March: a month when flowers start to bloom, temperatures begin to rise, and baseball begins as basketball starts to hit its peak. You would think that all is rosy in the month of March, but we would all be mistaken as emperors need to pay heed and be aware of the Ides of March. Travel expenses start to go through the roof, and anxiety levels go off the charts as basketball brackets all across America get broken at the hands of the Marquette Golden Eagles. This March, wrestling will begin the spring time festivities as AEW is holding its annual Revolution Pay-Per-View in Greensboro, North Carolina.
It is only appropriate that March starts off the festivities for AEW in Greensboro, North Carolina, the heart of Tobacco Road, as many moments of madness in college basketball happened at the Colosseum in March. However, instead of an ACC Tournament game or two whole days of March Madness tournament action in the opening rounds, this hallowed ground for basketball is also a long time home for professional wrestling in the American Southeast.
Names like Dusty Rhodes, Harley Race, Ric Flair, Ricky Steamboat. And tag teams such as The Minnesota Wrecking Crew, Road Warriors, The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express, The Midnight Express, and The Steiner Brothers have all wrestled in the Greensboro Coliseum in the past.
This time, it is AEW’s time to shine in the Tar Heel State. The current generation of talented wrestlers such as Hangman Page, Swerve Strickland, Toni Storm, Daniel Garcia, Konosuke Takeshita, Powerhouse Hobbs, Darby Allin, and Will Ospreay are ready to showcase their skills. Alongside the current up and comers, they will be joined by harden and seasoned veterans like Chris Jericho, Bryan Danielson, Matthew and Nicholas Jackson, Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler, Eddie Kingston, Lance Archer, Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, and Samoa Joe. And, of course, last but not least “The Icon,” “The Vigilante,” and wrestling for the final time in his illustrious career spanning five decades: IT’S STING!!!!
So get ready as I, Custody, joined by BCube, will preview all the big matches for this Sunday’s show as All Elite Wrestling is set to start a pro wrestling revolution in Tobacco Road.
This is AEW Revolution 2024!
AEW World Tag Team Championship Tornado & Sting’s Retirement Match: Sting & Darby Allin (c) vs. The Young Bucks (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson)
The Final Match of the Icon.
North Carolina, The Greensboro Coliseum – 36 Years since his match with Ric Flair. Now, his final moment, a curtain call for a career that many today couldn’t fathom having.
Sting, legendary talent, Icon. Spanning WCW, WWE, TNA and now finishing his career in AEW after his historic retirement run. His arrival at Winter is Coming those years ago was mesmerizing, and he has been nothing short of fantastic since. His matches never feel forced, and they always highlight everyone. He is undefeated, he is on a roll of his lifetime. He gets to choose his retirement now – not a match with Seth Rollins in 2015 that he didn’t want. He mourns his father in his final promo in AEW, remembering the man that raised him as he leaves his career in a ring that cared for him, and now he turns to his second family, the fans, and joy which is professional wrestling.
Now, he ends his career with his partner, his protégé. Darby Allin. They’ve been through thick and thin, and now are fighting together one last time, holding the AEW Tag Team Titles after countless classics. Darby Allin is not Sting’s successor or a long wanted son, for Sting has the son he wants, and needs no second Icon to carry on. The daredevil and underdog in the never broken Darby has been presented as an equal to Sting. A man who is just as fearless, just as iconic in his youth.
Though their opponents are a challenge, they are a definite challenge for the two rebels. Why? Because they’re the EVPs.
Matthew and Nicholas Jackson – Young Bucks and EVPs of AEW. Ruthless men, now back with an attitude change to reflect their power. They grabbed and assaulted his sons, drew blood from Darby, and stained their shiny white suits red with the blood of men they see no value in. They want the titles they defined, they want the gold they require. The gold they brought to the company.
This match is not just a retirement match but a revolutionary match, fitting it takes place on Revolution. We have men who’ve stuck it to the man all their lives in Sting and Darby, guys who paint their face and dress in black to disguise themselves and hide in the shadows, living how they want. They fight men who are the opposite, men who dress in bright colors, and want everybody to know where they are, at all times. These men are the man, these men don’t want the rebels around anymore. The man who’s about to turn 65 has no place here anymore, and they didn’t want Darby to begin with. For them? It’s protecting business.
The Young Bucks have a lot to do, and Darby Allin has a lot to fight for. Both will move into something new after this match, changed by the events of whatever happens. Sting may be gone, but these 3 stay, and their careers are to be defined by a performance in this match. Darby says that “I know that I’ll stop at nothing to make sure it’s one of the most memorable matches that he’s ever had” and we all know that’s the truth. For the Jacksons, it’s their main event spot that’s eluded them all this time – with the titles that define them on the line.
Sting rides off on the back of his career into the sunset in any outcome, with Schiavone announcing him one final time as the scorpion hangs it up.
He will either end as a man triumphant, with a golden belt around his waist shining with the glory that reflects his time. Or the other, he will lose, and the gold he worked 3 years to get taken away, left in the ring, hurt, tired. At his ending point, the authority he always fought stood over him, with his prize in their hands.
No matter, he will remain one thing. The Icon.
AEW World Championship Three-way Match: Samoa Joe (c) vs. Hangman Page vs. Swerve Strickland
“My name is Samoa Joe, and I’m gonna whoop both your asses”
AEW World Champion Samoa Joe faces some stacked odds in the main event of Revolution. Following the draw on the 7th of February, the Number 1 contender spot was in dispute. Was it Swerve? Was it Hangman? Turns out it’s both. Joe has got to fight two men, and he’s not entirely happy about it. Swerve sees this all as business, a means to an end to get the title and become the first black man to hold the AEW World Title. But, with all the words Joe has been saying… Perhaps this is a personal thing? Hangman also has his bit to say, and he still holds it true that Swerve cannot beat him without some helpful interventionism from his Mogul Embassy members.
“Hunger defines the great”
In a promo on the 14th of February, Swerve says he’s been across the ring from some of the best and the biggest legends AEW has to offer since he got here. Every time he’s in the ring, he says he proves that AEW is really his house. Swerve says nothing changes at Revolution, and the fact is that he’ll be holding the AEW Championship above his head. His hunger and drive and motivation for this title defines his greatness and his manner, and how he will be the world champion on Sunday, March 3rd. Hangman says he’s full of horse shit, and that this match should’ve been a one on one between two people who ‘respect’ the World Championship, a match without Swerve Strickland.
These men have had a bitter, sour rivalry for months now. One side was more personal than the other to begin, but it quickly delved into brutality and personal spite. Swerve continually claims all he does is for his own gain, for business, and not personal. He entered Hangman’s house and held his son, he continually broke and abused Hangman in each of their matches, and yet he still claims it’s not personal. His blood was spilled, drank and stained the mat at Full Gear, and he hanged the Hangman. That doesn’t seem to be something impersonal to me…
Will we see the same at Revolution? Where he claims this match with Joe isn’t personal, but from his track record, he seems to not really understand where the line between business and personal is. In their 6-man tag on February 21st, Swerve and Joe showed no love for each other on the same side of the ring, and a misled kick ended with Page putting Swerve through the broadcast table. Despite the result ending with Joe and Swerve winning on the same side, Joe got the winning fall, and we went off-air to see Swerve just looking on, watching the Champion celebrate. Is this a prelude for the main event of Revolution? We’ll have to see indeed.
Following that match the world was abuzz about Hangman Adam Page possibly being injured and missing the PPV title match. The night before the go home Dynamite episode this past week. Tony Khan had announced that we would hear from Hangman himself about his future. Fast-forward to this past week’s Dynamite – We see Hangman come out to start the show but this time with a crutch in hand as he limped his way down the ramp and into the ring. Hangman played up the fact that he was hurt due to the trio match the previous week. Joe and Swerve would respectively make their way out as well. Swerve made his case known that he will win the AEW World Championship to Samoa Joe who was looking on from the stage. With Swerve having his back to Hangman we see Hangman strike Swerve with his crutch. Hangman had faked the injury and suckered in Swerve. This new side of Hangman adds another dynamic to this triple threat.
Will Hangman stoop to anything to win that World Championship that he has not held since Double or Nothing 2022, or will it indeed be Swerve’s house once and for all? Perhaps Joe does his thing and whoops both their asses all over Greensboro, North Carolina.
AEW Women’s World Championship Match: “Timeless” Toni Storm (c) vs. Deonna Purrazzo
“Timeless” Toni Storm is set to defend her AEW Women’s World Championship this Sunday against Deonna Purrazzo in a battle where two former bunk buddies are now fighting as bitter rivals.
Storm and Purrazzo were on the same roster in WWE from 2018 to 2020 and in Japan at STARDOM in 2017 and 2018. During that time, Storm and Purrazzo were close to the point that they both have matching leg tattoos, something that Deonna referenced to Toni in the buildup to this match.
However, times and people change as both are continuing to make their mark in the world of women’s wrestling. However, these two have become polar opposites of each other since their time in STARDOM came to an end close to six years ago.
Deonna Purrazzo has become known as The Virtuosa with her methodical in-ring approach. She became a multi-time singles champion in various promotions including AAA in Mexico where she won the Reina de Reinas championship, a three time Knockouts champ in TNA/Impact, and an ROH Women’s champion. Her resume speaks for itself, yet Purrazzo really wants to win a women’s title in AEW to add to her impressive resume. Deonna is proven to become a champion in All Elite, but she’s gonna have to beat her old bunk buddy Toni Storm to be on top of the AEW women’s division as she too underwent some changes herself.
Yet, whereas Deonna became “The Virtuosa”, Toni Storm became a “Timeless” act during a process that came with its own bumps and bruises.
Toni, while a well accomplished wrestler herself with multiple titles won around the globe, was struggling as a member of The Outcast for much of 2023. Even though she won the AEW Women’s belt twice, she was performing under the shadow of Saraya and Ruby Soho. Something needed to change after Toni Storm lost her belt to Saraya at All In London 2023 in a four way that also involved Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. and Hikaru Shida with Ruby Soho. This cost Toni the championship, her reign, and her sanity. She became mad, but with her chin up and chest out like Popeye the Sailor, she found her way back in the mix of things in the women’s division by becoming an old school Hollywood act.
Toni Storm, now a shoe throwing, tap dancing, and rear bumping actress in monochrome, performed her way to the top and beat Shida back in November at Full Gear in Los Angeles. She has been enjoying an undefeated run since October as nobody is able to outshine Storm. Storm has no sympathy for Purrazzo and their past together prior to AEW as she sees her as a threat to her title and an afterthought, despite Deonna laughing at Toni’s shtick.
It also does not help Toni Storm’s opponents that they have to deal with has the assistance of her butler Luther and her admirer Mariah May, both who are willing to assist Toni Storm with any difficulties that arise. In the case of Purrazzo, she would have to put her feelings of friendship for Toni Storm aside. She has to go against Storm with her shoes, the assistance of Luther, and a potential interference from Mariah May. Purrazzo needs to be razor sharp in order to get another nod to her resume otherwise she would become another victim to the timeless storm surge.
Will Deonna Purrazzo be able to have a “virtuosa” performance and capture the AEW Women’s World Championship? Or will Toni Storm have another “timeless” victory by beating her former friend and continue her dominance at the top of the AEW women’s division?
Will Ospreay vs. Konosuke Takeshita
Will Ospreay will make his return to AEW, only this time he will wrestle his first match as a full-time member of the All Elite Wrestling as he takes on Konosuke Takeshita.
One of the top wrestlers in the world, Will Ospreay made his first appearance on AEW television back on June 8, 2022, in Independence, Missouri, where he and the United Empire beat the tar out of FTR and Trent Beretta. While he wasn’t a full-time member before now, Ospreay has made his impact within All Elite Wrestling since June 2022 as he was part of various singles and trios matches. Ospreay participated with Aussie Open, the duo of Mark Davis and Kyle Fletcher, in the World Trios Title Tournament back in August 2022. They beat Death Triangle in the quarterfinals before losing to eventual winners The Elite in the semis.
Ospreay is also undefeated in singles competition in AEW programming as he beat Dax Hardwood in the June 15, 2022, Road Rager Edition of Dynamite in St. Louis, Missouri. He also beat Orange Cassidy in a defense of the IWGP US Heavyweight Championship at Forbidden Door 2022 in Chicago. He also beat Kenny Omega in Toronto to regain the same IWGP US belt at the following Forbidden Door. He also beat Chris Jericho at last year’s All In at London’s Wembley Stadium. It should be noted that three of his four singles wins were at PPVs before he signed the AEW contract on November 18, 2023, as the stocks for “The Aerial Assassin” are sky-high with his overall track record thus far in AEW.
Yet, while Will Ospreay is a generational talent with tremendous upside now that he is an official member of the All Elite roster, he does face a few obstacles before his match this Sunday.
Although rested from his last appearances in New Japan, Ospreay’s health may be an issue. This is not to say that the man approaching 31 has any major physical concerns at all as Will is in the prime of his life and is one hell of an athlete no matter the situation. The issue is that Will Ospreay survived wars that have worn down his body. His travel schedule is already grueling, but just this year alone, Ospreay has fought Kazuchika Okada, Josh Alexander, Michael Oku in forty-seven minutes, and the battles against David Finlay and the BC War Dogs.
Ospreay’s fights against Finlay included a three-way fight between Finlay and Jon Moxley at the Tokyo Dome in WK18 for the IWGP Global Heavyweight Title and a ten-man steel cage match between UE and Gedo’s Dawgs of War. To the dismay of wrestling fans everywhere, Finlay pinned the bloodied Will Ospreay to win the steel cage match for War Dogs in Ospreay’s final match in New Japan.
It will be around fifteen days between Ospreay’s last match and his match at Revolution, so rest assured that he will have a clean bill of health to fight his opponent this Sunday in Greensboro.
This is Ospreay’s other obstacle, his opponent: Konosuke Takeshita.
Konosuke Takeshita has grown into a complete package as a professional wrestler in his twelve-year career, now labeled as “The Alpha” by Don Callis in AEW. While he hasn’t won any belts in AEW, he has made an impact ever since setting his foot at Daily’s Place in Jacksonville back in April 2021. In his three years in AEW, Takeshita has fought toe to toe against the company’s finest like Eddie Kingston, Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Bryan Danielson, Chris Jericho, and North Carolina’s adopted son Kenny Omega. Takeshita is an athletically gifted wrestler, yet what makes him even more dangerous: his will to destroy his rivals.
It doesn’t help that Don Callis is organizing this match as he has burned bridges with Jericho and Omega and would be more than willing to do the worst of things in order for his family to thrive. When you have a man that is willing to turn against his closest long time friends from Manitoba working with a freak athlete who beat up on a then struggling red haired idol from Fukuoka. You’d best run for the hills!
But this is Ospreay who, along with being an athletically gifted wrestler, is also a very good opportunist when the chances knock on his door. And that opportunity is making a huge impression in his first match as a full-time member of All Elite Wrestler in front of his rivals far and wide while also wowing audiences in Greensboro and those watching at home.
Will Takeshita stay the supreme man on top, or will the beaten up Ospreay do what Omega couldn’t and win against Takeshita?
FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. The Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli)
The Carolina boys are home, and they’re here to pull no punches, well, they never are. But their opponents won’t either, of course not. They’re forged in violence. Both are locked in a battle of hatred for each other, spite, and disgust reign supreme. This may be a rematch from an episode of Dynamite, but that means nothing, because this time, FTR are home.
The promo that set up this match was nasty, in the sense that the BCC verbally dominated them in a backstage segment. Moxley got on his rough voice and talked about how Castagnoli and himself are both freaks, being bloody fighters and that they don’t get paid by the hour. Moxley then talked about how the time limit draw he had with Harwood pissed him off (I wouldn’t want to piss him off) and accepted FTR’s challenge. Moxley then got on the BCC speech and told everyone the BCC is the elite of AEW.
Castagnoli carried on by explaining how they created the wrestling of today, and that FTR can live in the past but if they really want to step into the future, then they need to be better than the BCC. Castagnoli also said FTR would have to swim in deep water in order to survive the BCC.
Will the team of FTR sink and drown to the waters that the BCC control, or will they get a boat from their hometown crowd and sink the ships of the BCC?
Continental Crown Championship Match: Eddie Kingston (c) vs. Bryan Danielson
While this is a high stakes championship brawl for three belts, there is a ton of personal pride on the line as rivals Bryan Danielson and Eddie Kingston face off. Like Duke and UNC, these two rivals have a long history of disdain between one another since the mid-2000s as this will be their fifth match since 2010 and fourth inside an AEW ring.
Eddie is the current holder of the ROH World Championship, the New Japan STRONG Openweight Championship, and the new AEW Continental Championship he gained in the Continental Classic tournament. He put both his STRONG Openweight and ROH World championships on the line.
After losing his first two matches against Brody King and Danielson, Kingston defeated another of his rivals in Claudio Castagnoli, Daniel Garcia, and the departing Andrade El Idolo to qualify for the Blue League Finals where he defeated Danielson. Kingston ultimately beat frenemy Jon Moxley of the Gold League in the Championship Finals at World’s End and won the inaugural Continental Championship and became the first Continental Crown champion.
However, Bryan Danielson has become somewhat obsessed, maybe even parasocially obsessed (kayfabe wise) with Eddie Kingston’s recent success and wants to do everything in his ability to put a stop to it. Danielson believes Kingston is a bum and also tries to upstage Eddie when he gets the opportunity like shaking Brian Keith’s hand after receiving his contract and graphic after Keith’s & Kingston’s bout. Danielson is also of the opinion that he is the superior wrestler than Kingston. After his defeat to Kingston in the Blue League Final, The American Dragon has fought against Kazuchika Okada at Wrestle Kingdom 18, Yuji Nagata, Hechicero, Zack Sabre Jr. at The New Beginning in Osaka, and Jun Akiyama. The American Dragon fought against Jun Akiyama and low blowing Jun in front of Kingston after the match. Regardless of the results, each of his four singles matches in 2024 have been impressive for Danielson as he is more than prepared to attack The Mad King.
This is not to say that Eddie Kingston is vulnerable as Eddie is a scrappy and hard hitting brawler who lives for a good fight, especially against someone who he feels disrespected by like Danielson. He has his own fair share of formidable foes that he has fought in. 2024. Kingston has fought Trent Beretta, Wheeler Yuta, Willie Mack, Bryan Keith and has fended them off for his Continental Crown or even an opportunity to challenge Eddie again in a Proving Ground match. His brutal fight with Gabe Kidd at Battle In The Valley ended in a double count-out.
This bout is going to be a war against two physical and experienced wrestlers that have a lifelong passion for professional wrestling and have been in the business for nearly twenty-five years. While Danielson is a technical magician and Kingston is a hard hitting brawler, these two will be more than willing to change styles to match and counter each other. Both have submissions, leg and knee kicks, and arm strikes in their arsenal.
Can Bryan Danielson put an end to Kingston’s great run and have another leg up above The Mad King by taking away his Continental Crown? Or, will Eddie Kingston defend his Continental Crown by beating one of his chief rivals with no excuses from either side and force The American Dragon to shake The Mad King’s hand as a show of respect? We will have to find out, won’t we?
Other Notable Matches
All Star Scramble Match (Winner gets a Match for the AEW World Championship in the future)
*Disclaimer: This contains small spoilers from Collision*
In a place where many moments of madness in March happened, the Meat Madness match was supposed to be taking place this Sunday at the Greensboro Coliseum. Now, it is an All Star Scramble match where the winner gets a future match for the AEW World Championship.
The match will involve Wardlow, Powerhouse Hobbs, Lance Archer, Brian Cage, Chris Jericho, Hook, Dante Martin, and Magnus from CMLL.
Wardlow and Hobbs are both big and powerful muscle men using their bodies as walking weapons on their opponents with Wardlow willing to be the high-flyer and Hobbs being the hard hitting striker. Both of these big dudes are former TNT Champions with Wardlow being a former three time champion and Hobbs holding the belt once after grabbing the brass ring in last year’s Face of the Revolution ladder match. Wardlow lost his TNT belt to Hobbs the following March before winning the belt back from him in April of last year. Currently, Wardlow and Hobbs play the role of the big man for their respective factions as Wardlow works for the Undisputed Kingdom and Hobbs is part of the Don Callis Family.
Brian Cage is also one of the big guys involved in this match as he is still fighting for a shot to be the top wrestler in AEW. Like Hobbs and Wardlow, Cage serves as the big enforcer for Mogul Embassy, but he was an ROH Trios champ along with Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona recently. However, Cage is a well versed and talented big man as he can beat his opponents both on the ground and on the air.
While the “Murderhawk Monster” stands at six feet and eight inches, he is not your conventional pro wrestling big man. Rather, Lance is a destroyer who uses his size to delete anyone that stands in his way. A former Texas State Bobcats quarterback and club bouncer in his past life, Lance Archer has thrown security guards, trainees, managers, and rival wrestlers throughout his career in the squared circle. He has been thrown from municipalities of all sizes in America and Japan. In AEW, Archer is managed by legendary bad guy Jake “The Snake” Roberts and has been a staple of destruction who has terrorized anyone who has crossed him.
The other combatants are Hook, a young submission magician who is yet looking for his big break after losing to Samoa Joe; Dante Martin, a young up-and-coming high-flyer who has already made his own mark in AEW with his aerial abilities; Magnus, a luchador from CMLL trained by the legendary Tony Salazar and the cousin of CMLL ace Mistico; and Chris Jericho.
Jericho is the most decorated of the bunch and is looking for an opportunity to become a two time holder of the AEW World title. The 53-year-old lion tamer and wizard from Manitoba still has a plethora of moves in his arsenal and has become a difficult person to win against in recent years. Jericho has the most in-ring experience here and may have a way to counter the seven other competitors, so don’t be surprised if there are temporary allegiances to take out or even help Jericho.
Who will win the opportunity of an AEW World Championship match? Will one of the big fellas reign supreme? Is everybody gonna die at the hands of Lance Archer? Will Hook get another shot at the AEW World title? Are one of the high-flyers stealing the show? Or will Chris Jericho get another opportunity to further cement his legacy? I guess we’ll all have to stay tuned on Sunday.
AEW International Championship Match: Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Roderick Strong
“Freshly Squeezed” Orange Cassidy is set to defend his AEW International Championship against the boisterous yet stiff-necked Roderick Strong of The Undisputed Kingdom. Cassidy has been on a tear since regaining his AEW International belt back on October 10th and hasn’t lost a singles match since his bout against Jon Moxley back in September. However, Roddy has been formidable since coming back from his neck injury as his only losses since his return were to Hangman Page and Samoa Joe, the same guy who injured him.
Will Rodrick Strong fight and yell his way to winning his first overall singles championship since working at a warehouse in Central Florida just over two years ago?
Or will Orange Cassidy squeeze the competition once again and continue his dominant run with the International belt?
Time will tell who wins, but expect this match to be a high-flying and hard punching affair. Expect a ton of nonsense that may involve The Best Friends and The Undisputed Kingdom and a few sneaky moves from both Cassidy and Strong.
May the sneakiest man win.
TNT Championship Match: Christian Cage (c) vs. Daniel Garcia
Christian Cage is set to defend his TNT Championship this Sunday against Daniel Garcia.
Cage, who has been with the TNT belt since October, has a funny way of conducting business as he makes fun of wrestler’s dead fathers. He just doxxed the address of Daniel Garcia’s father, which is a graveyard in Buffalo, on the February 21 episode of Dynamite. Christian Cage lost the belt back at World’s End in late December to Adam Copeland, but regained the TNT Championship as Killswitch (Luchasaurus) gave his match opportunity to Christian Cage as he edged out Copeland.
Cage also took out Adam Copeland off television this month with a conchairto as we won’t see Copeland until March/April on the road to this year’s Double or Nothing.
However, Daniel Garcia, while a good dancer, is a very solid wrestler himself as he was coined as “The Dragon Slayer” after his bouts against Bryan Danielson back in the summer of 2022. While his heat has flamed out a bit, Garcia has become a beloved figure with AEW fans not only with his dancing ability, but also his technical skill and striking ability. He is still one of AEW’s stars at the age of 21. 25.
While both wrestlers have their fair share of shenanigans around them with Christian Cage leading The Patriarchy with The Waynes and Killswitch and the dancing Daniel Garcia being managed by Matt Menard. This match should be a good wrestling match with good old sports entertainment.
Expect Nick Wayne and his mama Shayna to screw over Daniel Garcia and help Cage retain the TNT championship.
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