The AEW Match Guide: Matches 30-11

The countdown of the greatest matches in AEW's history continues.

The AEW Match Guide continues to roll out today as we count down the greatest matches in AEW’s history as voted by a panel of passionate writers, podcasters and fans.

On Monday we found out 50-31 and today we will go from 30-11. The Top 10 will be announced on Friday first with a podcast on the AEW Match Guide Podcast and then right here.

If you’d like to discuss the results you can do so in the comments here or in the AEW Match Guide channel on the Social Suplex Discord. To make sure you don’t miss any you can subscribe to the new AEW Match Guide Substack, after this is done I plan on posting more written content in the future too.

30. FTR v The Young Bucks, AEW Tag Team Championship
    Full Gear 2020
    Points: 30
    Votes: 4
    Highest Rank: 2nd
    AEW Match Guide Podcast: Episode 3

“This match was an absolute Dream Match before the term started being overused. My two favorite tag teams wrestling each other. You can hear a more detailed description on an earlier episode of the AEW Match GuidePodcast, but this match was a love letter to tag team wrestling. My #1 matches were actually a tie, but this lost the coin flip. Every great rivalry has a first match and this one is my favourite of the series.”
- Floyd Johnson Jr., @floydjohnsonjr

“My favorite of the FTR/Young Bucks rivalry is their first match. Competing on the Full Gear pandemic PPV, this is a match that so sadly didn’t have a crowd for it - if it did, I think more people would be singing its praises. This match is a love letter to tag wrestling and expertly constructed. All of the homages are fantastically executed, and the finisher stealing is excellent. Easily the best pandemic-era match.”
- Ryan, @WrestleWatch_

29. Jon Moxley v Orange Cassidy, AEW International Championship

    All Out 2023

    Points: 30

    Votes: 6
    Highest Rank: 2nd

“Jon Moxley vs. Orange Cassidy at All Out was the firs time a ‘mid-card’ title had main evented an AEW PPV and what was so great about this was that it felt like Orange Cassidy had elevated the International title to the point where it felt deserved.

The match was beautifully violent in a way that nobody can do quite like Jon Moxley. But Orange Cassidy raised himself to Mox's level and proved himself as a future world champion that night, in my opinion. I fully believe that one day a similar opportunity will fall in OC's path for the world title and that Tony Khan will pull the trigger. This match convinced me.

I remember being so invested in the result of this match, desperate for Orange Cassidy to win, which is strange because I don't generally care about OC and I much prefer Mox.”
- Gareth Ford-Elliot, @gareth_eno

“Absolutely one of the best reigns I have ever seen from a champion coming to an end. Orange Cassidy’s first reign with the All Atlantic/International belt was beyond special and resulted in me crying when he got it and crying when he lost it just from the sheer beauty of the moments they were. Blueprint for any great title reign.”
- Atlas

28. Jon Moxley v Wheeler Yuta
    Rampage 6/4/2022
    Point: 35
    Votes: 7
    Highest Rank: 4th

“This is the coming of age match in AEW. The sight of a bloodied Yuta refusing to be put away by Jon Moxley had a crowd on its feet for a match they might not have expected much from at the start. Almost a cult classic, but also an important example of how to instantly elevate talent.”
- Trish Spears, @TrishSpiers48

“A true star making performance for Wheeler Yuta and perhaps the best Rampage match in history. People hyped this match up for the days before broadcast and it is easily one of the best matches both these men had. The tenacity of Yuta along with that crimson mask of his made the moment and solidified him as a upcoming star.”
- Atlas

27. Jon Moxley v Eddie Kingston, AEW World Championship, I Quit Match
    Full Gear 2020
    Points: 35
    Votes: 7
    Highest Rank: 3rd
    AEW Match Guide Podcast: Episode 15

“This is a personal choice as much as anything. For almost a decade I’ve considered Eddie Kingston one of the greatest performers in wrestling, and he has gone underappreciated to the point where he was on the verge of retiring. For him to not only come to AEW but to get such attention and even main event a PPV is almost literally a dream come true. On top of that, the build-up to this match is superb, some of the best work done in years, and the match delivered tremendously, gritty and emotional and not at all performative.”
- Mizfan, @SpectralGent

“The final successful defence in Jon Moxley's 2020 Championship run, a program that within four weeks became one of the most personal, intense and heated matches AEW had seen. It has been a while since I watched this match and while it doesn't quite scale the heights of violence of the Adam Page Texas Death Matches with Mox & Swerve, this match is just about as perfect as it could be.

Firstly Eddie piling the pressure on himself, promising his mother he would win, invoking the deaths of two fallen brothers in wrestling and finally wearing the Missawa green. He fights with furry and intensity fitting of his one shot at the big one but comes up against an equally driven and violent man in Jon Moxley. The ending is particularly great with Eddie realising he will not be able to get Moxley to give up before Mox wraps his arm in barbed wire and pleads with Eddie to quit. They time the ending perfectly, finishing right at the emotional peak of the action.

To me this match is incredible and has aged so damn well.”
Sam Brown, @Sir_Samuel

26. PAC v Orange Cassidy

    Revolution 2020

    Points: 37
    Votes: 7
    Highest Rank: 7th
    AEW Match Guide Podcast: Episode 4

“Possibly a surprising pick as my favourite match from Revolution 2020, OC & PAC was the match that really opened the door for me with AEW. It sits on their YouTube page ready for anybody to watch and get into the promotion, and it’s a fantastic appetizer for such. The match perfectly introduces you to both characters and the variety of styles one finds in AEW. This is the match I would send someone who doesn’t watch wrestling but wants to get into it from this list.”
- Ryan, @WrestleWatch_

“AEW is often at its best when it is fun and this is the perfect example. A crowd that started out with comedic chanting was swiftly blown away when Cassidy did far more than just try. Months of careful build led to this and it was an absolute riot to be in the building for.”
- Trish Spiers, @TrishSpiers48

25. Britt Baker v Thunder Rosa, Lights Out Match
    Dynamite 11/3/2021
    Points: 37
    Votes: 8
    Highest Rank: 7th

“A huge step forward for the division and in making Baker a star. This was laid out perfectly to be both brutal and impactful whilst creating incredible visuals that are instantly recognisable years later.”
- Trish Spiers, @TrishSpiers48

“The best women’s match in AEW history”
- David Fenischel

“While I think it has been surpassed now in the early years of the AEW Women’s division this match stood out as miles ahead of anything the company had done before with its female talent. A genuine main event, the first truly heated feud for the division and solidified both Baker and Rosa as future women’s champions.
- Sam Brown, @Sir_Samuel

24. Kenny Omega v PAC, Iron Man Match
    Dynamite 26/2/2020
    Points: 38
    Votes: 9
    Highest Ranking: 5th
    AEW Match Guide Podcast: Episode 2

“Take a few of my entries from Dynamite and put them on PPV and they probably make the overall Top 5 here. I feel as though Omega-PAC has been lost to history. It was just 3 days before my favorite AEW match ever, so it was almost instantly overshadowed, but what an absolutely excellent performance. I never wanted it to end, even though it was already longer than most matches.”
- ‘The Doc’ Chad Matthews

23. Jon Moxley v Kenny Omega, Lights Out Match

    Full Gear 2019
    Points: 39
    Votes: 5
    Highest Ranking: 2nd

“The pairing of Jon Moxley & Kenny Omega is one that made them both better wrestlers. Two completely different styles. Two completely different background. Unbelievable chemistry. Mox is one of the rare opponents that truly challenges Kenny to up the sadism and just be violent. This Lights Out match was one of the first times we saw how far AEW was willing to go as it related to pure gore and it did not disappoint. One of the matches I personally go back and rewatch most often.”
- Lyric Swinton, @LyricWrestling

“The first true crossover that AEW offered. The centerpiece of the promotion, Omega, taking on the former WWE top guy in Moxley. However, the Dean Ambrose persona was buried deep underground as Mox tore off the mask and reverted back to his truest most sadistic self. It confirmed that he was not going to be restricted the same way he was under the old man. It also showed that no matter the match or stipulation, Omega would prove that he is the master of it.”
- Joey G., @TheLuchaJoe

22. Bryan Danielson v Rush
    Dynamite 8/2/2023
    Points: 41
    Votes: 7
    Highest Rank: 6th

“A no nonsense, hard hitting, fast paced television match between one of the greatest wrestlers of all time and a charismatic, captivating worker whose potential seems enormous even if he has not yet fully reached the ceiling of that underlying talent. Matches likes this were once unheard of on American television.”
- Rambone Slampig, @RamboneSlampig

21. Adam Page v Bryan Danielson, AEW World Championship
    Dynamite 5/1/2022
    Points: 55
    Votes: 6
    Highest Rank: 1st

“Whilst most may prefer the one-hour draw, the intensity of this one puts it above its counterpart for myself. This is a hard-hitting, bloody battle where Page takes the agency from his veteran opponent and fully establishes himself as the World Champion.”
- Trish Spiers, @TrishSpiers48

20. FTR v Jay White & Juice Robinson, AEW Tag Team Championship, 2/3 Falls Match
    Collision 15/7/2023
    Points: 58
    Votes: 8
    Highest Rank: 3rd

“Some prefer their previous title eliminator match, but for my money this match (2/3 Falls) is the better of the series. Not just that, it’s the best match of Collision’s run and I think the dark horse pick of AEW’s best tag match. This hits the same notes that made matches like Hangman/Danielson’s draw special: you know it’s going to be a long one since it’s 2 out of 3 falls, but the match keeps finding higher gears.

The protection of Jay White throughout, where he is a 2.99999999 kick-out machine and nothing FTR brings can keep him down, is the best Jay’s looked in AEW. The pacing is perfect throughout, as evidenced by the expert placement of commercial breaks between each fall. I know people love other tag matches, but this one is the best to me.”
- Ryan, @WrestleWatch_

“This match outkicked its coverage bigtime”
- David Fenischel

“The absolute highlight of the early days of AEW Collision, at a time when the show felt very uneven and hard to fathom at times. This match was a callback to the classic territory style tag team feuds of yesteryear. Both teams came out looking incredible. Juice Robinson finalized the rehabilitation of his career which had begun when he came into AEW in the waning moments of this match.”
- Rambone Slampig, @RamboneSlampig

19. Will Ospreay v Konosuke Takeshitta
    Revolution 2024
    Points: 79
    Votes: 9
    Highest Rank: 3rd

“If you ever doubt that high paced, hard hitting, brutal in ring action can be beautiful, just watch these two artists paint on the canvass of the ring. Takeshita and Ospreay have similarities in style and approach which resonated during this clash. I hope this is not the last time we see this match up.”
- Rambone Slampig, @RamboneSlampig

“Ospreay's first match as an official member of the AEW roster. Takeshita's opportunity to prove, once again, that he belongs in the "best in the world" conversation. They went out there looking to beat the hell out of each other, and that's exactly what they did. Right away, it looked like a feud that could be a showcase in AEW for years to come.”
- Aaron Hyden ‘Hustle’, @HustleTheSavage

“Just another Will Ospreay classic. These 2 men are the future of AEW for many years to come.”
- Adam Smith, @Hokandori

18. Bryan Danielson v Ricky Starks, Strap Match
    All Out 2023
    Points: 80
    Votes: 11
    Highest Rank: 4th

“The greatest strap match I've ever seen. The fact that Danielson was coming back from a forearm injury and doing a strap match was insane. It's violent, it's brutal, and it took my breath away. The ending was an all time moment.”
- David E. Brill, @TheDavefather

“Absolutely brutal. Best strap match I've ever seen.”
- Adam Smith, @Hokandori

17. The Elite v The Inner Circle, Stadium Stampede
    Double or Nothing 2020
    Points: 82
    Votes: 10
    Highest Rank: 3rd
    AEW Match Guide Podcast: Episode 26

“In the face of the greatest creative challenge wrestling has ever faced AEW managed to not just succeed, but thrive, and Stadium Stampede is the epitome of their outside the box, DIY thinking. There is so much going on in this match that is funny heartwarming and breathtaking in equal measure. Ultimately tells a story of how teamwork and friendship can triumph over ego, with a side story of Sammy G’s worst day ever. Wrestling has rarely been more life-affirming than when these ten men (plus other cast and crew) put together this triumph of a match.”
- Sam Brown, @Sir_Samuel

“In times where we turn to wrestling because of real life uncertainty we often look for something fun to distract us from outside chaos. This match is exactly that.”
- Trish Spiers, @TrishSpiers48

“Pure AEW, a boat load of fun.”
- Chris L., @Dinahmoehum

“In this day and age, great matches are so common. AEW history is littered with awesomeness. Last year, Bryan Danielson AVERAGED above 5 stars across his top matches. It's getting harder for them to stand out. The original Stadium Stampede will never suffer from that problem. In the moment, it was cathartic and fun. In hindsight, it is still such a blast.”
- ‘The Doc’ Chad Matthews

16. Blackpool Combat Club v The Jericho Appreciation Society, Anarchy in the Arena
    Double or Nothing 2022
    Points: 84
    Votes: 16
    Highest Rank: 1st

“Eddie Kingston. Can of gasoline. Enough said.”
- Adam Smith, @Hokandori

“These are just my type of matches! This was the first Anarchy in the Arena match, and it was a totally wild brawl! I just was fascinated by the craziness of it all. I'm a sucker for matches like this. Kingston coming out towards the end with the gas can was an all time moment.”
- David E. Brill, @TheDavefather

“Insane match, especially as having watched it live. Chaos in the best possible way that could not be replicated. Eddie with the gas can and all these insane spots in the crowd. There was a certain high about this match I can’t get with any other type of match whether it be a regular great singles one or even a deathmatch.”
- Atlas

15. CM Punk v MJF, Dog Collar Match
    Revolution 2022
    Points: 92
    Votes: 12
    Highest Rank: 2nd

“The climactic match of one of the three best feuds AEW has ever produced. This story went from two men, peacocking, trying to measure their dicks in their first face-to-face meeting to months later revealing the very core of what shaped and motivated their character.

Punk’s entrance is spine-tingling and the match is fittingly raw and bloody for such an emotionally charged rivalry. To me this is the greatest thing either man has done in AEW.”
- Sam Brown, @Sir_Samuel

“A Dog Collar Match is an old school stipulation that was used for only the most violent and personal of feuds. You were guaranteed a bloodbath in those matches. Punk and MJF were in the middle of one of AEW's most personal feuds, and guess what we got here? A bloodbath. This was a fun throwback to years gone by, even down to Punk's "Miseria Cantare" entrance music and old ring attire from his Ring Of Honor days.”
- Aaron Hyden ‘Hustle’, @HustleTheSavage

14. CM Punk v Eddie Kingston
    Full Gear 2021
    Points: 123
    Votes: 14
    Highest Rank: 2nd

“The best promos, the best build, the best pacing and structure, just incredible.”
- Mizfan, @SpectralGent

“Built in an incredibly organic manner off the back of Eddie’s loss to Bryan Danielson, within seconds this felt like the most heated program in all wrestling despite it being between two figures beloved by the AEW crowd (at the time at least). The pair backed up the best promo segment of the year with an out-and-out fight at the PPV that only went for ten minutes but packed as much hate-filled action into it as any match in memory.

This was when CM Punk got out of the kiddie pool he was wading around in upon his return and into a proper wrestling feud. It is a crime we never got a second act of this rivalry.”
- Sam Brown, @Sir_Samuel

13. Jon Moxley v Adam Page, Texas Death Match
    Revolution 2023
    Points: 129
    Votes: 17
    Highest Rank: 2nd

“When this match was to be contested under Texas Deathmatch rules, I was immediately sold. That very week, I suggested AEW give Hangman the temporary theme of "Ghost Riders in the Sky" cover by The Outlaws. I was floored when it actually happened. But the match itself felt like something grand. Biblical, even without symbolism. This was a rivalry born of the hate and meanness found in even the smallest of creatures. This match being in both men's wheelhouses for separate reasons added to the intensity and familiarity that made this feel as natural as a standard wrestling match.”
- Corey Michaels, @Corey0Michaels

“I wasn't expecting Moxley to become such a purveyor of violence in pro wrestling, but hardcore wars are a genre that I'd consider myself a niche fan of across my 35 years of wrestling fandom. Unseating Mox vs. Omega at Full Gear 2019, this Texas Death Match ascends to the top of a crowded room of bloody battles in AEW. It's such an important distinction for AEW that they "go there" with this kind of stuff, so one such match had to make the list.”
- ‘The Doc’ Chad Matthews

“Jon Moxley, ‘Hangman’ Page, promos back and forth about what it means to be a man, mutual respect but a conflict at who is the true top dog in AEW, a Texas Death Match to blow it all off. This may as well have just been a checklist of everything I love in wrestling and it still blew away my expectations.”
- Sam Brown, @Sir_Samuel

12. Bryan Danielson v Zack Sabre Jr.
    Wrestle Dream 2023
    Points: 137
    Votes: 18
    Highest Rank: 1st

“This match was billed as a dream match. Albeit it’s not my favourite of their series (the sequel in Japan might be my favourite match ever), this one definitely arrived to the occasion and fulfilled its promise of being, simply, dreamy.”
- Ryan, @WrestleWatch_

“Bryan Danielson vs. ZSJ had been a dream match for many years and for it to take place in Bryan's home state of Washington was such a great setting.

Zack is such a brilliant heel and after winning seven of the WON's 'Bryan Danielson' awards he had all the technical brilliance to match and perhaps even outperform Bryan, as was the story of the match.

Bryan brought his other toys to the party and won the match with a Busaiku Knee for the pinfall. A decision which protected ZSJ's pure technical game, as many expected this match to end in a submission. This allowed the two to continue their quest to prove who is, in fact, the best technical wrestler.

Also, as a sidenote, Jon Moxley's commentary was absolutely hilarious and, for me, really added to the experience.”
- Gareth Ford-Elliot, @gareth_eno

“An exploration of classic mat based grappling, World of Sport style, combined with a high pace and mixed with some stiff strikes. This match was Danielson attempting to show that he could keep pace with Zack Sabre, Jr. in the style of which Zack is the master.

Ultimately, Danielson strayed outside of the fair play exhibition spirit of the early part of the match in order to achieve victory. This match came at a time when it appeared Zack was being built up as a credible main eventer in his home promotion. Danielson is generous in victory or defeat, always ensuring his opponents come out looking very strong. This was no different.”
- Rambone Slampig, @RamboneSlampig

11. Adam Page v Bryan Danielson, AEW World Championship
    Dynamite 15/12/2021
    Points: 143
    Votes: 16
    Highest Rank: 1st
    AEW Match Guide Podcast: Episode 31

“One of my favorite things about wrestling is a really long (as long as it's really good) match that you weren't expecting to be that long. A 60-minute Ironman Match is one thing when it's announced ahead of time. It's a different thing entirely when you get a 60-minute match out of nowhere, like we got here. Danielson was desperate to win the AEW World Title, but Page was desperate to keep it, having only won it a month prior. They kept pushing each other further and further, and watching them have to make business decisions and stray from their original strategies was a blast.”
- Aaron Hyden ‘Hustle’, @HustleTheSavage

“AEW’s best time limit draw (if MJF/Danielson Iron Man doesn’t count). This match expertly built itself up during the first 30 minutes where you could start to feel where it was heading, but you had to doubt they’d actually go for the draw. Even in those last 5 minutes you still felt the pull that maybe they would have a finish - it’s made sweeter by the ending sequence, which then helps build their rematch weeks later. Just as the Iron Man match drowned out MJF’s doubters, this did the same for Hangman’s.”
- Corey Michaels, @Corey0Michaels

“Probably the greatest TV match of all time. I admittedly haven't been the biggest Adam Page fan, so I wasn't even looking that forward to this match. These 2 went out there and gave us a 60 min classic! It was just a stunning display by both wrestlers.”
- David E. Brill, @TheDavefather

“Another entry. Another Danielson match. This was my wife's first AEW show and to tell you how amazing this match was I will say my wife doesn't like movies that over a hour and a half so I figured there would a struggle getting through this match. She was completely engaged in the whole match and said it was the best thing she ever saw. That was enough.”
- Floyd Johnson Jr., @floydjohnsonjr

---

That brings us to top ten which will be announced on Friday. To ensure you don’t miss it make sure you subscribe to the Substack below. I plan on putting out more written content here in the future too so keep an eye out for that.

If you’d like to discuss the results you can do so in the comments here or on the Social Suplex Discord in the AEW Match Guide Channel.

Thanks to all the people who voted in the AEW Match Guide. Here is the full list of contributors, please check out what they do.

Aaron ‘Hustle’ Hayden, @HustleTheSavage, Wrestling Headlines
Adam Smith, @Hokandori
Ashutosh, @AshWTRR, Wrestle Purists
Atlas
Caro Taro, @caro__taro, C-Squared Podcast
Charles
Charlie Antosca, @WGWPOD, Watch Great Wrestling Podcast
Chris L, @Dinahmoehum
Corey Michaels, @Corey0Michaels, Wrestle Inn, Wrestle Purists, Body Slam
Craig Williams, @CraigPWMusings, Pro Wrestling Musings
David E. Brill, @TheDavefather
David Fenischel
Floyd Johnson Jr., @floydjohnsonjr, All Things Elite Podcast
Gareth Ford-Elliot, @garath_eno, Pro Wrestling Musings
Greyson Peltier, @GreysonNation, Pro Wrestling Musings & The Fixer Punk Podcast
Jack, @blackcrushhh
Jeremy Donovan, @JeremyLDonovan, Keepin’ It Strong Style Podcast
Jerimiah Pond, @RamboneSlampig
Joey G., @TheLuchaJoe, Westling Headlines
Joseph Montecillo, @josephweirdness, josephmontecillo.com, bigegg.substack.com
J.R., @TGIFProfessor, All Things Elite Podcast
June, @junejuneonthatb
Kunal Singh Rawat, rawatkunal31
Lyric Swinton, @LyricWrestling, linktr.ee/lyricwrestling
Matt Maher ‘Imp’, @TheDamnImplicat, Imp’s WWE Adventures Podcast
Michael Sidgwick, @MSidgwick, WhatCulture Wrestling
Mizfan, @SpectralGent
Ryan, @WrestleWatch_, Wrestle Watch
Sam Roberts, @QuantumRoberts
Sergei Alderman, @SergeiAlderman, Pro Wrestling Musings
Stephen White II, @ghostofkurta
'The Doc' Chad Matthews, The Doc Says Podcast
The Returner
Tim Hunter, @Hunter_S_Timsen
Trish Spiers, @TrishSpeirs48, The Trish & Sarah Wrestling Podcast