb are members of the Nightmare Family. QT Marshall eliminated himself and spit at Dustin Rhodes. QT Marshall has turned heel. Bear Country came in and ran wild, eliminating a few folks.

The Jurassiac Express ran down, and Jungle Boy got rid of Santana. Luchasaurus eliminated Cesar, Griff Garrison, and Evil Uno got eliminated after running into the ring post after Marko Stunt hit a hurricanrana. Jack Evans pulled 10 of the apron, but he wasn’t in the match. The announcers said he was under the ring, and it looks like the feud between TH2 and The Dark Order is continuing. Butcher and Blade entered and threw a few people out, and Private Party entered.

SCU entered, and Tony Schiavone reminded us of their stip that they will break up as a team if the next time they lose a match, so they need to win this match in order to stay together. The Death Triangle came in and took out Blade and Marq Quen. John Silver and Alex Reynolds of the Dark Order ran in and went wild, killing everyone to a great reaction from the crowd. They hit the Dark Destroyer on Isiah Kassidy and then threw him out.

SCU threw out Butcher, and we’re down to our final four. SCU, Death Triangle, Silver &Reynolds, and Jungle Boy. Christopher Daniels got eliminated by Fenix. Kazarian and Reynolds got eliminated, so the question remains if this is the end of SCU. Rey Fenix eliminated Jon Silver by running across the ropes and kicking Silver in the face while Silver was on the apron.

PAC charged at Jungle Boy and Jungle Boy low bridged him and PAC went to the floor. Jungle Boy and Rey Fenix did some epic lucha. Fenix hit a suicide tope con giro, going through the middle ropes. Both men exchanged several strikes before Fenix hit a kick and clothesline and sent Jungle Boy to the floor.

Result: The Death Triangle

Rating: *** ¾ (3.75 stars)

This was an excellent battle royale, as far as they go, creating several storylines going forward, with QT Marshall being the big one. There was also several moments of intrigue between other teams in the tournament, including Jack Evans continuing to help Matt Hardy take out the Dark Order. The Death Triangle vs. the Young Bucks is a match I want to see too.

Hikaru Shida (c) vs. Ryo Mizunami: AEW World Women’s Championship

Shida has never defeated Mizunami, and they have gone to a draw 3 times in their career, so this is a big match for Shida. Mizunami started the match with a shoulder tackle, and then hit the machine gun chops in the corner. Shida hit some forearms before she could finish, but Mizunami countered that and hit the end of her machine gun chops. As Mizunami was taunting, Shida hit a hurricanrana.

Both went to the floor, where Shida went for her flying knee off the chair. Mizunami countered and sent Shida flying into the front row. Mizunami knows Shida quite well, so she was able to block a lot of Shida’s offence. Shida managed to hit a Dead Eye on the stage, but Mizunami hit a series of hard headbutts to Shida, before spiking her with a tombstone for the 2 count.

The intensity of the match really picked up here, before hitting each other really hard, and then showing fighting spirit that resulted in both competitors being down in the middle of the ring. Mizunami hit a guillotine legdrop on Shida, but Shida kicked out. Shida hit a straight jacket suplex on Mizunami, but Mizunami stood up and hit a lariat to Shida, then Shida hit a falcon arrow. Shida then hit several strikes and a second falcon arrow, but Mizunami kicked out. Shida hit the ropes and Mizunami took her head off with a lariat.

Mizunami charged but ate a great flying knee from Shida. Shida poked her eyes and hit another knee, but Mizunami countered into a pinfall for a razor close near fall. Shida hit another running knee, but Mizunami kicked out again. Shida yelled and hit a corkscrew knee to finally pin Mizunami.

Result: Hikaru Shida

Rating: **** (4 stars)

This was an excellent Japanese style match, that was incredibly hard hitting. Nyla Rose ran down and attacked Shida, but Mizunami came to her aid. Britt Baker, Maki Itoh, and Rebel (not Reba) attacked, and Thunder Rosa ran down to make the save. It looks like we’re going to get a six-man tag out of this. Shida’s run continues, as AEW looks to establish her reign as a historical one for AEW in terms of length, and I’m perfectly fine with this.

Chuck Taylor and Orange Cassidy were backstage, but Miro and Sabian attacked them, driving Taylor’s head through a door window, which busted him open.

Miro & Kip Sabian w/ Penelope Ford vs. Chuck Taylor & Orange Cassidy

Miro and Sabian beat on Chuck for several minutes, but Orange Cassidy limped his way onto the stage, collapsing before he could get to the ring. Miro jumped up on the stage to get him, but Orange Cassidy kicked up off his back and hit an Orange Punch on Miro before tagging in and hitting a diving DDT on Kip Sabian.

OC did his kicks on Miro, which Miro smiled, but ended up eating a Stundog Millionaire. Ford got onto the apron, but Miro shoved OC into Ford, beat the crap out of OC, and had to leave the ring because he wasn’t legal. Kip Sabian was checking on his wife, and Miro screamed at him and rolled him into the ring so he could tag. Sabian did, and then Miro killed Chuck Taylor and made him tap out with Game Over.

Result: Miro & Kip Sabian

Rating: **3/4 (2.75 stars)

Miro was teasing a division with Kip over what happened with Ford. This firmly established Miro as a monster, and it looks like they’re getting ready to move him up the card. AEW might be looking to make a monster heel out of Miro, and it’s about time that they do. This is excellent.

Jericho and MJF cut a promo backstage about how they didn’t really fail, and they were not done with the Young Bucks.

Hangman Page vs. Big Money Matt Hardy

Hangman hit a fallaway slam right away, but Hardy rolled out of the ring to avoid the Buckshot Lariat. Matt Hardy ate a dive from Hangman, but didn’t get dodged a forearm, and Hangman hit the ring post. Hardy jumped on him and began to work over the arm and wrist of Hangman, smashing it into the stairs and ringpost. Hardy worked over the arm for the next few minutes.

Hangman ducked a clothesline and  hit a punch. Hardy went for the Side Effect, but Page adjusted in midair and hit a crucifix pinfall attempt on Hardy. That was awesome. Hangman went to do a dive over the ropes, but Hardy dodged and hit a Twist of Fate on the floor and almost got a countout. Hardy hit a German suplex off the middle rope for a 2 count. Page Hardy exchanged several clotheslines before Page hit a forearm and a clothesline that sent them both to the floor.

Hangman climbed the turnbuckle and hit the moonsault to the floor on Hardy. Hangman hit a standing High Fly Flow on Hardy for a 2 count. Hardy hit a crucifix bomb on Page for a 2 count and called for the Twist of Fate. Page blocked it and hit a Deadeye on Hardy, but Private Party distracted the referee. Page chased them both off the apron, but they succeeded in buying Hardy time to recover.

Private Party came back on the apron, but Hangman took them out and went for the Buckshot Lariat on Hardy. Hardy countered into a side effect and hit the Twist of Fate, but Hangman kicked out. As Private Party tried to get involved again, The Dark Order ran out and saved him. Hardy knocked Page off the apron, but the Dark Order caught him and pushed him back up into a Buckshot Lariat on Hardy for the pinfall.

Result: Hangman Page

Rating: **1/2 (2.5 stars)

Hangman Page hugged the Dark Order to a great pop from the crowd, grabbed a beer, and celebrated with them. This was very heartwarming. AEW has delivered a lot of happy endings to their matches tonight, and this one is no exception.

The Face of the Revolution Ladder Match: Max Caster vs. Lance Archer vs. Scorpio Sky vs. Pentagon Jr. Cody Rhodes vs. Ethan Page

Ethan Page has made his debut in AEW! Archer played the monster early on, taking everyone out and hitting several people with a ladder before trying to set it up, but Pentagon hit a sling blade on Archer. Petagon grabbed the ladder, but Sky hit a German suplex on Pentagon. Max Caster called for Jack Evans to help him, so Evans brought out the boombox.

Preston “10” Vance ran out and cut him off, getting revenge for what happened on Dynamite and in the Battle Royale earlier. Page and Cody had an exchange and shook hands, but Page kicked him in the gut. Pentagon ran u the ladder and took a big dive to the floor onto several people. Archer kicked Pentagon out of the ring and went to setup the ladder, but Page flew in and hit a cutter onto the ladder.

Page put Archer between the arms of the ladder and hit a splash mountain on Sky onto Archer, who was in the ladder. Page setup the ladder, but Archer benched it sending Page off it into a backstabber by Pentagon Jr. Cody hit a springboard dropkick on Pentagon, but Pentagon hit a Canadian Destroyer on a ladder bridge between the ring and the apron.

Cody immediately began selling his shoulder, which was already hurt, and he went to the back. This might be a way to write Cody off for surgery on his shoulder, and it was one heck of a way to do it. Caster and Sky fought around a ladder in the middle of the ring. Cody looked absolutely devastated in the entrance ramp, proving that he is one of the best babyfaces in wrestling.

Caster hit a powerbomb off the ladder on Page. Sky pulled Caster off the ladder and went back for it again. Sky hit a big frog splash on Caster, who was laying on a ladder. Archer tried to hit a slingshot on Sky, but Sky used it as a chance to climb the ladder. Archer pulled him off and then chokeslammed Sky over the top rope through a ladder. That was insane.

As the others fought over the ladder, Cody Rhodes made his way back down to the ring, whipping everyone with his belt. He hit a Cross Rhodes on Page, then went for a splash off the ladder, but Archer cut him off and hit a superplex. Max Caster then hit a flying elbow off the ladder onto Cody. Pentagon and Max Caster were on top of the ladder, but Archer took them both out and then started chokeslamming everyone.

Max went after Archer, but Archer killed him and then hit him with a Blackout on the ladder, to a huge pop from the crowd. Archer went to climb the ladder, but Ethan Page cut him off. Page hit a splash mountain on Archer, which was crazy. Jake Roberts cut him off with a short arm clothesline, but Pentagon superkicked Roberts.

Pentagon went for it, but Cody cut him off. Pentagon smashed Cody with a chair to the arm, and both fell, but Cody hit the Cody Cutter on Pentagon. Sky came in and cut Cody off as he was climbing, smashed Cody’s arm against the ladder, and then shoved him from it before grabbing the literal brass ring for a TNT title shot against Darby Allin.

Result: Scorpio Sky

Rating: **** (4 stars)

This was an excellent ladder match, and it was perfectly structured to make Sky get over while highlighting everyone else. Having Sky win against Cody too made it work very well. I sense a heel turn coming for Sky, and a match with Darby Allin will make it work. AEW looks to be getting behind Sky now, and a match between him and Allin on AEW Dynamite is fantastic.

The next moment was the announcement of the new signee to AEW, and familiar music hit from Impact Wrestling: Christian Cage made his entrance and signed his AEW contract! I’m very happy to see Christian sign with AEW, and while some might say this is a disappointment, I am thrilled. Christian is a fantastic talent, and if WWE doesn’t have anything for him, he might as well take his great in ring skill and star power where he’ll be used well.

Team Taz (Ricky Starks & Brian Cage) vs. Sting & Darby Allin

This match was a cinematic match, and featured an absolutely epic introduction video for Sting and Darby Allin, with Sting turning up Darby’s theme in the vehicle he was driving. Darby caught a ride from Sting on the back of the pickup truck while on his skateboard. There were a bunch of people in Sting masks around the ring in the warehouse, and the match started with Sting and Allin taking it to Cage and Starks.

Cage caught Darby after a run up a wall into a coffin drop, but Cage caught him and hit a German suplex. Cage took out some of the people in Sting masks, then took Darby to the back of the warehouse and press slammed him through a set of doors. Starks and Sting brawled in the ring, but Sting had the advantage, beating him all over the place. Cage took Allin up the stairs, and the referee followed.

Cage picked up Allin in a suplex position, walked him up the stairs, and slammed him onto a garbage can. Sting came up and saved Allin from Cage, driving him into a ladder. Starks caught up and speared Allin into a wall. Starks hit Sting with a metal barrel and drove him into some file cabinets. Sting opened a drawer and shoved it into Starks to break it up, and ducked an attack from Cage.

Darby broke a bottle over Cage’s head, and they chokeslammed Cage through a table. Starks hit Sting with a 2×4 to the back, and Allin went nuts brawling with Allin. Starks hit a kitchen sink knee on Allin. Allin knocked him down and climbed a post to hit a coffin drop on Starks. Powerhouse Hobbs ran in with Hook to take out Allin. Sting stood up, but Cage stood up behind him and took him out.

Hobbs and Hook threw Darby through a nearby window and then Hobbs, Cage, and Hook dragged Sting back downstairs. As they got near the ring, Darby Allin threw a bat to Sting from the 3rd floor into Sting’s hand. Sting took out everyone with the bat, and set Cage onto the bridge between the gap on the 2nd floor. Allin did an elbow drop from the 3rd floor window to the 2nd floor bridge onto Cage, which broke and they crashed to the first floor. Sting and Starks brawled back to the ring, and Sting hit a Scorpion Death Drop on Starks for the pinfall.

Result: Sting & Darby Allin

Rating: **** ½ (4.5 stars)

This was one of my favourite cinematic matches, and easily the best one since the Stadium Stampede. I think the match would have been better without the commentary, just like I did when they did the cinematic match with Hardy and Guevara. This was a ton of fun. Sting looked amazing, and Darby Allin was put over huge. I loved that Allin and Sting both wore half and half face paint, divided with the Sting and Allin look on both men. AEW made the right choice with this one.

Exploding Barbed Wire Death Match for the AEW World Heavyweight Championship: Kenny Omega (c) vs. Jon Moxley

Moxley and Omega started the match by trying to shove each other face first into the barbed wire, but neither could, so they exchanged some chops. Omega grabbed a headlock and held on as Moxley tried to throw him into the ropes. Mox hit a backdrop on Omega, but Omega held the headlock even then, and as they got up he elbowed Mox in the neck and bit him.

They exchanged several attempts to suplex each other into the barbed wire, but both avoided it. Omega looked worried, but Mox got more and more confident. Both men started exchanging punches, and Moxley hit a clothesline over the one set of ropes that had no barbed wire, so Omega landed on the stage. Moxley threw weapons into the ring and started beating Omega with a barbed wire bat.

Omega crawled into the ring, and Mox tried to hit him with the bat again, but Omega threw powder into his face and threw Mox into the barbed wire, which set off the first explosion. Moxley sold it like death, but kicked out. Omega hit Mox with a kendo stick and drove his knee into a trash can, before hitting a Kitaro Krusher onto the can, which busted Mox open.

Omega put a figure four on Mox, but Mox used the barbed wire chair to saw at Omega’s leg, forcing him to release it. Omega drove Moxley into one of the barbed wire boards. Omega hit a moonsault off the turnbuckle that was safe. Moxley got up and hit a shotgun dropkick on Omega which sent him face first into the barbed wire ropes, which exploded again. Moxley then sent him back first, and Omega faced a second explosion.

Moxley hit an exploder suplex (aptly named) into a barbed wire board, causing Omega to get caught up in the barbed wire. They went for several moves onto the barbed wire chair, but Moxley hit a sidewalk slam onto on Omega. Moxley wrapped barbed wire around his own arm and went for a lariat, but Omega blocked it, so Moxley just hit him with a left lariat instead. Omega ducked another one, hit two dragon suplexes and a V-Trigger before Mox finally hit him with a lariat with the barbed wire.

Moxley went for the paradigm shift, but Omega drive him into the ropes. Omega ended up going face first into the explosion though, and rolled onto the apron after getting some water for his eyes. Both men fought on the apron. Moxley hit a Paradign Shift off the apron and they both went into the barbed wire boards on the floor which exploded.

Moxley ripped off the barbed wire from the board and wrapped it up to go after Omega with it. They both got back into the ring, and Moxley drove the barbed wire into Omega’s head, busting him open more. The clock started ticking, giving them a 10-minute warning for the barbed wire. Moxley hit a piledriver on Omega, but Omega kicked out.

Omega powerbombed Moxley but Moxley kicked out. Omega hit two V-Triggers near the corner and went for the One Winged Angel. Omega hit it, but as the ref was counting, Moxley put hit foot on the ropes which set off the explosion that drove Omega backwards, and the referee too. Moxley stood up, covered in blood, and went to nail Omega with a bat.

The Good Brothers ran down, but Moxley beat them with the barbed wire bat. As Moxley turned around, Omega hit him with a barbed wire bat to the chest, and it exploded, dropping Moxley. The Good Brothers set up a chair and Omega hit the One Winged Angel through the chair for the pinfall victory. They celebrated in the ring as the clock for the bomb timer continued to tick.

Result: Kenny Omega

Rating: ***** (5 stars)

Don Callis ran down to try and remind Kenny that the clock was ticking. Omega and the Good Brothers hand cuffed Moxley and went to leave him in the middle of the ring for when the explosion went off. Callis went back to commentary and said “Moxley asked for this!” Omega grinded the bat into Moxley’s head and continued to beat him with it in this brutal post match beatdown.

The 1-minute timer went off, and the alarm started to sound, and they left Moxley laying in the middle of the ring before running away and posing on the ramp. Eddie Kingston ran out and fought Omega and the Good Brothers and covered Moxley as the explosion went off. The explosion wasn’t that strong, but the angle, nonetheless, was very good. Eddie Kingston ultimately came to the aid of his old friend. They redid the finish of Onita/Funk, though in a less spectacular way.

Show Rating: **** (4 stars)

This was an excellent show, top to bottom, that had a ton of variety for every wrestling fan. The main even was worked far safer than I feared, which is a good thing. Something seemed to go wrong with the explosion at the end, as it was likely supposed to be far more spectacular, but the premise behind the angle was a very good one. Don’t let the slightly botched ring explosion detract from what was a truly great wrestling PPV.

Omega and Moxley went to war, and it delivered in the ring in a far better match than I expected. I would have given the whole show 5 stars, but the pyro not going off correctly at the end, or being weaker than expected did hurt it a bit. Nonetheless, go out of your way to watch this show, as every match delivered in their own way.