The short history of AEW PPVs already is viewed with positive legacies for how fans remember the shows. AEW has done a great job having quarterly PPVs to make the television shows more important and the PPVs must-watch for the diehard fan of the promotion. Buy rates have been estimated for every show based on all platforms.AEW has made their shows available on various platforms, like B/R Live and Fite for international fans outside of just ordering through a cable provider. Each platform is used to tally the overall number of customers willing to pay to watch the event. Fans have shown more interest in some events more than others. Every AEW PPV will be ranked from the worst to the best in terms of buys.
10 Full Gear 2019 (80,000)
The third major PPV from AEW in their first year was Full Gear 2019. AEW made this their first PPV after the television deal started on TNT a month prior. Chris Jericho defeating Cody Rhodes to retain the AEW World Championship and Jon Moxley beating Kenny Omega in an unsanctioned hardcore match headlined the show.
Full Gear 2019 received an estimated 80,000 purchases across all platforms. A solid undercard of the Young Bucks vs Santana & Ortiz and Adam Page vs Pac added great depth for the event, but it received the least buys of all major PPVs.
9 Full Gear 2020 (85,000)
The following year’s Full Gear event would see AEW finding a few thousand more buys for it in 2020. AEW received 85,000 buys for the event main evented by Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston in an “I Quit” match for the AEW World Championship.
The rest of the card was strong with Chris Jericho vs MJF, Hikaru Shida vs Nyla Rose, and the Young Bucks vs FTR all delivering interest. An opening match of Kenny Omega vs Adam Page may have been the highlight of the night, which makes it more fitting they are facing off for the AEW World Championship at the upcoming Full Gear 2021.
8 All Out 2019 (88,000)
The importance of All Out 2019 saw the company crowning the first AEW World Champion when Chris Jericho defeated Adam Page. AEW delivered a huge event with the Lucha Brothers vs Young Bucks in a ladder match as the show-stealer of the night.
Even though one previous AEW PPV existed, this felt like the bigger introduction since the television deal was starting a month later. All Out received an estimated 88,000 buys as fans were curious about how the company would start off.
7 All Out 2020 (90,000)
AEW continued the traditional of All Out in 2020 when the show received 90,000 buys during the era of the pandemic. MJF proved he was a credible top heel to challenge Jon Moxley in the main event despite falling short of the AEW World Championship.
FTR beating Kenny Omega and Adam Page for the AEW Tag Team Championship was the best match of the night and could have closed the show. The card depth was impressive with action packed bouts like the Young Bucks vs Jurassic Express and character-based work like Orange Cassidy vs Chris Jericho in a Mimosa Mayhem match.
6 Revolution 2020 (90,000)
Many fans view Revolution 2020 as the best overall show in AEW history due to the memories associated with the event. Jon Moxley won the AEW World Championship by defeating Chris Jericho in an emotional moment.
The tag match of the Young Bucks vs Adam Page and Kenny Omega is still considered the best bout in AEW history by a large percent of the fans. Orange Cassidy made his in-ring debut against Pac in a spectacle. Revolution received an estimate of 90,000 buys for the great night of action.
5 Double or Nothing 2019 (98,000)
The first ever event in AEW history showed there was a strong number of fans curious about the product. 98,000 buys fell just under the six-figure number for Double or Nothing 2019, which was main evented by Chris Jericho vs Kenny Omega.
The under-card featured an emotional match between Cody and Dustin Rhodes that ensured it would be a great night. Other memorable moments included the Young Bucks vs Lucha Brothers in an exciting match and Bret Hart making a surprise appearance to show off the AEW World Championship belt.
4 Double Or Nothing 2020 (105,000)
The second Double or Nothing event in 2020 was the first major PPV to take place without a live crowd during the pandemic. AEW had to change plans for the Inner Circle vs The Elite feud by having them in the first Stadium Stampede cinematic match for successful results.
The undercard of Jon Moxley vs Brodie Lee for the AEW World Championship, MJF vs Jungle Boy, and Cody Rhodes vs Lance Archer for the TNT Championship provided a strong card. AEW saw the show receive 105,000 buys as a massive success of hitting six figures for the first time.
3 Double Or Nothing 2021 (115,000)
The Stadium Stampede match returned again at Double or Nothing 2021 for the feud between The Pinnacle and the Inner Circle to close the show. Kenny Omega vs Orange Cassidy vs Pac was even better for the AEW World Championship.
Other memorable moments included Britt Baker winning the AEW Women’s Championship, Darby Allin and Sting winning a tag match, and the Young Bucks beating Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston. This was the first PPV in front of a bigger live crowd since the pandemic and received a strong 115,000 buys.
2 Revolution 2021 (135,000)
AEW had a few major attraction matches at Revolution 2021 to set a new record for buys at the time with 135,000 estimated purchases. Jon Moxley and Kenny Omega facing off in an Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch had an embarrassing ending, but the fan interest was there to sell the show.
Sting had his first match in seven years when teaming with Darby Allin to defeat Team Taz in a cinematic attraction. The entire card was loaded with action packed matches, a battle royal and a ladder match to hit a buy rate number no one expected from the company.
1 All Out 2021 (205,000)
Tony Khan put more time and money into All Out 2021 than any other AEW show, and it was rewarded with a massive success. The show received an estimated 205,000 purchases to create the new record. CM Punk having his first match against Darby Allin was the main attraction of the night.
The debuts of Adam Cole and Bryan Danielson closed the show in tremendous surprises after the Kenny Omega vs Christian Cage main event. AEW had an all-time great show from top to bottom with the Ruby Soho debut, Young Bucks vs Lucha Brothers cage match, and many other moments making All Out 2021 a deserving high point in the company’s history.