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AEW All Out will go down as one of the most memorable shows in pro-wrestling history. Stacked with great matches from top to bottom and sprinkled with surprising debuts throughout the show, All Out staked a legitimate claim to be the pay-per-view of the year.
Everyone involved in All Out should be credited for the grand success that it was. AEW got a lot of things right on the night, whether it be having the right booking decisions or the unpredictability of the entire show.
It's an unenviable job to try and pick out just five things that AEW got right at All Out, but let's take a look at what the five biggest things Tony Khan and co. got right on September 5.
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#5. Kenny Omega vs. Christian Cage in the main event at AEW All Out 2021
This author argued prior to All Out that CM Punk vs. Darby Allin should go on last in Chicago, but instead, it was the AEW World Championship match that was the main event. As it turned out, it was the right call.
CM Punk vs. Darby Allin was undoubtedly the most anticipated match on the show but having it to go third last allowed fans to fully appreciate CM Punk's return as well as take a breather with a lower-card Paul Wight vs. QT Marshall match. With the feeling of watching the Second City Saint in action after so long fully settled in, it allowed fans to look forward to the main event and potentially surprising debuts with a renewed energy.
As expected, the Belt Collector and Captain Charisma had an excellent match that was capped off by two excellently executed debuts. Even after four hours of action, the crowd were ready for more. All Out ended with Bryan Danielson staring down the Elite that added Adam Cole to its ranks in one of the greatest ends to a pay-per-view show ever.
#4. Introducing AEW fans to Ruby Soho at All Out 2021
When Skye Blue was announced by Tony Khan as the final entrant in the Casino Battle Royale on AEW Dark, fans were confused as the annual All Out special featured at least one surprise entrant as the Joker.
However, it was later confirmed that Julia Hart would not be making it to All Out following an attack by Jade Cargill on AEW Dark. This paved the way for a surprise entrant, who turned out to be Ruby Soho.
Ruby Soho is an excellent addition to AEW's women's roster and her mini-match with Thunder Rosa was brilliant. Both women fought on the apron as the last two entrants, with Soho finally getting the better of the former NWA Women's Champion to become the number one contender for Britt Baker's AEW Women's Championship.
All in all, it was well done by AEW to swerve the fans initially and then give them what was expected in the first place while maintaining the hype.
#3. AEW booked CM Punk's return at All Out 2021 perfectly
CM Punk vs. Darby Allin started off slow and took too long to get going. While that should be attributed to the Second City Saint's ring rust having been out for 7 years, it tied into the story perfectly.
Darby Allin is a young and hungry star and Punk matching him in speed and agility would have been a long shot. He had to slow the pace of the match to give himself time to adjust to the rigors of a professional wrestling match.
The Straight Edge Superstar pulled off some veteran moves like goading Allin into going for moves and evading them, like he did with the Coffin Drop. A devastating GTS sold to perfection by Allin ended the match.
The post-match show of respect between Punk, Allin and Sting made the moment even better as CM Punk showed that he's still got it.
#2. Adam Cole's surprise debut at All Out 2021
Kenny Omega and Christian Cage battled in the All Out main event for the AEW World Championship. The match was excellent, and the Best Bout Machine won with an Avalanche One-Winged Angel to avenge his loss to Captain Charisma on the AEW Rampage premiere.
Predictably, the rest of the Elite walked out to lay a beating on Christian Cage and it looked like another AEW show was going to conclude with the Elite standing tall. The lights went out, and out walked Adam Cole.
While at first it seemed like the former NXT Champion was there to help the Jurassic Express and Christian, he superkicked Jungle Boy and embraced the Elite.
Bryan Danielson was heavily rumored to show up after the main event and when the lights went out, that's who the fans expected. Adam Cole walking out was a bigger surprise but a huge name nonetheless, making it a brilliantly executed debut.
Anyway, speaking of the American Dragon...
#1. The final segment of AEW All Out 2021
When Adam Cole got a hold of the mic, it felt certain that AEW was done with surprises for the night. Of course, now we know that anyone who thought that was gloriously wrong.
A different rendition of Daniel Bryan's theme song played as Bryan Danielson made his way to the ring. The crowd could barely contain itself as Bryan unloaded on Nick Jackson before dropping him with a running knee.
Bryan Danielson walking out after Adam Cole had already debuted and turned heel made the American Dragon's debut even more memorable and surprising. All Out ended emphatically and AEW has never had more momentum by its side, thanks in no small part to the spectacular debuts to end All Out.
