“The scene has changed. The game has changed.” – Jim Ross (September 5, 2021. AEW All Out. Chicago, Illinois)
Without overstating things, September 5, 2021, was a historic night for professional wrestling. AEW’s biggest show of the year, All Out, was poised to deliver a highly anticipated card, headlined by CM Punk making his in-ring return to pro wrestling.
It was so much more than that. AEW took the opportunity to showcase what it has spent the last few years building. It’s not merely competition for WWE. For many, arguably, it’s a replacement.
The AEW roster has been built meticulously, and with one night in Chicago – they showed to the world that they added the star power needed to go up against the McMahon family once and for all.
CM Punk. Ruby Soho. Adam Cole (Bay Bay!). Daniel Bryan. I mean, Bryan Danielson (gotta get used to that).
The hits just kept coming. From a solid pre-show to a wide variety of matches that each delivered in their own unique ways.. it was all killer, no filler. Well, okay. Except maybe for that Paul Wight match / piss break, which was out of character for AEW. But seriously, besides that, they spent the entire night showcasing their talent, telling interesting stories, and captivating an audience who was there with a craving for PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING.
Those two words matter. Sports entertainment has become the default, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Arguably, it’s all pro wrestling. It’s all sports entertainment. But when you present a product the way AEW did on Sunday.. *chef’s kiss*
Fans old and new, lapsed and jaded – they found something to get behind. I realize I’m coming off as a total fanboy in everything you just read. But I think they earned it. What’s next for AEW? Besides Minoru Suzuki vs Jon Moxley, that is?
One thing is for sure: Someone is gonna get their fuckin head kicked in!
Featuring: ‘The Mayor of Reseda’ Derek (@cap_kaveman), ‘Super Jew’ Jared (@SuperJew75), FKA ‘The Beast from the Middle East’ Darrell Johnson (@zazzumplop), ‘Pipe Bomb’ Bryan Gregston (@guitarsalad), and ‘A Bomb’ Adam Hess (@ahess49)
Music by The Black Furies, courtesy of Music Alley
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