10 Most Random AEW Appearances

10. Jun Akiyama

Random as it may have appeared, Jun Akiyama's AEW debut served as a dream-turned-reality for Eddie Kingston.

The ex-head booker and President of All Japan Pro Wrestling, Akiyama is a renowned performer, noted for his intense in-ring style and cold-faced stance, and the invention of a handful of now-common manoeuvres. For Eddie Kingston, though, Akiyama meant so much more than this. This was paramount in Kingston and Ortiz's clash with Akiyama and Konosuke Takeshita from the go-home Rampage to Full Gear; so much so that Tony Khan booked a singles contest between the two masters of the King's Road style for Full Gear itself.

This, unquestionably, ruled.

So hard.

Every heart-stopping chest slap, every nose-shattering knee to the face, every key spot - including a needlessly stomach-churning spiked DDT - built towards Eddie overcoming the two-time Triple Crown Champion, two Urakens later. A euphoric moment for one of AEW's most cherished performers.

When asked what it meant to collide with Akiyama, Kingston was at a loss for words. That has literally never happened; the Mad King is notoriously always on the ball with quick quips and heated comebacks, but Kingston's entire vocabulary left his mind here.