AEW All Out 2021 - Ranking the buildup to every match

AEW All Out 2021 is a 10 match card filled with intriguing encounters.
AEW All Out 2021 is a 10 match card filled with intriguing encounters.

AEW All Out has become known as the biggest pay-per-view of the calendar year for All Elite Wrestling amongst many fans due to it being the anniversary of the precursor event, All In. This year's show has a ten-match card filled with titles on the line, feuds culminating and one of the most important in-ring returns to professional wrestling of the past decade.

Over the past two years, AEW All Out has been the sight of some historic moments in the company's history. The first All Out event in 2019 saw Chris Jericho defeat Hangman Page to become the first AEW World Champion and Proud N Powerful make their debut in the company.

Last year, FTR defeated Kenny Omega and Hangman Page to win the AEW World Tag Team Championships and Orange Cassidy beat Chris Jericho in the first Mimosa Mayhem Match. With a good amount of history seen at the first two events, 2021 will have a lot to live up to.

With nine matches on the main show and a big ten man tag team contest on Buy In, this stacks up as one of the most high-profile cards in All Elite Wrestling history. In this article, let's rank the buildup to every match on the AEW All Out 2021 card.


Paul Wight vs. QT Marshall (AEW All Out 2021)

Paul Wight, formerly known as "The Big Show," will be making his debut in the company at AEW All Out 2021. Wight's arrival in All Elite Wrestling came as a commentator for their Dark: Elevation weekly show. However, QT Marshall and The Factory's treatment of his broadcast partner Tony Schiavone led to Paul getting physical for the first time.

Paul Wight got a match booked against QT Marshall for the AEW All Out 2021 pay-per-view thanks to AEW President Tony Khan. Marshall tried to get him to think twice about the decision by revealing his hip injury and subsequent surgery. Wight didn't let that get in the way of having his first match for the promotion here though.

On the September 1st, 2021 episode of AEW Dynamite, Paul Wight confronted the Factory and got the upper hand, but Billy Gunn and the Gunn Club attacked Wight. This helped QT hit the Diamond Cutter on Wight ahead of the pay-per-view. This is the least anticipated bout on the card. Paul Wight being against QT Marshall doesn't excite most fans and the buildup hasn't changed those feelings.

Check out: Complete AEW PPV Schedule here

Orange Cassidy, Wheeler Yuta, Chuck Taylor & Jurassic Express vs. Matt Hardy, Private Party & TH2 in a 10 Man Tag Team Match (AEW All Out 2021 Buy-In)

The latest contest added to the AEW All Out 2021 card is Orange Cassidy, Wheeler Yuta, Chuck Taylor and Jurassic Express against Matt Hardy, Private Party and TH2. This is the conclusion of the rivalry that has centered on the issues between Cassidy and Hardy as well as the Hardy Family Office's feuds with Best Friends and Jurassic Express.

Orange Cassidy defeated Matt Hardy on the August 25th, 2021 episode of AEW Dynamite. Hardy's nose was busted open in the matchup and this has made him obsessed with getting revenge on Freshly Squeezed. Cassidy then beat Jack Evans on the following week's Dynamite with Hardy attacking him after the bout.

Wheeler Yuta and Chuck Taylor came down to make the save for Orange Cassidy, but Private Party and TH2 attacked Best Friends and looked to use their numbers advantage. However, Jurassic Express came down to make the save and clear HFO out of the ring to set the stage ahead of AEW All Out 2021.

This ten-man tag team match was made and added to the AEW All Out 2021 Buy In pre-show. This seems like the perfect kind of encounter to get fans excited before a huge pay-per-view lineup. Orange Cassidy and Jurassic Express are among the most popular stars in AEW, while HFO play effective heels. The short build is what keeps this lower among the other matches on the card.

Women's Casino Battle Royale (AEW All Out 2021)

The Women's Casino Battle Royale makes its return at AEW All Out 2021. It was at the 2019 edition of the event that the first Women's Casino Battle Royale took place with Nyla Rose being victorious. This has to make the former AEW Women's World Champion one of the favorites heading into this year's matchup.

Joining Nyla Rose, there will be Thunder Rosa, Jamie Hayter, Rebel, Riho, Big Swole, The Bunny, Red Velvet, Tay Conti, Penelope Ford, Diamante, Hikaru Shida, Emi Sakura, Jade Cargill, Kiera Hogan, Abadon, KiLynn King, Layla Hirsch, Sky Blue and Anna Jay. With 20 spots filled, only the Joker card remains a mystery heading into AEW All Out 2021.

Thunder Rosa has been on a winning streak, while Jade Cargill has been undefeated since her debut, so both women are also among the favorites. Tay Conti has been picking up steam as of late as well. Besides these ladies, the Joker card always seems to be someone who could win any Casino Battle Royale.

Many fans have speculated that Ruby Riott, now known as Ruby Soho, is considered a favorite to be the Joker card and debut for the company at AEW All Out 2021. Mickie James, Peyton Royce and Billie Kay are also all free agents and could be the surprise entrant. There is plenty of intrigue heading into this contest despite a brief buildup heading in.

Jon Moxley vs. Satoshi Kojima (AEW All Out 2021)

Last year at AEW All Out, Jon Moxley was the AEW World Champion, in the main event and became the first man in the company to defeat MJF in singles competition. Looking at his position on the card this year can be viewed as a fall from grace to some fans.

However, Moxley has kept a significant role in All Elite Wrestling. His showdown at AEW All Out 2021 will see the former AEW World Champion facing New Japan Pro Wrestling legend Satoshi Kojima. The former IWGP Heavyweight Champion will make his AEW debut and looks to avenge the losses of other NJPW stars against the Purveyor of Violence.

During Jon Moxley's IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship reign, he defeated Yuji Nagata, Minoru Suzuki and KENTA before losing to AEW's Lance Archer. Moxley has also had some very disparaging remarks towards New Japan Pro Wrestling competitors, saying that he will be the boogeyman standing at the "forbidden door" for anyone coming through.

This bout at AEW All Out 2021 with Satoshi Kojima will be a test for Jon Moxley. Kojima is a mainstay for NJPW and will look to represent his company against the former IWGP US Champion. This contest will be hard-hitting, physically intense and be a potential showstealer on this card.

Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. vs. Kris Statlander for the AEW Women's World Championship (AEW All Out 2021)

Heading into AEW All Out 2021, Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. has been reigning as AEW Women's World Champion since defeating Hikaru Shida at Double Or Nothing 2021 in May. She is one of the biggest stars in the entire company and has been victorious in her first two title defenses against Nyla Rose and Red Velvet.

Kris Statlander is the current Number One Contender in the women's division rankings. Statlander suffered an ACL injury in a bout against Britt Baker in June of 2020.

She has been undefeated since her return from the injury back in March of this year, picking up key wins over Penelope Ford and Nyla Rose. That set the stage for this showdown at AEW All Out 2021.

Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. and Kris Statlander haven't been given a concrete storyline of sorts. Despite their history with one another, All Elite Wrestling haven't told this to the viewers.

Statlander has looked impressive in every outing that she has been in, especially her two on one handicap win over Rebel and Jamie Hayter on the September 3rd, 2021 episode of AEW Rampage.

Kris Statlander is on a long winning streak and has been one of the best-built challengers for Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. so far. However, AEW All Out 2021 doesn't seem like her night. Baker is too hot of a character and star for the company right now, so this feels like the most predictable contest on the whole card.

Kenny Omega vs. Christian Cage for the AEW World Championship (AEW All Out 2021)

When first announced as the AEW World Championship Match for AEW All Out 2021, Kenny Omega vs. Christian Cage didn't set the world on fire or get fans hyped to see the two men lock up. Omega has been a dominant heel champion and became the belt collector by winning the AAA Mega and IMPACT World Championships.

Christian Cage has been on a roll since arriving in All Elite Wrestling. He has been undefeated since his debut and has wins over Frankie Kazarian, Matt Sydal and Matt Hardy. This earned him the Number One ranking in the singles division and the opportunity at the top prize in the promotion at AEW All Out 2021.

For many fans, their opinions on this potential headline bout changed on the first episode of AEW Rampage. In the very first match for the program, Christian Cage defeated Kenny Omega to win the IMPACT World Championship. This marked the first pinfall loss for Omega in well over a year. It also proved that Christian could potentially defeat The Cleaner at AEW All Out 2021.

The company has done an exceptional job of raising expectations for this contest, but it still hasn't felt like a main event encounter. There is no doubt after the quality of their first battle that this match will deliver the goods and be among the best encounters on the entirety of the AEW All Out 2021 card. The buildup just hasn't hyped it up any further than that.

Miro vs. Eddie Kingston for the AEW TNT Championship (AEW All Out 2021)

Miro will defend the AEW TNT Championship against Eddie Kingston at AEW All Out 2021. This follows weeks of back and forth barbs between the two men after Miro originally called out the Mad King. These two compelling characters have exchanged highly entertaining promos against one another.

Miro has been on a dominant run as the TNT Championship since winning the title from Darby Allin in May. He has picked up wins against Dante Martin, Lance Archer, Brian Pillman Jr, Lee Johnson and Fuego Del Sol. It was after that final victory over Fuego that Miro started to call out anyone that he felt have signed "petty contracts" with AEW.

The self-proclaimed God's Favorite Champion viewed Eddie Kingston as one of those "petty contracts" after he lost to Cody Rhodes in July last year and signed with All Elite Wrestling.

Kingston has quickly become one of the most popular babyfaces and brings a level of realism that is unmatched by anyone in the business. These two distinct characters will make for a fun contest for AEW All Out.

The Chicago crowd at NOW Arena will be firmly in Eddie Kingston's corner and wanting him to win the TNT Championship. Eddie says that he will take aim at Miro's neck with the DDT looking to be his achilles heel.

Miro must survive the onslaught of Kingston and overcome like he has done in the past at AEW All Out 2021. Thanks to marvelous promos, this is an underrated gem of a buildup.

MJF vs. Chris Jericho in the Final Fight - if Jericho loses, he will never wrestle again (AEW All Out 2021)

One of the longest buildups heading into AEW All Out 2021 is the feud between MJF and Chris Jericho. This is a rivalry and storyline that started after All Out 2020. Following huge losses at the pay-per-view, the two men started to interact with one another and get into a one-upmanship battle that eventually led to a tentative friendship.

MJF defeated Chris Jericho at Full Gear 2020 to gain acceptance into the Inner Circle stable. Despite objections from Sammy Guevara and the other members, Jericho persisted that MJF was loyal to the group, but he had his own intentions. Just when it seemed the Inner Circle revealed they knew what he was doing, MJF revealed his own stable, The Pinnacle.

Following the Pinnacle's reveal, they defeated The Inner Circle in the Blood and Guts Match on the May 5th AEW Dynamite with MJF throwing Jericho off the top of the cage, breaking his arm in the process.

Jericho's group got their win back at Double Or Nothing 2021 in the Stadium Stampede Match, but Le Champion's desire for revenge on MJF set the road to AEW All Out 2021.

To get another match with MJF, Chris Jericho took part in the five Labours of Jericho. He defeated Shawn Spears, Nick Gage, Juventud Guerrera and Wardlow in four consecutive weeks before losing to MJF by submission in the fifth and final Labour. This drove Jericho insane and made him risk it all for one more shot at Maxwell Jacob Friedman at AEW All Out 2021.

Chris Jericho has decided to put his career on the line with MJF accepting to cement his legacy by retiring the legend. Despite the well told portions of this story, the final month has felt disjointed with the Labours of Jericho losing steam after the scintillating Nick Gage encounter. This has still been a captivating feud that has elevated MJF and kept Jericho busy heading into AEW All Out 2021.

The Young Bucks vs. The Lucha Brothers in a Steel Cage Match for the AEW World Tag Team Championships (AEW All Out 2021)

AEW All Out has had some great matches, but none has been more spectacular than the Escalera De La Muerte Ladder Match between The Young Bucks and The Lucha Brothers in 2019. It was one of the best encounters in the history of the company and one of the most incredible ladder matches in the history of the business.

Two years later, The Young Bucks and the Lucha Brothers will meet again at AEW All Out 2021. This time, it will be inside a Steel Cage for the AEW World Tag Team Championships. When two of the best tag teams in the world lock it up, it will surely be a fantastic bout, but the story heading in has only added to the hype.

The Young Bucks have reigned as AEW World Tag Team Champions for over 300 days since beating FTR at Full Gear 2020. Since their heel turn in April this year, Matt and Nick Jackson have used the other members of the Elite to help them retain the titles against the likes of Jon Moxley & Eddie Kingston and Jurassic Express.

With AEW President Tony Khan fed up with these antics, he instituted a tournament to determine the next challengers to face The Young Bucks inside a Steel Cage at AEW All Out 2021. The Lucha Brothers defeated Varsity Blondes and then Jurassic Express to earn the opportunity.

Based on their past, this has all the makings to be a Match of the Year candidate. It is also an absolute toss up who will walk out of AEW All Out with the titles. Can The Young Bucks continue their record-breaking run or can the Lucha Brothers finally reach the mountaintop that has alluded them for two years. Fans should expect an all-time classic regardless.

CM Punk vs. Darby Allin (AEW All Out 2021)

The AEW All Out 2021 card should be headlined with the biggest match possible. That has to be considered CM Punk's long-awaited in-ring return after seven years away from the business. It still feels pretty surreal that the former WWE superstar has returned to professional wrestling after such a long time.

CM Punk's AEW debut was truly amazing. The First Dance special episode of AEW Rampage was built as the most anticipated event of the year. Punk made his arrival in All Elite Wrestling in front of a sold-out crowd at Chicago's United Center to a massive reaction that is among the loudest pops in the history of wrestling. His promo was spell binding and set the stage for AEW All Out 2021.

CM Punk made it clear that he was back in professional wrestling and that he had old scores to settle. Most notably, the former WWE Champion let it be known that he wanted to face the young, hungry talent that AEW had to offer. At the top of his list was Darby Allin.

Darby Allin had basically called out CM Punk without saying his name before his long-awaited debut. After the announcement of the First Dance event, Darby said that he would be in Chicago and if you wanted to prove yourself as the greatest, you had to come to All Elite Wrestling. Allin said "even if you think, you're the Best In The World!" This sets up a huge showdown for AEW All Out 2021.

CM Punk said that he had been watching Darby Allin and knew of all the huge risks that he has taken in the past. However, Punk told Darby that the most dangerous thing that he could possibly do is wrestle CM Punk in Chicago, which is the setting for AEW All Out 2021. The NOW Arena in Chicago will be firmly in Punk's corner, but is this the same "Best In The World" who left the business seven years ago?

CM Punk has expressed doubt that he will still be the same competitor that he once was. Darby Allin is the type of opponent that will test Punk and help him find himself. He is also a man who reminds Punk of himself. They are both straight edge and known for their alternative looks that appeal to different fans of wrestling. These parallels add to the hype for AEW All Out.

Darby Allin has felt overlooked by CM Punk. Despite admitting that Punk was his favorite wrestler when he was 15, Darby says that he should have been the last name on Punk's list not the first. Allin plans to beat CM Punk in Chicago or die trying at AEW All Out 2021.

The face-to-face confrontations on this week's Dynamite and Rampage have shown the fans are ready for this dream match. AEW has done an excellent job of building this as the most anticipated bout of the year for the company. For this main event being CM Punk's in-ring return in seven years and Darby Allin's ability to steal the show, it has been the best buildup of any match for AEW All Out 2021.

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Edited by Arjun Kumar
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