10 Best AEW World Championship Matches (So Far)

Tomorrow is AEW Full Gear 2021 day.

It looks like a hell of a show on paper, with CM Punk versus Eddie Kingston, Miro against Bryan Danielson, the Lucha Brothers taking on FTR and much, much more all likely to give viewers more than their money's worth.

The biggest of the big matches, however, is Kenny Omega defending the AEW World Title against 'Hangman' Adam Page.

One of the most anticipated World Title matches from any promotion in recent memory, it could very well steal the show. Not only is Page a wildly popular challenger and Kenny a damn fine champion, but the AEW World Title itself has, in its short life, solidified its reputation as one of the most meaningful in the business.

There have (to date) been only three champions and World Title matches aren't something that are booked on a whim. Most of them have either been great or, at the very least, meant something in the grand scheme of things.

How will Hangman versus Omega compare to the following ten AEW World Title matches?

10. Chris Jericho Vs. Adam Page - All Out 2019

And so we start where it all began, with the first AEW World Title match at the company's fourth pay-per-view - 2019's All Out.

AEW played it smart by not rushing to crown their first world champion, as Dynamite was yet to debut. The title match came about after Adam Page won the Casino Battle Royale during the Double or Nothing buy-in show and Chris Jericho downed Kenny Omega in the main event.

There was certainly a lot of intrigue heading into All Out, more so around the booking than how good the match would turn out.

Would AEW put the strap on the tried-and-tested veteran and their first major signing, or on the promising upstart?

It wasn't either man's greatest effort, but it was a decent scrap and they certainly put the work in. Plus, I mean, Hangman came out on a horse, you know? That's an automatic recommendation, in my book (or internet post).

What the match did prove was that Page was not quite ready to hold the title. Tony Khan made the right call and had Jericho go over with the Judas Effect after some close near falls.

Hangman wasn't ready to hold the title then, yes, but you could see that, one day, he would be.

That day is hopefully at Full Gear 2021.

9. Jon Moxley Vs. MJF - All Out 2020

All Elite Wrestling

All Out 2020 was an uneven show that, thankfully, ended on a high.

The true highlight of the event was Adam Page and Kenny Omega's unsuccessful Tag Team Title defense against FTR, but Jon Moxley and MJF grafted hard to put on a worthy show-closer.

It was a great contrast in styles and personalities and built slowly, with MJF determined to control the pace and ground the champion in the early going.

Inevitably, things picked up a gear and Friedman was busted open after colliding with the ring post. From there it became a much different much as they started throwing bombs at each other, with the comparatively inexperienced MJF doing more than enough to keep up with Mox.

In the end, the Paradigm Shift proved too much for MJF. Though the manner of the victory was (relatively) clean, MJF could still cry foul based on the Wardlow/referee distraction at the end and thus keep his heat.

MJF will surely be a fixture of the AEW World Title scene in years to come and, based on this evidence, will fit right in.

8. Kenny Omega Vs. Jungle Boy - AEW Dynamite (June 26, 2021)

Speaking of people who are going to be a fixture of the AEW World Title scene in years to come, you expect that Jungle Boy will be in the mix as well.

Young Jack Perry had looked impressive in his AEW career to this point, but many point to this as his breakout performance and the match that alerted people to his true potential.

It helped that he was in there with the Best Bout Machine, in the thick of a fine title run and someone who is adept at taking a challenger that may seem like a longshot on paper and constructing a match that makes them feel like a believable winner.

Headlining this special Saturday night edition of Dynamite, Jungle Boy made the absolute most of the opportunity and entered a gutsy performance as the spirited underdog, flying around (and out of) the ring at will.

The crowd were with him, too, and played their part in making this feel like a big-time match, rather than an arbitrary defence.

Omega gave him a lot and allowed himself to look vulnerable, bumping and selling well before teasing a tap-out while caught in the Snare Trap. Eventually, Kenny put him away and ended the dream (for now) with the One-Winged Angel, showing he just had too many big moves in his arsenal and too much experience at this point.

This was pay-per-view quality stuff and a great look at AEW's future.

8. Kenny Omega Vs. Jungle Boy - AEW Dynamite (June 26, 2021)

Speaking of people who are going to be a fixture of the AEW World Title scene in years to come, you expect that Jungle Boy will be in the mix as well.

Young Jack Perry had looked impressive in his AEW career to this point, but many point to this as his breakout performance and the match that alerted people to his true potential.

It helped that he was in there with the Best Bout Machine, in the thick of a fine title run and someone who is adept at taking a challenger that may seem like a longshot on paper and constructing a match that makes them feel like a believable winner.

Headlining this special Saturday night edition of Dynamite, Jungle Boy made the absolute most of the opportunity and entered a gutsy performance as the spirited underdog, flying around (and out of) the ring at will.

The crowd were with him, too, and played their part in making this feel like a big-time match, rather than an arbitrary defence.

Omega gave him a lot and allowed himself to look vulnerable, bumping and selling well before teasing a tap-out while caught in the Snare Trap. Eventually, Kenny put him away and ended the dream (for now) with the One-Winged Angel, showing he just had too many big moves in his arsenal and too much experience at this point.

This was pay-per-view quality stuff and a great look at AEW's future.

7. Kenny Omega Vs. Christian Cage - All Out 2021

All ELite Wrestling

This year's All Out was an absolutely stacked card, featuring CM Punk's first wrestling match in over seven-and-a-half years, a Tag Team Title cage match between the Young Bucks and the Lucha Bros and the grudge match between MJF and Chris Jericho many months in the making.

Despite going on last and being over the AEW World Title, Kenny Omega versus Christian Cage didn't feel like the biggest match on the show.

You'd be a fool to doubt two pros like The Cleaner and Captain Charisma, of course, and the pair put on a damn fine match that was a good follow-up to their Impact World Title match from Dynamite a month prior.

It might not have been the all-time epic they were striving for, but it was really, really good. It was paced nicely and ebbed and flowed well, with both men pulling out the big moves down the closing stretch, which began when Cage nailed a Spear off the apron and through a table.

After trying several times to hit the Killswitch, Christian finally hit it for a very believable near fall after himself surviving a couple V-Triggers.

Realising he would have to unleash something truly special to get the job done, Christian set up a top-rope Killswitch, only for it to be countered into a huge One-Winged Angel from the second turnbuckle.

It was a remarkable end to a hard-fought contest.

6. Jon Moxley Vs. Mr. Brodie Lee - Double Or Nothing 2020

All Elite Wrestling

The first AEW pay-per-view of the pandemic era was a big test for AEW Champion Jon Moxley and Brodie Lee, the undefeated leader of the Dark Order who had not long been in the company after leaving WWE.

We'd seen the two men have some good battles in their previous lives as Dean Ambrose and Luke Harper, but this time a World Title was on the line and the circumstances were unlike anything either had experienced in their careers.

True to form, they went out and had a wild brawl that took place as much outside of the ring as in it.

The Exalted One took some big bumps, including a backdrop off the steel stairs on the floor and a Paradigm Shift through the stage, which gave us the great visual of Brodie re-emerging from the wreckage, crimson mask and all.

Two more Paradigm Shifts couldn't get the job done, leading to a tenacious Moxley latching onto a choke hold and getting the W via technical submission.

It's such a tragic shame what ended up happening with Brodie's passing at the end of the year, but he really managed to pack a lot into his short AEW run, including a great performance here.

5. Jon Moxley Vs. Eddie Kingston - Full Gear 2020

All Elite Wrestling

These last few months we've witnessed Eddie Kingston emerged as a true superstar and he goes into his match with CM Punk at Full Gear 2021 as one of the most talked-about performers in the business.

One year ago, Kingston had been in AEW for less than half a year and was challenging Jon Moxley for the AEW Title in an I Quit match main event.

It was a big test for the Mad King, who has since been very open about past struggles with confidence that led him to contemplate retirement years before signing with Tony Khan's promotion.

Going into the match with Mox, it was hard to buy Eddie as a major threat, but he sure did raise his stock with this bruising, strong style affair that started off surly before, as Moxley's defences often did, becoming a sprawling, weapons-laden brawl.

Both men bled and took some horrific bumps as they tried to get their opponent to quit. It was exactly what was promised and, though it might not be to everyone's tastes, you cannot deny the effort that went into making it a spectacle.

After thumb tack bumps, piledrivers and the the introduction of barbed wire, Moxley finally managed to get Kingston to utter those two words in what turned out to be the last successful defence of his reign.

4. Chris Jericho Vs. Cody - Full Gear 2019

All Elite Wrestling

Cody has his detractors, but you cannot deny that he's been in three of the best and most memorable AEW matches to date.

His instant classic with Dustin Rhodes, the Dog Collar war with Brodie Lee and his unsuccessful attempt to wrest the AEW Title away from Chris Jericho at Full Gear 2019.

This one had the proverbial 'big fight feel', as both men know how to work that style and the stipulations - Cody wouldn't be able to challenge for the AEW Title again if he lost - added much to the drama.

This had a bit of everything and told a great story, with Cody crashing and burning after some nice initial wrestling exchanges, as Jericho took over. The American Nightmare came back with fire and looked to have it won after Cross Rhodes, Jericho's head spiking into the mat on impact.

The false finishes continued to ramp up and the crowd grew more and more invested, until Le Champion cinched the Walls of Jericho in.

In a brilliant finish, Cody's 'best friend' MJF (stationed at ringside), threw in the towel and the referee called for the bell.

This accomplished a lot, as Jericho had the best defense of his reign, while the post-match kick in the balls cemented MJF as a major heel.

If this is to be Cody's one and only shot at the AEW World Title, at least it came in the form of a great match.

3. Jon Moxley Vs. Kenny Omega - AEW Dynamite: Winter Is Coming (December 2, 2020)

Jon Moxley had a long and commendable reign as AEW Champion but, after 277 days, it was time for something new.

Mox deserves credit for carrying the title through the pandemic era and working very hard to make his matches enjoyable and memorable when there were no crowds to cheer him on.

There was no one better than Kenny Omega to become the third AEW World Champion, and he won the title in style on what felt like one of the biggest episodes of Dynamite to that point.

They went almost thirty minutes, with Omega working the knee and dictating the pace while Moxley made intermittent comebacks. Doing a recap of all the moves and sequences wouldn't really do the work justice, but suffice to say both men dug deep into their repertoires as it became clear it was going to take something special - or a timely distraction - to settle things.

That distraction was provided by Don Callis, showing his true colours and providing Omega with an opening (and a microphone), which Kenny used to bust Moxley open before hitting a series of V-Triggers and a One-Winged Angel for a rare title switch.

The post-match scene, with Omega and Callis sprinting out of the arena and plugging Impact Wrestling, only added to the intrigue that the opening of the so-called Forbidden Door had created.

Not the best Omega versus Moxley match (that would be their Lights Out meeting at Full Gear 2019), but a hell of a World Title bout and another pay-per-view quality outing on free television.

3. Jon Moxley Vs. Kenny Omega - AEW Dynamite: Winter Is Coming (December 2, 2020)

Jon Moxley had a long and commendable reign as AEW Champion but, after 277 days, it was time for something new.

Mox deserves credit for carrying the title through the pandemic era and working very hard to make his matches enjoyable and memorable when there were no crowds to cheer him on.

There was no one better than Kenny Omega to become the third AEW World Champion, and he won the title in style on what felt like one of the biggest episodes of Dynamite to that point.

They went almost thirty minutes, with Omega working the knee and dictating the pace while Moxley made intermittent comebacks. Doing a recap of all the moves and sequences wouldn't really do the work justice, but suffice to say both men dug deep into their repertoires as it became clear it was going to take something special - or a timely distraction - to settle things.

That distraction was provided by Don Callis, showing his true colours and providing Omega with an opening (and a microphone), which Kenny used to bust Moxley open before hitting a series of V-Triggers and a One-Winged Angel for a rare title switch.

The post-match scene, with Omega and Callis sprinting out of the arena and plugging Impact Wrestling, only added to the intrigue that the opening of the so-called Forbidden Door had created.

Not the best Omega versus Moxley match (that would be their Lights Out meeting at Full Gear 2019), but a hell of a World Title bout and another pay-per-view quality outing on free television.

2. Kenny Omega Vs. Pac Vs. Orange Cassidy - Double Or Nothing 2021

All Elite Wrestling

Though it looked a tad thrown together on paper, the triple threat match between Kenny Omega, Pac and Orange Cassidy totally stole the show at Double or Nothing 2021.

The first big live crowd since the pandemic started were treated to a thriller, as the Bastard, the Belt Collector and Freshly Squeezed threw absolutely everything at the wall in a near thirty-minute rollercoaster.

The dynamic was great, as Pac was vicious, Omega was cocky and Cassidy was, well, Cassidy - the three very different characters and styles meshing together beautifully.

There were some breath-taking spots and sequences, whether involving two competitors or all three. This wasn't your typical 'one wrester takes a big move and stays out of the way while the other two fight' sort of three way, either, and they did a great job of making OC look like he could pull off a major upset (particularly as he sought to take advantage of Pac's massive top-rope Falcon Arrow on Omega).

It took the intervention of Don Callis, the AEW World Title belt and a quick cradle to ensure that Kenny walked out with the gold still around his waist. They didn't win the title, but both Pac and Orange Cassidy both came out of the match looking much better than before they went into it.

1. Kenny Omega Vs. Rey Fenix - AEW Dynamite: New Year's Smash Night One (January 6, 2021)

Kenny Omega's first defence after dethroning Jon Moxley was against the ridiculously talented Rey Fenix on the first Dynamite of 2021 (dubbed New Year's Smash Night One).

Seeing these two put together in this setting, you had to know that the action would be nonstop and that they would throw everything out there in order to put on a great match.

It obviously helped that their styles were complimentary and Omega is always good when it comes to showcasing his opponents and making them shine.

And what a showcase this was for the luchador, as Fenix got to show off just about every trick in his bag. Now, moves are just moves if there are no meaning behind them, and thankfully things here built and built to a crescendo.

The timing was spot-on and, though they packed a lot in and there were maybe one or two head drops too many, they didn't totally overdo it, ending things right at the peak.

Omega retained after unloading with his big moves, culminating with the well-protected One-Winged Angel.

Just a fantastic professional wrestling match between two wonderful professional wrestlers who wrestle professionally. A great start to AEW's in-ring year and a match that shouldn't be forgotten when it comes time to consider Rey Fenix as a future challenger.

1. Kenny Omega Vs. Rey Fenix - AEW Dynamite: New Year's Smash Night One (January 6, 2021)

Kenny Omega's first defence after dethroning Jon Moxley was against the ridiculously talented Rey Fenix on the first Dynamite of 2021 (dubbed New Year's Smash Night One).

Seeing these two put together in this setting, you had to know that the action would be nonstop and that they would throw everything out there in order to put on a great match.

It obviously helped that their styles were complimentary and Omega is always good when it comes to showcasing his opponents and making them shine.

And what a showcase this was for the luchador, as Fenix got to show off just about every trick in his bag. Now, moves are just moves if there are no meaning behind them, and thankfully things here built and built to a crescendo.

The timing was spot-on and, though they packed a lot in and there were maybe one or two head drops too many, they didn't totally overdo it, ending things right at the peak.

Omega retained after unloading with his big moves, culminating with the well-protected One-Winged Angel.

Just a fantastic professional wrestling match between two wonderful professional wrestlers who wrestle professionally. A great start to AEW's in-ring year and a match that shouldn't be forgotten when it comes time to consider Rey Fenix as a future challenger.