Wrestling news: AEW Revolution takeaways - Ronda Rousey makes surprise appearance, MJF retains, and more
On Sunday night, AEW presented Revolution, as Adam Copeland and Christian Cage put FTR on notice.
Ronda Rousey made a surprise appearance, and MJF battled Hangman Page in a brutal Texas death match.
Here, Sports News Blitz writer Mosaddek Abu discusses the takeaways from an eventful night in Hollywood.
Cope and Cage enter the AEW tag title picture
At AEW Revolution, it was FTR against the Young Bucks for the AEW World Tag Team titles.
The final moments of the match saw many near-falls from both teams, but it was FTR who retained their tag titles after an avalanche Shatter Machine.
Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler celebrated with their retained titles in the middle of the ring, but as the lights went out, Adam Copeland made his return, and not alone either.
Christian Cage surprised Wheeler from behind, and Copeland hit the Spear.
Cope and Cage set their sights on the AEW tag titles, making it known that they were coming for FTR and their tag titles.
Although, Cope and Cage did momentarily stare down with Matt and Nick Jackson.
There are two likely directions this could head: a long-awaited match between FTR and C&C or perhaps a triangle-ladder match between the groups.
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AEW needs Ronday Rousey signing to pay off
“Timeless” Toni Storm and Marina Shafir were in a physical match to settle their personal beef, which has been building on AEW TV in recent weeks.
The ‘Timeless’ one secured the victory with an inside cradle, and as Storm lay down on the stage, soaking in her victory, Ronda Rousey appeared inside the ring.
“The Baddest Woman on the Planet” called Storm down for a fight, but officials and referees got in the way before either woman got physical.
Rousey set for MMA return
Rousey is making her MMA comeback on May 16, against Gina Carano, so it’s an interesting decision from Tony Khan and Co. to bring Rousey into the fold, especially given how her last run in the pro-wrestling world went.
No doubt, Rousey will get more eyes on the AEW product, but in the scenario she loses her comeback fight, it doesn’t reflect well on AEW, which already has a loaded women’s division as it is.
They have to hope Rousey can work well within the professional wrestling landscape again.
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Jon Moxley - a safe choice to feature on Will Ospreay’s comeback
It was back at Forbidden Door in August that Will Ospreay was written off AEW TV to treat his neck injury.
Jon Moxley and the Death Riders ambushed Ospreay after the main event Lights Out, Steel Cage match, as Moxley placed a steel chair around Ospreay’s neck and stomped on it.
Fast forward to Sunday night, Mox defended the AEW Continental Championship against Konosuke Takeshita, and Moxley retained after surviving Takeshita's finishers by locking in a sleeper hold, causing Takeshita to pass out.
Hype for Ospreay’s return
After Moxley offered his hand to Takeshita, who shook it and bowed, a video played on the titantron hyping Ospreay's return.
Ospreay’s song hit, and he appeared on the stage as he ran straight to the ring, going after Moxley.
It makes sense that this is his first feud back.
Given that Moxley is a seasoned veteran and can take care of his opponents in the ring, it’s a simple feud to ease Ospreay in and keep him busy, possibly spanning over two PPVs with Dynasty and Double Or Nothing soon to come.
The long-term aim is for Ospreay to re-enter the AEW World Championship scene in time for All In London, potentially, but he has to get his revenge on Moxley first before he goes on the hunt for the biggest prize in AEW.
Moxley has gained a positive reputation for his recent work in this championship run he’s had, with him always pushing to the maximum and his ability to tell a story in the ring, as evident in his match with Takeshita.
It’s all valid reasoning for why he is the safe choice for Ospreay’s first match back.
Too many pinfall kickouts at one
In pro wrestling, you need dramatic moments, which is why we have near-falls at two or 2.99 seconds.
But, less is more, and this is the case with kick-outs at one second - seen in the match between FTR vs Young Bucks and then again in Brody King vs Swerve Strickland.
Kick-outs at one need to be limited as much as possible and used only when there is a match with a story to go with it.
If the referee’s pinfall-counts and kick-outs happen on the count of one and remain consistent, it would lose all its meaning and have no effect in any match at all.
This was a problem in some of Moxley’s matches previously, but he has toned down since.
MJF winning the Texas Death Match was the right outcome
The sun hasn’t set on the World Championship reign of Maxwell Jacob Friedman.
Walking into the Crypto.com Arena with the belt, he walked out donning Terry Funk attire, paying tribute, and walked out as the World Champion, defeating Hangman Page.
For more than 40 minutes, MJF went to war with Page, barbed wire tables, shattered glass and a crash off the stage, causing an explosion.
It was violent, and neither man was going to leave without any cuts or bruises.
MJF won the match after countering Page’s Buckshot Lariat, hitting him with the Dynamite Diamond Ring and hanging him against the ropes with the dog collar that Page applied to MJF earlier in the match.
Hangman passed out and could not answer the referee’s count of 10.
Value of MJF as champion
Los Angeles was a sold-out crowd. Off the back of MJF being champion, he is still their biggest draw, and with tickets for All In Wembley going on sale on Monday morning, it made sense to keep the belt on their biggest draw.
Plus, MJF as champion has brought compelling television, whether it’s his in-ring matches, as he did against Bandido in February, or his on-screen interactions.
The Salt of the Earth’s reign is proving to be a must-watch, and that will only continue as long as he stays champion.
The main-event scene is alive and well, and they have a champion who is still making time for them despite a busy schedule.
The company’s business is proving to be healthy.
Hollywood didn’t get a happy ending. The villain prevailed and continues his reign at the top of AEW.
