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Over the course of the past twelve months, All Elite Wrestling had a number of matches, promos and moments that have stood out. From the announcement of their formation, to the surprise signings of WWE alumni, to the ever present hardcore element to the product, AEW has had a heck of a first year. The company has certainly provided fans with an alternative to mainstream wrestling programming, though it hasn't come without it's challenges.
They have have had a slew of technical issues, had to over come a lack of chemistry on commentary, and even failed to properly introduce talent to the audience from time to time. However, what has remained consistent is AEW's determination to work through the mistakes and still provide excellent programming. Let's take a look at the top five All Elite moments for 2019.
5. Brothers embrace
It was kept so quiet fans had no idea that there was ever going to be a match. However, when the Nightmare Family YouTube Channel aired a video of a man whose voice was distinctly familiar we knew something special was on the horizon. Without any announcement that he had been released, Dustin Rhodes was now All Elite. His appearance was about forging forward for him, his career and his family's legacy. It was then announced that the Rhodes brothers would face each other at the inaugural AEW pay per view Double or Nothing.
The match was about as close to being a letter of thank you to their father as anything they could have written by hand. It had trust, betrayal, wrestling, blood, anguish and eventually resolution. At the end of the match, the two brothers embraced in the ring battered and bloodied showing that they love each other. This was the first sign that AEW wanted to make something special with its storytelling.
4. MJF betrays Cody
For months and months on the Young Bucks YouTube channel Being The Elite, Maxwell Jacob Friedman would appear. He would endlessly seem to show nothing but his complete support towards Cody and only Cody. As soon as the son of the son of a plumber would be out of earshot, he would carve up and insult the likes of Matt and Nick Jackson along with Adam Page. He continued to show his support towards Cody and yet fans continued to doubt his motives when near the executive Vice-President. As time passed, MJF continued to stand by Cody's side.
During his feud with Chris Jericho, MJF was there to help battle the Inner Circle and all its combatants in it. When Jericho and Cody would eventually face each other, MJF would be in Cody's corner. Cody appeared to be in a predicament of great anguish and suffering. At this moment, MJF throws in the towel. With tears in his eyes, he apologizes to Cody and then kicks him low causing the EVP to crumble to the mat. The turn was official and MJF had finally turned on his 'mentor'.
3. Formation of The Inner Circle
On October 2nd, 2019, AEW officially made its debut on TNA. The event was history-making. The first match of the show was between Sammy Guevara and Cody. It said a lot about what the company thought about Guevara right from the start. They could see something very special about 'The Best Ever' right away. It was important that the first match up on the show highlights the present with the future of the company. The match ended with Cody ultimately getting the victory.
It was less about Guevara winning and losing, but rather showcasing his skills. Later on in the evening during a confrontation between Cody and Jericho, Guevara came to the ring. What initially appeared to be him showing his support to Cody quickly turned. Guevara aligned himself with Jericho. Jericho had the allegiance of Guevara, Proud-n-Powerful (Santana and Ortiz) and Jake Hager now with him forming the Inner Circle.
2. Jon Moxley officially debuts
On May 1st, 2019 Jon Moxley released a cryptic yet well-produced video on his Twitter feed. It should first be noted that the name 'Dean Ambrose' was no longer there. What returned was the persona Ambrose had embraced prior to his WWE career, Jon Moxley. The video was of him being incarcerated with him counting down the days. What did it all mean and who was behind the video? Almost as soon as it was released speculation began to unfold as to what it all meant and where he would appear next.
Fans were convinced that companies such as AEW and IMPACT Wrestling were among the suitors for Moxley's services. As the weeks passed, AEW's debut event Double or Nothing was set to take place. In the main event of the evening, Chris Jericho defeated Kenny Omega. The winner would go on to challenge for the AEW Heavyweight Championship. At the end of the match who emerges from the crowd, but Jon Moxley.
Moxley would lay waste to both Jericho and Omega, making it clear that he was now All Elite.
1.AEW Inks deal with TNT bringing Wrestling back to the network for the first time since 2001
When the deal was announced that All Elite Wrestling wasn't going to be an independent promotion, but a major promotion, the question was how was this going to happen? The first step in that direction for the company was to have secure financial backing. The Khan family has provided monetary value to promotion in spades. This then lent itself to ensuring that the promotion had a television deal to show their product. When the announcement was made that AEW would not just have a television deal but would have a prime television spot to air their product, interest was even higher.
The announcement of whom the agreement was with in the United States was the next step. TNT is a major television station in the U.S. They air major sports, movies and tons of action. It had been nearly 20 years since the company had wrestled as part of its content with World Championship Wrestling. AEW was on TNT on Wednesday nights and it appeared the Wednesday Night Wars were set to begin.
