AEW All Out: Predictions
AEW All Out 2021 airs Sunday, Sep. 5 from the Now Arena in Chicago on pay-per-view, a card headlined by CM Punk's return to the ring.
Here are our OutKick's match card predictions and breakdown of the show's five top matches:
Jon Moxley vs. Satoshi Kojima
You could tell by the promos this was supposed to be Moxley versus NJPW's Hiroshi Tanahashi. Instead, for whatever reason, Moxley got Satoshi Kojima.
All Out should be AEW's biggest event yet, and showing up the MVP of its first two years is the right call. Moxley will win this match.
Prediction: Jon Moxley
AEW Women's Championship: Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. vs. Kris Statlander
Dr. Britt Baker is one of the biggest over-performers across both AEW and WWE. She's an all-around star.
Statlander can come out of this match looking strong while still recording a loss, because there's no way AEW takes the belt off Baker yet.
Prediction: Britt Baker
AEW Championship: Kenny Omega (c) vs. Christian Cage
I still believe Hangman Adam Page has to be the one who dethrones Omega. There's too much history there not to pull the trigger on that moment. I'd do Page and Omega at Arthur Ashe on Sep. 22. However, AEW could wait until the next pay-per-view.
Either way, Omega can't drop another match to Cage and lose the AEW title to him.
This should be an excellent match. Omega is the best in-ring performer in the world. Meanwhile, Cage is a strong worker who can tell a story in the ring.
I'm looking forward to this one, but I hope it's their last.
Prediction: Kenny Omega
Chris Jericho vs. MJF - Chris Jericho's career is on the line
In WWE, a career-on-the-line match doesn't mean anything. A wrestler can lose, retire, and come back in a month. By contrast, it's hard to see AEW pulling that stunt.
Tony Khan has stacked AEW's roster to such an extent -- with more names coming -- that he doesn't need Jericho competing. Still, the product would suffer without a semi-active Jericho.
While I would've preferred MJF to win this feud's final match and move on to a feud against Punk with momentum, the crowd is so behind Jericho it makes sense for him to get revenge.
Assuming this match has an actual winner and loser, expect Jericho to beat MJF in what could be the match of the night.
Prediction: Chris Jericho
CM Punk vs. Darby Allin
I emphasized the word could above because Punk-Allin is likely the match of the night. Punk will wrestle in the ring for the first time in seven years, his first as a member of AEW. Though the Chicago crowd was disappointing on Wednesday, it should go bonkers at All Out when Punk arrives.
Like everyone, I'm fascinated to see how Punk performs -- because Allin is phenomenal.
The company's best move is to build Punk up as a superstar to rival Roman Reigns in the WWE. Allowing Punk to pick up several wins while elevating younger performers until a matchup with Hangman, who can be AEW's Roman for the next five years, is AEW's best route. I expect them to consider that storyline.
Prediction: CM Punk
Other match card predictions:
Steel Cage AEW Tag Team Championship match, The Young Bucks (c) vs. Lucha Bros: Young Bucks win
Paul Wight vs. QT Marshall: Paul Wight wins
AEW TNT Championship, Miro vs. Eddie Kingston: Miro wins (hopefully I'm wrong)
Women's Casino Battle Royale: Jamie Hayter