If I may channel my inner Boyz II Men (ask your parents about them), it’s so hard to say goodbye to an Icon like Sting. How can you encapsulate a career spanning almost four promotions and a who’s who of great opponents?

Simple, don’t leave it up to WWE. To that point, thank you AEW for doing it right.

The main event features Sting and Darby Allin defending their AEW World Tag Titles against the EVPs of Douchenozzlery, The Young Bucks of Nicholas and Matthew Jackson. Oh, yeah, and there are other matches as well.

Before we head to the pay-per-view, here is an…

(Author’s Note: Yeah, this is gonna be a more abbreviated recap as I want to spend as much time on the Sting/Allin event anyway. So with rare exceptions, expect very few in-depth coverages of the matches, as some if not all would be more fit on TV).

That said, we come to you from the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. Nigel McGuinness and Excalibur have the call for the…

Zero Hour Pre-Show

This consists of a 12-man tag team match, and Kris Statlander/Willow Nightingale facing Julia Hart and Skye Blue.

Yeahhhhh, this could’ve been an email or a future episode of Rampage. Here it is to watch, and please to enjoy…

We get a video montage of the career of Sting that is impressive.

 

Now let’s officially kick off…

AEW Revolution

Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and Nigel McGuinness have the call for the PPV, and your First Match of the Night is for the…

AEW TNT Championship: Christian Cage (c) (with Killswitch, Mother Wayne, and “The Prodigy” Nick Wayne) vs. Daniel Garcia

This is a clinic by Cage on how to channel the Power of Douchenozzlery™ as he employs every dirty trick, but Garcia is resilient and stays in the fight despite the mind games by “Daddy” Cage.  Garcia chop blocks Cage’s knee but he gets sent out of the ring, and Cage does his best to keep him out.  Once he finally returns to the ring, Cage hits a splash, but Garcia transitions to an ankle lock.  Cage escapes and as the ref checks on his wellbeing, Killswitch plants Garcia with a choke slam, Cage makes a miraculous recovery and the frog splashes for a two count.  Cage isn’t the only “daddy” in this fight as “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard comes out for the save.  Cage attempts a spear but pulls up lame as Garcia spikes him with a Piledriver for a close two count.  Mother Wayne distracts the ref, allowing Nick Wayne to snap Garcia’s head on top rope and Cage delivers Killswitch for the three count.

Your Winner, and Still AEW TNT Champion:  Christian Cage

Now for a Battle with Honor and the next match is for the…

Courtesy of AEW.

AEW Continental Crown Championship: Eddie Kingston (c) vs. Bryan Danielson

The stipulation here is if Danielson loses, he has to shake Kingston’s hand.  The fans are riled up with chants of “Let’s Go Bryan/Let’s Go Eddie” thundering in the Coliseum.  The kicks by Danielson catch Kingston on his kneecap, but he manages to power The American Dragon into the corner.  Both men trade blows and Kingston lights him up with machine gun chops to a backdrop driver with a tope to the outside.  Then Danielson lures Kingston to the edge of the apron and hurts his hand on the ring post as he misses chopping Danielson, who nails him with a suplex from the apron to the floor.  Kingston manages to get back in and Danielson works over his bad hand and stomps his elbow to take away his backfist.  Danielson is up the top turnbuckle and Kingston catches him in an exploder a la Jun Akiyama.  He goes for another exploder but Danielson stops it and Kingston changes up with a DDT and then a stretch plum but his bad hand can’t clasp as easily.

Kingston goes to the hammer and anvil elbows on Danielson, but he flips him over and nails a running dropkick in the corner, and then another.  The third time misses, but Danielson gets a kick to the back and a dragon suplex for a two count on the King of the Bums.  He sets Kingston on the turnbuckle and shoves him off, but nails a suplex and transitions to the LeBelle Lock and then stretches his other hand but Kingston fights out.  Danielson now lays into the hammer and anvil elbows to show how it’s properly done, but Kingston fights back with an enzugiri and nails a Northern Lights bomb for a count of two.  A backfist by Kingston he collapses from the pain in his right hand, and Danielson punts it and connects with a Busaiku Knee to cover for one, two…no such luck.  Danielson captures his wrists, stomps his face, and turns to a triangle choke.  The ref checks on him and Kingston gets his hand up and puts his foot on the ropes to break the submission.  Danielson goes back to kicks and Kingston blocks them and then they trade half and half suplexes.  The fans are on their feet solidly behind Eddie chanting, “This Is Awesome!”  Danielson goes for another Busaiku Knee, and Kingston catches him with a clothesline, delivers the powerbomb, and retains the triple crown.

Your Winners via Pinfall, and Still AEW Continental Champion:  Eddie Kingston

Danielson is still at a loss and Kingston looks down at him. He starts to walk away, but the American Dragon swallows his pride, shakes his hand, and raises it in victory. Truly one of the best bouts of the night.

That said, Taz comes out for commentary as the next match is the…

Courtesy of AEW.

Eight Man Scramble Match: Chris Jericho vs. Wardlow vs. Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Lance Archer vs. Hook vs. Brian Cage vs. Magnus vs. Dante Martin

The best line of the night was earlier in the Zero Hour by RJ City, who said “This scramble will not be over easy.” I see what you did there, you clever man.  As for this match, this is the opposite of “clever” but here are the highlights:

Cage has Sting-inspired war paint, and Magnus’ mask has Sting’s Crow paint job on the sides.  As for the match, this was mostly a spot fest, and these were the bullet points:

  • Early “Meat” chants for Wardlow, Hobbs, Archer, and Cage
  • Martin almost did not connect with a tope as his feet got caught in the ropes and was spotty in another area
  • Jericho and Magnus land stereo Lionsaults on Archer
  • Hooks cinches Redum on Wardlow, and Jericho grabs legs for the Walls of Jericho until Cage kicks him off
  • Wardlow ends it by giving Martin a powerbomb to become the winner of the scramble.

Your Winner of the Scramble:  Wardlow

Yeah, this match coulda been on Collision, but whatevs.

Now for your next match for the…

Courtesy of AEW.

AEW International Championship: Orange Cassidy (c) vs. Roderick Strong

Strong comes down wearing a cape and a tactical skull facemask.  Well, Andrade El Idolo isn’t around to use it so…no gimmick infringement.  Also Strong sends Bennett and Taven to the back.  Cassidy is also in the ring by himself and his ribs are heavily taped up.  Before I continue, here’s another…

(Author’s Note:  Everything about Cassidy in the ring to me screams “Haiku in Review™.”  However, this feels different, like…I dunno, change is in the air.  That said, let me jump into it.)

Strong attacks right away and the Messiah of the Backbreaker targets the taped area and stays in full control.  Cassidy fights back ramming Strong’s head on the top turnbuckle. Strong counters with a gutwrench suplex on the ropes and Cassidy drops out of the ring and is on the floor writhing in pain.  Once he gets back in the ring, Strong mocks Cassidy’s “kicks” and then chops him hard in the chest until he collapses to the ground.  He picks him up and Cassidy gets a knee to the gut, but The Messian locks in the Stronghold.  Cassidy is in agony but makes it to the ropes to break the hold, and then She pulls him back and does Stronghold from the side.  Cassidy attempts to stage a comeback with a tornado DDT and then connects with a diving DDT for a two count.  He then lands a Panama Sunrise to Strong for another two count and then strips off his elbow pad but Roddy counters with a backbreaker.  Cassidy lands a Beach Break to cover and Strong gets a foot on the ropes to break the count.  Cassidy attempts the Orange Punch but a jumping knee and then a Strong Breaker earns the pin and the win.

Your Winner, and New AEW International Champion:  Roderick Strong

Yes, fans.  Our long Orange Nightmare is over (I wish another Orange Nightmare would end as well, but that’s another story and don’t @ me).

Then Kyle O’Reilly comes in the ring after a long absence and The Undisputed Kingdom offers a shirt but he says no, and whispers something in Strong’s ear and he is teary-eyed.  Wonder what’s gonna be discussed in the future?

Now for a hoss fight with…

Courtesy of AEW.

FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) vs. Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli)

Mox and Castagnoli enter from the crowd to the ring wearing Road Warrior-inspired shoulder pads. What a rush, indeed. 

In the crowd, there was a sign that read, “NC is FTR Country.”  No argument here.  Once the bell rang, chants of “B-C-C/F-T-R” echoed in the arena.  FTR looking good early in the match until Castagnoli sends Wheeler crashing on the apron and he badly clips his shoulder on the edge and he is in pain.  The Blackpool Combat Club isolates Wheeler and he is a North Carolinian in Peril.  Once he gets the hot tag to Harwood, he is an FTR en Fuego, and he and Wheeler go for a double team, but Castagnoli throws Harwood hard to the ring post and Wheeler gets clipped by Mox.  Harwood is bleeding from the head but FTR still stays in the fight.  Mox and Harwood trade blows but the FTR member nails a jackknife powerbomb for a two count.  The Blackpool Combat Club hit a European Uppercut/Doomsday Device on Harwood from up top but Wheeler dives to break the count and fans chant, “A-E-Dub.”

Now it devolves into a Pier Four brawl as FTR attempts the Shatter Machine finisher but Castagnoli stops it and counters with the Big Swing to cover for a count of two.  FTR nails the Doomsday Device on Mox and then Shatter Machine, but Castagnoli pulls off Harwood.  Wheeler dives and gets knocked out with a European Uppercut by Castagnoli, and Mox hits the Death Rider on Harwood for a two count.  Mox changes strategy and cinches the bulldog choke, and as Wheeler attempts the save Castagnoli gets him a rear naked choke as Harwood fades out.

Your Winners via Submission:  The Blackpool Combat Club

There’s a staredown and while no handshakes are given, there is a hint of respect between the four men.

Now let’s get to the women’s match and it’s for the…

Courtesy of AEW.

AEW Women’s World Championship: “Timeless” Toni Storm (c) (with Mariah May and Luther) vs. Deonna Purrazzo

May comes out and is a dead ringer in Storm’s old gear, but the Timeless One comes out in classic black and white.

The bell rings and it’s a feeling-out process between the two women, and neither gains an advantage. Purrazzo goes for the Fujiwara armbar but Storm escapes the hold.  She takes a breather with Luther fanning her and Purrazzo sends her back in. She whips the Virtuosa to the corner and almost crushes the ref.  Storm gives a mule kick and covers for a two count.  The Timeless One is in control and keeps Purrazzo in her place.  The Virtuosa starts a comeback and kicks Storm followed by a Fujiwara armbar, but Storm once again escapes the submission.  A kick by the challenger and Purrazzo gives a facebuster for another two count.  She rushes into the corner and Storm trips her up and she crashes into the second turnbuckle and then nails a hip attack to cover for two.  Storm blocks Purrazzo’s kick and then she turns it into an ankle lock.  She escapes the hold and boots Storm right into the waiting arms of Luther.  Purrazzo dives onto them on the outside, and then sends her back in the ring and connects with a huracanrana to a Fujiwara armbar.

Purrazzo maintains wrist control and goes for Venus De Milo.  Storm starts to tap, but Luther distracts the ref and May gets on the apron on the other side.  Purrazzo boots May off, and then the champ delivers Storm Zero to retain.

Your Winner, and Still AEW Women’s Champion:  “Timeless” Toni Storm

Don Callis joins commentary for your next match, bruv, between…

Courtesy of AEW.

Will Ospreay vs. Konosuke Takeshita

This is mostly a showcase for the Aerial Assassin, but Takeshita also makes a case that he is no slouch keeping Ospreay grounded.  Ospreay rocks Takeshita with a twisting enzugiri and then dives with a crossbody on the floor.  Takeshita takes over with a dive to the floor and then catches Ospreay with a German suplex.  They both hit big moves and Ospreay nails a standing Spanish fly for two count.

Ospreay with the rolling discus forearm and Takeshita is rocked and then he gives him a receipt.  Kawada boots by Ospreay until he runs into a forearm by Takeshita.  The match goes to overdrive as Ospreay hits the Tiger Driver and attempts Oscutter but Takeshita counters with a Blue Thunder bomb for a two count.  Oscutter finally connects and then he signals The Hidden Blade but Takeshita counters with a headbutt and they collapse.  Take gets an arm on his limp body to cover until Ospreay barely raises a shoulder at the two count.  Ospreay goes for a huracanrana but Takeshita blocks it and hits a nasty-looking sheer drop brain buster that catches Ospreay’s back on the turnbuckle, and he gets a contusion that looks near his liver.  Somehow Ospreay fights on, and the flash Hidden Blade gets a close two count.  Takeshita turns him inside out and goes for a jumping knee but gets caught and Styles Clash gets another count of two.  Now the end comes when Ospreay nails the Tiger Driver and the Hidden Blade ends the match in three.

Your Winner via Pinfall:  Will Ospreay

Callis rolls in to check his boys, and then Kyle Fletcher strides down the ring. Ospreay bows deeply to Takeshita in a sign of respect, and then Fletcher gives his United Empire kinsman an embrace.  It also gets announced that he and Ospreay will have a match on this week’s Dynamite.

But we have title action coming up, as Jim Ross joins at commentary with Schiavone and Excalibur for the…

Courtesy of AEW.

Three-Way Match for the AEW World Championship: Samoa Joe (c) vs. “Hangman” Adam Page vs. Swerve Strickland (with Prince Nana)

Justin Roberts gives the boxing style intros for all three men, while Nana leads a “Whose House/Swerve’s House” chant on the outside of the ring.  The bell rings and Page and Strickland get into each other’s faces until Joe picks them off.  They send Joe out of the ring and now Page and Strickland pick up from where they left off at Full Gear.

Strickland is in control and then dives on Joe to keep the champ off his feet.  Page gets a pin on Strickland but Joe breaks the count, plants him with a powerbomb for a two count, and transitions to the ST-Joe until Strickland breaks the submission hold.  They hit Joe with a double powerbomb and then slug away at each other, jockeying for a pin until Joe comes to and breaks it up.

Strickland and Page go for pinning situations and each time Joe breaks it up.  Joe connects with the musclebuster on Page, but Strickland catches him with a double stomp and a House Call kick.  He also gives a house call to Page and covers for a two count.

Strickland goes to Joe and lands a DDT from the corner and then 450 splash but can’t capitalize on a pin.  There’s another double stomp and Page pulls the ref out to stop the count. He grabs the belt and clocks Strickland twice in the head.  He yells at him from the apron, “You’ll never have this!”, and lands a Buckshot Lariat on Joe and another cover, but there’s no ref to count.

Another ref sprints in to count one, two…kick out by Joe.  Page goes for a third Buckshot and Joe locks him in the Coquina Clutch and Strickland throws his body at him with a twisting senton.  Nana tosses him his crown, but Strickland is having second thoughts and indicates he’s not gonna win like that.  Joe gets him in the Coquina Clutch but he reverses to a pin, and Page throws out the other ref.  It becomes bedlam in the ring Until Page is caught in Coquina Clutch and before Strickland can make the save, he taps out.

Your Winner via Submission, and Still AEW World Heavyweight Champion:  Samoa Joe

There’s a debate at commentary on whether Page tapped out because it was too much, or just to deny Strickland a chance.  Either way, I think they’re destined to fight forever.

We get the announcement of the next PPV, AEW DYNASTY, on April 21st in St. Louis, MO AT THE Chaifetz Arena.

 

Finally, this is the Main Event, and as Ric Flair comes out, so does Ricky “The Dragon” Steamboat as the guest timekeeper.

Justin Roberts announces that this is a…

Courtesy of AEW.

Tornado tag team match for the AEW World Tag Team Championship: Sting and Darby Allin (c) (with Ric Flair) vs. The Young Bucks (Matthew Jackson and Nicholas Jackson)

The Bucks come out with old-school robes during their intros.  As we get to Sting’s intro, there is a nice video montage with an old-timey theater showing Sting’s life in pictures. As it plays, the fans chant, “Thank you, Sting.” Then Sting looks to the camera and says, “It’s showtime, for the last time. Let’s do this!”

His sons come out to various Sting costumes of yesteryear, and then The Icon comes out to Seek and Destroy by Metallica and the Coliseum loses it.  Allin goes right at the EVPs and he and Sting step on the grass and there are no brakes.  The sons come in and give Stinger splashes to the EVPs.

Sting stacks up both Bucks to attempt a Scorpion Deathlock but they escape.  The melee goes outside the ring and they throw Matthew and Nicholas into the guardrails, slamming chairs on their backs.  Then the sons of Sting set up tables, chairs, and ladders (oh, my).  Allin gets a Coffin drop on the Bucks from the top to the outside, and Sting brings it a pane of glass, then another, and Allin and Sting’s son set it on the stack of chairs outside.

Sting grabs the bat, swings, and misses but shatters one of the panes of glass.  They go into the bleachers (where another sign in the crowd said, “Stinger Splash Zone.”  Heh.) and battle to the back and up the stage.  Nicholas rams Allin’s head to one of the big Image projectors and then nails him with a falcon arrow to a table outside. Matthew does the same to Sting with a suplex on the opposite side.

Fans chant, “F*** the Young Bucks” as they lead Allin back into the ring and toss him to a ladder in the corner.  Allin fights back with a stunner on Nicholas and a Code Red on Matthew.  He props the ladder up, and Allin rams Nicholas’ head on the steel steps and then sets him on the pane of glass on the chairs.  He goes back in the ring, climbs the ladder, and swantons but Matthew pulls Nicholas away at the last minute.  The camera zooms in on the blood appearing on Allin’s back.

Now Sting appears and Matthew and Nicholas toy with The Icon. Sting blocks their suplex, but the numbers catch up.  The Bucks go for a double team, but he moves out of the way and then Sting pummels Matthew, sets him on the table and now he climbs the ladder.  Matthew comes to and slams him through the table.  Sting comes to quickly and attacks, but gets hip-tossed to another pane of glass in the corner and Matthew gives a Scorpion Death Drop for one, two…no chance.  Nicholas grabs a belt, but Steamboat stops him.  He gets beaten for his troubles, and Flair is in the ring tending to Sting and he shields him from Matthew.  He and Nicholas rethink their actions…and give Flair a Superkick Party, and the same to Steamboat.

Jerks!

Now Matthew nails Sting with the belt and covers for one, two…kick out.  Another Superkick Par-tay by the Bucks, but Sting will not go down.  He beats his chest, clotheslines them, and nails a Death Drop to cover Matthew but Nicholas breaks the count.  They give Sting the EVP Trigger and Matthew covers but it’s still a two count to his disbelief.  They shake his hands as douchetastically as they can, nail another EVP Trigger, and The Icon kicks out at one.  The Bucks go for the TK Driver (formerly the Meltzer Driver), but Allin pushes Nicholas off the top rope to a table outside, and Sting hits another Death Drop for a two count.  A Coffin Drop by Allin, and then Sting turns Matthew over for the Scorpion Deathlock and he taps out and the fans come unglued.

Your Winners via Submission, and Still AEW World Tag Team Champions:  Darby Allin and Sting

They are bloodied, battered, and broken, but Allin and Sting are not beaten. The confetti showers the ring, as commentary showers Sting with accolades. Now Sting gets on the mic and I’ll let him talk from here:

“Sting:  To be honest with you I’ve been thanking you all since March of 1988. The Nature Boy versus Sting [match to a] 45-minute draw for the World title. Thank you, Ric. I dunno if Ric is still here, but thank you, Ric.

Greensboro you were incredible in ’88 and beyond, all the way to this very night. I’ve been saying on all kinds of interviews I just want this to be a night the wrestling fans will not forget.  A night of wrestling that’ll be etched in your minds for years to come. And it is me, this thing…this is a night that I will never forget. Thank you, Greensboro. You are awesome.  This is definitely a time to give thanks for sure. Thank you to the greatest tag team partner I’ve ever had, Darby.  I wonder how many stitches this is going to require tonight.

Allin:  I said I’d die in your last match, but I’m still breathing

Sting:  Yep, I knew it from the very first time I saw Darby in action. He’s a risk-taker. I was a risk-taker in my young days, and you know what?   I’m I’m kind of old now but I’m still a risk-taker especially if I’m here in Greensboro.”

Now for some reason, Bleacher Report decided to end the segment on the PPV, but here is the rest of the speech from Sting courtesy of AEW’s YouTube channel.

What a way to end a career, and thank you, Sting!

RELATED LINK

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Final Thoughts on AEW Revolution:

 

It wasn’t a technical match, but from a story-telling point, what a way to end his career on a high note.  Again, this is proof the WWE dropped the ball.  But on this night, let’s give the Stinger his flowers (as well as stitches for Allin’s torn-up back).

As for the rest of the show, Ospreay/Takeshita almost stole the show and Kingston/Danielson was the sleeper match of the night.

As for the rest…well, thank you Sting as you, Allin, and The Young Bucks delivered the goods.