For nearly two decades, WWE operated without a true American rival. Then, in 2019, All Elite Wrestling launched—and wrestling suddenly felt unpredictable again. Tony Khan, Cody Rhodes, Kenny Omega, and The Young Bucks built an alternative from scratch, creating shocking debuts, brutal brawls, and real-life backstage friction that spilled into mainstream news. While some milestones made headlines far outside the bubble, here are the 10 most iconic AEW moments that changed wrestling by fundamentally redefining modern match quality, storylines, and the entire industry landscape.
Summary: 10 Defining AEW Milestones at a Glance
- 1. Jon Moxley’s Shocking Debut (Double or Nothing 2019)
- The Moment: Moxley walked out through the crowd after the main event and attacked Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega.
- Why It Mattered: Proved AEW was an elite destination for active top-tier WWE superstars, not just an independent project.
- 2. Chris Jericho Crowned Inaugural Champion (All Out 2019)
- The Moment: Jericho defeated ‘Hangman’ Adam Page to become the first-ever AEW World Champion.
- Why It Mattered: Gave the brand-new promotion instant mainstream credibility on national cable television.
- 3. Sting’s Unbelievable Arrival (Winter Is Coming 2020)
- The Moment: The lights cut out, and ‘The Icon’ Sting walked out in full face paint on TNT.
- Why It Mattered: Marked Sting’s first non-WWE appearance on national wrestling TV in decades, launching a flawless final run.
- 4. Britt Baker vs. Thunder Rosa: Lights Out Match (March 2021)
- The Moment: A bloody, unsanctioned classic on Dynamite featuring thumbtacks and tables.
- Why It Mattered: Legitimized the AEW Women’s Division and became a benchmark for women’s hardcore storytelling.
- 5. CM Punk Returns to Wrestling (The First Dance, August 2021)
- The Moment: Punk stepped into the United Center after a seven-year retirement to a historic pop.
- Why It Mattered: Generated massive mainstream media coverage and broke AEW merchandise and viewership records.
- 6. Dual Debuts of Bryan Danielson & Adam Cole (All Out 2021)
- The Moment: Adam Cole joined The Elite, followed immediately by Bryan Danielson confronting them.
- Why It Mattered: Closed the greatest wrestling pay-per-view ending of the modern era.
- 7. Wardlow Decimates MJF (Double or Nothing 2022)
- The Moment: Wardlow delivered 10 powerbombs to MJF to finally earn his AEW contract and independence.
- Why It Mattered: A masterclass in long-term, slow-burn storytelling and organic babyface payoffs.
- 8. The “Brawl Out” Backstage Fight (September 2022)
- The Moment: Post-All Out media scrum brawl involving CM Punk, Kenny Omega, and The Young Bucks.
- Why It Mattered: A historic backstage incident that led to title vacations, suspensions, and a turning point in locker-room management.
- 9. Bryan Danielson vs. Will Ospreay (Dynasty 2024)
- The Moment: A 32-minute technical clinic rated 6.5 stars by Dave Meltzer.
- Why It Mattered: Set a new standard for in-ring athletic excellence in American wrestling history.
- 10. 81,035 Fans at Wembley Stadium (All In: London 2023)
- The Moment: AEW sold out Wembley Stadium for the biggest paid gate in European wrestling history.
- Why It Mattered: Officially proved that a non-WWE company could draw stadium-sized global crowds.
1. Double or Nothing Opens With Jon Moxley’s Shocking Debut (May 25, 2019)
The pressure on AEW’s first-ever pay-per-view was enormous. The company needed to prove that a fully funded startup could stand side-by-side with WWE. Cody and Dustin Rhodes delivered the emotional anchor with a bloody brother-versus-brother war, but the finish of the night reshaped the industry.
Just after Chris Jericho defeated Kenny Omega in the main event, Jon Moxley appeared unannounced through the crowd. Moxley had departed WWE only weeks earlier, and nobody outside of management knew he was in the building. He laid out Jericho, the referee, and brawled with Omega atop a massive poker chip set piece. That moment sent a clear shockwave: AEW was a prime destination for top-tier stars in their prime.
2. Chris Jericho Wins the Inaugural AEW World Championship (All Out 2019)
Every promotion’s inaugural champion sets the tone for its lineage. While some fans pushed for a young cornerstone like ‘Hangman’ Adam Page, AEW made the veteran choice by crowning Chris Jericho at All Out 2019.
Jericho’s name recognition and reinvention as “Le Champion” brought mainstream eyeballs to Wednesday nights when Dynamite debuted on TNT. It established the AEW World Championship as a high-value prize while giving young talent a legendary villain to chase.
📌 Also Read:Cody Rhodes’ AEW Run: How The American Nightmare Helped Build AEW
3. Sting Makes His AEW Debut on Winter Is Coming (December 2, 2020)
Few wrestling moments generated the chills that accompanied Sting’s arrival. During a brutal beatdown by Team Taz on Cody Rhodes and Darby Allin, the arena lights dropped, snow fell across the entrance ramp, and ‘The Icon’ walked out with his trademark baseball bat.
It marked Sting’s first appearance on non-WWE national cable television in almost two decades. Far from a ceremonial signing, it kicked off a remarkable 3-year retirement run alongside Darby Allin, culminating in an undefeated farewell at Revolution 2024.
4. Britt Baker vs. Thunder Rosa: The Historic Lights Out Match (March 2021)
AEW’s women’s division needed a defining main event, and they found it in the unsanctioned Lights Out match on Dynamite: St. Patrick’s Day Slam.
Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. and Thunder Rosa tore the house down in a violent war involving thumbtacks, ladders, and chairs. Baker’s bloody face became an iconic visual across the sport, and the match proved that women’s wrestling could headline national television with raw, uncensored intensity.
5. CM Punk Returns to Wrestling After Seven Years (August 20, 2021)
For seven long years, fans chanted CM Punk’s name in arenas across the globe while he repeatedly insisted he was done with wrestling. His arrival at Rampage: The First Dance inside a sold-out United Center in Chicago shattered the internet.
The deafening crowd roar when “Cult of Personality” hit remains one of the greatest pops in professional wrestling history. It drove unprecedented media attention, merchandise sales, and television ratings to the young company.
📌 Must Read:CM Punk in AEW: Complete Timeline of His Rise, Fallout & Exit
6. Bryan Danielson and Adam Cole Arrive at All Out 2021
If CM Punk opened the door, All Out 2021 kicked it off its hinges. In the span of five minutes, AEW delivered one of the greatest closing sequences in pay-per-view history.
First, Adam Cole shocked the arena by aligning with Kenny Omega and The Elite. Just as The Elite celebrated their dominance, Bryan Danielson made his unexpected debut, joining Christian Cage and The Jurassic Express to clear the ring. Two generational superstars chose AEW over WWE on the exact same night.
7. MJF and Wardlow’s Explosive Split (Double or Nothing 2022)
MJF had established himself as wrestling’s most calculating heel, constantly mistreating and humiliating his bodyguard, Wardlow. For months, AEW resisted rushing the storyline, giving the angle room to breathe and build heat.
When Wardlow finally snapped, the payoff at Double or Nothing 2022 was explosive. Wardlow delivered ten consecutive powerbombs to MJF to win his AEW contract, proving that AEW could execute classic, slow-burn babyface ascensions on par with the golden era of wrestling.
📌 Related:MJF’s Heel Persona: How He Became AEW’s Best Villain of All Time
8. The “Brawl Out” Incident Shakes the Locker Room (September 2022)
Not every revolutionary moment happened on script. Following the All Out 2022 pay-per-view, a fiery post-show media scrum by CM Punk led to a legitimate physical brawl backstage between Punk and EVPs Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks.
The fallout resulted in vacated championships, multi-month suspensions, and immense public scrutiny. It was a sobering look at the growing pains of a young promotion and permanently altered internal locker-room dynamics.
9. Bryan Danielson vs. Will Ospreay: The Dynasty Masterpiece (April 2024)
When two of the finest in-ring performers of any generation stepped into the ring at AEW Dynasty, expectations were astronomical. The match exceeded every single one of them.
Danielson and Ospreay wrestled a 32-minute technical and athletic clinic that earned a historic 6.5-star rating on the Cagematch wrestling database from Dave Meltzer. With Danielson winding down his full-time in-ring career later that year at WrestleDream, this bout stands as a defining monument to modern in-ring perfection.
📌 Must Read:AEW All In: Every Main Event Ranked (2018–2025)
10. 81,035 Fans at Wembley Stadium for All In: London (August 2023)
Some milestones define an entire era. When AEW booked Wembley Stadium in London for All In 2023, critics claimed the company was overly ambitious. Instead, they sold 81,035 tickets, setting a historic European paid attendance record.
Seeing MJF and Adam Cole headline in front of an electric stadium crowd proved without question that AEW was a worldwide powerhouse capable of packing massive stadiums on foreign soil.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When did Jon Moxley debut in AEW?
Jon Moxley made his surprise AEW debut on May 25, 2019, at the conclusion of AEW’s first pay-per-view, Double or Nothing.
Who was the first-ever AEW World Champion?
Chris Jericho became the inaugural AEW World Champion by defeating ‘Hangman’ Adam Page at All Out 2019 on August 31, 2019.
What was the attendance for AEW All In at Wembley Stadium?
AEW announced a paid attendance of 81,035 tickets sold for All In: London at Wembley Stadium in August 2023.
What was the rating for Bryan Danielson vs. Will Ospreay at Dynasty?
Dave Meltzer awarded the match a 6.5-star rating, making it one of the highest-rated bouts in American wrestling history.
Gaurav Sharma
Founder & Lead Writer, Wrestling Nightmare
I’ve been hooked on wrestling since childhood—from the Attitude Era to today’s Bloodline saga, plus AEW and TNA. My favorite match of all time is The Rock vs. Brock Lesnar (SummerSlam 2002), and I’ll always stand by Bray Wyatt’s untapped potential.
At Wrestling Nightmare, I break down news, analyze matches, and drop verified recaps. Got a correction or wanna debate? Hit me up at contact@wrestlingnightmare.com
