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AEW All Out 2021 had plenty of hype heading into the night with a stacked card filled with a huge deal of potential. The promotion featured all four major titles on the line, feuds culminating after months of buildup and CM Punk's in-ring return after seven years.
With all those things expected and coming through, All Elite Wrestling also added three debuts for the promotion. Adam Cole and Bryan Danielson debuted at the end of AEW All Out 2021 in a truly transformative, ground-breaking closing angle that felt like the landscape of the business shifted. Ruby Soho was the Joker in the Casino Battle Royale and won to get a shot at the AEW Women's World Title.
With so much happening, it is easy to forget the exceptional wrestling that fans witnessed up and down the card. A roster that just added even more talent delivered a quality night of professional wrestling that will not be forgotten for years to come. In this article, let's take a look at the star ratings for every match at AEW All Out 2021.
Orange Cassidy, Wheeler Yuta, Chuck Taylor and Jurassic Express vs. Matt Hardy, Private Party and TH2 in a 10 Man Tag Team Match (AEW All Out 2021 Buy-In)
The AEW All Out 2021 Buy-In Match was a 10 Man Tag Team Match with Orange Cassidy, Wheeler Yuta, Chuck Taylor and Jurassic Express facing Matt Hardy, Private Party and TH2. It was a fun way to kick things off for the Chicago fans inside NOW Arena. There were fan-favorites and veterans who knew exactly what to do to get the most out of the crowd.
Everyone in the contest were spotlighted with Orange Cassidy's comedy, Matt Hardy playing a devious heel and Private Party showing off their high flying arsenal. There was a cool spot where Jurassic Express had a chicken battle with TH2 with Jungle Boy on top of Luchasaurus's shoulders and Jack Evans on top of Angelico's shoulders.
Even Marko Stunt got in the mix with a huge dive off of Luchasaurus's shoulders to the Blade on the outside, which got the biggest pop of the match. Luchasaurus and Jungle Boy double teamed Angelico in the conclusion. Jungle Boy then locked in the Snare Trap to get the submission win. This was exactly what it needed to be to get the Chicago crowd ready for the main show.
Star rating: ***
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Miro vs. Eddie Kingston for the AEW TNT Championship (AEW All Out 2021)
AEW All Out 2021 started out with Miro defending the TNT Championship against Eddie Kingston. These two men have been wonderful characters and promos leading up to this showdown. They have done an awesome job of building this contest up in a limited amount of time. If the fans were any indication, they accomplished their goal.
The Chicago crowd at AEW All Out 2021 were firmly behind Eddie Kingston, who came out red-hot. He stated his gameplan of going after Miro's neck with chops and suplexes prior to the match and stuck to it. However, Miro used his strength and unbridled rage to get control of this TNT Championship bout.
Eddie Kingston was overwhelmed with suplexes by the champion and pulled off the turnbuckle pad by accident, which turned out to be his biggest mistake. The referee was distracted trying to put the pad back on, while Kingston hit a DDT on Miro for a terrific nearfall. The ref then blocked Eddie from hitting Miro on the exposed buckle, which he used to get a low blow.
The Redeemer then followed with an enziguri and then a running Machka Kick for the win. It was a heavyweight slugfest, as many fans expected. It felt like an ideal way to open AEW All Out 2021. The finish made Miro more of a heel, using shady tactics to eke out the win and Kingston was protected. This should also set up a rematch down the line, preferably in New York City.
Star rating: ***3/4
Jon Moxley vs. Satoshi Kojima (AEW All Out 2021)
The next match on the AEW All Out 2021 card was an AEW vs. NJPW confrontation. Jon Moxley faced Satoshi Kojima. It was a contest that didn't receive much of a build yet the fans who knew Kojima expected this to be an entertaining bout.
Jon Moxley refused a handshake at the start of this AEW All Out 2021 match and showed that he was going to be aggressive. This became a very physical bout that resembled a typical New Japan Pro Wrestling battle. There were hard hitting strikes and suplexes on the neck. The story centered around Kojima's signature lariat and his attempts to hit it on Moxley.
One of the highlights of this AEW All Out 2021 matchup was Moxley going for a lariat himself and Kojima blocking with his lariat arm. Kojima went for a final lariat, but Moxley reversed it into a Paradigm Shift. He hit one more for the win here. This was a very solid affair that exceeded expectations based on the leadup before.
The post match took things to the next level. Minoru Suzuki came down to the ring to confront Jon Moxley. The fans were going crazy for Suzuki and even more for his exchange with the Purveyor of Violence. The two men exchanged strikes, with Suzuki getting the advantage. He locked the rear naked choke into a Gotch Piledriver to stand tall. This sets up a contest on AEW Dynamite this Wednesday.
Star rating: ***1/2
Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. vs. Kris Statlander for the AEW Women's World Championship (AEW All Out 2021)
Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. defended the AEW Women's World Championship against Kris Statlander next at AEW All Out 2021. This was another contest that suffered a bit from the lack of a proper buildup. However, the crowd seemed invested into the two ladies and this matchup to start things off.
Kris Statlander was once again very impressive here at AEW All Out 2021. Her strength surprised her opponents and the fanbase. She tossed Britt Baker around the ring and hit a nice electric chair drop that put the champion face down. She also hit a scissor kick for a nearfall, showcasing her athleticism. That didn't keep Baker down, though.
Statlander missed a pendulum moonsault off the apron to the floor and Britt took advantage by hitting a Curb Stomp off the steel steps. To the shock of the audience, Orange Cassidy showed emotion and rallied Kris to get back in the ring to break the ten count. Statlander reversed a lockjaw attempt into a spider crab, but Baker blocked it.
The highlight of this AEW All Out 2021 bout was Britt Baker hitting the Pittsburgh Sunrise off the second rope for a nearfall. She followed with a Stomp for another nearfall. Baker then put in the Lockjaw submission for the win. It was a very good contest that escalated nicely and made both performers look formidable.
Star rating: ***3/4
The Young Bucks vs. The Lucha Brothers in a Steel Cage Match for the AEW World Tag Team Championships (AEW All Out 2021)
One of the most anticipated matches on the AEW All Out 2021 card was The Young Bucks defending the AEW World Tag Team Championships against The Lucha Brothers inside a Steel Cage. These two tag teams are among the best in the world and put on an all-time classic ladder match two years ago in the same building at All Out 2019.
This was a different type of affair with no ability to do dives to the outside, but these four men used the stipulation expertly. There was plenty of focus on the cage early on, with the Lucha Brothers using the cage to run Matt and Nick into. The two teams traded their exhilarating offense back and forth, with momentum shifting throughout this Steel Cage Match at AEW All Out 2021.
The Young Bucks got an assist from Brandon Cutler outside the ring to give them a thumbtacked Nike sneaker, which they used to bloody Penta El Zero Miedo when he dived in front of his brother Rey Fenix. The Bucks hit a BTE Trigger on Penta for a brilliant nearfall when Fenix broke up the pin. The fans were heavily into this one at that point at AEW All Out 2021.
Fenix then used his exciting arsenal to get the advantage over The Young Bucks here at AEW All Out 2021. He grabbed the thumbtacked sneaker and hit both Matt and Nick with it. He then hit a Fire Thunder Driver for another close nearfall. Penta hit an insane top rope avalanche Canadian Destroyer on Matt Jackson that had the crowd molten hot.
All four men traded chops and superkicks until The Lucha Brothers gained control and hit the double stomp-package piledriver combo for another super nearfall. Rey Fenix climbed to the top of the cage for another combo, but Nick climbed up before Fenix walked the cage and kicked him in the head. He then followed with a spectacular crossbody dive onto all three men in the ring at AEW All Out 2021.
The Lucha Brothers followed with an assisted Package Piledriver on Nick Jackson to win the AEW World Tag Team Championships.
This felt like a special moment with Penta and Fenix showing great emotion following this electric bout. It was everything fans would expect from a vintage Lucha Libre Steel Cage Match. This was a simply unbelievable contest that was a bonafide Match of the Year candidate.
Star rating: *****
Women's Casino Battle Royale (AEW All Out 2021)
The Women's Casino Battle Royale at AEW All Out 2021 was in an unenviable position of having to follow that fantastic Steel Cage Match. These battle royals sometimes find it difficult to have a concrete story with the way participants come out in bunches.
Some of the top All Elite Wrestling talent like Hikaru Shida and Riho were severely under-utilized and eliminated rather quickly. Hometown favorite Skye Blue was eliminated early on, which also received a negative reaction from the crowd. Big Swole and Diamante continued their rivalry in this AEW All Out 2021 contest with Swole eliminating her rival.
Thunder Rosa and Anna Jay got very good reactions from the crowd. Nyla Rose and Jade Cargill both looked dominant, eliminating many of the other competitors in the Casino Battle Royale. However, everyone else paled in comparison to the reaction for the surprise Joker card entry at AEW All Out 2021.
Ruby Soho, formerly known as Ruby Riott in WWE, received a huge pop from her Chicago hometown. Thunder Rosa eliminated Nyla Rose to leave it down to the former NWA Women's World Champion and Soho. The two ladies had a fun exchange, which led to Ruby eliminating Rosa to win the Casino Battle Royale at AEW All Out 2021. Overall, this was a positive to the card.
Star rating: **3/4
Chris Jericho vs. MJF - if Jericho loses, he will never wrestle again (AEW All Out 2021)
One of the longest buildups heading into AEW All Out 2021 was Chris Jericho vs. MJF. After losing to Maxwell Jacob Friedman in the fifth Labor of Jericho, Le Champion decided to put his career on the line here at the pay-per-view for one final fight with his arch rival.
Both men had superstar entrances. MJF mocked Chris Jericho's Y2J countdown leading to the video board saying "Jericho's Last Match" in a superb bit of heel work. The Demo God came down to Fozzy guitarist Billy Grey playing Judas to the ring. This was more of an old school bout with a slow start here at AEW All Out 2021.
MJF focused on the injured arm of Chris Jericho that helped him get his last victory. However, Jericho gained an advantage when he evaded an Asai Moonsault and hit a pop-up powerbomb on the ring apron. Wardlow came down to interfere, but Jake Hager got into a brawl with the Pinnacle powerhouse.
This gave MJF an opportunity to use Jericho's baseball bat and hit the Judas Effect for the pin, but the Demo God got his foot on the ropes in a stellar false finish.
Once the match restarted, MJF went for the Salt of the Earth, but Jericho got a crucifix for a nearfall. He followed with the Walls of Jericho. MJF tried to fight to the ropes, but eventually tapped out to keep Jericho's career alive here at AEW All Out 2021.
Star rating: ***1/2
CM Punk vs. Darby Allin (AEW All Out 2021)
For many fans, the main event of AEW All Out 2021 should have been CM Punk's in-ring return after seven years away from the business. He chose Darby Allin to be his opponent. The two men shared plenty of parallels with their straight edge lifestyle and being alternative superstars in wrestling. This had the big fight feel right from the very start.
This was another matchup that started out slow with lock ups and Punk trying to work off his ring rust. Darby showed that he could outwrestle Punk, but the former WWE superstar had a considerable size advantage. Despite that, the youngster was in top form here and controlled things using his underrated technical ability at AEW All Out 2021.
CM Punk once again used his size to toss Darby into the ring post and went for several Go To Sleep attempts. He eventually did hit his finisher, but Darby fell to the outside before Punk could pin him. Allin would go on to break the ten count. He continued to counter the Go To Sleep and hit a Code Red for a nearfall. Darby then hit a crazy suicide dive and followed with a top rope senton to the floor on Punk.
CM Punk kicked out of Darby Allin's Last Supper and caught him with a leg lariat. Darby tried for a poison rana, but Punk reversed and hit a second Go To Sleep for the win. After the match, Punk shook hands with Sting and Darby Allin in a show of respect. This was a great comeback match for Punk here at AEW All Out 2021 and showed that Darby will be a top player in All Elite Wrestling.
Star rating: ****1/4
Paul Wight vs. QT Marshall (AEW All Out 2021)
The least exciting bout on the AEW All Out 2021 lineup was Paul Wight facing QT Marshall. This marked the former Big Show's AEW in-ring debut after joining the promotion in March. The buildup has been the weakest of any contest heading into the night and hasn't delivered the most engaging television.
Despite the issues in the leadup, this felt like the perfect spot for this matchup. The Chicago fans would have an issue getting into any contest following CM Punk's long-awaited AEW debut, so Paul Wight vs. QT Marshall couldn't come at a better time. This gave the fans a welcome break before the AEW All Out 2021 main event.
Wight dominated much of this short battle, cornering Marshall and beating on him with chops. QT eventually got in a bit of offense, hitting a dropkick before looking for the Diamond Cutter. Wight tossed him away though and hit a big back body drop. The Factory attempted to get involved, but Paul fought them off. Wight then delivered a chokeslam to get the win here at AEW All Out 2021.
The match only went about three minutes, which was the most ideal time dedicated to this. It didn't need to be any longer than that and made Paul Wight look strong in his in-ring debut. QT Marshall doesn't lose much from this defeat and can gain his heat back on the microphone if AEW needs him for another spot.
Star rating: *
Kenny Omega vs. Christian Cage for the AEW World Championship (AEW All Out 2021)
The AEW All Out 2021 main event was Kenny Omega defending the AEW World Championship against Number 1 Contender Christian Cage. Christian showed the world that he could be the man to dethrone Omega by defeating him for the IMPACT World Championship on the very first matchup in AEW Rampage history a month ago.
The buildup heading into AEW All Out 2021 centered on Omega's manager Don Callis booking Christian Cage for his first nationally televised contest before firing him right after. Christian has been dismissive of Callis and insisted that he was in the head of Omega after beating him in their first encounter.
The Chicago crowd at the NOW Arena were not heavily into this AEW All Out 2021 main event from the start after still reeling following CM Punk's in-ring return and now being entirely into Christian as much as they were into Hangman Page. However, Kenny Omega brought his A-game and soon had the fans in the palm of his hand.
Omega brought plenty of his signature stuff and callbacks to his past classics like his double stomp off the apron with a table over his opponent. Christian fought from underneath and made a marvelous comeback. He hit a top rope hurricarana and a reverse DDT for nearfalls. Omega hit his snap dragon suplexes and focused on his opponent's injured neck at AEW All Out 2021.
Eventually, Don Callis called on The Good Brothers to help Kenny Omega walk out of AEW All Out 2021 with the AEW World Championship. However, Christian fought them off and avoided the V-Trigger. He then reversed the One Winged Angel and hit the Killswitch for an outstanding nearfall. Christian then went for a super Killswitch, but Omega reversed into an avalanche One Winged Angel for the win.
After the match, The Elite beat down Christian Cage before Jurassic Express made the save. The Young Bucks and The Good Brothers got control and beat down all three men. Omega got on the mic, which led to the debut of Adam Cole. He allied with The Elite following a superkick to Jungle Boy, but that wasn't the only surprise. Bryan Danielson then made his debut and stood tall with the babyfaces.
This was an excellent main event encounter between Kenny Omega and Christian Cage. The two men showed incredible chemistry and brought a crowd into this bout that wasn't too invested at the beginning. This felt like a fitting closer to AEW All Out 2021 along with the amazing surprises following the match.
Star rating: ****1/2
