The wrestling world is but a day away from what is the biggest wrestling event of the year, and it’s not even WWE related. Dave Meltzer didn’t believe that Ring of Honor could sell out a 10,000+ event.
His bet was quickly taken up by a certain son of a plumber.
Presented by The Young Bucks and Cody Rhodes, ALL IN has quickly established itself as arguably the biggest and most important independent event on the wrestling calendar. In less than 30 minutes, the trio sold out the Sears Centre in Chicago, changing the game in professional wrestling and proving the fans were hungry for a large scale event away from WWE’s control – before any matches were even announced.
Fast forward some months later, and we now have an absolutely jam packed card, every match on it worthy of headlining any show around the world. Most of the matches have been built towards through the wrestlers’ respective social media accounts or via The Young Bucks’ hit YouTube series, Being The Elite, so do yourself a favour and go back through the last few weeks of episodes for any context we may have missed out here.
With that said, let’s take a look at this ridiculous line-up and try to predict the winners of ALL IN.
Over Budget Battle Royal
The first of two matches on the official ALL IN pre-show, Zero Hour, the meta-titled match will see 15 top indie talents fighting for an opportunity to face Jay Lethal for the ROH World Championship on the main show.
Announced for the Battle Royal are: Jordynne Grace, Brian Cage, Moose, Billy Gunn, Rocky Romero, Jimmy Jacobs, Marko Stunt, Colt Cabana, Ethan Page, Punishment Martinez and Brandon Cutler.
There are four names yet to be confirmed, but are expected to be Chuck Taylor, Trent Beretta, Matt Cross and MJF.
Prediction:Â Always difficult to predict a BR, as the match could obviously go so many ways. However, based on star power and momentum right now (coming off a big match at Slammiversary against Austin Aries), my pick is on the crowd favourite Moose.
The Briscoes Vs. So Cal Uncensored
The second match of Zero Hour sees Frankie Kazarian and Scorpio Sky take on the current ROH World Tag Team Champions, Jay and Mark Briscoe, who are in the midst of a record ninth title reign.
Prediction:Â So Cal Uncensored (SCU!) have been a regular feature on ‘Being The Elite’ in recent months, known for hating on any town that isn’t Southern California. While I feel there will be a significant portion of the Chicago crowd in the corner of SCU, I can’t see The Briscoes taking the L on the pre-show.
Fatal Four-Way Match
Madison Rayne Vs. Britt Baker Vs. Tessa Blanchard Vs. Chelsea Green
Many of the competitors in this match will be no strangers to viewers of Impact Wrestling and Lucha Underground, with all four helping lead the revolution of women’s wrestling outside the WWE bubble.
Prediction: It’s no simple task to call a winner out of four of the best women’s athletes in the world, so my prediction of Tessa Blanchard is based more on a gut feeling than anything else. I really think this could well be the sleeper hit of the night.
Chicago Street Fight
Joey Janela (W/ Penelope Ford) Vs. “Hangman” Adam Page
Moving on to the main card now, Janela vs. Page only recently had the street fight stipulation added, which plays right into Janela’s hands. However, “Hangman” has a mean streak of his own, after being revealed as the man who murdered Joey Ryan with a telephone.
Prediction:Â Now, initially I’d be inclined to say that this match was Janela’s for the taking but, in recent episodes of BTE, it has been hinted that famous Dick Wrestler Joey Ryan may not be as dead as first thought.
With that in mind, I think we will see the resurrection of Ryan to take his revenge on Page and give the W to Joey Janela.
Christopher Daniels Vs. Stephen Amell
Yeah, you read that right. The lead actor from hit TV show Arrow, Stephen Amell, will be taking on former ROH Champion Christopher Daniels.
BTE viewers will be aware of the storyline here but, in short, Amell was initially arrested for killing Joey Ryan. It was later revealed that Daniels was responsible for framing Amell, leading to the match we have now.
Prediction:Â Amell is no stranger to a wrestling ring, having previously teamed with Cody Rhodes (then performing as Stardust) a few years back, with Rhodes acting as his trainer now. Whether this match will be a classic or not remains to be seen but if anyone can carry a match to be great, it’s a man with the experience of Christopher Daniels.
ROH World Championship Match
Jay Lethal (C) Vs. over-Budget Battle Royal Winner
On the basis my earlier prediction comes true, I’ll be working on the assumption that Lethal will be defending against Moose here.
As mentioned earlier, Moose has really broken out of his shell and come into his own this year, proving himself as a top talent in Impact Wrestling. Lethal recently dethroned Dalton Castle to claim his second ROH World Title, becoming the first person to win the championship on a non-PPV show.
Prediction:Â Being The Elite fans will know the Lethal has been dealing will a certain, dare I say, “Macho” condition as of late, which has only gotten worse over the months. I have a suspicion this may play a factor in the match, giving Lethal an advantage.
Kazuchika Okada Vs. Marty Scurll
The story here is simple: no one thinks that Scurll can beat Okada.
Why? Because he is a junior heavyweight and Okada is, well, freaking Okada.
Even though he has earned himself a Dunkin’ Donuts black card as a result of his carb loading training regime, Okada seemed to have Scurll’s number until the latest BTE, where Marty promised to be “The Villain” he was meant to be. No more fun and games, only seriousness from now on.
Prediction:Â WhileI still think Okada will win here (New Japan top talents very rarely lose outside of an NJPW setting), this could be the catalyst that see’s Marty earn the respect of the heavyweight division and maybe even make the move up.
NWA World Heavyweight Championship Match
Nick Aldis (C) Vs. Cody Rhodes (W/ Brandi Rhodes)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81ohUGyqpX8
The NWA Championship is arguably one of the most prestigious in all of professional wrestling, its lineage going back over 100 years to the likes of George Hackenschmidt and Frank Gotch, with even “The Nature Boy” Ric Flair holding the belt a record nine times.
Aldis has held the title since December of last year and is currently in his first reign as champion. “The American Nightmare” Cody Rhodes, since leaving WWE, has proven himself as the MVP of professional wrestling, helping raise the bar of the industry to levels unheard of.
Prediction:Â I’m in no doubt that the Chicago faithful will be pro-Cody and in my mind, it makes no sense not to pull the trigger and put the title on him. To be frank, any belt on Rhodes right now will have its value and prestige raised innumerably.
To borrow a term, it’s best for business.
Six-Man Tag Team Match
The Young Bucks and Kota Ibushi Vs. Rey Mysterio, Fenix and Bandido
Based on star power alone, there is no doubt this could well be the most talked about match when ALL IN is done.
Honestly, the thought of this match has me giddy with possibility. On one side, you have three members of ‘The Golden Elite’ (Bucks/Ibushi) and on the other, three of the world’s biggest stars of lucha libre, past and present.
Prediction:Â The Bucks joked in BTE that this is the match they blew the budget on, but I think we can all forgive that. I’m almost reluctant to pick a side (this match is sure to be a crazy spot fest and I for one embrace every part of that), but what is for sure is that the fans are the real winners here. Eh, let’s go with The Golden Elite.
Kenny Omega Vs. Pentagon Jr.
Possibly the most high-profile contest on the card, this really is the definition of a dream match in today’s batshit crazy wrestling landscape.
Omega is the current IWGP Heavyweight Champion. Pentagon is a former Impact Wrestling and Lucha Underground Champion. Both are two of the most popular and talked about stars in pro wrestling today.
Whilst the two have never competed one-on-one before, we were treated to glimpses at PWG BOLA 2017, when Omega and The Young Bucks faced Pentagon Jr, Fenix and Flamita (you can finds clips online).
Prediction:Â This will be a hard-hitting match that, on paper, has match of the year candidate written all over it. In terms of the winner, based on the fact he is the current IWGP Champion and, more recently, topped the PWI 500 list at number one, I’m siding with “The Cleaner” Kenny Omega.
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