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

25. Swerve In Our Glory Vs. The Acclaimed (All Out 2022)

Max Caster All Out
AEW

There’s a very good chance that you’ve reached a certain age, if you’re reading this, and it’s just as likely that you’ve acquainted yourself with the wrestling lexicon. You know what the terms mean.

Virtually every fan said the same thing when watching the biggest over-delivery in AEW history: Man, Tony Khan really should have called an audible there.

This might be because engaging with the medium earnestly is grounds for being called a mark, and a lot of people are wary of appearing uncool, but isn’t this just a jaded way of saying you were gutted when the babyfaces didn’t win?

This was absolutely wonderful pro wrestling.

Swerve In Our Glory were taking the piss at first. Keith Lee, on his best night in the promotion, toyed with Max Caster by leapfrogging over him. Lee’s body language was great, conveying with his beaming face that he was enjoying just how outmatched his glorified manager of an opponent was. Swerve Strickland, meanwhile, handily out-wrestled Anthony Bowens in the early going. Compounding the plight of the unfancied sentimental favourite challengers, Bowens injured his leg badly in the key story thread.

Insulted and hurt, the Acclaimed used this sympathetic foundation to build an incredibly moving babyface performance, one so effective that it reminded everybody watching what wrestling is supposed to be.

Stripping away layers of husk with every hope spot and fire-up - Caster’s face was so great, he looked ecstatic in there - Swerve In Our Glory Vs. The Acclaimed restored your jaded fandom to factory settings.

Even when a wrestler makes an ill-fated jump to AEW, they have at least one incredible night. Keith Lee can be proud of this.

Advertisement
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!