With Revolution 2024, AEW enters its fifth year with a farewell to its most iconic artist-in-residence Sting and nine matches, each with their own reason for you to jump out of your seat. Biff Bam Pop’s Jeffery X Martin, Sachin Hingoo, and Josh Wallen got together to give their predictions for AEW’s big night.
ZERO HOUR Pre-Show – Kris Statlander and Willow Nightingale (with Stokely Hathaway) vs Julia Hart and Skye Blue
X: There isn’t another match on this card where the lines between heel and face are as clearly defined than this women’s tag match. Fan favorite Willow Nightingale, as effervescent as a freshly-charged Sodastream, teams up with former champion Kris Statlander, who used to be from the Andromeda galaxy but is now from Pasadena. They take on the stoic banshee goth girls Julia Hart, the den mother of the House of Black, and Skye Blue, who recently got a face full of attitude-altering black mist from Julia and said, “Okay, I live here now.” Skulking around the outside will be Willow and Stat’s pseudo-manager Stokely Hathaway, legitimately one of the funniest men in the business. As much as I hate to say it, Skye Blue is improving in the ring. She has developed a decent Canadian Destroyer and a little more ring awareness. Stat and Willow have some experience over both Julia and Skye and should be able to defeat them easily. It’s hard to imagine that a Zero Hour (see: free) match would give victory to the heels. Nonetheless, Julia and Skye have a wiliness to them, a sneaky sort of skill. They could feasibly pull off a win, but it’s doubtful. Willow Nightingale and Kris Statlander will take this match. I’m a hardcore supporter of the House of Black, but I think a face win will set the tone nicely for Revolution. Besides, the House always wins. Even when they don’t.
Josh: Julia doesn’t have the belt on the line, so I’d expect her and Skye Black to take an L here. Most of this story has focused around Stokely Hathaway and how his heel antics continue to influence the baby faces in Willow and Stat. It feels like something’s got to give here, but it’s not too clear which direction they want to go. I’ll take Willow and Stat and hope they continue making magic with Stokley.
Sachin: I’m sure if you go back in these prediction articles and sift through my mostly-wrong comments, you’ll find some mention of a reinvigorated women’s division in almost all of them. The women of AEW work so hard, and unless they’re on Ring of Honor, don’t get the time they deserve on the show. All of this is to say that I think AEW is on the cusp of a reinvigorated women’s division, for realsies this time. Mercedes Mone is on the way into the company, along with an Emmy-winning former WWE writer in Jennifer Pepperman, and perhaps the investment in both is a sign that Tony Khan is ready to go, ahem, all in on the company’s women performers. Mercedes, as Sasha Banks, lobbied for and managed to get implemented a Women’s Tag Team Championship in WWE and I can think of few more natural competitors for an AEW equivalent than either of these teams. I can dream, can’t I? Oh, Statlander and Willow.
ZERO HOUR Pre-Show – 12-Man Tag: The Bang Bang Scissor Gang (Jay White, Colton Gunn, Austin Gunn, Max Castor, Anthony Bowens, and Billy Gunn) vs Jeff Jarrett, Jay Lethal, Satnam Singh, Willie Mack, Isaiah Kassidy, and Marq Quen
X: I will be watching Revolution with someone who hasn’t watched wrestling in years. This is the one match I dread trying to explain to her. “Okay, Ruthie. Do you see the guys in the pink? They’re The Acclaimed. One is gay, one is fluid, and the other is Billy Gunn, who we thought was gay during the Attitude Era, but he’s not. The buff guys with awful tattoos are Billy Gunn’s real-life sons, Colten and Austin. The dude with the Van Dyke beard is Jay White, who was a superstar in Japan. Together, they’re called the Bang Bang Scissor Gang and yeah, I see the cardboard cutout of Juice Robinson, but don’t worry about that right now. On the other team, you have a former NBA player, a 56-year-old man, a former Ring of Honor champion, a former Impact Wrestling X-Division champ, and two guys who have made a gimmick out of clubbing and drinking cosmopolitans. Does this make sense?” Ah, the wrestling world is strange to you and I. These guys will beat each other up in the carniest way possible. In the end, I bet we’ll see the Bang Bang Scissor Gang win. Prepare to watch men parade a cardboard cutout of another man around the ring because wrestling.
Josh: The Bang Bang Scissor Gang was only brought together to inevitably be torn apart. I just don’t think it’s time to pivot just yet. Much like when the Acclaimed first captured the tag titles, BBSG is getting huge responses every time they come out. I’d use it to get Bullet Club Gold over even more before I hit the self destruct. I also think The Acclaimed are the ones that turn when we finally reach that point. Gunns Up for the BBSG.
Sachin: This is a ‘get the crowd excited’ match on the pre-show, so it’s not like there’s big stakes here. I figured that either the Acclaimed or the Bang Bang Gang would have turned by now, setting up a unification of the two sets of Trios titles in AEW/Ring of Honor. But, alas, perhaps that particular wrinkle is coming later though there are some subtle seeds being planted. For now, the Bang Bang Scissor Gang take this one home.
Women’s World Championship: “Timeless” Toni Storm (c) (with Mariah May and Luther) vs. Deonna Purrazzo
X: “Timeless” Toni Storm’s deranged black-and-white film star character is one of the best gimmicks in recent memory. Her flamboyant attitude and thinly-veiled sexual remarks make her difficult to root against. In pure kayfabe, Storm has conducted interviews in character. Listen to her talk about her history with infections on Chris Jericho’s podcast and try not to shoot coffee out of your nose. She’s not just a whimsical character, though. Toni Storm can go. Storm has personal history with Deonna Purrazzo, which has become the focal point of their feud. In comparison to Storm, Purrazzo comes off as a bland performer. Truth be told, none of that matters. The Sword of Damocles is hanging over this match, and that sword is named Mercedes Monè. Like her or not, we’re all waiting for Monè to show up with her earworm entrance theme to start her domination of AEW’s women’s division. Are you looking forward to Deonna Purrazzo vs. Mercedes Monè? Me, either. Toni Storm will retain the title because the eventual championship match between Storm and Monè will be, well, money.
Josh: Toni Storm has the best gimmick in women’s wrestling. I don’t think she needs the title. Deonna coming in and taking the L will add her to the long list of ladies that debut, get title shots right away and in defeat are rarely ever given that level of opportunity again. It’s one of the most frustrating thing about the Women’s division to me. I think Toni can drop the strap and continue the feud with Deonna for a series of matches. Mercedes may be on her way in, but I think they point her in a different direction. Serena Deeb referring to herself as the Final Boss seems a bit too telling. Give me The Virtuosa.
Sachin: The rivalry between Toni Storm and Deonna Purazzo has been building since Deonna’s debut last month on Dynamite, with the Timeless One facing down one of her oldest friends and one of the best grapplers in wrestling. While it might be (okay, probably is) a placeholder feud for Toni until we get to Mercedes Monè on March 13 at Big Business, we shouldn’t overlook this match as an opportunity to make Deonna a major player in a revitalized women’s division. Toni retains, and perhaps the post-match features a glimpse of AEW’s newest signing.
AEW International Championship: Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Roderick Strong (with Matt Taven and Mike Bennett)
X: Orange Cassidy has been the hardest-working champion in AEW for months. Not only does Cassidy hold the title, he is the title. Roddy Strong’s challenge for the championship comes with the promise of shenanigans from other members of the Undisputed Kingdom, namely Taven and Bennett. There is no reason to believe the UK won’t interfere in the match. Unlike Taven and Bennett, the current Ring of Honor tag champs, Strong doesn’t hold any gold. Strong needs this win to solidify his position within the UK. As the self-proclaimed “Messiah of the Backbreaker,” Strong will probably focus his attack on Cassidy’s injured back. There’s no indication that Cassidy is truly injured. He could be faking. It’s hard to tell with OC, who is known as “The King of Sloth Style.” Cassidy has been successful in more difficult situations. Regardless of how much Strong wants the International Championship, it’s not his time. Orange Cassidy will retain while the Undisputed Kingdom complains.
Josh: The story seems to indicate that Roddy is taking this strap. The Undisputed Kingdom will add to the belt collection as they turn their focus to Wardlow challenging for the World Championship. OC has proven to be one of the greatest champions in AEW’s brief history. He’s overcome injury, adversity and every challenger the roster has thrown at him as International Champion. He’s earned a nice little vacation, but knowing him, he’ll be back in the mix come Wednesday.
Sachin: When AEW first started, did you expect that the guy with his hands in his pockets, a nonchalant expression on his face, and a rabid crowd imploring him to “try” would, four years later, become the company’s most fighting champion? Well, with over forty defenses of the International Championship under his belt, Orange Cassidy has done it. Never turning down a fight no matter how injured he is, Orange has faced down all comers from all over the world, somehow pulling out victories each time. But with each of those wins, Orange feels like he’s losing his grip just a little. And that’s not a position in which you want to enter a match with Roderick Strong, a guy who (as X says) is crazy about injuring people’s backs. It’s never a safe bet to put your money against Orange Cassidy in a championship match, but I think his luck may have run out here, and no amount of fighting spirit will be enough to counter the backbreaker enthusiast. Roddy Strong for the win, and perhaps Orange sets his sights on bigger fish.
Will Ospreay vs. Konosuke Takeshita
X: Ospreay vs. Takeshita is my low-key choice for Match of the Night. Both Takeshita and Ospreay are members of the villainous Don Callis Family, and Callis has called this match nothing but “competition.” Judging by the fan reaction to Ospreay’s latest appearance on Dynamite, the audience is ready to cheer him to the top. Look: Ospreay spent eight years in New Japan Pro Wrestling. He’s appeared on various American promotions, including AEW. Ospreay is a global superstar.There’s no way Will Ospreay loses his first time in the ring after getting that treasured #AllElite graphic. Ospreay wins or the crowd riots. There’s a face turn coming, and it ain’t Takeshita. Will Ospreay will defeat Takeshita, turn against the Callis Family, and the fecal matter will hit the rotating air disturbance apparatus. Ospreay’s run in AEW is going to be wild, bruv.
Josh: Hard to imagine that Ospreay would lose in his full time debut, but the way they have been positioning the Callis Family against Will really has me thinking Soup goes over. While this might have felt like an afterthought, this could actually be one of the most important matches on the card for the future of this company. I’ll go with Konosuke Takeshita off of Callis Family hijinks.
Sachin: Nearly every match on Revolution will be looking to steal the show, but this right here is the match they’ll be looking to steal it from. Two of AEW’s hottest stars, both members of the same dastardly stable, going out there to show the world they deserve to be at the very tippy top of a company where there’s very little room in those newly-minted rankings. This is Will Ospreay’s first match as an AEW star, and he’s not stepping aside for anyone. Look for Will to, once again, show us why he’s one of the best active wrestlers in the business and AEW’s future Ace.
TNT Championship: Christian Cage (c) (with Killswitch, Mother Wayne, and “The Prodigy” Nick Wayne) vs. Daniel Garcia
X: You know that feeling when you’re trying to sneeze? You breathe deeply, you close your eyes and get ready to spread your precious germs across the room… and nothing happens. That’s a terrible analogy for Daniel Garcia’s recent career. Garcia has been ready to reach the top and grab some gold for at least four months. To quote Ted Knight in Caddyshack, “Well… we’re waiting!” Booking Garcia against Christian “I Saw Your Daddy and Your Daddy’s Dead” Cage is beyond intriguing. Cage is a veteran on the best heel run of his life, surrounded by the strangest faction in the company. Cage will do anything to hold onto that title, including calling the monstrous LuchaKillswitchasaurus and the kid who bullied Arnie Cunningham before he bought that haunted car, Nick Wayne, into the ring. Garcia is good. Cage is good and clever. Is it finally Danny’s time to dance with the belt? Gods, I hope so. I need to see the guy win. But I don’t think it’s going to happen at Revolution 2024. Christian Cage will retain, but it won’t be a clean win. Expect The Patriarchy to interfere and stave off the real threat of an angry Garcia for a few more weeks.
Josh: Christian Cage isn’t close to being done and with all due respect, Daniel Garcia isn’t the one to get the run from going over on The Patriarch. Look for Christian Cage to retain.
Sachin: Christian Cage has been such a smarmy heel for so long that I’ve almost forgotten a time when he wasn’t. He’s formed quite a stable, a weird chosen family made up of a mother and son and a (former?) dinosaur, all of whom look at him as a patriarch. He’s still got unfinished business with Adam Copeland, though, and I think the Former Edge might involve himself here, cost Christian the title, and continue that feud in violent fashion. Conveniently, Daniel Garcia is ready to hit the next level of his AEW career, and a run with the TNT Title might be just the thing to kick it off. Garcia in an upset.
The ALL-STAR SCRAMBLE: Wardlow vs. Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Lance Archer vs. HOOK vs. Chris Jericho vs. Brian Cage vs. CMLL’s Magnus vs. Dante Martin
X: If you asked me what this match is or why it exists, I couldn’t tell you. Read Sachin’s prediction below for that explanation. I don’t know how we went from the “Meat Madness” match to the “All-Star Scramble (ASS).” Maybe they wanted to make sure there was enough innuendo to get my wife to watch. I don’t know why Chris Jericho is in this match. Something about Mexico, maybe? I’m not real sure why HOOK is here. Wardlow and Powerhouse Hobbs have heat, but everyone else in the ASS seem like NPCs. Wardlow wins the ASS, I guess, but that prediction makes as much sense as the rest of this “everybody gets their shit in” match. All I know is I hope the All-Star Scramble comes with a choice of bacon or sausage, hash browns, toast or a biscuit, and a bottomless pot of coffee.
Josh: Wardlow, Archer and Hobbs were the only names that carried over from the ill fated Meat Mania to the A-SS. The added promo time and the mention of champions who shall not be named seems to indicate the spotlight has found its way back to the War Dog. Give me Wardlow and let’s get back to that Samoa Joe feud.
Sachin: A few weeks ago, we were promised a match called “Meat Madness” for Revolution with basically no followup details about who was in said meatfest or what it would even entail. It implied that some of the beefiest specimens in the AEW locker room (think: Will Hobbs, Wardlow, Miro, Keith Lee, etc) would mix it up as a crowd of North Carolinians salivate. Sounds great! Then, after announcing Wardlow, Lance Archer, and Hobbs for the match, Tony Khan announced that the match would be put on ice entirely. In its place would be an ‘All Star Scramble’, again with unspecified rules but including Hook, Chris Jericho, Brian Cage, two mystery opponents, and Wardlow, Lance Archer, and Hobbs. Look, I’m not going to try and explain or speculate on what happened here, but here’s the match we’re getting and the winner gets a championship match at some point, and it sounds fun enough that it didn’t need this Machiavellian setup. I don’t know, Wardlow I suppose.
Continental Crown: Eddie Kingston (c) vs. Bryan Danielson
Jeff: Okay, I changed my mind. This may be the match of the night. In my eyes, there is no wrestler as compelling and authentic as Eddie Kingston. His eyes burn. His chops make his opponents bleed their own blood. Real or kayfabe, his heat with other wrestlers makes Kingston ultra-violent and hyper-aware. Kingston’s feud with Bryan Danielson has been nothing less than brutal. Danielson’s utter disrespect and contempt for Kingston has been made clear time and time again. Now, Danielson is coming for Kingston’s Continental Crown championship belt, and he has every intention of kicking Eddie’s fucking head in. There’s one stipulation, though. Win or lose, Danielson has to shake Kingston’s hand at the end of the match. Eddie needs that show of respect. In Kingston’s mind, he must have that handshake to make things right. There isn’t simple tension here. There’s honor at stake. As we say in these parts, this match is going to be a heller. Who will reign supreme? I have to say it. Bring me the Mad King. Will Bryan Danielson shake Eddie’s hand after he retains? Nah. Because Blackpool Combat Club Bryan Danielson is a dick.
Josh: Eddie continues to work his way through the BCC. It feels like we’re working back towards Eddie vs Mox which is never a bad thing. Bryan working through his last year will lose alot more than he’ll win and love every second of it. I think Eddie earns Bryan’s respect by getting the win.
Sachin: What a few months Eddie Kingston and Bryan Danielson have had. Eddie beat most of AEW’s top stars in the grueling Continental Classic tournament (including Bryan) and was crowned the company’s inaugural Triple Crown Champion. Bryan has had two early match-of-the-year candidates with a match against Kazuchika Okada at Wrestle Kingdom in January, and Zack Sabre Jr. at New Japan’s New Beginning in February. There’s more than a title on the line here. This match is about respect that Eddie is trying his damnedest to beat out of Bryan. The chemistry between Bryan and Eddie is so great, both in and out of the ring, that it can’t be anything but great when they’re paired together. I predict that Eddie pulls out a victory, but whether Bryan makes good on his promise to shake Eddie’s hand afterwards? Maybe a different story.
FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) vs. Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli)
Jeff: Hey, kids! Do you like violence? Because this match will give it to you in bucketloads. FTR and the BCC have been putting on clinics lately, including a time-limit draw match for the ages. These are big dudes who have such a good time beating the hell out of each other, it’s like watching a spinoff of 50 Shades of Grey every time they get in the ring together. There are no stakes to this match and, let’s be honest, no one cares. I don’t even care who wins, even though I have a feeling FTR will get the edge over Mox and Claudio because they’re kind of the good guys. All I want to do is watch these four men bleed and chop each other into oblivion. My only wish is that this was a Texas Death Match. Does that make me a bloodthirsty pervert? Yeah, probably.
Josh: This will be the match of the night. Dax has been itching for an FTR vs BCC feud for a minute. Now that they’ve got a big enough stage with more eyes on this pay per view for Sting’s retirement, they’re going to show out. Claudio and Mox have plenty of their own tag experience to hang with the Top Guys. This one will be physical and heated. I’ll take FTR, but I could see this feud extending with Danielson swapping in for Claudio.
Sachin: FTR, gun crimes aside, have been on one hell of a run. Outstanding tag matches with the Bang Bang Gang, Better Than You Bay-Bay, Aussie Open, the Young Bucks at Wembley, and a loss to Big Bill and Ricky Starks that made everyone look great. And all that is before a feud with the House of Black where each match felt different, and climaxed with a cage match that kicked ass. Going from one feud with a dominant faction to another, FTR then decided to mix it up with the Blackpool Combat Club. Picking fights with Moxley and Claudio is usually not a great idea for the fight pickers, but there’s little doubt that FTR will turn this into the kind of old-school brawl we’re used to from AEW’s best tag team. FTR‘s my pick going into this.
AEW World Championship: Samoa Joe (c) vs. “Hangman” Adam Page vs. Swerve Strickland (with Prince Nana)
X: There is nothing quite like a three-way dance for the biggest championship in a wrestling company. It’s the fact that the champ (in this case, Samoan Joseph) doesn’t have to be pinned to lose his title. Weirdly, Samoan Joseph is almost an afterthought in this bout. Hangman Adam Page’s feud with Swerve Strickland is the real story here. Sure, Swerve tried to kill Nick Wayne. Oh yeah, there was that time when Swerve broke into Hanger’s house and got within striking distance of Page’s kid. But this is wrestling and, somehow, Swerve is the good guy! Page has spiraled mentally, becoming the Super Saiyan version of his “Anxious Millennial Cowboy” character. Hangman is now mad, bad, and dangerous to grapple. Swerve and Hangman are the ones to watch, although Samoan Joseph is the reigning and defending AEW World Champion. I don’t think Samoan Joseph will eat a pin, but that doesn’t mean I think he’s going to retain. It’s time for a change and I almost believe the Universe itself wants it to happen. Whose belt? Swerve’s belt.
Josh: Swerve will be World Champion before the end of the calendar year, but this isn’t his night. I think Joe keeps the title here as Hangman continues to slip deeper and deeper into his obsession with ensuring Swerve is unsuccessful. Wardlow seems to be getting more and more attention and Wardlow vs Joe has a better story than Swerve vs Wardlow. Consider this Swerve’s heat check. If the crowd really gets behind him, I can see that timetable to the World Championship getting expedited.
Sachin: I almost typed that Swerve Strickland has “quietly” become the most compelling character in the entire company, but that’s not actually true. Nothing could be less quiet than Swerve violently beating back Hangman Adam Page, then having an outstanding showing in the Continental Classic tournament. Since then, with Swerve having Samoa Joe and the AEW World Championship in his sights as the first African-American champion, Hangman has gone off the deep end in trying to prevent that and has grown an incredible mustache to telegraph a turn towards villainy. Samoa Joe has been a fantastic champion, and has both a presence and intensity that felt different enough from MJF’s reign to be memorable even if he only holds the title for a couple of months. But I think the inertia behind Swerve right now is just too strong, and it’s time to strap up the Mogul. Swerve, and long may he reign.
Tag Team Championship: Sting and Darby Allin (c) (with Ric Flair) vs. The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson and Nicholas Jackson)
X: All right, I know what I said earlier, but this will be the Match of the Night. How could it not be? It’s the Stinger’s final match and, as someone who got into the world’s greatest sport because of old-school World Championship Wrestling, consider my heartstrings pulled. My kid had the Sting Bash’n’ Brawlers talking plushie when he was a wee lad. Sting is The Icon. He is history. I’m going to miss him when he finally disappears into the darkness. But will he go out on his back? That’s wrestling tradition. Sting and Darby Allin are the AEW Tag Team champions, and Sting’s retirement will vacate one of those titles. For that reason alone, I have to choose the Young Bucks (who have gotten smarmier with each passing week) to win this match. Now that they’re heels, they could have a fantastic championship run. That doesn’t mean the Stinger won’t leave everything in the ring. Sting is going to give us the match of his life and, in so doing, he will give us the match of our lives. I’m not crying. You’re crying.
Josh: The tag division has needed a reset for a little while now and what better way to start that than by bringing in the best version of The Young Bucks the EVPs, Matthew and Nicholas Jackson? While I don’t think The EVPs need to go over, I also don’t think Sting needs to go out on his back to put over the younger talent. Sting deserves to go out on top and the EVPs can pull enough shenanigans to put themselves right at the front of the line for the vacated belts without missing a beat. Give me Stinger and Darby. Thanks for everything, Stinger. Safe journeys, Sir.
Sachin: I know I just said that FTR is the best tag team in the company, but can we really discount the Young Bucks in a big-match, big-pressure situation? Now that they’re heels, Matthew and Nicholas have a reignited energy and violent streak that make them as dangerous as anyone in AEW. But on the other side of the ring are the tag team champions – Darby Allin, who will sacrifice his health and body to get a win and give his mentor the sendoff he deserves… and Sting. This entire pay-per-view is about Sting and the legacy he leaves behind. Far too few pro wrestlers – even top stars – get to go out on their own terms. But Sting, because of AEW, gets to write his own ticket back home, whether that means going out on top as a champion or on his back, putting over the stars that’ll come after him. In a recent interview, Stinger said that “you’ve got to lose. If you lose right, it gets you over even more.” That kind of attitude is what makes Sting a legend among legends, and one of the most beloved figures in the business. I’m not even predicting anything for this match other than it’ll be something beautiful, a little bit sad, and a lot bit memorable for years and decades to come.
The Zero Hour broadcast streams live for free starting at 6:30 p.m. Eastern time on Sunday, March 3. The Revolution main card then begins at 8 p.m. Eastern on pay-per-view.
