Look man, I’m no wrestling expert. I just call it like I see it, or at least what I interpret from what I see from a narrowly curated set of both online and offline interactions.
Two years ago I wrote about AEW matches and wrestlers I liked in HWL’s AEW 2020 Year in Review, and in 2021 AEW got better so I started the AEW 75. The AEW 75 is a list of matches selected for helping shape, define, and/or redefine the year.
In 2022, AEW’s output increased if not their attention span. The mid-year split with CM Punk was painful, but there was still a ton of great wrestling (the most important thing). The best of that wrestling is listed in a sort of order below with links to posts with more detail. Watch for detours of more good matches along the way.
AEW 75: 1 – 25
2. 2/3 Falls – ROH World Tag Team Title: FTR [c] vs. The Briscoe Brothers (ROH Death Before Dishonor 7/22/22)
3. Double Dog Collar Match – ROH Tag Team Title: FTR [c] vs. The Briscoe Brothers (ROH Final Battle 12/10/22)
4. 2/3 Falls: Bryan Danielson vs. Daniel Garcia (Dynamite 8/17/22)
5. AEW World Tag Team Title: Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland [c] vs. The Acclaimed (All Out 9/4/22)
6. Jon Moxley vs. Wheeler Yuta (Rampage 4/8/22)
7. Jon Moxley vs. Konosuke Takeshita (Rampage 12/9/22)
8. ROH TV Title: Minoru Suzuki [c] vs. Samoa Joe (Dynamite 4/13/22)
9. No Time Limit – AEW World Heavyweight Title: Hangman Adam Page [c] vs. Bryan Danielson (Dynamite 1/5/22)
10. AEW World Title: Jon Moxley [c] vs. CM Punk (All Out 9/4/22)
11. AEW World Title: Hangman Page [c] vs. CM Punk (Double or Nothing 5/29/22)
12. AEW World Trios Title Tournament – Final: Hangman Page, John Silver & Alex Reynolds vs. Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks (All Out 9/4/22)
13. ROH & AAA World Tag Team Title: FTR [c] vs. The Young Bucks (Dynamite 4/6/22)
14. AEW Interim World Championship Eliminator: Jon Moxley vs. Konosuke Takeshita (Dynamite 7/13/22)
15. AEW Women’s World Title: Jamie Hayter [c] vs. Hikaru Shida (Dynamite 12/21/22)
16. CM Punk vs. MJF (Dynamite 2/2/22)
17. Eddie Kingston vs. Chris Jericho (Revolution 3/6/22)
18. Bryan Danielson vs. Jon Moxley (Revolution 3/6/22)
19. Eddie Kingston vs. Tomohiro Ishii (All Out 9/4/22)
20. Blood & Guts: Blackpool Combat Club (Jon Moxley, Claudio Castagnoli, Wheeler Yuta, Eddie Kingston, Santana & Ortiz) vs. Jericho Appreciation Society (Chris Jericho, Sammy Guevara, Jake Hager, Daniel Garcia, Matt Menard & Angelo Parker) (Dynamite 6/29/22)
21. Blood & Guts Advantage Match: Eddie Kingston, Wheeler Yuta & Shota Umino vs. Chris Jericho, Minoru Suzuki & Sammy Guevara (Forbidden Door 6/26/22)
22. Anarchy in the Arena: Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson, Eddie Kingston, Santana & Ortiz vs. Chris Jericho, Jake Hager, Daniel Garcia, Matt Menard & Angelo Parker (Double or Nothing 5/29/22)
23. ROH World Title: Claudio Castagnoli [c] vs. Konosuke Takeshita (Battle of the Belts III 8/6/22)
24. Grand Slam Tournament of Champions Final – AEW World Title: Jon Moxley vs. Bryan Danielson (Dynamite 9/21/22)
25. AEW Grand Slam Tournament of Champions – Dynamite Wild Card: Hangman Page vs. Bryan Danielson (Dynamite 9/7/22)
10 Other Bryan Danielson Matches in 2022
2. Bryan Danielson vs. Daniel Garcia (Dynamite 2/23/22)
3. Bryan Danielson vs. “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard (Dynamite 9/28/22)
4. Bryan Danielson vs. Lee Moriarty (Dynamite 2/16/22)
5. Bryan Danielson vs. Jake Hager (Dynamite 8/31/22)
6. Bryan Danielson vs. Ethan Page (Dynamite 12/28/22)
7. Bryan Danielson & Daniel Garcia vs. Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevara (Dynamite 10/5/22)
8. Jon Moxley & Bryan Danielson vs. Anthony Henry & JD Drake (Dynamite 3/9/22)
9. Bryan Danielson vs. Wheeler Yuta (Dynamite 3/30/22)
10. Bryan Danielson vs. Trent Beretta (Rampage 4/8/22)
10 Other Jon Moxley Matches in 2022
2. Jon Moxley vs. Daniel Garcia (Dynamite 6/1/22)
3. Grand Slam Tournament of Champions – Semi Final: Jon Moxley vs. Sammy Guevara (Dynamite 9/14/22)
4. Interim AEW World Title: Jon Moxley [c] vs. Brody King (Dynamite 7/6/22)
5. Jon Moxley & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Chris Jericho vs. Lance Archer (Dynamite 6/22/22)
6. Jon Moxley vs. Anthony Bowens (Rampage 1/28/22)
7. Jon Moxley & Claudio Castagnoli vs. The Butcher & The Blade w/ The Bunny (Rampage 10/14/22)
8. Jon Moxley vs. Jay Lethal (Dynamite 3/30/22)
9. AEW Interim World Title: Jon Moxley [c] vs. “Lionheart” Chris Jericho (Dynamite 8/10/22)
10. Jon Moxley vs. Sammy Guevara (Rampage 12/16/22)
AEW 75: 26 – 50
27. CM Punk & Jon Moxley vs. FTR (Dynamite 2/9/22)
28. Bryan Danielson vs. Daniel Garcia (Dynamite 7/27/22)
29. Darby Allin vs. Brody King (Dynamite 7/20/22)
30. TNT Title: Samoa Joe [c] vs. Darby Allin (Dynamite 12/7/22)
31. AEW Interim World Title: Jon Moxley vs. Hiroshi Tanahashi (Forbidden Door 6/26/22)
32. CM Punk vs. Penta Oscuro w/ Alex Abrahantes (Dynamite 4/13/22)
33. AEW All-Atlantic Title: PAC [c] vs. Trent Beretta (Battle of the Belts IV 10/7/22)
34. Andrade el Idolo vs. Rey Fenix (Rampage 6/24/22)
35. Dax Harwood vs. Will Ospreay (Dynamite 6/15/22)
36. Owen Hart Foundation Tournament – Semi Final: Samoa Joe vs. Kyle O’Reilly (Dynamite 5/25/22)
37. Owen Hart Foundation Tournament – Quarterfinal: Adam Cole vs. Dax Harwood (Dynamite 5/11/22)
38. Owen Hart Foundation Tournament Qualifier: Rey Fenix vs. Dante Martin (Dynamite 5/4/22)
39. Bryan Danielson vs. Dax Harwood (Dynamite 11/30/22)
40. No DQ Match: Thunder Rosa vs. Mercedes Martinez (Dynamite 2/16/22)
41. AEW Women’s World Championship Contender’s Match: Thunder Rosa [c] vs. Miya Yamashita (TJPW 7/9/22)
42. Face of the Revolution Ladder Match: Christian Cage vs. Keith Lee vs. Orange Cassidy vs. Wardlow vs. Ricky Starks vs. Powerhouse Hobbs (Revolution 3/6/22)
43. AEW World Title: Jon Moxley [c] w/ William Regal vs. MJF (Full Gear 11/19/22)
44. ROH Pure Title: Wheeler Yuta [c] vs. Daniel Garcia (Dynamite 9/7/22)
45. ROH World Title: Chris Jericho [c] vs. Bandido (Dynamite 9/28/22)
46. AEW Interim World Title Eliminator Match: Jon Moxley vs. Kyle O’Reilly (Dynamite 6/8/22)
47. ROH World Title: Chris Jericho [c] vs. Bryan Danielson (Dynamite 10/12/22)
48. AEW World Title: Hangman Page [c] vs. Adam Cole (Revolution 3/6/22)
49. Darby Allin vs. Kyle O’Reilly (Double or Nothing 5/29/22)
50. Steel Cage Match: Jungle Boy vs. Luchasaurus w/ Christian Cage (Full Gear 11/19/22)
20 Dark Matches I Enjoyed
2. Regina Di WAVE Title: Hikaru Shida [c] vs. Emi Sakura (Dark: Elevation 8/29/22)
3. Hikaru Shida vs. Emi Sakura (Dark: Elevation 8/4/22)
4. Orange Cassidy vs. JD Drake (Dark 1/11/22)
5. ROH Women’s World Title: Athena [c] vs. Kiera Hogan (Dark: Elevation 12/26/22)
6. Fuego del Sol vs. Powerhouse Hobbs (Dark 3/22/22)
7. AEW Interim Women’s World Title Eliminator: Toni Storm vs. Emi Sakura (Dark 10/11/22)
8. Wheeler Yuta vs. Penta El Zero Miedo (Dark 1/25/22)
9. Eddie Kingston vs. Joey Janela (Dark 1/11/22)
10. Konosuke Takeshita vs. Brandon Cutler (Dark: Elevation 4/25/22)
11. Jungle Boy vs. Nick Comoroto (Dark 1/25/22)
12. Ricky Starks & Powerhouse Hobbs w/ Taz vs. Jordan Kross & Joey Jett (Dark: Elevation 6/27/22)
13. Jurassic Express vs. QT Marshall & Nick Comoroto (Dark 1/11/22)
14. Penta El Zero Miedo vs. Serpentico (Dark: Elevation 1/31/22)
15. Konosuke Takeshita vs. Nick Comoroto (Dark 6/14/22)
16. Daniel Garcia vs. Anthony Greene (Dark 1/18/22)
17. Riho vs. Jungle Kyona (Dark 10/25/22)
18. Matt Sydal & Dante Martin vs. Bear Country (Dark 2/1/22)
19. Konosuke Takeshita vs. Frankie Kazarian (Dark: Elevation 12/26/22)
20. Serpentico vs. Brandon Cutler (Dark: Elevation 10/10/22)
10 Great Trios Matches
2. AEW World Trios Title Tournament – Semi Final: Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks vs. Will Ospreay & Aussie Open (Dynamite 8/31/22)
3. AEW World Trios Title Tournament – Round 1: PAC & The Lucha Bros vs. Will Ospreay & Aussie Open (Dynamite 8/24/22)
4. Best of 7 Series Match 2 – AEW World Trios Title: Death Triangle [c] vs. Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks (Dynamite 11/23/22)
5. Best of 7 Series Match 3 – AEW World Trios Title: Death Triangle [c] vs. Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks (Dynamite 11/30/22)
6. No DQ Match – Best of 7 Series Match 5 – AEW World Trios Title: Death Triangle [c] vs. Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks (Dynamite 12/21/22)
7. Falls Count Anywhere – Best of 7 Series Match 6 – AEW World Trios Title: Death Triangle [c] vs. Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks (Dynamite 12/28/22)
8. Best of 7 Series Match 4 – AEW World Trios Title: Death Triangle [c] vs. Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks (Dynamite 12/14/22)
9. AEW World Trios Title Tournament – Round 1: Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks vs. Andrade el Idolo, Rush & Dragon Lee (Dynamite 8/17/22)
10. AEW World Trios Title: Orange Cassidy & Best Friends vs. PAC & The Lucha Bros (Dynamite 9/7/22)
AEW 75: 51 – 75
52. If Claudio Loses, He Joins Jericho Appreciation Society – ROH World Title: Chris Jericho [c] vs. Claudio Castagnoli (ROH Final Battle 12/10/22)
53. ROH World Title: Chris Jericho [c] vs. Tomohiro Ishii (Dynamite 11/23/22)
54. AEW World Tag Team Title: Jurassic Express [c] vs. The Young Bucks vs. Kyle O’Reilly & Bobby Fish (Revolution 3/6/22)
55. AEW Interim World Title: Jon Moxley [c] vs. Rush (Dynamite 7/27/22)
56. Ladder Match – TNT Title: Sammy Guevara [c] vs. Cody Rhodes [c] (Dynamite 1/26/22)
57. AEW World Tag Team Title: Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland [c] w/ Fabolous vs. The Acclaimed w/ Billy Gunn (Dynamite 9/21/22)
58. ROH World Title: Claudio Castagnoli [c] vs. Chris Jericho (Dynamite 9/21/22)
59. AEW World Title & Dynamite Diamond Ring: MJF [c] vs. Ricky Starks [c] (Dynamite 12/14/22)
60. IWGP U.S. Heavyweight Title: Will Ospreay [c] vs. Orange Cassidy (Forbidden Door 6/26/22)
61. Claudio Castagnoli (debut) vs. Zack Sabre Jr. (Forbidden Door 6/26/22)
62. Sting, Darby Allin & Shingo Takagi vs. The Young Bucks & ELP w/ Hikuleo (Forbidden Door 6/26/22)
63. AEW All-Atlantic Title: Orange Cassidy [c] vs. Katsuyori Shibata (Rampage 11/4/22)
64. Bryan Danielson vs. Christopher Daniels (Dynamite 3/2/22)
65. The Lucha Bros vs. The Young Bucks (Rampage 6/3/22)
66. Triple Threat Match – TNT Title: Sammy Guevara [c] vs. Darby Allin vs. Andrade el Idolo (Rampage 3/4/22)
67. Triple or Nothing – AEW World Tag Team Title: The Young Bucks [c] vs. Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland vs. Powerhouse Hobbs & Ricky Starks (Dynamite 7/13/22)
68. 2/3 Falls: Bryan Danielson vs. Sammy Guevara (Dynamite 11/9/22)
69. TNT Title: Sammy Guevara [c] vs. Daniel Garcia (Dynamite 1/12/22)
70. AEW World Tag Team Title #1 Contender’s Match: FTR vs. Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland (Dynamite 10/26/22)
71. Jon Moxley & Wheeler Yuta vs. Best Friends (Dynamite 7/20/22)
72. AEW All-Atlantic Title: PAC [c] vs. Shota Umino (Rev Pro 7/10/22)
73. TNT Title: Wardlow [c] vs. Brian Cage (Dynamite 10/5/22)
74. Keith Lee vs. Powerhouse Hobbs (Rampage 4/1/22)
75. ROH Pure Title: Wheeler Yuta [c] vs. Daniel Garcia (ROH Death Before Dishonor 7/22/22)
10 Thank God for AEW Matches
2. ROH World Title: Chris Jericho [c] vs. Dalton Castle (Dynamite 10/18/22)
3. CM Punk vs. Dax Harwood (Dynamite 3/23/22)
4. Hangman Page vs. Konosuke Takeshita (Dynamite 5/18/22)
5. ROH World Title: Claudio Castagnoli [c] vs. Dax Harwood (Rampage 9/9/22)
6. Sting, Darby Allin & Sammy Guevara vs. Andrade el Idolo, Matt Hardy & Isiah Kassidy (Revolution 3/6/22)
7. Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland vs. El Desperado & Yoshinobu Kanemaru (Forbidden Door 6/26/22)
8. Eddie Kingston vs. Konosuke Takeshita (Rampage 7/8/22)
9. CM Punk & FTR vs. Max Caster & The Gunn Club (Dynamite 6/1/22)
10. AEW All-Atlantic Title: PAC [c] vs. Orange Cassidy (Dynamite 10/12/22)
15 Other Matches You Might Like
2. AEW TNT Title: Wardlow [c] vs. Orange Cassidy (Dynamite 7/13/22)
3. Coffin Match: Darby Allin vs. Brody King (Dynamite 8/10/22)
4. AEW World Tag Team Title: Jurassic Express [c] vs. Private Party (Rampage 1/28/22)
5. Eddie Kingston vs. Jake Hager (Rampage 6/10/22)
6. Death Triangle vs. House of Black (Double or Nothing 5/29/22)
7. Keith Lee vs. JD Drake (Rampage 3/4/22)
8. Dante Martin vs. Powerhouse Hobbs (Rampage 2/18/22)
9. Owen Hart Cup Qualifier: Adam Cole vs. Tomohiro Ishii w/ Orange Cassidy and Rocky Romero (Rampage 4/22/22)
10. Texas Death Match – AEW World Title: Hangman Page [c] vs. Lance Archer (Dynamite 2/9/22)
11. 20-on-1 Class Action Handicap Elimination Match: Wardlow vs. 20 Security Guards (Dynamite 6/15/22)
12. Wardlow vs. MJF (Double or Nothing 5/29/22)
13. Chris Jericho vs. Action Andretti (Dynamite 12/14/22)
14. Jeff CObb vs. Mascara Dorada (ROH Final Battle 12/10/22)
15. CM Punk vs. Max Caster (Dynamite 3/30/22)
