00:09Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the best matches in AEW history.
00:2410. Sting and Darby Allin vs. The Young Bucks
00:28AEW Revolution
00:30Not all wrestlers end their career on their own teams. That's why Sting's retirement match feels so special.
00:37He teamed with Darby Allin in 2024 to defend their tag titles against the Young Bucks.
00:43Their main event match at Revolution was an action-packed clash with callbacks to Sting's legendary career.
00:5811. The in-ring wrestling didn't disappoint either. There were some wild spots, including an insane bump where Darby leapt
01:08off a ladder onto glass.
01:1112. This was crazy, but then again, Darby doing something crazy is as common as a day ending in Y.
01:2012. Sting and Darby beat the Bucks to retain the titles in not only a great match, but a truly
01:26remarkable retirement for Sting.
01:2813. He retired as a champion, and few wrestlers have done the same.
01:409. Will Ospreay vs. Hangman Adam Page
01:44AEW, Double or Nothing
01:46Who is going to save AEW from the tyrannical Jon Moxley and bring the world title back into the spotlight?
01:54This number one contender's showdown in the Owen Hart Tournament Finals between Hangman Adam Page and Will Ospreay answered that
02:02question.
02:03Spoiler alert, this match ruled.
02:12Not just because of the exceptional wrestling, but also because so much was at stake.
02:17Fans needed to know who was going to take the fight to Mox.
02:20Can we also talk about how amazingly unique the match looked?
02:24The cold blue lighting and New Japan-style camerawork gave the battle a moody yet cinematic atmosphere.
02:45Hangman was a heel, but this match built towards his redemption when he secured the win
02:50with a buckshot lariat to Ospreay.
03:018. Willow Nightingale vs. Mercedes Monet
03:04AEW, All In
03:06Defending a world title is challenging enough.
03:09Now imagine how much more annoying it can be with a broken hand.
03:13Willow Nightingale had this exact predicament when she put her title on the line against
03:18Mercedes Monet.
03:22This was an impressive match filled with plenty of signature moves, but as it went on, it turned
03:28into a brutal slugfest.
03:29In fact, within the opening stretch, Mercedes broke her nose.
03:39The bone breaking wouldn't be for nothing though, as roughly 22 minutes later, Mercedes
03:45skillfully applied the statement maker on Willow, which forced the champ to pass out.
03:51These two women shared the squared circle before, but this bout was arguably their best yet.
03:55Overall, this fantastic fight reminded fans that Mercedes Monet is world champion material.
04:077. MJF vs. Bryan Danielson
04:10AEW Revolution
04:12Look, MJF's a snake, but he's also a snake who survives unlikely odds.
04:18Case in point, his 2023 Revolution match, where he put his world title on the line against Bryan
04:24Danielson.
04:35This match was a grueling fight, which is fitting since it was an Ironman match.
04:49With MJF playing mind games at every turn.
04:53Maybe the most shocking thing of all though, is that MJF forced Danielson to tap out at the
04:58end.
04:59Sure, he played a little bit dirty, but he got results.
05:02This match proved MJF wasn't a paper champion, but instead, a seriously accomplished wrestler.
05:146.
05:16Swift Strickland vs. Hangman Adam Page
05:19AEW Full Gear
05:20Death match wrestling can be an… acquired taste.
05:24No matter what way you want to slice it, wrestlers getting cut up is hard to watch.
05:30This was different though.
05:31Hangman and Swift Strickland's blood feud culminated in an absolute war at Full Gear.
05:42When we say this match was violent, we're not kidding.
05:46Hangman drank Swift's blood like a vampire.
05:49Plus, Swift grinning as he applied staples to his own chest just for fun was as disturbing
05:55as it was awesome.
05:57Even the most squeamish wrestling fans were jumping out of their seats and roaring to life
06:02as the carnage unfolded in the ring.
06:10Swift technically beat Hangman, but did anyone really win?
06:15Honestly, the fact that they're still wrestling today is perhaps the biggest victory of them
06:19all.
06:245.
06:25Jon Moxley vs. Hangman Adam Page
06:28AEW All In
06:30The main event of All In Texas was a battle for the heart of AEW.
06:35And that might not be an exaggeration.
06:37We mentioned earlier that someone needed to bring the fight to Jon Moxley, and Hangman Page
06:42was that guy.
06:48This event was less of a wrestling match and more of a war, complete with blood, weapons,
06:53run-ins, and numerous epic signature moves.
06:56The finish was also exceptional, with Mox losing not to a buckshot Lariat, but by tapping out.
07:13Despite the match being incredibly violent, it had some real feel-good vibes.
07:18Hangman's sobbing as the AEW championship was finally retrieved from that cold metallic briefcase
07:24was the stuff of legend.
07:26By dethroning Mox, Hangman brought much-needed life back to AEW.
07:37Hangman's win here reminded us how great professional wrestling can be.
07:41And if you can't get enough of us talking wrestling and breaking down matches, then you're
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08:044.
08:05Swerve Strickland vs. Bryan Danielson
08:08AEW All In
08:10Bryan Danielson's one of the greatest wrestlers around, but he hadn't held gold for some time.
08:15With the prospect of retirement around the corner, it was only fitting he'd get one last
08:20shot at the AEW World Championship before hanging up his boots.
08:29With that in mind, the stage was set for All In against Swerve Strickland.
08:35Bryan got beaten up pretty badly, but eventually the momentum changed and Bryan caught a second wind.
08:50When Swerve tapped out to the LaBelle lock, the applause in Wembley Stadium was deafening.
08:59Ultimately, this was an underdog story, and it was the kind of tale that the American Dragon
09:04was an expert in telling.
09:063.
09:07Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay
09:09AEW All In
09:11Will Ospreay has wanted the AEW title, and his opportunity to get it finally arrived at All In.
09:23This was extra special since the match was on his home turf.
09:27His only obstacle was Kenny Omega.
09:29Will and Kenny fought before, including in another exceptional match at Forbidden Door,
09:34but Will sometimes came up short, so that was the story of the whole match.
09:39It was an action-driven delight, and Will gave it his all.
09:46He even kicked out of the one-winged angel.
09:49Will's resilience finally paid off, and he pinned Kenny, becoming AEW's first British world champion.
10:08This main event cemented All In as the must-see wrestling event of the year.
10:132.
10:15Kenny Omega and Hangman Adam Page vs. The Young Bucks
10:18AEW Revolution AEW is still a relatively new company, but early AEW was a special time when
10:26the promotion had to establish themselves as a viable alternative.
10:30Arguably, no one took on this responsibility more than Kenny Omega, Hangman Adam Page, and
10:35The Young Bucks.
10:44The Young Bucks.
10:46In 2020, at Revolution, they set out to prove their worth in a tag team match, and it set
10:52the world on fire.
10:54Fast-paced moves, counters, exceptional near falls, this tag title barnburner had it all.
11:07The elite have insane chemistry together, and this fight showed us all of that.
11:12We also saw plenty of tension, which from a story standpoint only made the in-ring action
11:17hit that much harder.
11:18This is easily AEW's best tag team match, but it might also be wrestling's greatest tag
11:24team match, period.
11:34Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
11:381.
11:39Tony Storm vs. Mariah May AEW Revolution This star-studded Hollywood-themed match was absolute
11:45cinema.
11:462.
11:47Young Bucks vs. The Lucha Brothers AEW All Out A tornado tag match set inside of a steel cage?
11:54Yes, please.
11:562.
11:56Bryan Danielson vs. Zack Sabre Jr. AEW Wrestle Dream Two of the greatest technical wrestlers
12:02squaring off is a recipe for success.
12:082.
12:14Kenny Omega vs. Bryan Danielson AEW Dynamite Despite being a draw, their first ever AEW match
12:21did not disappoint.
12:263.
12:30Hangman Adam Page vs. Bryan Danielson AEW Dynamite Casually getting this world title matchup
12:37on regular TV feels like it should be illegal.
12:531.
12:54Bryan Danielson vs. Will Ospreay AEW Dynasty AEW's been the home for a lot of firsts in pro wrestling,
13:02and 2024's dynasty is no different.
13:06It's all the first ever matchup between Will Ospreay and Bryan Danielson.
13:142.
13:18Bryan Danielson
13:20Both wrestlers are exceptionally gifted, but can they make magic when pitted against each
13:25other?
13:26Yes, yes they can.
13:28This match ruled.
13:30Ospreay got to be the Ariel Assassin, Danielson got to be the American Dragon, and we got to
13:35be entertained by it all.
13:382.
13:432.
13:441.
13:442.
13:443.
13:45These two had each other's number during the fights, but Will won with a devastating Storm
13:50Driver-Hidden Blade 1-2 combo.
13:52The breathtaking finish also damaged Danielson, showing us just how devastating Ospreay's finisher
13:58can be.
13:59Will Ospreay was already a great wrestler before, but this match made him a legendary one.
14:12Are there any AEW all-timers we forgot?
14:15Tell us your favorites in those comments below.
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