AEW Revolution Delivered Riveting Twists And Turns
The lasting legacy of AEW Revolution might be the way it set the stage for the next chapter of AEW history. As previously mentioned, MJF’s feud with Punk turned into one of the company’s best stories. Some fans weren’t in favor of seeing “The Salt of the Earth” lose when the lights were on bright, as he’s widely viewed as the company’s future megastar. But MJF’s defeat perfectly sets up another feud that promises to elevate both men. The three-time Dynamite Diamond Ring winner’s muscle, Wardlow has been gradually teasing a face turn for several months now; altogether, this storyline has been in the works for three years. For weeks, “Mr. Mayhem” had been gaining momentum by picking up wins and hinting that he’d snap on MJF at any moment, and fans were increasingly begging for him to do it. On Sunday night, AEW finally pulled the trigger in a fascinating way.
.@RealWardlow with a convenient memory lapse during this #DogCollar match between @CMPunk and @The_MJF!#AEWRevolution is LIVE on PPV right now! Available on @BleacherReport & @FiteTV (Int.) pic.twitter.com/DR8ruIdvOJ
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 7, 2022
At the conclusion of the Dog Collar Match, MJF screamed for his bodyguard to come to the ring. Wardlow, fresh off a victory in the Face of the Revolution Ladder Match, answered the call, but when his boss asked for his diamond ring, the powerhouse comically searched his pockets and came up empty. The distraction helped Punk drop MJF with the GTS, and the turn was complete when Wardlow revealed that he had the ring all along. He left the jewelry in the ring, just a few feet from Punk, and confidently walked away, much to the fans’ delight. This masterful swerve will likely lead to a bitter rivalry between MJF and his former employee in what promises to be another example of AEW’s excellent long-term storytelling. It also softens the blow for MJF’s loss, as “The Salt of the Earth” can easily pin the blame on Wardlow’s massive shoulders.
Plus, many other questions abound. Punk tapped into his dark side; will he be able to put it away, or is “The Second City Saint” heading toward a heel turn? Elsewhere, tensions between The Young Bucks and reDRagon exploded in the tag title bout; how will this feud unfold? Throw in Adam Cole and (eventually) Kenny Omega, among other potential Bullet Club cameos, and fans could be in for another must-see storyline. Finally, Thunder Rosa might have lost to Britt Baker on Sunday, but many fans predict she’ll finally get her victory and dethrone the champion on the special “St. Patrick’s Day Slam” edition of Dynamite. What will the new world order for the women’s division look like if/when Baker drops the title?
For all these reasons and more, AEW Revolution raised the bar for the company’s pay-per-views and laid out a number of ways that Double or Nothing could successfully follow it up.
