Everything To Know About AEW’s WrestleDream

When the legendary Antonio Inoki passed away a year ago, Tony Khan stirred in his hotel room.

The owner and matchmaker of All Elite Wrestling, Khan immediately became determined to honor the legacy of Inoki.

In the middle of a rare extended stay in Philadelphia, where he booked a memorable Chris Jericho-Bandido match on Dynamite and then stayed in the city for that Sunday’s Jacksonville Jaguars-Eagles game, Khan initially prepared to have a few days to spend his undivided attention on a multitude of projects.

While working furiously on football databases for the Jaguars and Fulham, Khan learned of Inoki’s passing. It felt like he had lost an old friend, and for a valid reason: Inoki inspired the dreamers. Khan, proudly, was one of those dreamers, influenced by the work and message of Inoki.

RIP Antonio Inoki, a pioneer in the pro wrestling industry. Inoki’s influence and his achievements will live on forever in the wrestling world; he’s an inspiration to all of the dreamers. Thank you sir.
— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) October 1, 2022

Inoki passed away on October 1, 2022. A year later, Khan’s AEW holds its first-ever WrestleDream on the same date. It is an idea that Khan first imagined in that hotel room, and it comes to fruition this Sunday when Bryan Danielson headlines the show against New Japan Pro-Wrestling star Zack Sabre Jr.

There are 10 matches set for this Sunday’s card. In honor of that, here are 10 thoughts that connect to each part of the inaugural WrestleDream:

1: Bryan Danielson gets the chance to lock up with Zack Sabre Jr. -- and tell a very important piece of his final chapter

If Bryan Danielson is retiring next year, he should continue to accumulate as many victories as possible. That will make his eventual defeat even more significant.

Zack Sabre Jr. is an extraordinarily talented wrestler, but there is zero reason he should defeat Danielson on an AEW pay-per-view. The draw for Sabre is the chance to wrestle Danielson, which is a career accolade. And after beating the best of NJPW this past June in Kazuchika Okada, there is no way Danielson should lose here.

2: If MJF is losing the Ring of Honor tag titles, it’s not happening at WrestleDream

Depending on the severity of Adam Cole’s ankle injury, it could make sense for MJF to drop the ROH tag team titles and instead focus on the AEW world championship. While that may be the case eventually, it does not appear to be happening this Sunday.

MJF will flourish as a babyface at WrestleDream. His opponents are perfect in that regard. The Righteous’ Vincent and Dutch are two sinister characters, and they will ultimately succumb to the power of MJF.

3: Will Kota Ibushi have his star-making moment in AEW?

When Kota Ibushi won the IWGP heavyweight title two years ago at Wrestle Kingdom 15, he claimed a spot as one of the industry’s most compelling performers.

Where has that man gone?

Ibushi has not been the same ball of fury since his arrival in AEW. If there were a moment to change that, this Sunday would be a perfect time. Ibushi ultimately dropped the IWGP world heavyweight title to Will Ospreay, who he meets in a loaded six-man tag at WrestleDream pitting Kenny Omega, Ibushi, Chris Jericho against Ospreay, Sammy Guevara, and Konosuke Takeshita.

This match will provide a chance for Omega and Ospreay to share the ring for the first time since their epic Forbidden Door clash in June. The Jericho-Guevara storyline will continue (putting Sammy with Don Callis may be his best chance at a world title run), and there will be a continued emphasis on Takeshita.

The match has every reason to be great. Hopefully it also marks the beginning of a special run in AEW for Ibushi.

4: Kris Statlander should enjoy a lengthy title reign as TBS champion

After defeating Jade Cargill for the TBS title, this is the time to define Kris Statlander as a dominant champion.

That doesn’t mean Julia Hart can’t work in some offense in their match at WrestleDream, but that is not the priority. It is a necessity to establish Statlander as the star in this match.

5: The Gunns are poised to challenge for the tag titles

The work of The Gunns has not gone unnoticed in AEW. Along with some serendipitous timing, it appears Billy Gunn’s boys are about to be thrust back into the tag title picture.

The Gunns wrestle the Young Bucks, Fenix and Penta, and Orange Cassidy and Hook in a four-way match at WrestleDream, with the winner getting a title shot against FTR. Through process of elimination, it feels like this has to be the Gunns going over.

The Bucks just wrestled FTR for the titles. Nick Jackson is focused on Fenix and his International championship, and they will square off this Wednesday on Dynamite. Orange Cassidy and Hook are nice additions to the four-way, though I would have preferred to see Cassidy wrestle in a singles bout after headlining the last pay-per-view, but there is no long story to highlight their rise in the tag title scene.

The Gunns and FTR share unfinished business, so it will make sense if they get the victory here.

6: FTR vs. Aussie Open should be outstanding

FTR defends the AEW tag titles at WrestleDream, putting them on the line against Aussie Open.

This should be superb. FTR has made an art form of only wrestling the very best matches, and Aussie Open is also hungry to be the best tag team in the world.

There have been no real indications that FTR will drop the titles here, and while there could be a swerve, I recommend picking FTR to win. But that’s the great aspect to this match: everyone wins when FTR is at their best,

7: Christian Cage will enter the night as TNT champion, but Darby Allin will leave with the belt

One of wrestling’s unwritten rules is that a babyface always wins a two-out-of-three falls match. That’s going to be on display at WrestleDream, where Darby will seek to put an end to Christian’s constant chaos.

Sunday will also provide a better indication of whether Adam Copeland is seriously interested in extending his career in AEW. Personally, despite reports to the contrary, I cannot see him exiting WWE. But if he does debut, it would have to be in the main event or world title picture.

This card on Sunday will not be complete without at least one title change. My inclination is it happens right here.

8: Eddie Kingston starts a new era as Ring of Honor champion

Eddie Kingston is wrestling’s newest champ-champ, holding the Ring of Honor world title and the New Japan Strong Openweight belt. This is only the beginning of his reign, so he will either defeat Katsuyori Shibata at WrestleDream -- or extend the program through a non-clean finish.

9: Swerve Strickland is in a must-win spot against Hangman Page

Swerve Strickland is a phenomenal talent. Watching him perform, it is absurd to think that people in WWE thought he should ever be released. Yet their loss is AEW’s gain.

Hangman Page is in a good place. The former world champ will always be in the mix in AEW, and his time will eventually come again. But this feud should be designed to elevate Strickland into the main event, a place where he can thrive both on the microphone and in the ring.

10: No better time than the present for Ricky Starks

Perhaps I am in the minority, but I don’t think MJF needs the world title. Whatever he does, with or without the belt, is appointment-viewing.

Ricky Starks, however, would benefit greatly from a run with the belt. I would not hesitate to make it happen. Starks should defeat Wheeler Yuta at WrestleDream, then win the belt by the end of the year.

If you doubt Starks’ ability as world champion, you’re in for a major surprise when he has the title.