10 Best Matches AEW Still Haven't Booked

8. Jon Moxley Vs. Kenny Omega II

Kenny Omega Hangman Page
AEW

AEW's approach is so patient and so definitive - the gravity of the loss really means something and informs everything - that the promotion hasn't ran back a big pay-per-view match on pay-per-view yet.

This should change, looking at their respective character arcs, with Jon Moxley Vs. Kenny Omega II.

It might seem counterintuitive, per the rule of traditional wrestling conflict, for the sequel to materialise as a straight singles match, but AEW is a promotion premised on stylistic warfare and professional identity. Omega lost to Moxley in Moxley's domain. Can Moxley overcome Kenny in the pure pro wrestling arena that he has dominated for the last four years?

In a potentially great story, yes: everybody on the opposite side of the ring to Moxley has underestimated his grappling brilliance. Moxley choked out Brodie Lee, his submission game caused Taz to throw in the towel on Brian Cage's behalf, and his high in-ring IQ thwarted MJF, who had reduced him in promos to a mere brawler.

The sequel would be brutal without the plunder - for all the artist rhetoric, few hitter harder than Omega, with his concussive V-Triggers - and the result of the first match was the turning point of Omega's AEW run.

Omega, with the aviators back on, must conquer Moxley to fulfil the promise he left lingering on this week's Dynamite.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!