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All Elite Wrestling is putting on their big Labor Day weekend PPV tomorrow (Sat., Sept. 5, 2020) - All Out!
After a free streaming pre-show which starts an hour earlier, the event starts at 8PM Eastern, and can be purchased on B/R Live (and traditional PPV) here in the U.S. & Canada, and on Fite.tv everywhere else.
All Out is the successor to the event that led to the birth of AEW, 2018’s ALL IN. Like that show, it was supposed to take place in Chicagoland, but pandemic has changed everyone’s plans this year. Still, Tony Khan & company have booked themselves a great-looking show for Jacksonville’s Daily Plaza, with lots of story twists and plenty of bad blood in store for us.
We’re assembling our motley crew to give thoughts & predictions on each bout on the card.
Let's get to it.
AEW ALL OUT PREDICTIONS
Jon Moxley (c) vs. MJF for the AEW World title
Sean Rueter: My theory on what Candidate Friedman is missing is a full crowd. Without thousands of people booing him, he’s just not as interesting. It’s one of a few reasons I think they hold off on his eventual coronation. Pick: Jon Moxley
Kyle Decker: MJF doesn’t feel like he’s world title caliber yet. Maybe it’s because he was missing for a while during the pandemic. Maybe it’s because the only win of note he picked up was against Cody. He’s like one of those mid major college football teams who wants to be considered a champion because they haven’t lost even though they spent most of their time playing an easy conference. It’s not time. Pick: Jeeeeeeern Moxley
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: Ordinarily I’d feel like it’s about the right time for MJF to pick the title up, but something about the “No Paradigm Shift” stipulation has me spooked, especially after the champ just made a major title defense that was built around the idea that he couldn’t effectively hit Paradigm Shift on Brian Cage. I think Friedman is the next champ, but I don’t think it’s happening here. Mox overwhelms him, and we circle back around at Full Gear later in the year or at Revolution in 2021. Pick: Jon Moxley
Cain A. Knight: I can’t really see MJF winning this match. The political campaign angle has been a letdown and just isn’t the right story for Moxley to drop the title. Perhaps MJF will blame Wardlow for the loss, leading to their breakup. Pick: Jon Moxley
Manolo H. Pizzazz: MJF is a wrestling prodigy. Moxley is a master at wrestling warfare. The question will be who can steer the game more to their strengths. I’m going to favor Moxley. Since MJF made Mox bleed on Dynamite, I believe that will trigger Moxley into a focused hurricane of rage intent on wounding the challenger. MJF won’t be able to weather that storm. Pick: Jon Moxley
Stella Cheeks: Up until this week’s Dynamite I was convinced that MJF was going to win. But considering he bloodied up the champion but good I doubt that’s going to happen. It’s like a wrestling prophecy - If you cut Jon Moxley expect two cuts in return. The blood only encourages him. Pick: Jon Moxley
Henry T. Casey: MJF winning the top AEW title seems like a sure-fire thing, and I think Page is the next champ after him. But why does this not feel like the right time? Something is telling me that Mox will lose ... on a Dynamite to be named later. Pick: Jonny Moxley
Chris Jericho vs. Orange Cassidy
Sean Rueter: This feud has changed the way most fans view O.C. No longer strictly a comedy act, he’s now a guy AEW can use anywhere from gimmick matches to the main event. Mission accomplished. They don’t need to give the he Demo God a high profile loss here, especially when Cassidy can out to a guy when there’s an on-brand way for Orange to stand tall in the afternath (e.g. putting all of Inner Circle into the mimosa). Pick: Chris Jericho
Kyle Decker: The fact that this is a gimmick match where you don’t actually need to get pinned nor submitted to win is so Jericho can lose this feud in a way that he doesn’t have to take two pinfall losses. He can fall into a tub of Mimosa, Orange can win the feud, but Chris can crow how he was never pinned. Pick: Orange Cassidy
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: I think, just on the merits of it, this is a match you want your babyface to win, but even moreso after Orange’s previous victory came off kind of flat. This is a chance to right that wrong and have ol’ Freshly Squeezed emerge triumphant. Pick: Orange Cassidy
Cain A. Knight: I think the reason why they are keeping pinfalls and submissions in this match is so that Jericho can win via pin, but then get dumped in the mimosa afterwards. But if Jericho is going to lose, don’t be surprised if it’s because Mike Tyson gets involved. Pick: Chris Jericho
Manolo H. Pizzazz: Bubbly is better than orange juice. Ipso facto, Jericho is better than Cassidy. I hope Cassidy knows how to swim with his hands in his pockets, otherwise, he’ll drown in a vat of mimosa. Pick: Chris Jericho
Stella Cheeks: The point of this feud seems to be to make Orange Cassidy a star on AEW. Before this feud he was just a guy that was easy to GIF, now he’s an AEW star. It would be a waste to have him lose this rubber match. Chris Jericho should drown in his own hubris (and also a mimosa) Pick: Orange Cassidy
Henry T. Casey: I mean, here’s what I’m thinking. Where does Orange go from beating Jericho? Well, actually, challenging future champ MJF makes a whole lot of sense. That match would be gold Pick: Orange Cassidy
Hangman Page & Kenny Omega (c) vs. FTR for the AEW Tag Team championship
Sean Rueter: Not sure how far they’ll move the overall Elite story along on Saturday night, but we should the loss of the tag belts should be a catalyst for whatever comes next with the Cleaner and the Cowboy. Pick: FTR
Kyle Decker: Feels like there’s just too much going on with both Kenny and Hangman for them to keep holding the titles. They’ve probably held the titles longer than planned anyway. FTR as dominant heel tag champs is also the way to go to eventually get to Bucks vs. FTR for the gold. Pick: FTR
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: C’mon, Kenny and Hangman are in full disintegration mode and FTR have one of the Four Horsemen in their corner. Ain’t even a choice. Pick: FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood)
Cain A. Knight: FTR has been manipulating Hangman Page for a long time, and the whole point of it was to eventually put them in position to win the tag titles from him. Page and Omega will finally lose the gold. Pick: FTR
Manolo H. Pizzazz: Despite so much drama, Hangman and Omega have been through thick and thin and are still tag team champs. Bottom line is they are the best. As long as they work together, they will prevail and celebrate with beer and choc. Pick: Hangman Page & Kenny Omega
Stella Cheeks: If FTR doesn’t win this match then I think it’s safe to say that Hangman Page & Kenny Omega will NEVER relinquish their titles. It’s time. Pick: FTR
Henry T. Casey: Here’s two predictions for the price of none (cause it’s free to read): FTR wins and Omega (possibly with the Bucks) turn on Page, leaving him practically dead in the ring. Pick: FTR
Hikaru Shida (c) vs. Thunder Rosa for the AEW Women’s championship
Sean Rueter: With such a long, involved story behind it, they really can’t go wrong either way. [What do you mean sarcasm font only works in the comments?] Pick: Hikaru Shida
Kyle Decker: Given there’s not much here, I don’t see any reason for Shida to drop the belt. I could also see a wonky finish that protects both champions so neither promotion takes a clean loss. Pick: Hikaru Shida
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: I cannot imagine a world where Shida gets dethroned on an interpromotional feud like this. Pick: Hikaru Shida
Cain A. Knight: Maybe they switch the title to give Shida a quality opponent to work a long feud with, but I’ll stick with the safe route and predict the AEW wrestler will defeat the NWA wrestler. Pick: Hikaru Shida
Manolo H. Pizzazz: I have a wild hunch that this will be the swerve result. There’s no way AEW would put a title belt on an outsider, right? That’s where the swerve comes in. Thunder Rosa will shock the world in victory. AEW can do a rematch down the line for Shida to regain the gold. Pick: Thunder Rosa
Stella Cheeks: Clearly AEW has no god damn clue what to do with their women’s division. I mean, Shida was on TV every week killing it and then they gave her the title and put her on ice. WHAT THE HELL KIND OF SENSE IS THAT? Maybe if they have a champion from outside the company they will be forced to actually, I don’t know, write compelling stories for their champ? Wishful thinking on my part. le sigh. Pick: Thunder Rosa
Henry T. Casey: Gosh, Thunder Rosa would be big news. An AEW title won by someone not on contract ... but AEW needs to prove to me that it cares that much about its womens’ division. Pick: Hikaru Shiiiiida
Sammy Guevara vs. Matt Hardy
Sean Rueter: Will Tony book both of his Monday Night War era stars to win on his biggest show? Seems off-brand. Especially when this can be the catalyst for Hardy to finally do something that doesn’t reuse past characters. Pick: Sammy Guevara
Kyle Decker: The stipulation almost sets up a Matt Hardy win. But I’m going to go the other way. I bet “Matt Hardy” loses and leaves AEW but comes back as a character even more insane. Pick: Sammy Guevara
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: It’s certainly not inconceivable that Matt Hardy just go away for awhile, either in a scenario like Kyle laid out or just “vet takes six months off and comes back the next time they’ve got a feud for him” part-timer type business, but I don’t think that’s happening here. Pick: Matt Hardy
Cain A. Knight: Guevara beat Hardy in a Tables match on Dynamite, so it must be time for Hardy to get his win back. Pick: Matt Hardy
Manolo H. Pizzazz: Hardy may have lots of characters, but none are greater than a Spanish God. Honestly, I’m picking Sammy just because I want to see how AEW would deal with the story of Hardy being forced to leave. Pick: Sammy Guevara
Stella Cheeks: I cannot imagine a world where they force Matt Hardy to leave. Especially, now that he is finally able to wrestle in front of an AEW crowd. Plus, I want to see Sammy covered in blood. Pick: Matt Hardy
Henry T. Casey: Grudge match after a crimson mask? I knew you’d come. I think Hardy beating Guevara is a great moment to lead to the inevitable (and necessary) dissolution of The Inner Circle (FREE SANTANA & ORTIZ). Pick: Matt Hardy
Casino Battle Royal for an AEW World title shot
Sean Rueter: It should be a Lucha Bros, because the world needs either Penta or Fenix against either Mox or Max. But I’m thinking they continue pushing another guy who’ll work well for a short TV program against either man. Pick: Eddie Kingston
Kyle Decker: I dunno. Let’s go with some surprise. Pick: Miro Barnyashev
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: WAR KING. Pound for pound, in the ring and on the mic, the most compelling man in pro wrestling today, MJF might be the likeliest next champion, but it SHOULD be Eddie Kingston. Yonkers! Pick: Eddie Kingston
Cain A. Knight: I’m pretty sure that a heel is winning this match and earning a future title match against Moxley. We’ve already been there and done that with Brian Cage, so maybe it’s time for Lance Archer to step up. But I’d really love for one of the Lucha Bros to get the spotlight here. Pick: Lance Archer
Manolo H. Pizzazz: Archer and Cage are the favorites in my book. Fenix and Pentagon are the dark horses. I think this battle royale will set up lots of stories for TV. The man who doesn’t have any feuds brewing is Shawn Spears. He’ll squeak out the win in a moment of opportunity when everyone else focuses on rivals. This will be where his loaded black glove gimmick pays off, since he won’t get disqualified for using it. Pick: Shawn Spears
Stella Cheeks: AEW needs someone to win that will (a) be an interesting challenger for the champion and (b) can lose to said champion. Niether Cage nor Archer can afford another big loss if they want to keep their monster status and the next time Darby Allin gets a title shot my gut tells me he wins. I just don’t think Allin is quite ready for that. Eddie Kingston has the ability to make any match interesting, but he’s famous enough that he doesn’t have to win. He’s there to get peoples attention. Pick: Eddie Kingston
Henry T. Casey: Darby feels like an acceptable challenger for either Moxley or MJF. Pick: Darby Allin
Dark Order (Brodie Lee, Colt Cabana, Evil Uno & Grayson) vs. The Natural Nightmares, Matt Cardona & Scorpio Sky
Sean Rueter: Is this the moment the long promised push for Scorp starts to incorporate something other than valiant losses? Probably not. Pick: Dark Order
Kyle Decker: Brodie Lee wouldn’t be hurt here if one of the other three takes a pin. Plus after that big time beat down weeks back, the Nightmare family needs a win. Cody will likely return here but he can do that win or lose. Pick: Team Nightmare
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: The erstwhile Zack Ryder picks up the pin here and gets himself a title shot against Mr. Brodie sometime soon, while Scorpio Sky deepens his case to be the man who actually eventually wins the TNT Championship from him. Pick: Matt Cardona, Natural Nightmares (Dustin Rhodes & QT Marshall), & Scorpio Sky
Cain A. Knight: After the way the Dark Order destroyed Cody and took his TNT championship, I can’t see the top four wrestlers in that stable losing to lower card wrestlers like QT Marshall and Matt Cardona. Pick: Dark Order
Manolo H. Pizzazz: Mr. Brodie will show the Nightmare Family who’s daddy. Mr. Brodie will stomp Cardona’s skull much like Chong Li did to Ray Jackson in Bloodsport, while Cody conveniently has a camera on him in convalescence to scream, “No, stoooooop!” Then Cardona can share a hospital room with best bud Cody leading to the spin-off sitcom as AEW’s second show on TNT. Pick: Dark Order
Stella Cheeks: LOL - Matt Cardona? Pick: Dark Order
Henry T. Casey: Last Action Figure Hero Man takes the pinfall, so Scorp can say Brodie Lee’s never pinned him Pick: Join Dark Order
Young Bucks vs. Jurassic Express
Sean Rueter: Beating, and then maybe beating up, a boy & his dinosaur seems like a good way to continue a descent into darkness (or at least dickishness). Pick: Young Bucks
Kyle Decker: There’s no reason for this match to even be on this show given there’s zero story behind it. It’s definitely a vehicle to progress whatever story they’re telling with the Young Bucks. Given I think FTR vs. Young Bucks may be the direction, they’d need to win here. Pick: The Young Bucks
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: I mean... C’mon. Pick: Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson)
Cain A. Knight: This match only exists to get the Young Bucks on pay-per-view, so I expect that they’ll win, remaining on track for a future match against FTR. Pick: Young Bucks
Manolo H. Pizzazz: I want to pick Jurassic Express. Unfortunately, I can’t think of any reason why they would win. Luchasaurus should be the dominant force in this bout, but he is too soft. Pick: Young Bucks
Stella Cheeks: hmm...really seems like this one should’ve been on the pre-show because I don’t care AT ALL. Pick: Young Bucks
Henry T. Casey: Matthew and Nicholas Jackson? Beating the snot out of the white meatiest babyfaces in AEW? GIVE ME THE HEEL ELITE. Pick: Young Bucks
Britt Baker vs. Big Swole
Sean Rueter: The mean dentist lady is bulletproof, booking-wise. But she’s also been the face of the division since day one and one of the only members of it who gets consistent TV time. Also, as a regular Raw watcher, I’m assuming a Tooth & Nail match means you have to yank out a tooth or a nail to win. Advantage mean dentist lady. Pick: Britt Baker
Kyle Decker: While I think Baker is going to be more the focus coming out of this feud, I don’t think she needs to win it. Swole has dealt with Britt’s BS for months now and the story should end with her defeating the resident dentist. Baker is the type of heel who can come up with a good excuse for the loss and not be hurt at all. Pick: Big Swole
Rev. Claire Elizabeth: This is taking place in Dr. Britt Baker, DMD’s literal office, so my money is on her and her goons picking up the win. Big Swole can win a stipulation match that actually takes place in a pro wrestling ring to end the feud. Pick: Dr. Britt Baker, DMD
Cain A. Knight: Britt Baker will probably be stepping up to Hikaru Shida in short order, but for now she can lose a goofy cinematic match inside a dental office. Pick: Big Swole
Manolo H. Pizzazz: Big Swole will be taking the fight to where Dr. Baker works. Foolish decision by Swole to hand over home court advantage. The dentist will have access to lots of sharp, pointy instruments and also knockout gas. Swole will be put under and exit missing all her teeth. Pick: Dr. Britt Baker DMD
Stella Cheeks: Never fight a dentist on their home turf. There are literal weapons there! Pick: Dr. Britt Baker, DMD
Henry T. Casey: Swole should eventually beat Britt Baker ... for the AEW Women’s Championship. But on Baker’s home examination chair? Pick: Dr. Britt Baker, DMD
That's who we've got. Who are you taking, Cagesiders?