AEW All Out 2020 Predictions

Which match are you most looking forward to at AEW All Out?

Chad Gelfand: The main event. Jon Moxley vs. MJF has been built well, and with MJF becoming edgier and Moxley’s Death Rider finisher banned, it’ll be interesting to see what type of match these two put together.

John Corrigan: FTR challenging Kenny Omega and Hangman Page. It’ll be fascinating to see how their styles collide and I expect new Tag Team Champions. When that happens, maybe we’ll finally see Omega and Page explode.

Juan Bautista: Jon Moxley vs MJF. I’m also intrigued by the Broken Rules because the pace will probably be picked up with Sammy.

David Gibb: Omega & Page vs. FTR. Let’s get those tag titles out of limbo, start the next chapter for Omega and Page as singles wrestlers and create a reason for everybody to chase FTR in 2-on-2 matches instead of constantly doing 8-on-8 or 2-on-2-on-2-on-2 free-for-alls.

Steven Jackson: Jon Moxley vs. MJF. MJF is one of the best in the world today – the best heel of not only this generation, but several generations previous. I just cannot wait to see how this one will pan out!

Jack Goodwillie: I’ve been saying ever since the main event match got signed, “We are going to learn a ton about MJF on Sept. 5.” And that’s not to say MJF hasn’t been put in big spots before or that he hasn’t shined in those spots. But this is the featured match, regardless of what Chris Jericho will say on Twitter. This is MJF’s close-up. At 24 years young, we’re going to see just how ready he is to be a week-in, week-out main event player on Dynamite and not just some side dish feuding with Jungle Boy. He’ll be the perfect foil as well for his opponent, Jon Moxley, who’s been on an absolute tear throughout the pandemic, having recently become the longest-reigning world champion in AEW’s short history.

Who will win the 21-man Casino Battle Royale?

Gelfand: Lance Archer. The winner receives a world title shot, and I believe that Jon Moxley is retaining the title. Archer is someone who can give Moxley a great match, as we’ve seen in the past, and he’s also a fresh challenger as well.

Corrigan: Rey Fenix. Unexpected, yet acceptable and exciting. He’d make a great first challenger for the new AEW World Champion…

Bautista: We are allowed to dream, right? Brock Lesnar. Taz will be teasing all night with his “here comes the pain” line. If my dream doesn’t come true, I’m pulling for Darby or Eddie Kingston.

Gibb: Either Allin or someone from Taz’s crew, given who they’ve announced so far and who actually has an angle on TV that doesn’t have a match on this show.

Jackson: I’m really wanting Eddie Kingston to win the Casino Battle Royale and get a shot at the AEW World Title. It may not happen, but here’s hoping it will!

Goodwillie: I sort wish AEW would save the “casino” gimmick matches for Double or Nothing, feels a little out of place without the oversized poker chips by the stage. That said, as much as I’d like to see Brian Cage or Ricky Starks come out on top because they’re the new(ish) toys, this is a good spot for Darby Allin, who many thought would win the ladder match at Double or Nothing. While I’m not one to put a great amount of stock in size, he is small to the point where he can be seen as gaunt in the right light, and the Coffin Drop is perhaps the worst finishing move in wrestling. That said, there is something about him, and if the world title match shakes out the way I think it will, barring any surprise entrants, he’s certainly a candidate to win this match.

But watch out for Brock Lesnar.

Has Chris Jericho gotten too silly to be the top heel in the company?

Gelfand: I don’t think Jericho should be the top heel in the company anymore, but silliness isn’t the reason why. Jericho has clearly lost several steps in the ring, as is expected at his age, and he can no longer physically keep up in order to put together a high caliber main event match. His role in the upper midcard is a good spot for him right now.

Corrigan: Nah, he can still walk the tightrope between comic relief and vicious villain, perhaps better than anyone ever has.

Bautista: No. Top babyfaces such as Stone Cold Steve Austin drove a beer truck to the ring and sprayed people. JBL went to the border and chased Mexicans.

Gibb: It’s weird how no one was ever like, “Has The Rock done too much comedy to have another match with Steve Austin?” Look, the Jericho-Cassidy stuff has been bad – not because “funny isn’t money” or either one of them is awful, though. The problem is they’ve still never explained what OC is other than some sort of inside joke, and Jericho isn’t cool enough anymore to get over a joke that just about everybody is on the outside of.

Jackson: Not at all. It adds into his heel persona perfectly. Jericho is incredible on the microphone and his in-ring heel work is totally unique. Being silly can add to your heel antics more than take away from them, and Jericho has mastered that art better than anyone.

Goodwillie: Yes. In the entertainment world, they’ll say someone has “jumped the shark” when things get a little too wacky/not believable – Jericho definitely fits the bill. Worse, I don’t know if there’s an easy answer for how he can get back to being more than a comedy heel at this point. Make no mistake, The Inner Circle is still rock solid as a group, especially with Sammy Guevara back in Tony Khan’s good graces, but as for Jericho, tell me: what would a realistic path be for him to get back to the title? I just don’t see it. He’s got the second worst finishing move in wrestling (see above for number one) and the Clown Jericho gimmick has been going on since the early stages of the pandemic when Matt Hardy came in. I don’t see him shaking it anytime soon, but I’m open to be proven wrong.

Is Thunder Rosa the savior of AEW’s women’s division?

Gelfand: I don’t think any one woman will be the savior of AEW’s women’s division. As good as Thunder Rosa is, if AEW doesn’t put the TV time and storylines behind her, then it will be hard for the women’s division to advance. There are talented women in AEW, and they just need to be spotlighted better.

Corrigan: Yes! I’m pumped to see her back in action. She was the biggest COVID casualty in wrestling. After building so much momentum in the winter, winning the NWA Women’s Championship in a showstealer at Hard Times, Thunder Rosa’s flame was extinguished when the NWA went dark. Tony Khan says he requested her from Billy Corgan, so he clearly sees her potential. AEW’s women’s division has lacked a central figure – we thought it was Nyla Rose, then we thought Riho, and then we thought Britt Baker. Thankfully, Thunder Rosa will put the division on her back and strengthen AEW’s weakest spot.

Bautista: Thunder Rosa will be one of the centerpieces that helps the division, but they don’t need to put all the weight on one person’s shoulder.

Gibb: No. Thunder Rosa is excellent, but in this context, she’s a Band-Aid who’s there to put over Shida because nobody else is ready to have a PPV match with her.

Jackson: It’s hard to say. She’s definitely an integral part of it, but the whole division has improved, and I don’t like to put a particular division on the back of one person. That is unfair to the rest of the talent. She’s definitely important to the division, but not the savior.

Goodwillie: I don’t know if any one person can save AEW’s women’s division, but Thunder Rosa was an A+ signing for AEW. As a wrestler, she has all the tools, which can’t be said for many in the AEW women’s division. Outside the ring, she’ll be the most marketable AEW Women’s Champion we’ve seen yet and it’s not close. For starters, she speaks English, which is super important for a champion in a North American promotion to be able to do. She has one of the more unique characters in women’s wrestling in general, is strikingly beautiful, has legitimate shoot credentials and will be a good ambassador for the product. I fully expect her to get the nod on Saturday night.

Who wins: Moxley or MJF?

Gelfand: Moxley. MJF is excellent, but Moxley has had a great reign as well, and I wouldn’t take the title off him just yet. My fantasy booking end game would be to have a heel Kenny Omega take the title off of Moxley, let him go on a nice run, and eventually build to Adam Page, finally winning the championship off of Omega, creating a mega babyface champion.

Corrigan: MJF. Just can’t see him eating a major loss yet. Mox has had a solid run during the pandemic, but it’s time for another heel to ascend to the throne.

Bautista: With fans now in attendance, MJF walks out the AEW World Champion.

Gibb: MJF stood tall on the go-home show, so Mox wins. Classic WWE formula.

Jackson: MJF. MJF. MJF. It needs to be MJF. If not, I’m calling his attorney to overrule the decision!

Goodwillie: If this was WWE, you could probably expect Moxley to go over a few times before MJF finally gets the jump on him. However, this is not WWE. This is AEW. And AEW has not been shy to pull the trigger on the guys they believe in. I’m thinking MJF goes over dirty in this spot, validates his win somewhere down the line and hangs onto the gold through year’s end.