It must be argued that there has never been a Pro Wrestling promotion that since birth have consistently delivered on the level that AEW have since 2019. It can be argued that the AEW shows are loaded from bottom to top with up to 13 matches being advertised including contests on the Zero-Hour or Buy-in pre shows. It can also be said for UK based fans that a 1am PPV start time and a 4-hour run can lead us in to 5am that morning, which is an achievement for anyone to sit throughout, however, AEW, have delivered countless times and I am one who has lost many hours throughout the night enjoying professional wrestling at its best.

With so many good to great shows, it has been difficult to draw this down to just 5, but I enjoy a challenge. I selected all current 29 AEW PPV’s from 2019, however, my list did not consider Fight for the Fallen and Fyter Fest of 2019 as AEW had yet to make their TV debut.

There will spoilers ahead

Lets start with some honourable mentions shall we….

Double or Nothing 2019, this was AEW’s first official PPV and by no means was it perfect, but it did kick things off in the best possible way. Cody vs Dustin was a memorable all time classic, Young Bucks vs Lucha Brothers for the AAA tag titles was incredible and Jericho vs Omega was the best possible main event at the time, who will forget Jon Moxley’s debut that night!

Revolution 2020, a very mixed show, but for a while, this was many fans choice as the top of the PPV pile, we had that all time classic between Adam Page & Kenny Omega vs Young Bucks and a fun PAC vs Orange Cassidy match. The main event between Jericho & Moxley left a lot to be desired. Good effort.

All Out 2023, for some unknown reason, I remember fans speaking about how little interest in this show, perhaps based on a 1 week build, but it exceeded all expectations. Danielson & Starks stole the show in the unforgettable strap match, Takeshita defeated Omega in a classic and Moxley overcame Orange Cassidy in the main event. Fantastic offering.

All in Wembley 2023, I was there that night and boy oh boy it was electric. The UK crowd showed once again why mainstream pro wrestling should travel out of the states on a more regular basis. Infamous now for the backstage brawl, however, the MJF/Adam Cole was very easy to invest in. Saraya got her home town heroes welcome capturing the Womens title, Will Ospreay faced Chris Jericho , FTR & the Young Bucks put on a classic, perhaps the best of their meetings and Sting wrestled in Wembley. Memorable to say the least.

Dynasty 2024, This was perhaps the toughest call not being able to include in my top 5, however, this show almost had it all. Ospreay & Danielson will stand out for years to come as will Okada vs PAC for the Continental title. Toni Storm & Thunder Rosa delivered a clinic in women’s wrestling, if it wasn’t for the main event between Strickland & Samoa Joe just letting me down a tad then this PPV would have made my Top 5 cut. If you are new to AEW and do not want to deep dive too far back in the calendar, then I would suggest going out of your way to watch this show.

Now, lets break in to my Top 5 AEW PPV’s to date.

Revolution 2022

There was a lot to like about this show but even more to love. We opened with a very emotional and personal match centred around Eddie Kingston being unable to win the ‘Big One’ as he faced Chris Jericho, Jurassic Express defeated reDragon & Young Bucks for the tag gold, we had seemingly entered the era of Wardlow as he won the face of the revolution ladder match.

Miseria Cantare was CM Punks throwback entrance as he faced MJF in an epic and bloody Dog Collar encounter, Jade Cargill & Tay Conti put on what I believe to be the best match for both in AEW to date, Britt Baker & Thunder Rosa are incapable of a bad match…. ever! Moxley & Danielson tore the house down and this was all before the AEW world title match between Adam Page & Adam Cole. Stellar stuff.

Forbidden Door 2022

The first Forbidden Door ppv set the tone for the future of AEW and the relationships that are being built between promotions. A red-hot crowd elevated this from start to finish. Thunder Rosa & Toni Storm delivered in their first meeting on this stage, Ospreay & Cassidy produced 16 minutes of top class drama, while Claudio & ZSJ showed the world why they are two of the most gifted pro wrestlers on the planet.

FTR were on top of their tag team game once again, elevating Roppongi Vice & United Empire, then add in an IWGP Heavyweight title 4 way and Moxley vs the ACE of New Japan, Hiroshi Tanahashi and you have one of the best pro wrestling cards of all time at the time.

Revolution 2024

Stings Retirement – enough said! A fully loaded card was not hampered by the main event between Sting & Darby Allin vs Young Bucks in what was one of the most memorable main events in the history of the business, this performance summed up what made Sting the icon. Overwhelmingly good showing here, a match that deserves your money!

What else did we get?

Well…. Christian Cage doing his best work in his career as TNT champion, Eddie Kingston & Daniel Bryan tearing it up, Roderick Strong & Orange Cassidy reminding the world why they are two of the very best…you want more?! Ok……

Toni Storm on the run of her life defending the Woman’s title vs Deonna Purrazzo, Will Ospreay doing Ospreay bits this time against one of the hottest players in the world, Konosuke Takeshita & an incredible triple threat world title match where Samoa Joe defended against Swerve Strickland & Adam Page in one of the finest AEW triple threat matches to date, and yes, this was all before that main event!

5 stars for an incredible 4 hours of professional wrestling and sports entertainment.

All In: Wembley 2024

Just days ago, I had the honour to attend my second successive AEW All In Wembley PPV and this card delivered as did the 50,000 UK fans inside the arena.

The action kicked off with a crazy ladder match for the trio’s titles, PAC getting his moment with the Blackpool Combat Club, what followed was one of, if not the best Women’s Championship match of all time, yes, I said it, of all time. The build was perfect, the match was bloody perfect, and the outcome was a very welcome one. Mariah May put an end to am incredible Toni Storm reign. It gets all the stars from me.

Amongst other amazing action we got an incredible and likely once again the best Casino gauntlet to date which was as star studded like no other, a return to action for Nigel McGuiness in England and a debuting Ricochet made this all so worthwhile…. The Winner of this also deserves credit for is entire AEW run thus far – a future world champion.

Will Ospreay & MJF put on one of the best AEW PPV matches of all time, however they were third best on the night behind both Mariah May vs Toni Storm and the nights incredible Main Event. Jack Perry squashed Darby Allin in a coffin match before the surprise cameo from Sting and that main event I just mentioned, The Final Countdown, Championship vs Career, Danielson vs Strickland was one of the most satisfying matches of all time.

Aside from a tough spot for Mercedes Mone & Britt Baker, which was fun but lacked that special something, this is without a doubt, one of the best pro wrestling shows of all time.

All Out 2021

Heralded as one of the best PPV’s of all time by so many, this is AEW’s best show to date. The atmosphere on this event helped propel this night in to immediate stardom, not everything was perfect but that’s impossible right?!

CM Punks in-ring debut vs Darby Allin was everything and more, Miro opening the show against Eddie Kingston was great booking and livened up a red-hot crowd, Moxley & Satoshi Kojima went strong style to the max.

Britt Baker overcame Kris Statlander, a phenomenal steel cage war between Young Bucks & Lucha Brothers was the best of their feud and one of the best cage matches of all time. A Ruby Soho surprise debut and win in the Casino Battle Royal was a joy. MJF had a standout performance against Chris Jericho and then the Main Event hit us all like a freight train!!!

Omega battled Christian for the world title but it was the double suprise debuts from Adam Cole & Bryan Danielson which is one of the most memorable finishes to any show in the history of shows. This was a special show, one that will be near impossible to beat.