For many, pro wrestling is synonymous with WWE, and that’s more than understandable. WWE has dominated the mainstream for decades. But since 2019, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) has changed the game. Arguably, it is the biggest player WWE has faced since WCW. Yet, many dismiss AEW without giving it a fair chance. 

To show why AEW is worth a watch, here are the matches and promos that, to me, stand the test of time.

1. Jon Moxley arrives in AEW

In hindsight, you could say that this moment was the arrival of AEW’s MVP. But, even when it happened, it was a seismic shift. When Moxley arrived in AEW, the company already had the services of a major household name in Chris Jericho. But, his arrival felt different. He was in his prime and was treated fairly well in WWE on his way out.  

His arrival signaled to the masses that AEW isn’t here to simply exist, but rather compete. As Moxley entered through the crowd, with Jim Ross going, “Hey Hey Hey”, you knew this was a home run. Once he entered the ring, he beat up Jericho, Omega, and the referee alike. 

But the way he reacted was the cherry on the cake. It felt like this man had been freed from the cages and the crowd rejoiced. You don’t get moments like these often in Pro Wrestling. It felt like he finally got the recognition and appreciation he always deserved. As a huge Jon Moxley fan, it did feel really good to see him shine.

2. CM Punk Debuts in AEW

I remember tuning into the second ever episode of AEW Rampage to “hopefully” watch CM Punk’s debut in the company. While there were strong rumours and wrestling news websites, it wasn’t explicitly mentioned that he would be there. So, I along with millions of fans around the world were hoping we get to see him.

When the show started, the fans were already chanting his name. But, when Living Color’s Cult of Personality hit, every wrestling fan was delighted. And, that feeling was hard to comprehend because we had been waiting for this moment for seven years. More than wrestling, it felt like a moment of collective win, like we finally got the results of being patient. 

Upon his arrival, I remember many people going, “Damn! The captain of the ship has arrived”. In 2026, this comment doesn’t really fare well, but back then, it made all the sense in the world. For the general audience, he wasn’t just another name. He was the gamechanger, and the ratings proved that. Interestingly, his arrival meant the company managed to sell-out Chicago’s United Center based on a rumor.

3. Cody vs Dustin Rhodes at Double or Nothing 2019

This easily remains one of the most emotional matches in AEW history. The story heading into this match was strangely interesting. On one hand, you had Cody Rhodes, who was the EVP of the company at the time and on top of his game. On the other, you had his elder brother, Dustin Rhodes (fka, Goldust), who had a lot to prove after his quiet exit from WWE. 

It was an excellent but bloody back and forth between the two brothers that ultimately ended with Cody emerging victorious. Surely, Papa Dusty Rhodes would be smiling from the heavens seeing the clinic his boys put on. But, the magic didn’t end there. 

Once the match ended, Cody asked his brother to team up for a future match against the Young Bucks. Dustin showed his approval by embracing his brother. If we’re talking purely about emotions, pro-wrestling rarely gets as good as this. The match fits into the overall theme of blood is thicker than water and family will have your back at the end of the day. An absolute must watch in my opinion. 

4. Hangman Adam Page Defeats Kenny Omega To Become AEW Champion at Full Gear 2021

Kenny Omega became the AEW Champion by defeating Jon Moxley at AEW Winter is Coming TV Special in December 2020. Following the win, he went on to have a historic title reign defeating the likes of PAC, Orange Cassidy, and Christian Cage. But, he met his match in his former friend, Adam Page.  

At Full Gear 2021, the two had an excellent match. Prior to hitting the finishing move on Kenny, Page looked at Matt Jackson, who nodded in approval. That moment meant a lot more than it looked on-screen. Well, that’s because before the reign began, Kenny Omega, Matt & Nick Jackson (The Young Bucks) gave Adam Page the impression that he wasn’t their equal. 

So, to get the approval from the person who considered himself better than Page, it felt like a sweet full-circle moment. This win showed that if you put in the hard work consistently and bet on yourself, success is inevitable. What I loved about booker Tony Khan’s choices here is that Page’s redemption arc was a slow burn. 

Ever since the start of AEW, there were subtle hints that Kenny and the Young Bucks didn’t treat him like an equal. The divide only got bigger with time. When the Young Bucks eventually kicked out of the Elite, he was even called “drunk” and a “loser”. He began feeling unsure of himself, and it was the Dark Order’s friendship and acceptance that helped him turn things around. 

So, when he eventually won, it made sense that he celebrated with his Dark Order friends instead of his more popular former friends. That day the misfits won and it was a damn beautiful moment.

5. Bryan Danielson vs Kenny Omega on AEW Dynamite Grand Slam (September 22, 2021)

Ever since there were rumours of Bryan Danielson debuting in AEW, the crowd was excited about the possibility of him wrestling Kenny Omega. When he debuted, he immediately confronted Kenny. Even though Kenny reacted in his usually cocky heel way, he still realized along with the audience that he was standing across from a wrestler that matched him. 

What I loved about AEW’s treatment of Bryan Danielson was that they instantly recognized the greatness of the man. In WWE, he had to pay his dues for a long time before they eventually accepted him fully. WWE considers itself a sports entertainment juggernaut while AEW prides itself on being a pro wrestling company. 

In AEW, as soon as he showed up, he wasn’t treated simply as a great wrestler, but rather as one of the greatest of all time. So, in a battle of the GOATs, you had the technical wizard, Bryan Danielson vs the best bout machine, Kenny Omega. 

When the two finally faced each other, the crowd was buzzing with excitement even before they started wrestling. The match more than lived up to the excitement with incredible moves and even better in-ring chemistry. It ended in a time-limit draw, which only made sense since they were both just as good. If you’re looking for some exceptional wrestling, this one won’t disappoint. 

6. Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston faces off on AEW Dynamite (November 4, 2020)

Covid-19 didn’t stop AEW from putting on some of the best weekly television and this video is proof of that. When Eddie was introduced as a challenger to Jon Moxley, he seemed like just another opponent. But, with time, it was revealed that they had a lot more in common than we realized.

Watch this promo for how deeply personal a wrestling angle can get. Interestingly, in real life, both of them competed in CZW. However, Moxley went on to greener pastures in WWE and became a major star there. But, luck wasn’t so kind to Eddie. In fact, he was close to giving up wrestling, before he got the chance to debut in AEW.   

This promo drew from their shared & unshared experiences. As a result, they blurred the lines between fact and fiction, which in my opinion, is often where the magic happens. Two characters from similar backgrounds, eying for the same prize  but only one of them has a successful history. This segment explored the themes of obsession, jealousy, and ambition amazingly well.

7. CM Punk and MJF Saga

If you were to ask me about the greatest AEW rivalry to date, I would choose Punk vs MJF over everything else. Why ? Because it transcended wrestling in my opinion. I love stories that ask the question- What if your biggest fan turns into your biggest enemy ? This rivalry is one of the best stories that explores this possibility. The others, in my opinion, are Shah Rukh Khan’s “Fan” (2016) and The Flash vs Reverse Flash storyline on the CW show, “The Flash” (2014 – 2023).

In a way, this felt like AEW’s version of Flash vs Reverse Flash. But the characters here are much more realistic and flawed. In real life, MJF grew up as a wrestling fan with CM Punk being one of his favorites. He even has a picture with CM Punk, when he was a kid. Their on screen rivalry drew from this story and blurred the lines between on and off screen relationship between the two. 

Their rivalry started with an interaction at a regular AEW dynamite where Punk refused to shake MJF’s hands. It ended with Punk’s win in a brutal bloody dog collar match at AEW Revolution 2022. The interesting thing here is that Punk competed at this event with his ROH gear on. 

One of my favorite segments of this rivalry occurred on the March 2, 2022 episode of AEW Dynamite. The week prior, MJF cut a wonderful promo about being a bullied Jewish kid with ADHD who grew up idolizing Punk, but he felt let down by the latter’s exit from WWE in 2014. So, this time, Punk calls him and asks, “Is it real?”

Punk extends his hand, but MJF instead hugs him emotionally. The crowd cheered, and it felt just right. MJF’s expressions then changed completely, and he delivered a low blow. He then wraps a steel chain around his fists and hits Punk repeatedly, leaving with a crimson mask. MJF now wraps the chain around Punk’s neck and hangs him over the top rope.

As Punk is grasping for air, MJF says, “You stupid, old man! You should have known! I’m going to show you and all these mind-dead morons that I am the devil himself!” This was a callback to Punk’s promo in ROH in 2005, when he called himself the devil. So, it made sense that Punk had to go back to his roots to defeat his greatest rival, as it should be. Watch this saga for a nuanced take on parasocial relationships, obsession, and clash of different ideologies.

8. Britt Baker and Ruby Soho Promo on AEW Rampage (September 17, 2021)

When Ruby Soho was rumored to arrive in AEW after her release from WWE, she had the world on her side. She debuted at AEW All Out 2021 in the Casino Battle Royal Match where she emerged as the winner. That made her the number one contender for the AEW Women’s Championship held by Britt Baker at the time.

The on-screen differences between the two couldn’t have been bigger. On one hand, you had Britt Baker who was loved by her company and was proud of helping her division grow, Ruby on the other hand, felt limited by her previous workplace. So when Ruby Soho got her moment, Britt Baker felt overly protective of her throne and tried to bully her.

But, Ruby didn’t feel uncomfortable one bit and instead returned those spicy zingers back. I loved this exchange because both competitors got to show their bold personalities. Britt, in particular, works best as a villain and the promo is proof of that. This segment touched on the ideas of identity, authenticity, and the classic outsider vs bully, just on a bigger scale.

9. The Young Bucks vs Lucha Bros at AEW All Out 2021

Unlike many other entries in this list, this match didn’t touch upon different themes. It was purely concerned about one question – Who is the best tag-team at the moment in AEW? Prior to this match, both teams had a win over the other. So, this was essentially the rubber match of their feud.

If you are looking for simply the most entertaining, insanely athletic, and chaotically fun match, look no further. The match is filled with several moments that will make you go, “How are they even pulling this off?” with excitement. One such moment came when Matt Jackson kicked Penta with a thumbtack-laced sneaker, which caused him to bleed.  

For the finish, Rey Fenix jumped off the top rope onto the others, including his own brother. The Lucha Bros ultimately secured the win with a double-team piledriver. Even if you aren’t a wrestling fan, you won’t be disappointed with this match.

10. MJF’s AEW return at AEW All Out 2022

When AEW All Out 2022 came around, MJF had been missing from our screens for quite some time now. He was last seen on an episode of the June 1 episode of AEW Dynamite, where he cut an exceptional promo about not being respected by fans and company president, Tony Khan. Off screen, it was rumored that he felt he was being underpaid, as well. So, the promo did make a lot of sense coming from him.

Fast forward to the PPV’s main event, where we see CM Punk beat Jon Moxley for the AEW Championship. His celebration is cut off by none other than his arch nemesis, MJF. The brilliance in this segment lies in how real and exceptional this moment was made to feel. From the audio call that touched upon his contract situation, to the aforementioned Punk’s ROH devil promo in 2005, to the reveal of MJF as the person behind the Joker mask, everything was on point. 

The cherry on the cake was the attitude with which MJF walked into the arena. Like a super arrogant villain who knows just how good he is and that he won’t stop until he gets the crown. Peak Cinema!, as the kids say these days. It’s a shame that we never got to see their eventual match, but the moment, on its own, remains timeless. 

Conclusion

While I have done my best to talk about the top moments/matches in AEW history, this list isn’t exhaustive by any stretch. There are plenty of other great moments that I couldn’t cover. Wrestling is for everybody but it’s subjective. This was just my take. Yours could very well be different. 

At the same time, I have to say that I am not saying AEW is the definition of perfection. They have their own share of issues like other companies and for that matter, WWE does great work too. With this piece, I just hope to give the company the chance they deserve but might just not be receiving for one reason or another.