Since it began in 2019, AEW has been hitting positives across the board. Whether that be storytelling, consistency, or in-depth characters, the company has done a lot of good thus far. One of those main positives is the match quality produced on a weekly basis, especially when it comes to bigger title matches or PPVs.
Over the last three years, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer has rated 13 AEW matches as 5 stars or above. Whilst his opinion and rating system are subjective, Meltzer’s ratings have always been used and looked at by fans, either when judging the quality of a show, or to see if their opinions match up.
13 Cody Rhodes Vs Sammy Guevara, Dynamite 2022, 5 Stars
What would become Cody Rhodes’ final ever match in AEW turned out to be one of his very best. Defending the TNT Title against Sammy Guevara in a ladder match, the pair turned in a fantastic performance with one of the best singles ladder matches in quite some time.
From pacing to incredible spots, this match was a fantastic showing for both men, with a springboard cutter from atop a ladder being one of the most impressive spots in the company’s history. The match kickstarted Guevara’s second reign with a bang.
12 “Hangman” Adam Page Vs Bryan Danielson, Winter Is Coming 2021, 5 Stars
After finally climbing the card to win the AEW World Championship after a nearly three-year-long story, Adam Page’s first challenger stepped up, and it was none other than one of the best in the world, Bryan Danielson. This was the first time an AEW title match had reached the 60-minute time limit, but it didn’t feel like a screwy finish.
The pair put on a clinic, with ingenious pacing which made it feel like it was nowhere near as long as an hour. This set up a rematch a few weeks later that was also fantastic but didn’t quite reach the 5-star point.
11 Adam Cole & Young Bucks Vs Christian & Jurassic Express, Full Gear 2021, 5 Stars
This was a Falls Count Anywhere match between six men who had been feuding for quite some time. It was a wonderfully-crafted car crash of organized chaos, which featured several fun spots and high-paced action.
It lacked true emotion and storytelling, which is why the rating for this match was contested between fans, but there is no denying how entertaining it was as a non-stop brawl between talented competitors.
10 Bryan Danielson Vs Kenny Omega, Grand Slam 2021, 5 Stars
Danielson’s very first match in AEW took all the headlines when he and Omega battled in what many perceived to be a dream match between two of the very best in-ring performers of the modern era, and they lived up to all those expectations.
It was clear that the pair was holding back for a round two at some point, but that didn’t take away from this being excellent, and still achieving a 5-star rating. This went to a 30-minute time limit draw, which protected both men going forward.
9 Young Bucks Vs Death Triangle, Dynamite 2021, 5 Stars
The Bucks were really starting to get comfortable with their heel persona in this match, and it made for a hugely entertaining AEW World Tag Team Title match to kick off an episode of Dynamite.
Even though it was featured on cable TV, the four men didn’t hold back, and had a match full of a variety of styles, with mat wrestling, hard-hitting action, and ridiculous high-flying. Perhaps the pacing was a little inconsistent at some points, but it was a great TV match nonetheless.
8 Kenny Omega Vs Rey Fenix, New Year’s Smash 2021, 5 Stars
Omega’s very first defense of his newly won AEW World Championship established just how strong his next year as champion would be. He and Rey Fenix have undeniable chemistry, and it was on full show in this match, which main evented AEW’s very first show of 2021.
The match itself was brutal and electric, and it was capped off with the post-match debut of Karl Anderson and Doc Gallows, along with a reunion with The Young Bucks, establishing the dominating force of AEW for the following year.
7 Best Friends Vs Santana & Ortiz, Dynamite 2020, 5 Stars
This was a Parking Lot Brawl between four men whose hatred of one another warranted this stipulation. With the pandemic ongoing, AEW was able to get creative with having matches take place outside the ring, and this was the perfect example of how to do that correctly.
The violence in this match was impactful, and the utilization of cars and other aspects of the backstage environment was incredibly creative and made for a truly unique match with a great ending.
6 Cody Rhodes Vs Dustin Rhodes, Double or Nothing 2019, 5 Stars
On AEW’s very first event, this match stole all the headlines. This battle between two brothers had been something fans had wished to happen for a long time, but when it occurred in WWE, it was a huge letdown. This was proof that when given creative freedom, two competitors can make something magical.
The emotion in this match was stunning, and the bloodshed felt like an old-school NWA classic between two men with deep ties to the business.
5 FTR Vs Young Bucks, Full Gear 2020, 5.25 Stars
This was one of the most hotly anticipated tag team matches of all time, so the four men had a tough job of living up to expectations. In a match that felt like a love letter to tag team wrestling, it lived up to the billing of this being a dream match.
This was a fun showcase that featured several callbacks to the great teams of the past, whilst also keeping focus on the story at hand between the two teams. FTR reverting from their usual game plan was ultimately their downfall, in a great finish to one hell of a match.
4 Young Bucks Vs Lucha Brothers, All Out 2019, 5.25 Stars
This ladder match for the AAA World Tag Team Titles was pure madness. These two teams defied gravity at several points, using the ladders in ways they’d never been used before, whilst also not going too over the top to make it unrealistic.
This was an incredible match, which featured several terrifying spots which were pulled off perfectly, so all plaudits must be given to the four involved who managed to not seriously injure themselves in this crazy matchup.
3 Kenny Omega VS “Hangman” Adam Page, Full Gear 2021, 5.5 Stars
This was the culmination of several years of build between Page and Omega, featuring friendship, breakups, battling demons, and overcoming personal troubles to find motivation and strength. In what was AEW’s best long-term story to date, they produced one of the more satisfying conclusions of all time, with Page winning the title.
Though the match didn’t feature anything crazy, it was full of emotion, and the long journey that preceded this match pushed it to an even higher level, with the story playing out perfectly.
2 Young Bucks Vs Lucha Brothers, All Out 2021, 5.75 Stars
Two years after their hectic ladder match at All Out, these two teams found themselves battling over the AEW World Tag Team Titles in 2021, this time inside a Steel Cage. This may very well have been one of the greatest cage matches in history.
The violence, the pace, and everything else in this match was perfect, and it felt like a true war. This was a great way to cap off the Bucks’ fantastic run as champions, with the time being right for the Lucha Brothers to win the gold.
1 “Hangman” Adam Page & Kenny Omega Vs Young Bucks, Revolution 2020, 6 Stars
This is regarded as one of, if not the greatest tag team match in professional wrestling history, and when watching the match, it is very clear to see why that is the belief. This played an important role in the Adam Page saga, and perhaps even boosted it to much higher proportions.
The storytelling, the back-and-forth action, the emotion, and the electricity of the audience all played into this battle, which was absolutely thrilling, and remains to be AEW’s best match to date.