AEW got it right by crowning Chris Jericho champion

Chris Jericho will return to TNT in the spot he never reached the last time he was wrestling on the network.

Jericho pinned “Hangman” Adam Page after hitting the Judas Effect to become the first All Elite Wrestling world champion with a win in the main event of the All Out pay-per-view at the Sears Centre in Chicago on Sunday.

The victory means the 48-year-old Jericho will be the face of the new wrestling company when it begins its weekly television on TNT on Oct. 2. He last wrestled on the network for WCW, for whom he never become world champion, in 1999. The match capped an eventful All Out, that was not as good as Double or Nothing in May. It was still a very good show that hit most of the right notes, but may leave AEW doing some storyline clean up when their TV starts before it’s next pay-per-view, Full Gear, on Nov. 9 in Baltimore.

Here are five takeaways from All Out:

Ready or not?

Page got everything but the belt – and the crowd reaction — he coveted. The 28-year-old, who rode into the match on a real horse and had family in attendance, has still yet to win a world title from a major promotion and it could be a while. The crowd wasn’t hanging on every one of his pins attempts as much as you would hope for your big babyface. He and Jericho, who got cut open as Page returned the favor from the build, had a solid match.

The young star will benefit from the Jericho rub, but appears headed to feuding with PAC. AEW calls itself the “fresh” brand, but now has an older and recognizable face. It was the safe, and the right choice at this time with WWE set to run NXT against it on Wednesdays. Hangman gets more time to get over. Jericho can still ask for his “thank you” and maybe turn it into a feud with Cody Rhodes in the process.

Two stallions and their Horsemen

Rhodes’ grudge match with Shawn Spears lived up to the hype and delivered one of the show’s big surprises with a sprinkling of wrestling history. Dressed in Star Trek themed gear, Cody — who put friend MJF in his corner — pinned Spears after a Dusty Rhodes Bionic Elbow and a Cross Rhodes. It came after some shocking help from Arn Anderson, who is the former tag team partner and Four Horsemen member with Spears’ adviser Tully Blanchard. Anderson, who was fired by WWE in March, delivered his signature spinebuster to Spears.

Like most Rhodes’ matches it told the story of the chair shot that started the feud, Blanchard being a wild card and the AEW executive vice president’s rage toward Spears. It even laid the groundwork for a MJF doublecross that did not materialize.

Rhodes getting redemption and his moment was certainly cool, but a loss sort of short circuits the believability around the Spears-Blanchard partnership for now.

Oh brother!

AEW may now have the best and deepest tag team division in wrestling. The Lucha Brothers defeated the Young Bucks in a hellacious ladder match to retain the Lucha Libre AAA championships. It was followed by them being attacked by LAX. The former Impact Wrestling team of Santana and Ortiz, who hid their faces with masks before revealing themselves. Their arrival is a huge boost to the division ahead of AEW’s tag team tournament.

The match itself was the typical spot-heavy affair between the two teams, with the brothers sacrificing their family member for the big moves, including Pentagon hitting a Canadian Destroy on Matt Jackson from the ladder and through a table. The intensity picked up with Nick Jackson ripped the mask of Pentagon, ultimately leading to them pushing to finish the job in this blowoff match.

A Rose in bloom

Casino Battle Royale winner Nyla Rose left stronger than she came in after lasting from start to finish and will get to wrestle Riho in her hometown of Washington D.C. to become the first AEW women’s championship on Oct. 2.

 

Riho, who defeated Hikaru Shida with a flash rollup. already owns a victory over Rose that way in a triple-threat match. Having her in the title match is long-term investment by AEW into their Japanese wrestlers. Having Rose, the first transgender wrestler signed to a major wrestling promotion, become champion would send a powerful message of inclusion and give the belt to a believable powerhouse.

The battle royale also continues the feud between Britt Baker and Bea Priestley, who assisted in Rose eliminating Baker for the win. Impact’s Tenille Dashwood and and, more shockingly, Mercedes Martinez entering the match. Martinez was a WWE favorite during and after the Mae Young Classics and is highly respected. She would be a big get.

Go to sleep

Kenny Omega’s match with PAC, who was filling in for the ailing Jon Moxley, started like the former IWGP heavyweight champion didn’t have time prepared and ended that way — leaving the crowd stunned. PAC countered everything Omega threw out him. There were moments of brutal beauty to this one, with PAC’s chest bruised from chops.

PAC ended up counter Omega’s One Winged Angel finisher from his shoulders with a Brutalizer submission, ultimately causing Omega to pass out for the win.

The outcome is a great way to get PAC over in AEW, but Omega is now 1-2 in singles matches. This could mean it will be a little bit before we see Moxley again after his staph infection, or AEW has a story it can go back too.

Other matches

Private Party over Angelico and Jack Evans

There are edges to smooth out, but Private Party showed off the flair, athleticism and innovation that has people so high on them.The post-match heel turn from Angelico and Jack Evans at least gives them a personality coming out of the match.

SCU over Jurassic Express

Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian and Scorpio Sky are now 2-0 in AEW and Luchasaurus, Jungle Boy and Marko Stunt — now named Jurassic Express — are all still looking for their first win. Jungle Express’ unique arsenal really connected with crowd, but SCU’s experience and moxie proved too much.

Jimmy Havoc over Darby Allin and Joey Janela

We saw thumbtacks put in the mouth of Havoc. There were staple guns, biscuits, barrels, tables, paper cuts and Janela doing a monkey flip while seated in a chair. Allin also ollied on the back of Janela with a thumbtack-covered skateboard and missed Havoc on the ring steps while leaping from the top rope sitting on a barrel. Match felt a touch long, but it was a memorable win for Havoc.

Dark Order over The Best Friends

This sucked the life out of the crowd after the hardcore spectacular and felt way too long, especially if the Dark Order was going to go over. It left the crowd happy to see the nonchalant Orange Cassidy debut to save Trent. Still, it did The Dark Order a disservice to have Cassidy appear after the lights turned out. Only they should be doing that.

Biggest winner: Chris Jericho

Biggest loser: Shawn Spears

Match of the night: Kenny Omega vs. PAC

Predictions: 4-6

Grade: B+

Credit: Source link

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