CHICAGO, IL – All Out 2022 highlights the tag teams, trios, and champions of All Elite Wrestling. With nearly every championship on the line, All Out is sure to have the Chicago crowd on the edge of their seats.
Note: This article is written in collaboration with Dylan Holt!
Zero Hour: Pac (C) vs. Kip Sabian – All-Atlantic Championship
Dylan Holt: Kip Sabian will finally return to an AEW ring on Sunday. We have seen him in the crowd for some time now, but he made his intentions clear when he attacked Pac during the Trios tournament a few weeks ago on Dynamite. This will be a heated contest, but “The Bastard” Pac will retain.
Alicea Alford: I expect this one to be another banger match from PAC, especially with this being Kip’s first match back since his injury, and he wanted this fight. Between the two of them, this is going to be intense. It’s just not the right time for PAC to lose, so he retains the All-Atlantic Championship in this one.
Zero Hour: Hook (C) vs. Angelo Parker – FTW Championship
Dylan Holt: Hook is going to be FTW Champion for the next 30 years. Dr. Strange looked into all those different timelines back in Avengers: Infinity War there isn’t a single timeline in which “Cool Hand” Angelo Parker beats Hook for the FTW Championship. Hook retains in less than 5 minutes.
Alicea Alford: I never want to see Hook lose. I hope he destroys everyone forever. I think Angelo Parker wants the FTW championship badly, so there’s potential to push Hook past his 5-minute threshold for singles wins. But the second the Redrum is locked in, Hook retains the FTW Championship.
Zero Hour: Eddie Kingston vs. Tomohiro Ishii
Dylan Holt: This is going to be one of those good ole slobber knockers that Jim Ross always talks about. These two faced off in a New Japan ring back in May, now they meet in an AEW ring. Kingston needs a big win and needs revenge for losing to Ishii back in May. This is the biggest toss-up during the Zero Hour, but I’ll go with Kingston to get the crowd excited for the main card.
Alicea Alford: I don’t think I can handle watching Eddie Kingston lose anymore. I think Eddie is going to deliver a hard-hitting match like always, especially since this is his second time facing Tomohiro Ishii. At NJPW’s Capital Collision, Eddie lost to him in less than 20 minutes, so Eddie is going to come fired up. Eddie needs this win (and so do I).
Swerve in Our Glory (C) vs. The Acclaimed – AEW Tag Team Championship
Dylan Holt: Everyone loves the Acclaimed! Sunday could be the night in which Max Caster and Anthony Bowens finally win gold in AEW. While Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland are uber-talented, they have had problems as a team in the past. I think those problems might resurface on Sunday, and the Chicago crowd will rejoice as the Acclaimed are crowned the new AEW Tag Team Champions.
Alicea Alford: Break out your scissors! Everybody loves The Acclaimed—and I’m no exception! I don’t know how they would take down Swerve Strickland and Keith Lee, but I think the strength of their friendship (and possibly Daddy Ass) might work. Ultimately, I’d like to see The Acclaimed cause chaos throughout the tag division as champions.
Jade Cargill (C) vs. Athena – TBS Championship
Dylan Holt: I’ll be honest I hope Jade Cargill never loses and honestly wish she was in the fatal four-way for the interim AEW Women’s Championship. Athena will be a great challenge for Cargill, and some may see her as the one to finally defeat her. I don’t, I think Cargill remains undefeated and retains the TBS Championship.
Alicea Alford: In a perfect world, I never watch Jade Cargill lose. Honestly, I’d love to see her be undefeated forever. While I think this may be one of her more demanding and challenging matches, I don’t think Athena breaks her undefeated streak and takes her championship. If Jade were up against Kris Statlander, I’d feel more unsure about the match’s outcome. Against Athena, though, Jade Cargill stays undefeated and retains her TBS championship. Jade is going to make All Out the That Bitch Show.
FTR and Wardlow vs. Jay Lethal and the Motor City Machine Guns
Dylan Holt: The Pinnacle, minus MJF and Shawn Spears, is back! It’s hard not to love the gold-cladded team of Wardlow and FTR. They have a tough test in Jay Lethal and the MCMG, but I don’t see them being stopped. They might be the best trio in all of AEW, maybe they can get a shot at those belts at some point (eyeball emojis).
Alicea Alford: While this will be a tough match for both teams, there’s no stopping FTR and Wardlow. They were on top in The Pinnacle for a reason! Thanks to them actually enjoying everyone on their team now, FTR and Wardlow have all the makings of being a major threat to AEW trios. I know I wouldn’t mind seeing them against The Elite to see FTR and the Young Bucks go at each other again. Other trios need to look out when FTR and Wardlow win this match.
The House of Black vs. Darby Allin, Sting, and Miro
Dylan Holt: The team of Darby Allin, Sting, and Miro is like an All-Star team. Darby and Miro have their problems from the past, Miro defeated Darby for the TNT Championship, but they have a common goal on Sunday at All Out: to take down the House of Black. Only problem: the House of Black is an actual cohesive unit. Also, the House of Black desperately needs a win, and I think they get a big one this Sunday at All Out.
Alicea Alford: As a stop on the journey of Miro vs. God, I’m excited to see him try to redeem the House of Black. However, I don’t think his determination, even with Darby and Sting, will be enough to take out the House of Black. Taking on one of the closest and strongest groups will need more than a group only working together because of a common enemy. With the added uncertainty of Julia Hart, I think House of Black gets the win—unless Miro’s hot, hot wife gets involved.
Jungle Boy vs. Christian Cage
Dylan Holt: Wow, this feud is awesome but deeply personal for both Jungle Boy and Christian Cage. Christain became a mentor for Jungle Boy and helped him grow as a competitor as he stood in his corner for over a year. Then it all went wrong. Christian put JB on the shelf after he and Luchasaruas lost the tag titles to the Young Bucks. Christian then attacked JB and his family verbally. AEW fans are ready to see Jungle Boy is ready to evolve into Jungle Man, and Sunday will be a huge part of that evolution. There is no way Jungle Boy leaves All Out without a W.
Alicea Alford: Without MJF, I needed an absolute menace to cheer for, and thankfully, Christian came through! Christian played the long game, plotting and planning for Jungle Boy’s downfall since their first interaction in a match. There’s no way Christian just stopped planning once he could actually get his hands on Jungle Boy. His elbow may not be 100%, but Christian must have some plan to beat Jungle Boy.
Ricky Starks vs. Powerhouse Hobbs
Dylan Holt: Pour one out for Team Taz, a super underrated stable. Ricky Starks and Powerhouse Hobbs are both set to become huge stars in AEW, but first, these former friends will face off at All Out. As teammates, they seemed to always come up just short. Hobbs has all the physical advantages but is facing a highly motivated Starks, who desperately wants to become a star in AEW. I think this is one of the more unpredictable matches on Sunday, but I’ll go with Ricky Starks to pick up a big win and gain more momentum.
Alicea Alford: I love Ricky Starks and don’t want his neck broken as much as the next person—but Powerhouse Hobbs is my guy. I have to stick with Hobbs. Even if he’s one of the top-ranked singles competitors, he’s got a lot to prove after being underappreciated for so long. And unlike Ricky, he’s not alright with losing, so I hope Hobbs wins and keeps his upward momentum going.
Hikaru Shida vs. Toni Storm vs. Britt Baker vs. Jami Hayter – Interim AEW Women’s World Championship
Dylan Holt: I hate that Thunder Rosa is unable to compete on Sunday, she has been great as AEW Women’s Champion, but AEW will crown an interim champion while Rosa is on the sidelines. This match has so many layers. Shida was the Women’s champion throughout the pandemic, with her reign ending at Double or Nothing 2021 against Baker. Baker is connected to everyone in this match: being rivals of both Shida and Storm while being friends with Hayter. Storm has been chasing gold since arriving in AEW, and Hayter is looking to get out of Baker’s shadows. I think Baker would be the safe bet, but I’m going with Shida. It will be interesting to see if Hayter finally turns on Baker, which has been teased for some time now.
Alicea Alford: It may not be a popular opinion, but I’m here for the pandemic-era champions getting a championship run in front of a crowd, so I’m all for Hikaru Shida. Shida was a champion people could get behind, and she gave everything she could when defending her championship. There’s also the fact that I don’t want to see Jamie Hayter or Toni Storm’s first AEW championship met with comments like “you’re just interim champion,” like what happened to Jon Moxley before defeating CM Punk. It’s also far too soon to see Britt Baker with the championship again. This match is all about Shida’s second championship run, and I hope she gets the crowd reaction she has earned and deserved.
Bryan Danielson vs. Chris Jericho
Dylan Holt: Two bonafide legends will meet in the ring on Sunday. Chris Jericho and Bryan Danielson have been at each other’s throats for months as the Blackpool Combat Club and the Jericho Appreciation Society have feuded through the summer. If you remember Jericho and the JAS took Danielson out of action after injuring the American Dragon during their match at Double or Nothing back in May. Danielson will look for revenge against the man that put him on the shelf and may try to recruit Daniel Garcia in the process.
Alicea Alford: Funnily enough, I don’t know that I’ve ever seen a Jericho match I’ve wanted him to win because he’s always against someone I like more. In this “Duel of the Fates” level match, Daniel Garcia’s place in AEW could drastically change. When Bryan Danielson (the Qui-Gon/Obi-Wan of this comparison) wins, Garcia (Anakin Skywalker) can go with his hero to the Blackpool Combat Club and become the technical wrestler he’s always wanted. This win from Bryan Danielson further cracks Daniel Garcia’s “sports entertainer” persona and place in the Jericho Appreciation Society.
The Elite vs. Dark Order and Hangman Adam Page – AEW World Trios Championship
Dylan Holt: Kenny Omega is back, and the Elite has been on fire. While Omega is still not 100% after sitting on the sidelines since losing the AEW Championship at Fuel Gear 2021, the Elite is still the best three-man unit in AEW. They face Dark Order, who have recruited everyone’s favorite cowboy “Hangman” Adam Page to join their efforts. The history between Page and the Elite is no secret, which instantly elevates this match. Dark Order has to be seen as heavy underdogs, but I’m riding with the ‘dogs in this one. Page is one of the very best in AEW, and with Omega still dealing with injuries and being less than 100%, Dark Order is going to upset the Elite and be crowned the first-ever AEW Trios Champions.
Alicea Alford: For the Dark Order to keep saying “Dark Order forever” while their numbers continue to dwindle, something needs to make them feel big again, and I think the trios championships are just that. This match has a lot on the line, especially for Hangman Adam Page, as he’s up against his former friends in The Elite. As a man who realized the AEW World Championship didn’t make him happy, I’d like to see him happy with his friends in the Dark Order with the trios championships. I’m intrigued to see how this match goes because Kenny Omega has yet to discover Hangman was asked to team with the Young Bucks first. However, if Hangman’s butterfly jeans were any indication, this is a transformative moment for him and The Elite where they may put their past aside. With Hangman beside Alex Reynolds and Johnny Hungee, The Dark Order become the first team to hold the AEW World Trios Championships.
Claudio Castagnoli vs. Wheeler Yuta vs. Andrade El Idolo vs. Rush vs. Dante Martin vs. Rey Fenix vs. Pental El Zero Meido vs. Joker – Casino Ladder Match
Dylan Holt: This will probably be the most fun match of the night, with these competitors fighting for a future AEW World Championship match. As a product of the Hardy Boyz era, I LOVE ladder matches. I want to add that I love what AEW has done with the Casino Ladder Match format, combining a ladder match with the feel of a “Royal Rumble” is amazing.
This has the potential to be bonkers. Andrade and Rush will no doubt be going after the Lucha Brothers throughout the match. Claudio and Wheeler will go to war with one another but will end up fighting each other in their chase of future gold. Dante Martin will continue his ascent to stardom as he does things we thought were simply impossible. Then we’ll have the joker. Who in the world is the Joker? It seems as if all of AEW’s healthy stars are booked on the All Out card. My guess is a returning Adam Cole. Cole returns to a huge pop and gets the win and a future title match against whoever walks out of All Out AEW World Champion.
Alicea Alford: There’s a lot of speculation around who the Joker is, and if it’s Adam Cole the way people expect, I’m sure he wins the match and the opportunity to win the AEW World Championship. That just makes sense. For me, the one guy The Joker could be that would change everything would (almost delusionally) be MJF. I’d love to see him get his more than deserved chance at the AEW World Championship against “Dictator” Jon or CM Punk.
As for the already announced participants in this match, I’d like to see Andrade El Idolo win. I think he runs the risk of being too focused on the Lucha Bros. to win the match, but I think he would put on a great match and do well with a championship.
Jon Moxley (C) vs. CM Punk – AEW World Championship
Dylan Holt: A few days ago, we did not know that this match would for sure happen. After a Rocky Balboa-esque promo from CM Punk, Punk is ready to go to war for the city of Chicago. Since winning the interim AEW Championship at Forbidden Door, Mox has been incredible and it’s hard to imagine him losing. It’s also very hard to imagine Punk losing in Chicago, it’s the ultimate home court advantage. Mox embarrassed Punk in the unification match on Dynamite two weeks ago, he should have all the momentum, but it’s Punk in Chicago. While we did not get the Summer of Punk, it seems we might be on the verge of the Autumn of Punk. (Sidenote: I usually use the word Fall instead of Autumn, but Fall of Punk doesn’t put the best image in my head).
Alicea Alford: The only things making me nervous about this matchup are its location in Chicago and how short the Young Bucks’ second tag team championship run was as the first two-time tag champs. As the first two-time AEW World Champion, I’d like to see Moxley retain because he’s been dominating lately. Mox has destroyed Punk on the mic for weeks now. He was cheered in Chicago after calling Punk “weak-minded” and “weak-spirited”—that’s how powerful Moxley is. Punk has a lot to prove after their last match, and it should have lit a fire under him, but I don’t know that he’s got enough fire to take Mox down and take the championship back. I think Moxley retains his championship against CM Punk in Chicago because he just can’t be stopped right now.
