AEW WrestleDream is the promotion’s newest PPV and takes place on Sunday, October 1st at the Climate Pledge Arean in Seattle.
Tony Khan announced the pay-per-view will be held in honor of New Japan Pro-Wrestling’s founder Antonio Inoki, with the event taking place on the one-year anniversary of his passing. Khan also stated that the PPV will usher in a “new era” for the promotion.
As the name suggests this first-time-ever event features several dream matches such as Bryan Danielson meeting Zack Sabre Jnr. and FTR defending the tag team titles against Aussie Open. The PPV also hosts a number of first-time meetings. Chris Jericho joins forces with the Golden Lovers in a never-seen-before partnership, Hangman Adam Page takes on Swerve Strickland and Darby Allin headlines the PPV for the time in his career.
As per usual the card is stacked featuring a total of 14 matches.
The full AEW WrestleDream card is as follows:
- Christian Cage (c) vs. Darby Allin – 2-Out-Of-3-Falls match for the TNT Championship
- MJF (c) vs. The Righteous – ROH World Tag Team Championship
- Bryan Danielson vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
- FTR (c) vs. Aussie Open – AEW Tag Team Championship
- Hangman Adam Page vs. Swerve Strickland
- Chris Jericho, Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi vs. Konosuke Takeshita, Sammy Guevara, and Will Ospreay
- Eddie Kingston (c) vs. Katsuyori Shibata – ROH World Championship and Strong Openweight Championship
- Kris Statlander (c) vs. Julia Hart – TBS Championship
- Wheeler Yuta vs. Ricky Starks
- The Young Bucks vs. The Gunns vs. The Lucha Brothers vs. Orange Cassidy and Hook – Four-way tag team match for a future AEW World Tag Team Championship match
- Josh Barnett vs. Claudio Castagnoli
- The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn (c) vs. TMDK – World Trios Championship
- Luchasaurus vs. Nick Wayne
- Shane Taylor, Lee Moriarty, Diamante and Mercedes Martinez vs. Satoshi Kojima, Keith Lee, Athena, and Billie Starkz
As always AEW brings fans a stacked card, so without further adieu, let’s pick our winners…
Shane Taylor, Lee Moriarty, Diamante and Mercedes Martinez vs. Satoshi Kojima, Keith Lee, Athena, and Billie Starkz
A stacked mixed eight-person tag featuring Shane Taylor, Lee Moriarty, Diamante and Mercedes Martinez will team up to battle Satoshi Kojima, Keith Lee, Athena and Billie Starkz on the Zero Hour pre-show.
Prediction: There is going to be some fun and interesting encounters throughout this match and one that will see the quartette of Kojima, Lee, Athena and Starkz pick up the win.
Luchasaurus vs. Nick Wayne
AEW’s youngest star makes his PPV debut against the intimidating dinosaur man. The two stars have been feuding for weeks, on opposite sides of Darby Allin’s rivalry with Christian Cage.
Prediction: Luchasaurus will overpower and destroy Wayne but the hometown hero will get the win.
The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn (c) vs. TMDK – World Trios Championship
After successfully defending the trios titles against the Hardys and Brother Zay, it was confirmed that The Acclaimed would be on the WrestleDream pre-show to put their gold on the line against the TMDK trio of Shane Haste, Mikey Nicholls, and Bad Dude Tito.
Prediction: TMDK is an experienced team who have tasted success before and will give the scissor-happy trio a run for their money but not take their titles. The Acclaimed retain.
Josh Barnett vs. Claudio Castagnoli
Claudio Castagnoli issued an open challenge for AEW WrestleDream. He may have got more than he bargained for as the challenge was answered by Josh Barnett. The former MMA fighter and UFC champion is known for his hybrid MMA and wrestling event Bloodsport will make his AEW debut against the member of the Blackpool Combat Club.
Prediction: This match is not for the faint-hearted as these two are going to beat the hell out of each other with a variety of wince-inducing strikes but Castagnoli is superior athleticism will overcome Barnett’s brute strength. Claudio Castagnoli wins.
The Young Bucks vs. The Gunns vs. The Lucha Brothers vs. Orange Cassidy and Hook
During the September 23rd edition of Collision, a four-way tag team match was added to the PPV. But it is not just any four-way tag team match because the winning team will receive a shot at the AEW Tag Team Championships any time they see fit.
Prediction: Not really much in the way of build, but this match promises to be one to watch. Three of the four teams have held the tag team gold before while the duo of Orange Cassidy and HOOK have tasted singles championship success. The Bucks and the Lucha Bros are clear favourites being the most experienced but the Gunns could carve out a win via nefarious means. However, the makeshift duo of OC and HOOK are the dark horses of this match and will get the surprise victory. Orange Cassidy and HOOK win.
Wheeler Yuta vs. Ricky Starks
Ricky Starks’ beef with the Blackpool Combat Club continues after Wheeler Yuta put his hands on him following his brutal Texas Death match against Bryan Danielson.
Prediction: Starks’ recent matches with the American Dragon have elevated to another level and although Yuta is a tough competitor Starks will defeat him. Ricky Starks wins.
Kris Statlander (c) vs. Julia Hart – TBS Championship
Kris Statlander received her opponent for the PPV when Julia Hart threw down the challenge to the dominant champion. On the September 23rd episode of Collision Hart used the devilish black mist to take out Statlander’s buddies Willow Nightingale and Skye Blue. Following the attacks, Brody King called out the champion on Hart’s behalf.
Prediction: Both competitors come into the match was a tonne of momentum. Statlander has been positioned as a strong champion since dethroning Jade Cargill while Hart has not lost a match since April 2022. Obviously, the champ has the height and power advantage, but Hart’s spooky antics could very easily counter it. But it just doesn’t feel like Statlander will lose the title anytime soon. Kris Statlander retains.
Eddie Kingston (c) vs. Katsuyori Shibata – ROH World Championship and Strong Openweight Championship
Eddie Kingston will defend two championships in one match against the formidable Katsuyori Shibata in what promises to be a hard-hitting affair. After becoming a double champion at Grand Slam, Kingston challenged Shibata to a match that was about honour as much as it was about the titles.
Prediction: Both men are known for their stiff strikes and ability to absorb punishment ensuring this bout will be a brutal affair. Yet despite Shibata being the more technical fighter Kingston’s intensity, passion and drive will overcome anything the Wrestler throws at him. Eddie Kingston retains.
Swerve Strickland vs. Hangman Adam Page
Swerve Strickland came after Hangman Adam Page and called him out for being entitled. He blasted him for being gifted opportunities because of who his friends are before stating that his position in the company had led to him becoming comfortable and unambitious. The comments lit a fire under the anxious millennial cowboy who then stabbed the leader of the Mogul Affiliates in the hand with a pen after their contract signing.
Prediction: Swerve has been on one hell of an upward trajectory as of late and it won’t stop here. Hangman is on a road to redemption and a loss in this match will add to his comeback journey while giving Swerve a huge victory. Swerve Strickland wins.
Chris Jericho, Kenny Omega and Kota Ibushi vs. Konosuke Takeshita, Sammy Guevara, and Will Ospreay
Ever since Don Callis turned his back on Kenny Omega he has made sure to make his life a living hell. The Invisible Hand has since targetted Omega’s best friend Kota Ibushi and fellow countryman Chris Jericho while adding Konosuke Takeshita, Sammy Guevera and Will Ospreay to his family. After orchestrating several attacks on Jericho and Ibushi Callis announced that his family, will face them in trios action at the event.
Prediction: While Callis has created an excellent trio of wrestlers in his family he has also gained a dangerous set of enemies. The combination of Omega, Ibushi and Jericho are out for blood after the series of betrayals they experienced at the hands of the Don Callis Family. The bad blood between the six fighters ensures this will be an intense and exciting affair but one that will not end this rivalry. The Don Callis Family win.
FTR (c) vs. Aussie Open – AEW Tag Team Championship
FTR accepted the title challenge from Aussie Open setting up a highly-anticipated match-up between two of the best teams in the world. The teams met in October 2022 in the main event of NJPW Royal Quest II at London’s Crystal Palace National Sports Centre. FTR were successful on that occasion in a critically acclaimed bout that lasted almost 32 minutes. The pair now meet once in a bid to replicate their classic encounter in an AEW ring.
Prediction: Since joining AEW Aussie Open are determined to cement their place at the top of the tag team division while FTR have constantly proved their top guy status with a series of hard-fought title defences. Due to these regular gruelling matches, Aussie Open are the fresher of the two teams and will be able to outlast the champions en route to a shocking victory. Aussie Open win, new Tag Team Champions crowned.
Bryan Danielson vs. Zack Sabre Jr.
The highly anticipated dream match that was meant to happen at Forbidden Door 2022 finally goes down in Bryan Danielson’s home state. The match was set when Danielson announced he was winding down his career and handpicked Zack Sabre Jr. as his WresteleDream opponent. Following the announcement, the smarmy Brit has threatened to submit Danielson in Seattle and retire him permanently.
Prediction: Regardless of the outcome, this match will be a joy to watch. Danielson and Sabre Jr. are two of the most technically gifted wrestlers in the world and the encounter has the potential to be a classic. Expect to see a slow-paced mat-based clinic that builds to an epic crescendo of eyewatering strikes. Bryan Danielson wins.
MJF (c) vs. The Righteous – ROH Tag Team Championships
MJF is defending the titles he and Cole won at All In in a handicapped match against the Righteous. After Cole broke his foot jumping off the entrance ramp at Grand Slam he was ready to relinquish the titles but MJF refused and will wrestle the challengers in a two-on-one match.
Prediction: MJF is at an obvious disadvantage fighting two people at once but he also has an injured neck. These obstacles and the loss of Cole will result in him dropping the titles and sustaining further wear and tear on his body. The result will begin the next chapter of his story with his best friend, who is definitely faking the ankle injury in a ploy to soften up MJF and take the World Championship. The Righteous wins, new champions crowned.
Christian Cage (c) vs. Darby Allin – 2-Out-Of-3-Falls match for the TNT Championship
Christian Cage became TNT Champion for the first time. After the win Cage cut a promo backstage dedicated his victory to Nick Wayne’s mother and late father, Buddy Wayne, who he was sure was cheering him on “from upstairs.” His celebratory mood was soon soured, though, as Tony Schiavone informed him that he wasn’t done with Darby Allin just yet as he would be defending the title against the star in a 2 Out Of 3 Falls match.
Prediction: Cage has been an absolute riot during this feud and his official TNT Championship run is only getting started. Expect a strong back-and-forth match with a tonne of interference from Nick Wayne, Sting, Luchasaurus and possibly Edge making hs AEW debut. Christian Cage retains.
You can watch AEW WrestleDream from 8 PM ET and 1AM UK times on pay-per-view and streaming live on FITE TV.