‘AEW: Wrestledream 2024’ PPV Review

Welcome to this review of AEW’s latest PPV, Wrestledream, which was broadcast live from the Tacoma Dome in Tacoma, Washington. This pay-per-view opened with a Zero Hour show that saw Brian Cage defeat Atlantis Jr. for the ROH TV title, Anna Jay pick up the win against Harley Cameron, The Acclaimed defeat MxM Collection, and The Outrunners beat The Premiere Athletes. Now, let’s get into the review of the main show!

Match #1: “Switchblade” Jay White def. “Hangman” Adam Page

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

Jay White was sticking and moving with his offense. Page reversed it with a blunt force attack, pounding Switchblade into the corner. Jay White dropkicked Page in the knee. Page booted Jay in the face as Jay charged at Hangman. Page brutalized Jay White with some ground and pound offense. Page walloped Jay White with a fallaway slam in the corner. Jay fired back with a stiff DDT; Page kicked out at the two-count. Jay White took down Page with a bridging German Suplex for a near fall. Page dug his thumbs into the eyes of Jay White. Switchblade trapped Page in the Tree of Woe and gouged Page’s eyes! Jay White turned away for one second and Page seized the moment to drill White with a Death Valley Driver on the apron. Hangman hit Page with a dragon screw leg whip through the ropes. Page came right back with a power bomb on the steps. Hangman grabbed his leather belt. Ref Paul Turner argued with Page. Jay White spat at Page and then dropped Page with a knee breaker on the edge of the rampway! Back in the ring, Jay White continued to work on Page’s leg with a dragon screw leg whip. Jay White grabbed Hangman and hit him with a uranage for a near fall. Jay White avoided a low blow and planted Page with a half and half. Page blocked the Blade Runner and countered with the Dead Eye. Page went for the Buckshot Lariat, but Jay White countered, blasted Page with the Blade Runner, and pinned Page!

My Score: 4 out of 5

Match #2: AEW Women’s World Championship – Mariah May def. Willow Nightingale

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

Willow hip tossed the champion across the ring. Mariah May answered with a shotgun dropkick. Willow pounced Mariah May, turning the tables quickly. Willow chopped Mariah May in the corner. Willow climbed the turnbuckles, but Mariah yanked Willow’s legs out from beneath her. Mariah mounted Willow and grounded and pounded her. Nightingale booted Mariah in the face and followed up with a spinebuster for a near fall. Mariah, frustrated, staggered Willow with a German Suplex. Willow crashed into Mariah with a cannonball in the corner. Mariah dodged a moonsault press. Mariah hit a dropkick from the top rope. Mariah planted Willow with the May Day, but Willow kicked out at the two-count! Willow went for another pounce but Mariah headbutted the challenger. Willow swung for the fences and connected with a lariat! Willow rocked Mariah with a Death Valley Driver into the corner turnbuckles! Mariah kicked out at the two-count! Mariah May took down Willow with an avalanche hurracanrana. Mariah followed up with a running knee strike. The champ spiked Willow with the Storm Zero and retained her title over Willow Nightingale!

My Score: 3.5 out of 5

Match #3: TNT Championship – Jack Perry def. Katsuyori Shibata

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

Jack Perry used a snap suplex on Shibata. Perry kicked Shibata in the spine, but Shibata brushed them off. Shibata lit up Perry’s chest with stiff chops. Shibata suplexed Perry. Jack Perry spat in Shibata’s face. Shibata invited Perry to kick him. Perry kicked Shibata but Shibata got right to his feet and bludgeoned Perry with machine gun chops. Shibata suplexed Jack Perry into the side of the ring. Shibata stunned The Scapegoat with a Death Valley Driver. Shibata locked Perry into a sleeper and fell backwards with body scissors around Perry’s torso. Jack Perry fell back, and the referee counted to three, declaring Perry the winner!

My Score: 2.5 out of 5

Match #4: AEW International Championship – Konosuke Takeshita def. Ricochet and Will Ospreay

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

Ricochet and Will took turns kicking Takeshita in the back. Will went for an Os Cutter, but Ricochet avoided it. Takeshita splatted Ricochet on the arena floor with a DDT. Takeshita pulled a table out from beneath the ring. Ricochet went for a Sasuke Special, but Takeshita caught him. Ospreay served up a Sasuke Special of his own and wiped out both men. Ricochet landed on Takeshita with a shooting star press. Takeshita leveled Ricochet with a fastball strike forearm to the jaw! Takeshita caught Ospreay and drilled him with a Death Valley Driver on the apron. Ricochet smashed Takeshita with a meteora on the edge of the ring. Ospreay rocked Ricochet with a standing Spanish Fly! Ricochet countered the Storm Breaker. Ricochet blocked the Hidden Blade attempt with a backslide bomb! Ospreay used a Styles Clash on Ricochet and went for the cover, but Takeshita broke up the pin attempt. Takeshita blasted Ricochet with a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall! Ospreay and Ricochet decided to team up against Takeshita. Takeshita took both of them down with wicked forearms. Ospreay inadvertently kicked Ricochet when Takeshita ducked. Will and Ricochet walloped Takeshita with German Suplexes. Takeshita got his receipt, powering both Will and Ricochet at the same time with a German Suplex! Takeshita nearly decapitated Ricochet with a big time lariat for a near fall. Ricochet splashed Ospreay with a shooting star press. Takeshita bulldozed into Ricochet with a power drive knee strike. Takeshita grabbed Ricochet on the apron and smashed him through the table at ringside. Ospreay ran into Takeshita with two hidden blades. Will went to cover Takeshita, but Don Callis pulled the referee out of the ring. Don Callis pulled a screw driver out but Ospreay blocked it! Ospreay grabbed Callis but Kyle Fletcher jumped into the ring, blindsiding Ospreay! Fletcher, Takeshita, and Callis had Ospreay surrounded in the ring. There’s no disqualification in a three-way match. Takeshita dropped his knee pad and clobbered Ospreay. Callis grabbed the referee, pulling him over to make the count. Takeshita covered Ospreay and won via pinfall!

My Score: 4.5 out of 5

Match #5: 2 Out Of 3 Falls Match – Hologram def. The Beast Mortos

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

Hologram and the Beast Mortos began the match at a fast pace, going move for move, countering one another. The crowd erupted in “Lucha!” chants. Hologram rocketed out of the ring with a tope suicida, the momentum knocking the Beast Mortos to the arena floor. Hologram nailed the Beast Mortos with a diving crucifix bomb and took the first fall, pinning Mortos. The Beast Mortos got to his feet and connected with a tornillo through the ropes! The Beast Mortos press slammed Hologram onto the stage! The Beast Mortos headbutted Hologram back in the ring. The Beast Mortos hurled Hologram into the corner turnbuckles with a belly to belly suplex. Mortos speared Hologram in the midsection. Hologram avoided another spear and moonsaulted out of the ring and onto the Beast Mortos! Hologram spiked the Beast with a poison rana! The Beast Mortos regained momentum with a power bomb onto his knee. After a discus lariat, the Beast Mortos pinned Hologram, and the match went to sudden death. Hologram clobbered the Beast Mortos with a reverse hurracanrana onto the apron! Both men tumbled to the arena floor. Hologram jumped off the top rope, soaring with incredible hangtime, and crash landed onto Mortos. Hologram connected with a diving foot stomp. Mortos blocked a 450 splash by raising his knees. Mortos nearly knocked Hologram out of his boots with another lariat! Mortos got a near fall after an avalanche press slam. The Beast Mortos nailed Hologram with a power bomb on his knee and then a lariat, but Hologram kicked out at the two-count. Hologram dazed Mortos with a super hurracanrana. Hologram followed up with a swan diving crucifix bomb for a near fall! Hologram finished off the Beast Mortos with the Portal Bomb and pinned Mortos!

My Score: 3 out of 5

Match #6: Grudge Match – Darby Allin def. Brody King

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

Brody swung Darby into the guardrail. Brody repositioned the steel ring steps. Darby jumped on Brody’s back. Brody swatted Darby to the floor. Darby jumped off the arena steps, but Brody was there, clubbing Darby out of the air. Brody placed the steps across Darby’s torso and then walked on top of them, all the weight knocking the wind out of Darby. Back in the ring, Brody flattened Darby with a massive senton for a near fall. Darby dodged a cannonball from Brody. Darby used his body as a battering ram and flew out of the ring at Brody with two tope suicidas and then a coffin drop. Darby stunned Brody with a Code Red, but Brody managed to kick out. Darby jumped on Brody’s back, but Brody powered back, sandwiching Darby between Brody’s body and the ring! Brody flung Darby back with a German Suplex off the ropes. Darby shoved Brody off the apron, knocking him onto the steel ring steps. Darby followed up with a coffin drop onto Brody on the steel steps! Darby nailed Brody with another coffin drop, this time in the ring, and Darby scored the 1-2-3!

My Score: 3.5 out of 5

Match #7: AEW World Tag Team Championship – The Young Bucks (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson) def. Private Party (Marq Quen & Isiah Kassidy)

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

The Bucks tried to end the party early with superkicks to Quen and Kassidy on the ramp. Zay found his feet and planted Matthew and Nicholas. Marq Quen climbed up to the top of the tunnel and wiped out the Bucks with a swanton. Zay hit a diving cross body press on Nicholas for a near fall. Zay jumped over the top with a tornillo, taking down the Bucks. Matthew and Nicholas answered Zay with a double superkick! Zay got to his feet and dropkicked Matthew and Nicholas. Kassidy spiked Matthew with a springboard DDT for a two-count! Zay nailed Nicholas with a face plant, but Nicholas kicked out in the nick of time. The Bucks blocked the Silly String attempt. Nicholas scored on Private Party, flipping off the top rope and down onto Quen and Kassidy on the arena floor. Nicholas crunched Kassidy with a Canadian Destroyer, but Quen splashed Nicholas with a 450 from the barricade! Nicholas rallied back with a top rope cutter on Kassidy! The Bucks grabbed Kassidy for the TK Driver. Quen pulled Nicholas off the apron. Zay rolled up Matthew for a near fall! The Bucks pumped up their Reeboks. They superkicked Quen! Private Party broke up More Bang For Your Buck and countered with the Gin & Juice for a near fall on Nicholas. Private Party blasted Nicholas with More Bang For Your Buck, but Matthew jumped in to break up the pin attempt! The Bucks dished out the EVP Trigger to Kassidy but somehow Kassidy kicked out of the pin! Zay ducked another EVP Trigger attempt, rolled up Matthew, but Matthew kicked out at the two-count! The Bucks spiked Kassidy with the TK Driver and Matthew grabbed the pin!

My Score: 2.5 out of 5

Match #8: ROH World Championship Match – Mark Briscoe def. Chris Jericho

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

Both men stepped forward, but Briscoe chopped down Jericho in the corner. Jericho retaliated with a Code Breaker, but Briscoe kicked out, barely a one-count. Briscoe rallied back with redneck kung fu and then dropped an elbow off the apron. Briscoe took out Jericho and Big Bill with a tope con hiro on the floor! As the ref was checking on Chris Jericho, Big Bill booted Mark Briscoe in the head. Orange Cassidy ran down to even up the odds, smacking Big Bill with three consecutive orange punches. Back in the ring, Jericho blistered Briscoe’s chest with strikes and chops. Jericho took down Mark with a hurracanrana off the top turnbuckle. Briscoe fired up the redneck kung fu, smacking Jericho right in the face. Briscoe followed up with a fishermen buster for a near fall. Jericho locked on the lion tamer! Briscoe got to the ropes to force the break. As Jericho was arguing with ref Aubrey Edwards, Bryan Keith blindsided Briscoe. Rocky Romero sprinted to the ring and chased Keith to the back. Mark Briscoe catapulted off a steel chair and landed on Jericho, crashing through a table at ringside! Briscoe went for the Froggy Bow, but Jericho countered with the Code Breaker for a near fall! Briscoe ducked the Judas Effect once, but a second attempt caught Briscoe! Jericho spiked Mark with the Jay Driller and went for the cover but Mark kicked out at the two-count! Mark Briscoe hit Jericho with a Death Valley Driver, followed up with a Froggy Bow. Mark pointed to the heavens and impaled Jericho with the Jay Driller! Briscoe covered Jericho and pinned Jericho 1-2-3!

My Score: 3 out of 5

Match #9: AEW World Championship – Jon Moxley def. Bryan Danielson

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

Moxley attacked Danielson before Danielson’s entrance theme even finished. Danielson shut down Moxley as “The Final Countdown” played, charging at Mox with a kick. Moxley wrapped a cord around Danielson, but Danielson escaped Mox’s grip. Marina jumped on Danielson’s back, and he flung her off. Danielson clobbered Mox with the busaiku knee strike and the arena was going crazy! Danielson jumped off the top rope and threw his body down at Moxley on the arena floor. Danielson followed up with a tope suicida! On top of the broadcast table, Danielson kicked the challenger. Moxley had enough and spiked Danielson with a piledriver on the Spanish announce table. Moxley distracted the referee so Marina could swarm Danielson with knee strikes. Moxley punished the neck of Danielson with a neck breaker. Marina moved the mat from the arena floor, exposing the concrete beneath it. Moxley went for a piledriver, but Danielson countered with a back body drop. Danielson sent Moxley flying with a spider suplex from the turnbuckles. Moxley dodged a diving headbutt and then curb stomped Danielson. The champion found the strength to hit Mox with a piledriver. Both men traded strikes in the center of the ring. Moxley got the champion down to one knee. Danielson got back up and clocked Moxley with European uppercuts! Danielson walloped Moxley with round kicks. Marina interfered again and while the ref was dealing with her, Moxley rocked Danielson with a cutter. Moxley went for a German Suplex, but Danielson landed on his feet. Danielson connected with a Busaiku knee strike for a near fall! Danielson captured Moxley’s wrists and stomped Moxley’s head in. Danielson applied the LeBell Lock! Moxley reached the ropes with his boots, forcing the ref to break the hold. Danielson went for a tope, but Moxley caught him and countered with a Death Rider on the exposed concrete! Moxley mauled Bryan with hammer and anvil elbow strikes. Moxley was on Danielson’s back, but Danielson muscled Moxley off him by falling backwards. Bryan Danielson put the LeBell Lock on, but Moxley escaped and transitioned to an arm bar. Danielson escaped and caught Moxley under the chin with a Busaiku knee! Moxley waffled Danielson with two consecutive lariats. Moxley drilled Danielson with a Death Rider, but Danielson kicked out at the one-count! Danielson spat at Mox and slapped Mox in the face. Moxley answered with a Gotch style piledriver! Moxley put Danielson in a sleeper and Moxley won via ref stoppage!

My Score: 4.5 out of 5

News of the Night:

1. Adam Cole made his AEW return in the aftermath of the Perry/Shibata match

Final Verdict: 4/5

Another fantastic pay-per-view from AEW. No matter what you say about their weekly shows, the company can really deliver when they need to – especially on these huge PPVs. This one was marked by not one but THREE superb matches – the opener between Page and White, the extremely hard-hitting (and hard to watch post-win) main event and the INSANE 3-way for the International Championship! That was easily the match of the night and possibly match of the year contender too! Another cracking show from AEW!