30 Best AEW Matches Ever (So Far...)

by Michael Sidgwick

1. Kenny Omega & Hangman Page Vs. Young Bucks (Revolution 2020)

Revolution Tag
AEW

The very best tag team match in history operated on a quite incredible number of dramatic levels.

The average wrestling fan was treated to 30 minutes of absurdly dramatic and well-worked action, and was able to follow the story.

All four men were deeply close. Until the build revealed an ugly professional jealousy.

This was a friendly competition, from the initial perspective of Kenny Omega and Nick Jackson: awkward, but a part of the job. The tension between Hangman Page and Matt Jackson - the latter’s resentment was all too clear - had mutated into something ugly. Thrillingly, the tenor of the match changed depending on who was in the ring. It was either a beautiful display of lucha-tinged athletic wonder or a pissy, heated brawl.

For the modern hybrid style in which this was worked, the execution was breathtaking. A strong telepathy existed between all four men. Nick blasted Hangman with his signature combo corner attack: high knee, kick, forearm smash. With absolutely zero in the way of hesitation, he turned around and struck Kenny Omega, who had teleported right next to the toe of his boot, with a superkick.

The escalation was impeccable. Hangman, still furious about the condescension, targeted Matt’s back and whaled on the thing. Omega reeled Page in from the edge.

Then, the animosity deepened as the Bucks, sensing the gravity of the situation and wary of the brilliance of their close friends, turned it up. Playing situational heel, Matt and Nick, deep into the match, blasted Omega with the Golden Trigger, adopting the move for the first time. A fired-up Omega, furious at the disrespect, kicked out at one.

Without alienating lapsed WWE fans and new AEW converts, the most faithful devotees of the Elite saga were rewarded.

Omega, in kicking out, displayed his ardent love for former teammate Kota Ibushi. His current partner, Page, used the One-Winged Angel deeper in the match. Omega, perhaps confirming Hangman’s anxieties, never thought to try the Buckshot lariat. The subtext in this match was incredible.

Omega foreshadowed his heel turn by executing the best babyface spot of the year. What a ridiculously great pro wrestler he is.

If for you, wrestling isn’t a love story, the action was too relentlessly off-the-charts amazing not to fall in love with this particular match.

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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!