AEW All Out began more slowly than I expected, and I’m still uncertain why. Maybe it was because the show opened with a National Championship match that didn’t live up to my hopes, especially after a chaotic Tailgate Brawl tornado tag match closed out the pre-show. Something just felt off at the start. Luckily, the event picked up momentum as it went on, but that sluggish beginning threw me off at first. An unfortunate injury also disrupted the flow for both the performers and the audience.
The National Championship bout between Andrade El Idolo and Pac lacked the fast-paced excitement I anticipated. Since I anticipated Andrade would retain, perhaps this match could have happened later in the card, or maybe the AEW Trios Championship match should have opened the show, as that contest was sure to feel significant and deliver outstanding action regardless of the winning team.
Then came a distressing moment when Steven Borden suffered a serious injury during the tag match alongside Darby Allin against Kevin Knight and Kyle Fletcher for the number one contendership to the AEW World Tag Team Championships. Seeing such a major injury is always tough, especially since it happened to Borden on his first major pay-per-view at a large event. The medical stoppage dampened the atmosphere, through no fault of anyone involved, and contributed to the underwhelming feel of the evening’s first part.
The crowd clearly needed time to recover after Borden was stretchered out, leading to a quiet start for TBS Champion Persephone’s open challenge, answered by debuting Dani Luna. Both women worked hard to engage the fans and delivered an excellent match, though Persephone ultimately retained the title. It’s always a bit disappointing to see a promising debuting talent lose on their first big stage.
Following the National Championship clash, my expectations for the International Championship match between Kazuchika Okada and Tommaso Ciampa were lowered, as it too started slowly. However, the moment when Willow Ciampa gave Okada a double middle finger after Okada targeted an adorable 8-year-old at ringside was exactly the jolt the crowd needed. After that, the match heated up impressively. AEW generally delivers solid pay-per-view events, and thankfully, this one fulfilled that reputation, even though the opening segment had me worried for a while.
Written by Daisy Ruth
Fan Take: This event highlights both the unpredictability and resilience within professional wrestling, reminding fans how high-stakes moments and unexpected setbacks can shape the narrative. For fighting fans, it underscores the importance of athlete safety while demonstrating that compelling storytelling and in-ring talent can help a show recover and shine despite early hurdles.
Source: www.wrestlinginc.com
