Now that AEW Revolution 2022 is in the books, we can finally sit back and analyze the event with a forensic lens. Tony Khan wasn’t kidding when he said that a lot of stuff will be happening at the PPV. Some of them we predicted, others were pleasantly shocking. We’re here to break it all down; these are 5 Big Takeaways from AEW Revolution, 2022.
5. The New AEW Women’s Championship Design was a long-time coming
All Elite Wrestling has brought back prestige and an air of class to professional wrestling. Unlike its direct competitor, whose championship titles look like multi-coloured variants of their corporate logo, AEW actually invests in good designs. The AEW Tag Team Titles are reminiscent of the classic World Tag Team Titles from yesteryear, and the AEW World Championship is just a thing of beauty.
The TBS Championship is already golden in the hands of Jade Cargill and even the TNT title, for all its re-designs, has settled on a look that now defines its worth. By contrast, it took AEW 3 years to get its Women’s World Championship right. The first design made it look more like a toy than a title, and the upgrade Britt Baker won from Hikaru Shida last year was just a bigger version of the same.
Last night at Revolution, AEW finally nailed the presentation of its Women’s Division, at least from an aesthetic standpoint. The new AEW Women’s World Championship is gorgeous. It is reminiscent of the Gift of the Gods Championship from the now-defunct cult promotion Lucha Underground, and is a title that any performer would be proud to carry around. You might think this is me being nitpicky, but presentation matters. How your champion looks on the first PPV of the calendar year can make or break your next one, and Britt Baker’s division-heaving work does merit this reward at the very least. While Tony Khan has managed to fix the marketability of the women of AEW, he still needs to work on them.
Here is a better look at the New #AEW Women’s World Championship #AEWRevolution pic.twitter.com/johMWIjkOk
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 7, 2022
4. AEW’s Women’s Division needs a lot of work
While the presentation of the division has certainly improved, the same cannot be said about representation. All Elite Wrestling has a very clear issue in its Women’s Division; in that it has 2 strong champions, and no credible challengers. Britt Baker has been ruling AEW as its Women’s Champion since May last year, and Jade Cargill has been undefeated since she debuted.
Though the latter’s run as AEW’s Goldberg has been rather fun to watch, it’s the Good Doctor whose work ends up highlighting her division’s flaws. After beating Thunder Rosa, who else is left for Britt Baker to sell a match with? Sure, the eventual Jamie Hayter face turn will give us a good few weeks of “women’s programming”, but then what? I understand that AEW is still learning the ropes when it comes to women’s wrestling, but the fact that 3 people are carrying an entire division is ominous. I hope Tony Khan changes his strategy soon.
Another PPV.
Another victory for the D????????M????????D????????#AEWRevolution @AEW pic.twitter.com/VhUhRUHTdE— Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. (@RealBrittBaker) March 7, 2022
3. Shane “Swerve” Strickland becomes All Elite at Revolution
Out of all the releases that WWE made during the Pandemic Era, one of the more bizarre firings has to be that of Shane Strickland. The man formerly known as Isaiah “Swerve” Scott seemed to be primed for greatness. His last run in NXT saw him become the North American Champion and create the uber-popular group Hit Row alongside B-Fab, Top Dolla and Ashante “Thee” Adonis.
He was called up to the main roster in the 2021 Draft; and then promptly removed from WWE’s roster page due to “budget cuts”. Well, what’s Vince’s loss is Tony’s gain, clearly, as Shane “Swerve” Strickland debuted for All Elite Wrestling last night and became a part of the revolution. He was interviewed by Tony Schiavone in front of the rabid crowd, and went on to lay his claim to the promised land. I’m excited to see what comes next.
It’s official! @swerveconfident is ALL ELITE!#AEWRevolution pic.twitter.com/nXOuAXryR1
— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) March 7, 2022
2. Wardlow finally embraces his destiny and becomes the Face of the Revolution
Ever since he debuted, I knew Wardlow was going to be AEW’s Next Big Thing. From his Steel Cage Match with Cody Rhodes to his impeccable performance against CM Punk a couple of months ago, Mr. Mayhem is earning his paychecks in Powerbombs these days.
Wardlow’s eventual face turn has been one of the best slow-burning storylines in professional wrestling history. Even Diesel didn’t wait this long to turn on Shawn Michaels; and if he had, maybe the crowd would have chanted One More Time for him as well. When he was announced for the Face of the Revolution Ladder Match, I predicted he would win it and go on to face MJF for the TNT Championship by the end of 2022. So you can imagine how satisfied I felt after Revolution went off-air. Now, we wait for the Powerbomb Symphony to hit its most-melodic notes when it breaks the back of one Maxwell Jacob Friedman.
.@RealWardlow with a convenient memory lapse during this #DogCollar match between @CMPunk and @The_MJF!#AEWRevolution is LIVE on PPV right now! Available on @BleacherReport & @FiteTV (Int.) pic.twitter.com/DR8ruIdvOJ
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 7, 2022
1. Mox Beats Danielson, joins forces with him alongside William Regal
On January 8, 2022, NXT Black and Gold was officially put to rest. That was the day that WWE decided to part ways with a presumed WWE-lifer and beloved NXT General Manager William Regal, and wished him the best in his future endeavors. For his part, Mr. Regal was an absolute gentleman about the split, remembering only the good things that came out of his tenure with Vince McMahon’s company.
Thank you to @WWE for a wonderful 21 year run. You gave a lad who was happy and in wonderland wrestling on a carnival have a charmed life for 21 years. No complaints and please no one waste time replying as I won’t have a bad work said against the company.x
— William Regal (@RealKingRegal) January 8, 2022
Fans have been aching for a comeback from the Gentleman Villain ever since, but none of us could have expected it to go down the way it did. After the shocking conclusion of a violent & bloody encounter that more than lived up to the hype, Jon Moxley & Bryan Danielson continued to get into each other’s faces over the finish. Things got so heated that even AEW officials couldn’t keep the two gladiators apart. And then out came Mr. Regal, who slapped them both and brought them into line, in what has to be the mouth-watering development in Tony Khan’s promotion since CM Punk’s return to wrestling.
An important figure for both of these men, @RealKingRegal is here at #AEWRevolution! pic.twitter.com/mhjAfPn2Hp
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 7, 2022
While I had expected Moxley and Danielson to team up in the aftermath of Revolution, adding Regal to the mix changes everything. The man has been a mentor to both Mox & Bryan; he is the inspiration behind The American Dragon’s obsession with burgundy ring gear. And if his match against Goldberg in WCW was any indication, you wouldn’t want to mess with him on your best day. Moxley & Danielson being managed by a more gritty, less parental William Regal would be blockbuster television; and I’m glad Tony broke out his checkbook for this signing.
Has the presence of the legendary @RealKingRegal unified @BryanDanielson and @JonMoxley? This story seems far from over! We are LIVE here at the #AEWRevolution PPV! pic.twitter.com/cBJuXYFoM8
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 7, 2022
