AEW Revolution 2026 Review – Too Many Matches, Not Enough Surprises

The seventh edition of AEW Revolution took place on Sunday, March 15, 2026, at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, Ca. Over the years, All Elite Wrestling has built a reputation for delivering strong pay-per-view events, and as the first major show of 2026, Revolution was promoted as a night fans would never forget.

Did AEW reach its goal?

AEW Tag Team Championship: FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) (c) def. The Young Bucks (Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson)

FTR and The Young Bucks came into this match with plenty of history. Both teams won the AEW World Tag Team Championship three times, and their head-to-head record in traditional tag matches stood at 2–2. But this chapter of the rivalry had a much darker edge. FTR made things personal when they attacked the Bucks' father. After that, this was never going to be just another championship match. It had to feel personal.

And it did. The match easily lived up to the expectations built by their rivalry. The two teams delivered another great showcase of tag team wrestling, but nothing more. The champions keeping the titles didn’t surprise me. The Bucks have only recently turned babyface again, which made another title reign unlikely at this stage.

To me, this match only set the stage for what happened afterward. As expected, Adam Copeland and Christian Cage returned and took out FTR. After the attack, Cope and Cage stood tall and raised the tag team championship belts. Moments later, the Bucks entered the ring, setting up a tense standoff between all the teams.

The direction seems obvious: AEW appears to be building toward a three-team clash. Given the dynamics—FTR as the old-school bruisers, like the Dudley Boyz; the Bucks as the daredevils, like the Hardy Boyz; and Copeland and Cage (Edge and Chriastian)—it will probably be a ladder or TLC match.

The only question is when. Dynasty? Double or Nothing? Or will AEW first pit Copeland and Cage against FTR? Either way, it seems likely that Copeland and Cage will have one last title run before retiring.

“Timeless” Toni Storm def. “The Problem” Marina Shafir

Toni Storm continues to do some of the most interesting work in wrestling today. For years, she has been the anchor of AEW’s women’s division. Now she’s doing something arguably more valuable: elevating others. That ability is rare. The willingness to do it is even rarer. Storm has both.

The “Timeless” character should never have worked. On paper, it sounded as ridiculous as I thought it was at first. Yet Storm transformed the gimmick—and herself—into one of the industry's most entertaining acts. At just 30 years old, she has become one of AEW’s most valuable performers.

On the other hand, Marina Shafir has spent much of her (AEW) career in the background. Enforcer: Muscle. Faction member. Occasionally intimidating but rarely central to the story. That changed during this feud. In the weeks leading up to the match, Shafir slowly built credibility within larger storylines, and that momentum carried into Revolution. 

The match itself was physical and played to Shafir’s strengths. She looked powerful and dangerous throughout. Storm, however, found a way to survive, escaping Shafir’s finishing move, “Mother’s Milk,” by biting her opponent's breast before rolling her up with the Big Package. Storm got the win, but Shafir still came out looking like a threat.

The short length of the match worked in its favor. Placed after the tag bout, it gave the audience a breather while still delivering solid action. Most importantly, Shafir looked like a beast and seized the opportunity. If she continues to improve, she may finally break out of the role that has limited her for years.

After the match, things escalated. Ronda Rousey entered the ring while Storm posed on the stage. A close friend of Shafir’s, Rousey pointed at Storm and invited her into the ring. Storm accepted and made her way to the ring. Referees and security quickly rushed in to keep the two apart.

AEW scored a major surprise with Rousey’s appearance. The question now is whether this was a one-time promotion for her upcoming MMA fight with Gina Carano on Netflix in May or the beginning of her joining AEW for a short run.

AEW Continental Championship: Jon Moxley (c) def. "The Alpha" Kōnosuke Takeshita

Jon Moxley and Kōnosuke Takeshita entered this rematch with unfinished business. Their previous match ended in a time-limit draw, so this bout had no time limit. One way or another, there would be a definitive winner.

As expected, the match was physical from start to finish. Both men hit hard and maintained an intense pace. It was a classic clash between two heavy hitters, and the crowd stayed engaged throughout. Either man winning would have made sense.

Ultimately, Moxley retained the AEW Continental Championship, but the real story unfolded afterward. At first, Takeshita refused Moxley’s handshake and began to leave the ring. Then, he heard the fans cheering. After a brief pause, he returned and shook Moxley’s hand to a loud ovation.

That moment felt significant. It looks like another step in Takeshita’s slow babyface turn. If that direction continues, the logical next move would be his eventual break from the Don Callis Family. That split could lead to several strong matchups against the other members of the faction and set Takeshita on the path toward becoming a world champion.

Afterwards, Will Ospreay made his return following neck surgery. He rushed to the ring and immediately launched himself from the top rope with a twisting crossbody onto the heels at ringside. Moxley quickly retreated, leaving Ospreay standing tall in the ring. If he stays healthy, Ospreay is another strong candidate to become world champion later this year.

AEW Women’s World Tag Team Championship: Divine Dominion (Megan Bayne and Lena Kross) def. Babes of Wrath (Willow Nightingale and Harley Cameron) (c)

The reign of the first-ever women’s tag team champions has finally ended. At first, the Babes of Wrath were entertaining champions. However, I never fully warmed up to them. I understand why AEW initially gave them the belts—they were charismatic and popular—but their act always seemed more comedic than dominant. That changed at Revolution.

Divine Dominion defeated the former champs in a short match designed to establish their dominance. The crowd's reaction was muted, but the presentation made the message clear: This is a powerhouse team.

Megan Bayne, in particular, looks like a future star. She would have probably won the titles earlier alongside Penelope Ford if not for the latter's injuries. Pairing Bayne with Lena Kross gave AEW a physically imposing women’s team.

Now, let's talk about Willow Nightingale. The AEW TBS Championship holder seems too big for the tag division. Pairing her with Harley Cameron served several purposes: it moved Nightingale out of the world-title picture and gave Kris Statlander a chance to shine; it also provided Cameron with a partner who could elevate her performances.

The problem is that Nightingale feels too important to stay in a supporting role for long.

The Babes of Wrath were fun, but fun has limits. Nightingale does not. The longer she exists on the sidelines of other people’s stories—whether Cameron’s rise or Kris Statlander’s success—the further she drifts from the moment she deserves.

I think her babyface run should end soon. Like WWE's Bailey, a heel version of Willow could become a terrifying force, and should elevate her to finally become world champion.

Swerve Strickland (with Prince Nana) def. Brody King

Not every pay-per-view match needs to be for a title. This match proved that. Swerve Strickland vs. Brody King was worthy of the card simply because of the performers involved. The match was brutal from the opening bell—surprisingly without blood, given how hard both men hit. It was packed with heavy strikes, punishing offense, and impressive athletic moments.

It was another strong pay-per-view performance from Strickland, though not quite on par with some of his best matches. Still, Swerve thrives when he operates with an edge. Everything he does carries a sense of menace and barely contained anger.

Brody King also delivered. Once again, he proved he belongs in main-event conversations. The massive striker has refined his in-ring work and carries himself like a star. However, following significant losses to MJF and Strickland, the question arises as to whether AEW will ever crown him world champion.

After the match, things escalated further. Prince Nana brought a cinder block into the ring and chased away the referee. He positioned King head-first over the block, preparing for a potentially brutal attack. Before it could happen, however, Kenny Omega appeared and ran them off. This suggests that another Strickland–Omega match is coming soon, possibly at Dynasty or Double or Nothing.

AEW Women’s World Championship: 2 out of 3 Falls Match - Thekla (c) def. Kris Statlander

No offense to either wrestler, but the match felt longer than necessary. The crowd never fully engaged, and the bout struggled to build consistent momentum. Hopefully, this will put an end to their feud. It never truly connected with the audience.

More broadly, AEW needs to strengthen its women’s division by signing more popular wrestlers or using its existing roster more effectively.

That said, Thekla deserves credit. She shocked many fans when she defeated Kris Statlander to win the AEW Women's World Championship on an episode of AEW Dynamite. She isn’t a rookie, but it’s rare to see a performer adapt so quickly to a global platform like national television. AEW embraced her unique identity, and she made it work.

Even if her gimmick isn’t for everyone, she carries herself like a true heel. She delivers her lines with genuine spite, as if she’s settling personal scores. That level of conviction can only come from serious preparation.

However, her rapid rise also raises questions. When someone becomes world champion within months of arriving, it can signal a lack of confidence in the existing roster. Whether intentional or not, that perception lingers.

AEW World Trios Championship: JetSpeed („Speedball“ Mike Bailey & Kevin Knight) & Místico def. Don Callis Family (Kazuchika Okada, Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis) (c)

I’ve never been a big fan of the AEW World Trios Championship. The titles often feel like placeholders for wrestlers without a clear singles direction. Sometimes, they intersect with bigger storylines, like when MJF interfered at the end of JetSpeed's and Adam Page's title run.

At Revolution, the match mostly felt like AEW's way of announcing that Místico is officially All Elite.

One performer deserves special recognition: Mark Davis. He has battled through an extraordinary number of injuries. Given his size, he could have easily been cast as generic muscle in the Don Callis Family, similar to the role "The Murderhawk" Lance Archer often plays. Instead, he stood alongside two elite talents: Kazuchika Okada and Kyle Fletcher.

He earned that spot. Davis consistently makes the most of his television opportunities. He may never win a world championship, but every company needs reliable performers who can elevate main-event stars. In that sense, he reminds me of Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, whose work helped spotlight Bret and Owen Hart.

Davis's offense complements high-flying teammates and opponents perfectly, making him especially valuable in trios matches.

Like Kevin Knight. While he seems like just another high-flyer to me, AEW seems to view him as a future singles star. He may have already outgrown the trios division — and possibly even his tag partnership with "Speedball" Mike Bailey.

Andrade El Idolo (with Don Callis) vs. Bandido

That was another match that felt unnecessary on an already crowded card. Bandido entered as ROH World Champion, but the title wasn’t on the line. Then why book the match here at all? Just to promote Andrade?

Tornado Trios Match: Orange Cassidy, Darby Allin and Roderick Strong def. The Dogs (David Finlay, Clark Connors and Gabe Kidd)

It was a physical match, but it never rose above average. With over ten matches on the pay-per-view card, this one could have easily been left off.

Even more puzzling was the result. The Dogs were making their pay-per-view debut as a trio, yet they lost. The group certainly has a forceful presence. They’re loud, aggressive, and fully committed to their act. After weeks of building them up as a credible team, having them lose makes no sense.

Speaking of making no sense: Like Mark Davis, Roderick Strong is a dependable performer. The difference is that his role in AEW often feels unclear. Since he arrived, he has aligned himself with multiple factions, and his alliances have shifted frequently. Just weeks ago, he walked out on a tag match with Orange Cassidy. Yet he returned last week to help Cassidy.

AEW Men’s World Championship: Texas Death Match MJF (c) vs. "Hangman" Adam Page

Honestly, the AEW World Championship storyline has made little sense for months. Why did Adam Page defeat Jon Moxley for the title, only to quickly lose it to Samoa Joe, who then almost immediately dropped it to MJF? The hot-potato booking undermines the championship.

Going into this Texas Death Match, I expected MJF to retain. He has only held the title for a short time, and losing it now would have been premature.

I expected outside interference to secure his victory. Instead, AEW gave us a throwback to "the good old days" when MJF won his matches with the Dynamite Diamond Ring. Having him "hang" the "Hangman" with a chain was a nice symbolic touch, too.

Unfortunately, the stipulation overshadowed everything. Now, Page can never challenge for the AEW World Championship again. This kind of stipulation can work, but not this early on. If Hangman had failed at several title attempts, the drama would make sense. Here, it feels premature.

Even worse, it echoes another famous misstep: Cody Rhodes once made a similar promise: never to challenge for the AEW title again. That decision effectively removed him from the main event picture. Is AEW repeating the same mistake with Page?

It would be unfortunate because Page's overall arc has been one of AEW's best long-term stories. He evolved from an insecure follower of The Elite to a world champion and then reinvented himself as a ruthless heel before completing a powerful redemption arc.

Now, the question is: What comes next? Page is in his prime. It’s hard to imagine him never challenging for the world title again. Wrestling has always operated on the "never say never" principle, so loopholes will probably appear, eventually.

However, that raises another question: Why create the problem in the first place?

If Tony Khan had wanted to add more drama, he could have made the stipulation smarter. For example, they could have banned Page from challenging MJF specifically rather than the championship itself. That would have preserved the stakes without limiting the character's future.

Still, MJF is slowly regaining the aura that made him one of the most sought-after talents. His cowardly, arrogant heel persona remains intact, and lately, his promos have regained their sharp edge. He currently embodies the essence of a professional wrestling villain—the ideal persona for a heel world champion.

Final thoughts on AEW Revolution 2026

AEW Revolution 2026 was another solid pay-per-view overall. There were several good matches, but most of the outcomes felt predictable. Nothing stood out as truly unforgettable.

Even the surprise appearances weren't that surprising. Will Ospreay’s return had already been hinted at, and Adam Copeland had been discussing the end of his career on social media. His return, along with Christian Cage's, felt inevitable. The only appearance I didn’t expect was Ronda Rousey's. Even that moment lacked dramatic buildup.

If my complaints sound familiar, that’s because they are.

AEW’s pay-per-views continue to struggle with time management. The main event lasted about 45 minutes, which might have worked if the show hadn’t already crossed the four-hour mark before it even began. Do we really need ten matches on the main card, including a no-time-limit bout, a two-out-of-three falls match, and a marathon main event—plus three additional pre-show matches?

Probably not. Yet Tony Khan seems unwilling to shorten these cards, despite frequent fan criticism.

Another issue is violence.

AEW has always embraced brutality and bloodshed, but Revolution took it to a whole new level. I don't mind bloodshed if it serves the story. FTR making their match with the Bucks personal justified it.

However, constant violence eventually loses its impact.

After years of Jon Moxley bleeding in nearly every match, fans have become desensitized to it. At this point, it would almost feel strange if he didn't bleed. The Texas Death Match took things into absurd territory. The company clearly wanted to elicit shock reactions, but longtime viewers have already seen most of these stunts before.

A syringe through Hangman’s mouth? Seen it. Hanging your opponent? AEW does that regularly.

When that level of brutality starts to feel routine, an uncomfortable question arises: What will AEW do next to surprise its audience?

Sign up for the Tales from the Omniverse

Join SK Alexander’s email list and embark on a journey through The Omniverse. You will receive updates on his author's life, special offers, and upcoming releases.