2021 saw a banner year from AEW across the board. From huge debuts and returns to record-breaking pay-per-view buy-rates and television ratings, All Elite Wrestling blazed a path for themselves as the hottest wrestling promotion in the world.
The company has gone from strength to strength in a bid to make its mark on the industry.
With an all-star roster unlike anything seen before in wrestling, there are so many mouth-watering matchups fans want to see.
There is a nice blend of established top talent, legends and rising stars that creates fresh encounters in the next 12 months.
Let’s take a look at the 10 AEW matches we need to see in 2022!
10. AEW’s FTR vs. ROH’s The Briscoe Brothers
With the additions to the AEW roster, the forbidden door crossovers have slowed up a bit. However, there have been teases of some collaboration with the now in-hiatus ROH.
At a show billed as “An End Of An Era”, former AEW World Tag Team Champions FTR made a shocking appearance at Final Battle to confront the 12-time ROH World Tag Team Champions The Briscoe Brothers.
Dax Harwood, Cash Wheeler, Jay and Mark Briscoe have been involved in a sparring battle on social media the past few weeks to build anticipation for this showdown.
With Ring of Honor on break until April’s Supercard of Honor, AEW has a huge opportunity to deliver this tag team dream match next year.
9. Ruby Soho vs. Serena Deeb
Ruby Soho has made an impact in AEW since her arrival at All Out 2021.
The former WWE Superstars has been building momentum and is one win away from becoming the inaugural TBS Champion at the time of this writing.
Serena Deeb is one of the best technical wrestlers in the world today regardless of gender.
“The Woman Of 1,000 Holds” owns wins over the likes of Riho, Hikaru Shida and Thunder Rosa since coming to the company.
There might not be a better pure wrestling matchup in the AEW women’s division than this.
It is an intriguing battle that could produce a clinic.
8. Hangman Adam Page vs. Miro
Hangman Adam Page finally completed his three-year journey to the AEW World Championship by defeating Kenny Omega at Full Gear 2021.
There is a litany of tantalizing encounters for the Anxious Millennial Cowboy on this roster at the moment.
With a strong babyface like Page, Miro makes a seemingly insurmountable obstacle for our hero to overcome.
The Redeemer is currently healing up from a hamstring injury, but he makes for a compelling character to challenge for the top prize in AEW.
Miro is currently feuding with God, so this AEW World Championship Match could lead to a title change and God’s Favorite Champion getting his moniker back.
7. Malakai Black vs. Darby Allin
Malakai Black has had a wonderful presentation of his dark character and has earned plenty of victories along the way.
One of the top dream matches that fans mentioned when Black made his shocking AEW debut in July was Darby Allin because of their shared traits.
Both use goth elements and have personas clouded in mystery. It is these things plus more that make them so captivating to the AEW audience.
Their in-ring styles would mesh very well together. Malakai Black has a hard-hitting offense that fits nicely with Darby Allin’s underdog selling and high risk arsenal.
This is a rare encounter that could reap benefits as far as character work and in-ring output. It has all the makings to be a crucial feud for both men in AEW.
6. Jungle Boy vs. Sammy Guevara
The four pillars of AEW have earned their place in the company’s future. MJF, Darby Allin, Sammy Guevara, and Jungle Boy make a young nucleus that will guide the company for years to come.
The promotion has been smart to pace the times that these four men meet in the ring. Although a four-way with these competitors must happen someday, 2022 might be too soon.
Instead, next year should deliver the one singles matchup we haven’t seen involving the four pillars of AEW.
Despite the most successful years of both men in 2021, Sammy Guevara and Jungle Boy have never met one-on-one in AEW.
It is quite surprising to know considering the interactions between the Inner Circle and Jurassic Express at the end of 2019 and early 2020.
Sammy Guevara is coming off a TNT Championship reign, while Jungle Boy still rising the ranks of the tag team division at the end of the year, but everyone has to know big things are to come for both in 2022.
These two might be the ones who are the most similar out of the pillars. They have high flying abilities that would make this a rocking opener to a pay-per-view next year.
5. The Lucha Brothers vs. Santana & Ortiz
The Lucha Brothers came into 2022 as the current AEW World Tag Team Champions.
Penta El Zero Miedo and Rey Fenix had quite a few tag teams that will be gunning for them, but none had the fans as eager to see them clash with the champs like Proud N Powerful.
Santana and Ortiz have arguably been one of AEW’s most under-utilized talents. The former LAX were a mainstay of the IMPACT tag team division, holding the titles on four occasions.
During their two-year run in the company, their best rivalry was against the Lucha Bros.
The two teams created magic together and just have unreal chemistry. High octane action is guaranteed and would deliver a Match of the Year contender in 2022 if given proper time and buildup.
4. Jon Moxley vs. Bryan Danielson
Everyone in the wrestling world is wishing the best and a speedy recovery for Jon Moxley. The former AEW World Champion is currently in rehab, but many expect a return in 2022.
The Purveyor of Violence seemed like he was on the path to a heel turn with growing aggression during his run in the AEW World Title Eliminator Tournament.
However, Moxley will now surely be a fan favorite upon his return with the audience rooting for him at the moment.
There is an ideal new heel who gives the fans a perfect opponent for Jon Moxley. That is Bryan Danielson.
The American Dragon has had a remarkable run so far in AEW. He has torn it up in the ring against the likes of Kenny Omega Hangman Page and Minoru Suzuki.
Danielson vs. Moxley seemed to be the likely AEW World Title Eliminator Tournament Finals before Mox’s departure for treatment.
It has all the potential to be an excellent in-ring encounter and buildup as well.
3. Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. vs. Thunder Rosa III
This is the one rematch that needs to happen the most next year.
Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. had an absolutely incredible 2021. The good doctor finally had her coronation as AEW Women’s World Champion at Double Or Nothing in May and has held the top spot since.
Although 2020 saw Baker improve greatly, her rise to the title started with her career-making performance against Thunder Rosa in a Lights Out Match on the St. Patrick’s Day Slam special of AEW Dynamite.
The two ladies put on a riveting clash that was bloody, emotional and full of drama. This is one that AEW has to come back to in 2022.
Fans and Tony Khan himself have talked about the potential rematch being the biggest women’s match in the company’s history.
It is a showdown that could headline a major event, so here’s to Baker and Rosa exceeding expectations once again.
2. CM Punk vs. MJF
The buildup to this dream match has already begun!
CM Punk vs. MJF may be the hottest feud in AEW at the moment. The two sharp-tongue talkers have been cutting scathing promos on one another, while building anticipation for them to even touch.
It has been a fun ride so far, but 2022 should give fans this long-awaited confrontation. Punk has been very good in his AEW run with his brilliant promo skills and in-ring contests with Darby Allin, Eddie Kingston and others delivering.
MJF is the star most fans and pundits expect to be the next AEW World Champion. With both men mentioning the title, it seems like a number one contenders battle might be in the future.
Whatever the stakes or the stage, this has to be the biggest non-title singles match in AEW history.
1. The Elite (Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks) vs. Undisputed Era (Adam Cole, Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish)
However, it just isn’t the biggest AEW match possible in 2022 because of this one here.
On the December 22nd, 2021 episode of AEW Dynamite: Holiday Bash, Kyle O’Reilly made his debut to help Adam Cole defeat Orange Cassidy.
This was just 15 days after O’Reilly’s final WWE match on NXT and confirmed speculation from the fans of an Undisputed Era reunion in AEW.
The most popular faction in NXT history is now in All Elite Wrestling. Their addition has brought the possibility for a trios clash that has long been dreamed about and has plenty of storyline coming into it.
Adam Cole made his AEW debut back at All Out 2021 and quickly reunited with his former Bullet Club friends in The Elite.
Despite a checkered past with these men, Cole has been loyal to Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks since his arrival. This has caused tension since Fish and O’Reilly are now both in AEW.
Right now, it looks like Adam Cole has a choice ahead. Choosing reDRagon over the Young Bucks could lead to the return of Kenny Omega and a trios match for the ages.
These are two of the most iconic stables in wrestling of the past decade. This will be an all-time classic and has to be considered the AEW match we most need to see in 2022.
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2 years ago by SP3
@TruHeelSP3
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