Quick Thoughts: AEW WrestleDream 2026

This one snuck up on me. Uh I dunno build is real eh this time maybe we don't need this many PPVs if we don't dedicate the time to build to them. It's an odd one it's another one of those it will be alright on the night and some stuff has build but not enough, weird as fuck. I understand we've had shows where large majority has been covered by other stuff such as Grand Slam France and the tragic passing of PAC but still bit of an odd one here. Still I pay for the MyAEW PPV tier so I will be watching. With that said let's talk about the card

Tailgate Brawl

Divine Dominion (Lena Kross and Megan Bayne) vs. Sisters of Sin (Julia Hart and Skye Blue)
This one feels like a pseudo number one contenders match but good to see the tag division as a whole gets some spotlight. I do think Sisters of Sin are the ones to tag the belts from The Brawling Birds (and then drop them back to them at Dynasty to get the UK title change pop) so they should get a win here. Or I guess Divine Dominion needed their win back uh sure. Good match thought I liked that. 3/5

There was a Don Callis squash match ok. 1/5

Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Daniel Garcia, Gabe Kidd, David Finlay, and Clark Connors vs. Jay White, Austin Gunn, Colten Gunn, Orange Cassidy, Roderick Strong, Kyle O'Reilly
Jay White is back that's good still in the trousers which is bad. Poor guy never gets any momentum due to also getting hurt. Match didn't really engage me I feel like we have this match every Pre-Show so it didn't really hook me in. Was fine but you know variety is the spice of like. 3/5

Match One of a Best of Five: FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood) vs. Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin)
A throwback to that best of seven between Motor City Machine Guns and Beer Money we have it again two team fighting to in this instance get a tag title shot. I like both team admittedly not seen a lot of MCMG in recent years but it's hard to not love Sabin and Shelley they're great and don't get enough credit for their work and influence imo. Should be a fun group of matches. Was suppose to see FTR at York Hall next month by all accounts but the venue is shut until January because of legionnaires disease in the hot water. So see you February Dax and Cash! Good match looking forward to the rest. 4/5

Main Show

AEW Women's World Championship: Mercedes Moné (c) vs. Thekla
Should be a good one and I'm still annoyed that I didn't see Thekla wrestle at All In. Both have been good and it's been an interesting build I do like the fact neither has turned into a face for this and keep their character. I do think we are in for the long haul of a Mercedes reign so expecting a title retention here. Good stuff here I do think they have more to offer and I'd love a rematch. 4.25/5

Chris Jericho vs. Nick Wayne
Call him Nick Wayne, he's Nick Wayne. Hey look I can't believe we are wasting Nick Wayne sending him over to Super Junior Tag League you have nobody else? Send over Top Flight so New Japan have another actual team and don't have to do the most thrown together tag tournament you've ever seen. Leave me worried Nick Wayne doesn't win here but he should and then do vignettes over Japan of him saying he beat Chris Jericho keep his TV presence going. Sadly think it'll be Judas Effect 1,2,3 but I live in hope. Nick Wayne beat Chris Jericho let's go shame he's stuck with KUSHIDA for a month I liked this but I think the ending got a little too cute. 3.5/5

AEW World Tag Team Championship: The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson) (c) vs. The Don Callis Family (Kevin Knight and Kyle Fletcher)
We continue that long burn to that Kyle Fletcher face turn it does feel like we are moving towards it more and a loss here will move towards it. It's an interesting match up I think that it will be good all four men and great wrestlers and honestly I'm sure this will be an important part of the video for the World title PPV main event Fletcher and Kevin will have at some point down the line. Still mad how Gedo did nothing with Kevin Knight. Man Kyle & Kevin have gelled into a great team they have a good chemistry. This was a superb match really good. Man Young Bucks and Knock Out Brothers are really the only two in the running for Tag Team of the Year. Great match loved it 4.5/5  

AEW TBS Championship: Persephone (c) vs. Dani Luna vs. Hyan vs. Queen Aminata
DPW LIVES. That orange and black attack is back with Persephone defending against 3 DPW mainstays truthfully the boys (I guess girls) are back in town. I think this could be a show stealer given the time all four women are really good and I think could help build up the TBS title scene plus give some women purpose that don't really have much going on in AEW atm. Please set up a future Persephone vs. Queen Aminata match thanks.  Really good match here all women brought it matches like these help build titles, more of this. 3.5/5 

AEW Women's World Tag Team Championship: The Brawling Birds (Jamie Hayter and Alex Windsor) (c) vs. Wrathlander (Harley Cameron and Kris Statlander)
I mean sure I guess we needed a different team now Divine Dominion are done and before we have Sisters of Sin win the belts. It's good to see Statlander back in a title match on PPV she's good and I wish we had more for her. Expecting a Brawling Birds retention here. Another case of that writing something and then it's cancelled heal up strong Jamie. N/A/5

AEW National Championship: Andrade El Ídolo (c) vs. Tommaso Ciampa
Ok how you know? I mean it's good for this title to get PPV defences in and I'm sure it's going to be a great match. I'm not dumb I'm not going to handwash away two PPV Ciampa matches in a row I'm not dumb. I do wonder if this is where we will get Ilja Dragunov debut I think it's here or the Continental Title post match. Should be good did not care for the build maybe Inoki really wanted this match. I think this one went on a bit too long so much so I forgot to finish my notes. Uh yeah fine enough I guess didn't really hook me as I would've hoped. 3.25/5

AEW World Trios Championship Two Out of Three Falls: Swerve Strickland and The New Level (Austin Creed and Kofi) (c) vs. "Hangman" Adam Page and Brodido (Brody King and Bandido)
Oh yeah man if this is as good as All Out than I am glad that Hangman and Swerve will simply not got to therapy. It's really good to see the Trios title mean something although I don't really get the full crux of Hangman and Swerve beefing again I guess because Swerve had beef with Brodido but they should just talk all this jealously but if it's another classic then I'll be happy. I am in shock that Hangman and Brodido won especially Bandido getting the winning fall on PPV a shock the spirit of Inoki has provided the biggest of wins. Loved this but not as much as the All Out match but still great stuff we will be getting another Hangman vs. Swerve match at some point for sure. 4.25/5

AEW Continental Championship: Jon Moxley (c) vs. Mark Davis
Sorry to Dunky but you're gonna get Death-Jitsu'd to shit. I love Mark Davis but the never-ending reign of Mox will chug along. I dunno what we do here with Mox and this belt have Garcia win the Classic beating Mox in the final at this rate do something tell a story somewhere. I don't think The Death Riders should split up especially after the tragic loss of PAC but still some movement is needed. As ever delighted that Mark Davis has a place on the card and hasn't been lost in the singles push of Kyle Fletcher. Aussie Open forever, the rest of Australia that isn't Jessica Troy or TMDK never. Bro that shit ruled, a fight, a war simply incredible and emotional match about honouring your friend through grief and conquering the monsters in front of you. Emotional as shit take your 5 stars for moving me to tears. 5/5  

Clockwork Carnage AEW World Championship: Will Ospreay (c) vs. Samoa Joe vs. "Speedball" Mike Bailey vs. Adam Copeland vs. Konosuke Takeshita vs. Kazuchika Okada vs. Ricochet vs. Darby Allin
Funny ol' Will Ospreay. He run this match as a proof of concept in Pro Wrestling EVE and bring it here. I am interested in how they map this match out need to show both the initial eliminations and then the timer bit so wonder who gets the easy shift tonight. Expecting an Ospreay retention as I still believe it's Ospreay vs. MJF at Dynasty. Real big line of guys being dudes in this match should be fun. Obviously with this sort of match I think it needs to be seen. This was a lot of fun super fast paced it's kinda mad how fun it was and I think a good proof of concept for the match in AEW. While I would prefer it to be a number one contender match this was great fun and they timed the ending to perfection. 4.5/5

All in all a fun show I think the Tag Title match and the last 3 matches are all superb and worth watching especially Mox vs. Davis. See you in November for Full Gear! 

Final Score: 4/5