Winners, Live Grades, Reaction and Highlights

The Icon took his remaining bow Sunday night time at AEW Revolution as Sting wrestled his final match, teaming with Darby Allin to defend the AEW World Tag Staff Championship towards the corporate’s megalomaniacal EVPs, Matthew and Nicholas Jackson.

Did the Corridor of Famer take pleasure in one final success below the intense lights, retiring a champion, or did the EVPs purchase much more energy by taking the titles which have eluded them since 2022?

Discover out the reply to that and extra with this recap of Sunday’s pay-per-view broadcast, dwell from the historic Greensboro Coliseum, dwelling to among the most unforgettable moments in skilled wrestling historical past.

Introduced prematurely of the Revolution pay-per-view have been:

• AEW World Tag Staff Championship Match: Sting and Darby Allin (c) vs. Matthew and Nicholas Jackson
• AEW World Championship Match: Swerve Strickland vs. Samoa Joe (c) vs. “Hangman” Adam Web page
• AEW Ladies’s World Championship Match: Deonna Purrazzo vs. “Timeless” Toni Storm (c)
• AEW Worldwide Championship Match: Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Roderick Robust
• Continental Crown Championship Match: Eddie Kingston (c) vs. Bryan Danielson
• Will Ospreay vs. Konosuke Takeshita
• TNT Championship Match: Daniel Garcia vs. Christian Cage (c)
• FTR vs. Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli
• All-Star 8-Man Scramble Match: Chris Jericho vs. Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Lance Archer vs. Wardlow vs. Brian Cage vs. Hook vs. Dante Martin vs. Magnus
• Revolution Zero Hour: Kris Statlander and Willow Nightingale vs. Julia Hart and Skye Blue
• Revolution Zero Hour: “Switchblade” Jay White, The Gunns, The Acclaimed, and Daddy Ass vs. Jeff Jarrett, Jay White, Willie Mack, Satnam Singh, and Non-public Social gathering

The Bang Bang Scissor Gang kicked off Sunday’s Zero Hour kickoff present with an enormous win as ROH World Trios Champions Jay White and The Gunns partnered with AEW World Trios Champions The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass to defeat the mishmash workforce of Jeff Jarrett, Satnam Singh, Jay Deadly, Non-public Social gathering, and Willie Mac in a bloated 12-Man Tag Staff Match.

A messy match benefited from a scorching crowd, however not sufficient to raise its general high quality.

There was loads of motion, typically disjointed, that concluded with “Switchblade” leveling Mack with Blade Runner for the win.

For a match thrown onto the cardboard largely to get everybody on the present, this was wonderful.

While you bear in mind White losing away at this spot on the cardboard, although, it solely makes the meaninglessness of the match stand out. How is a man who arrived within the firm with a lot momentum on his aspect, and challenged for the world title final fall, in such a spot?

A post-match promo teased one thing of substance probably coming on the Huge Enterprise episode of Dynamite on March 13 in Boston. For his sake, hopefully, it’s one thing with long-term substance as a result of this is not it.

Outcome

The Bang Bang Scissor Gang defeated Jarrett, Deadly, Singh, Non-public Social gathering, and Mack

Grade

C-

High Moments and Takeaways

• The randomness of Mack on this match was not misplaced on RJ Metropolis, who reacted with shock upon seeing his identify on the heel aspect of the lineup.
• Max Caster botched his pre-match rap and reacted accordingly. He seemed to be thrown off his sport totally moments into the match, too.

The prolonged rivalry between the workforce of Kris Statlander and Willow Nightingale, and the duo of TBS Champion Julia Hart and Skye Blue, wrote its newest chapter within the night time’s second Zero Hour match.

The heels managed a big portion of the match by isolating every of their opponents at totally different parts of the bout. Late, although, Statlander and Nightingale’s energy benefit proved to be the distinction.

After Nightingale broke up a pin by Hart on Statlander that proceeded a picture-perfect moonsault, the babyfaces mounted a comeback that concluded with an enormous powerbomb from Nightingale to Hart for the victory.

A very good match that was a bit messy at instances, nevertheless it nonetheless did a greater job of telling a cohesive story than the opener and highlighted the 4 opponents very properly.

Outcome

Nightingale and Statlander defeated Hart and Blue

Grade

C+

High Moments and Takeaways

• This was Hart’s first match again from what, if the Okay-Tape was any indicator, was a shoulder harm that had saved her sidelined.
• “Been listening to GloRilla. Bought her HYPED!” Stokely Hathaway mentioned of Statlander throughout a scorching tag sequence.
• “She virtually pounced her to Sting’s first match,” Hathaway delivered a killer line following Nightingale’s pounce to Blue. 

The opening contest of the AEW Revolution fundamental card noticed Christian Cage efficiently defend the TNT Championship towards Daniel Garcia in a powerful match.

The in-ring psychology of Cage was on full show as he manipulated his strategy to a bonus and proceeded to work over the challenger. At one level, the huge Killswitch interfered on behalf of the champion, slicing off a comeback by Garcia, just for a revenge-minded “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard to hit the ring and combat the masked heavyweight off.

What nobody accounted for was Nick Wayne’s presence at ringside. The 19-year-old rocked Garcia, permitting Cage to ship the Unprettier and safe the victory.

High quality and smart in-ring content material, one other spotlight reel efficiency from Garcia, and sensible reserving that protected the challenger in defeat helped make this an enormous thumbs as much as begin the present.

Outcome

Cage defeated Garcia to retain

Grade

B

High Moments and Takeaways

• Cage faked a foot harm and suckered Garcia in earlier than gorgeous him with a poke to the attention, permitting him to grab management of the bout.
• Excalibur tied Garcia’s give attention to injuring the ankle of Cage to his time within the Jericho Appreciation Society with Jake Hager, himself identified for his ankle lock.
• Garcia delivered a piledriver and scored a terrific near-fall on Cage that had followers chanting “That was three!” in anger on the heel narrowly escaping defeat.

For the second, consecutive AEW pay-per-view, Eddie Kingston and Bryan Danielson tore the home down with an intensely bodily and private battle of attrition.

Kingston retained the Continental Crown Championship, overcoming an injured proper hand, broken throughout a missed chop that struck the ring put up, and an especially centered Danielson to earn one other high quality victory.

The story right here was Kingston’s grit and resiliency and the mounting frustration it brought on in Danielson.

Each opponents threw every thing they’d at one another earlier than the champion uncorked a left-handed comeback that rocked Danielson, a lariat that countered a Busaiku Knee, and a powerbomb that ended The American Dragon’s championship chase.

This was a unbelievable match with a terrific story and a efficiency from Kingston that every one younger and aspiring wrestlers ought to examine. He offered the suitable hand, by no means utilizing it until completely obligatory.

That features all through the match and even after, insisting Danielson elevate the left one after the heel lastly confirmed him respect through handshake.

This was glorious and an early contender for Match of the Yr.

Outcome

Kingston defeated Danielson to retain the Continental Crown Championship

Grade

A

High Moments and Takeaways

• Kingston’s exploder suplex in honor of Jun Akiyama was a pleasant contact, particularly after he devoted the bout to his idol, whom Danielson brutally assaulted within the lead-in to this match.
• The champion delivered a discus back-fist together with his injured hand however was unable to capitalize due to the ache.
• Danielson teased not shaking Kingston’s hand, the stipulation in place if he misplaced, however finally did to a thunderous roar from the followers.

Chris Jericho, Powerhouse Hobbs, Lance Archer, Wardlow, Dante Martin, Hook, Brian Cage, and Magnus battled in an All-Star 8-Man Scramble Match, a late addition to the cardboard after accidents pressured the cancellation of the beforehand booked Meat Insanity Match.

Completely different subject of opponents, identical consequence, although.

On the heels of a bombshell promo, Wardlow channeled his sudden momentum right into a hard-fought victory, obliterating Martin with a powerbomb for the win.

The match was primarily a group of spots and sequences with no connective thread to talk of. That isn’t essentially a nasty factor, particularly for a match that got here collectively as late as this one did.

Nonetheless, the group struggled to spend money on it the way in which they did the opposite matches on the cardboard however they did react favorably to among the motion all through.

Wardlow successful was the suitable name as a result of a loss right here would have rendered that aforementioned promo irrelevant. Now with a championship alternative in his possession, it will likely be fascinating to see if Adam Cole does as he advised he would in his inaugural promo because the chief of Undisputed Kingdom and makes the massive man hand it over to him.

Outcome

Wardlow defeated Martin, Jericho, Magnus, Archer, Hobbs, Hook, and Cage

Grade

C+

High Moments and Takeaways

• Jericho and Magnus landed stereo Lionsaults on Archer in a cool spot.
• Hook took to the highest rope and delivered a double ax deal with, paying homage to “Macho Man” Randy Savage, as Taz eluded to on commentary.
• The Chilly-Hearted Good-looking Satan additionally utilized Redrum to Wardlow, dropping him to his knees. From there, Jericho utilized the Liontamer in a terrific double submission spot.

AEW Worldwide Champion Orange Cassidy had spent the final yr and a half overcoming harm and proving his toughness towards all challengers. Sunday night time, he merely had no combat left in him.

Hampered by a again harm that threatened his competitors clearance, he discovered himself on the defensive almost from the get-go as he defended his title towards The Undisputed Kingdom’s Roderick Robust.

Robust, identified beforehand as The Messiah of the Backbreaker, expertly picked his opponent aside, leaving him incapable of delivering his signature transfer and stringing collectively a constant offensive.

The challenger finally caught Cassidy with a knee strike and delivered Finish of Heartache for the win.

After the match, Kyle O’Reilly made his first look in properly over a yr, hugging the brand new champion and turning down a suggestion to hitch the Undisputed Kingdom, as a substitute whispering one thing to his pal and strolling away.

The match was fairly good, as one would count on given the expertise concerned. Kudos to Cassidy for constantly promoting every thing surrounding the again, and to Robust for being as relentless in his assault on it.

The O’Reilly growth was fascinating and may create some drama throughout the Undisputed Kingdom; perhaps even warmth it again up after it descended into the ice age when it comes to crowd warmth and significance over the previous couple of months. No matter what it means for the story, it was a welcome return for one of many nice technicians of the final decade.

Outcome

Robust defeated Cassidy to win the Worldwide Championship

Grade

B

High Moments and Takeaways

• Robust delivered a gut-wrench backbreaker onto the highest rope, additional damaging the closely taped again of the champion.
• Cassidy broke out the Panama Dawn to Robust, a terrific dig on the challenger’s greatest pal, Adam Cole.
• The champion offered the again harm constantly all through, even failing to raise Robust into the Seaside Break with out the help of the ropes.

Within the dwelling of among the biggest tag workforce encounters within the historical past of Jim Crockett Promotions, Blackpool Fight Membership’s Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli defeated FTR’s Dax Harwood and Money Wheeler in one other excellent match.

The match began gradual, with each groups feeling one another out amid an viewers nonetheless recovering from the night time’s motion so far. As soon as issues picked up, although, the group got here alive and the match intensified.

Harwood bled buckets late, the drama was at a excessive following some high quality near-falls, and the group was behind the concept of the hometown FTR scoring the victory. The alertness of the BCC, nonetheless, allowed them to interrupt up a number of tried pins by the babyfaces and finally put them away with stereo submissions.

A lot was made after the match of Moxley and Castagnoli being people in a bunch, with the win solidifying them as a workforce. It could appear to recommend {that a} future as a tag workforce just isn’t out of the query, neither is a championship alternative.

If that’s the case, the end result at the least had a function. Nonetheless, it felt like a misstep given FTR was of their dwelling state, in an area that the groups they molded themselves after made well-known.

Outcome

Moxley and Castagnoli defeated FTR

Grade

A

High Moments and Takeaways

• Moxley and Castagnoli wore Street Warriors-esque shoulder pads to the ring, paying tribute to one of many nice groups to compete within the hallowed grounds of the Greensboro Coliseum.
• Harwood caught his head on the ring put up or stairs, busting him open and resulting in the proverbial crimson masks.
• Castagnoli countered the Shatter Machine and delivered the massive swing to Harwood whereas Moxley downed Wheeler with a cutter in a terrific spot.

“Timeless” Toni Storm can thank her butler, Luther, and obsessively loyal fan, Mariah Could, for the continuation of her reign as AEW Ladies’s World champion.

The champion discovered herself reeling late, solely to capitalize on a distraction from Luther and a momentary distraction from Could to place No. 1 contender and former pal Deonna Purrazzo away with the piledriver.

The AEW devoted have been surprisingly quiet for the match, particularly given the backstory and that two of the higher technicians in any ladies’s division in North America have been having a high quality battle.

A few of that may be attributed to the lengthy runtime of the present so far and the match’s placement within the cool-down spot of the present. Some will be attributed to a ladies’s division that’s nonetheless rising and evolving, and a crowd nonetheless acquainting itself to it.

Regardless, it was a disappointingly weak crowd for a match that ought to have been hotter based mostly on the expertise concerned, their actual backstory, and the character work at play.

Outcome

Storm defeated Purrazzo

Grade

B-

High Moments and Takeaways

• Following Storm’s promise that Purrazzo would get the outdated her and extra, Mariah Could entered the sector dressed like her idol from a yr or so in the past.
• This had the unenviable process of following three-and-a-half hours of motion and the group’s relative quietness mirrored as a lot. The position on the cardboard did the match a disservice.
• Tony Khan is often good about not operating repetitive finishes however the interference-heavy one right here was eerily much like the one from the opening match between Cage and Garcia.

Will Ospreay made a profitable in-ring debut as a full-time member of the AEW roster, defeating fellow Don Callis Member of the family Konosuke Takeshita in a Match of the Yr candidate.

A hellishly bodily encounter stuffed with awe-inspiring sequences and athleticism, with the story thread of two teammates testing one another, it captivated the viewers from the opening bell and elicited chants of “combat eternally.”

None of that was essentially surprising. Ospreay is nice and Takeshita is likely one of the brightest younger stars in professional wrestling at this time. They went on the market and had a banger of a match that can be one of the crucial talked about of all the night time.

Ospreay was as marketed, the match was nearly as good (if not higher) than anticipated, and the end result was an effective way to kick off the New Japan export’s run with AEW.

After the match, in an fascinating growth, Ring of Honor World Tv Champion Kyle Fletcher appeared and after a short staredown, embraced his United Empire teammate, however not earlier than Excalibur revealed on commentary that the 2 will conflict Wednesday night time on Dynamite.

It is going to be the second, consecutive match pitting Don Callis Members of the family towards one another, suggesting the namesake of the faction could also be as much as no good.

Outcome

Ospreay defeated Takeshita

Grade

A+

High Moments and Takeaways

• Ospreay entered Greensboro Coliseum to a thunderous ovation, solidifying himself as one of the crucial well-liked guys within the firm from match No. 1. 
• The opponents repeatedly dared one another to convey the combat, testing one another, and the group ate it up.
• Takeshita offered a forearm to the face that knocked him down and, apparently, out. A lot in order that Bryce Remsburg backed Ospreay off and checked on the younger performer. A fantastic, particular person efficiency for that second.
• The Ace responded with a forearm that leveled Ospreay, however he was unable to comply with up with a pin.
• Takeshita delivered a brainbuster that folded Ospreay in half backward on the highest rope and left him with a nasty contusion on his decrease again.