Worst AEW All Out Matches Ever, Ranked & Reviewed By Quality

AEW’s All Out PPV has been one of the longest running events in the history of the company, first being hosted in 2019 and existing every year since then. The show has featured some all-timer moments, show-stealing matches, but also some instances we’d rather forget… including some pretty poor showcases between the ropes.

TheSportster’s rating system will take a look back across every AEW All Out PPV event to determine the very worst matches to have ever taken place at this show. These ratings will be compared to those from Cagematch.net and Dave Meltzer on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.

7

Samoa Joe Vs. Shane Taylor (AEW All Out 2023)

Overall Rating From TheSportster: 5.75/10

• Dave Meltzer Rating: 2.75 Stars
• Cagematch.net Rating: 5.64

There was a period of time in 2023 when ROH titles were taking up way too much space on AEW programming, and this ROH World Television Title match between Samoa Joe and Shane Taylor was an example of exactly that. Seeing these two big men deliver clubbing blows to one another was certainly fun, but it was severely lacking in terms of storytelling and interest.

The fans simply didn’t care all too much, and the match didn’t last long enough before Joe’s victory to generate anything in terms of structure and narrative.

6

Powerhouse Hobbs Vs. Ricky Starks (AEW All Out 2022)

Overall Rating From TheSportster: 5.5/10

• Dave Meltzer Rating: 1.75 Stars
• Cagematch.net Rating: 4.31

Despite both Powerhouse Hobbs and Ricky Starks showing plenty of potential and attempting to make the most of their rivalry, AEW handed them just five minutes at All Out 2022, resulting in what was essentially just a glorified squash match that saw Hobbs destroy Saints.

Saints was presented as an overzealous and inexperienced competitor in this match, going full-throttle at Hobbs without any sense of self, leading to him being decimated in short order. This was not the way to pay off their rivalry.

5

Paul Wight Vs. QT Marshall (AEW All Out 2021)

Overall Rating From TheSportster: 5.25/10

• Dave Meltzer Rating: 1 Star
• Cagematch.net Rating: N/A

The only down point on what is often considered one of the best AEW PPVs ever, came in the form of Paul Wight vs. QT Marshall. Now, there was nothing inherently bad about this showdown, which was essentially a squash match to spotlight Paul Wight’s AEW debut, but there nothing especially good about it either.

The match was quick, wrestled fairly well, but offered nothing in the way of anything memorable, the story wasn’t all that interesting, and Wight’s win benefited no one.

4

Big Bill Vs. Eddie Kingston (AEW All Out 2025)

Overall Rating From TheSportster: 5.25/10

• Dave Meltzer Rating: 1.75 Stars
• Cagematch.net Rating: 3.99

After over a year out of action through injury, Eddie Kingston made his long-awaited turn to AEW programming in a showdown with Big Bill at All Out 2025. Unfortunately, Kingston’s ring rust was very prevalent, leading to a very sloppy match that featured sluggish action, botched sequences, and a very awkward finish.

Bill & Kingston did deliver some decent character-driven moments and the audience was relatively invested, but the in-ring quality left a lot to be desired, with Kingston failing to find the wrestler he was before his career-changing injury.

3

Jade Cargill Vs. Athena (AEW All Out 2022)

Overall Rating From TheSportster: 5/10

• Dave Meltzer Rating: 1.5 Stars
• Cagematch.net Rating: N/A

When Athena arrived in AEW, fans felt like she could be the one to dethrone Jade Cargill for the TBS Championship. Instead, All Out 2022 featured a quick, glorified squash match in which Cargill beat Athena in under five minutes.

This was a poor contest that failed to showcase either woman in a positive light, with plenty of sloppy moments, questioning refereeing, and a lackluster result.

2

Britt Baker Vs. Big Swole (AEW All Out 2020)

Overall Rating From TheSportster: 2/10

• Dave Meltzer Rating: N/A
• Cagematch.net Rating: 1.74

All Out 2020 opened in the worst possible way. The pandemic era featured plenty of cinematic matches in unique locations, including this ‘Tooth & Nail’ match between Britt Baker and Big Swole, taking place in Baker’s dental office.

This whole thing was abysmal, awfully acted, trapped in enclosed spaces that made it hard to follow the action, and full of terrible comedy. With injections and gas masks, Big Swole found a way to victory, but it came in one of the most laughably bad matches in AEW history.

1

Matt Hardy Vs. Sammy Guevara (AEW All Out 2020)

Overall Rating From TheSportster: 1.25/10

• Dave Meltzer Rating: N/A
• Cagematch.net Rating: 0.45

For a couple of minutes, this Broken Rules match between Matt Hardy & Sammy Guevara was progressing positively… until a spear through a table onto concrete legitimately knocked Hardy out cold in what was a stupidly dangerous spot. However, the doctor bafflingly cleared Hardy to continue despite him being clearly out of it, due to the fact that Hardy’s career was on the line and the match needed a finish.

Hardy & Guevara proceeded to scale a structure in one of the most scary spots in AEW history due to Hardy only moments prior being knocked out for real. This was needless, dangerous, and hard to watch, and it is one of, if not the worst match in AEW history.