AEW WrestleDream wasn't all a dream. It actually happened. Though maybe next year, they retitle the show WrestlingNightmare.
Some of our writers and podcasters had some thoughts after the show was over.
We'll give you three possible ratings; thumbs up, thumbs down, or thumbs in the middle.
Sam Schipman
Thumbs Up
There were no bad matches on the card. May vs. Nightingale was one of the best matches of the night. The ending to Jack Perry vs. Katsyouri Shibata was questionable and the aftermath was a bit much, but moved stories forward for everyone involved. The Kyle Fletcher heel turn was well done. Private Party losing was disappointing. While the ending of the show was shocking, it makes complete sense from Danielson’s perspective. Some fans will never be happy with it, but as more realize what he was going for, opinions will change for more people. Overall a good show that seems to be putting AEW on a different path as the year winds down.
Paul Fontaine
Thumbs Up
The in-ring action was excellent as it always in on an AEW PPV. The only thing even close to bad was the finish of the preshow match between Anna Jay and Harley Cameron but prior to that, the match had been pretty good. The out of the ring “extras” didn’t really hit for me. MJF and Adam Cole’s returns were confusing for different reasons. The Swerve/MVP segment was good but seemed out of place. And I thought they went too far with the main event angle. But any show with matches as good as the 3 way International title match, the opener with Hangman and Jay White, the tag title match and main event (prior to the final bell) is a very easy
Kevin Ely
Thumbs Up
Had they not ended Bryan Danielson’s full-time career on a stretcher in his home city, I think people would be talking about this as a fantastic PPV. A classic 3-way, several very good matches, including a surprisingly good tag title match. big returns and angles - everything AEW does well. But they took a huge risk with that ending and I think it will leave many with a bitter taste.
Mel Gray
Thumbs Up
I wasn't overly hyped at first but once the final card was laid out, I was excited. The women's championship match delivered. Will Ospreay continues to be one of the best in the world even if this story with the Callis Family is getting thin. I do wish Private Party had won but we'll see how that goes. The Outrunners are over and need a big push. I had a weird feeling Bryan was gonna drop the belt at home in Washington because something told me he needed the break. Giving Moxley the championship seems like a signal they're shifting gears. He's clearly the ace of the company at this point and when in doubt they give him the belt. Overall I enjoyed it. The pacing was good and the matches were worth the price of admission.
GG
Thumbs Up
This is going to the the most universally enjoyed show that also left a bad taste in everyone's mouth. The first half of the show was great and the second half of the show was almost as great just based on the in-ring matches alone.
The show seemed to set up overall joy and for a show called WrestleDream, that sounds like the right thing to do. But there were storyline surprises and pivots that reminded you of things you probably didn't like too much such as MJF and Adam Cole returning and still hating each other, though in the opposite roles of why they did originally.
But the end is what people will remember. Danielson laid out while most of the pathetic babyfaces who even had the courage to come and help him were also beat up. Babyfaces, you had one job. Just make sure Danielson doesn't get suffocated again. That had to be your goal. And you failed. Cowards.
