I’m proud to say that I’m a “Day One” fan of All Elite Wrestling. I was watching Being The Elite before the company was even revealed, and I was at the original All In show in Chicago, Illinois, back in 2018! Wrestling was at a serious crossroads at that point, and Tony Khan took a swing with The Elite to “change the universe”—and it paid off big.
Now we’re just days away from their biggest show of the year, All In Texas, so it felt like the perfect time to talk about the best AEW matches you can watch for free on AEW’s YouTube channel. Whether you’re getting hyped for the show or checking out AEW for the first time, these matches are a great way to see what the company is all about.
Why should new fans watch these matches to “understand the company”? Simple: every wrestling promotion has its own style, and AEW’s shines brightest in the ring.
When All Elite Wrestling launched in 2019, its mission was to put the focus back on wrestling—highlighting the talent and skill of every competitor. All styles are welcome in AEW, which is why many fans, myself included, believe it has the strongest roster in the business from top to bottom.
So whether you’re brand new and want to see “what AEW is all about,” or you’re a longtime fan revisiting some classics before new ones are made at All In Texas this Saturday, I’ve put together a list of the best AEW matches you can watch right now. There’s no particular order here, so let’s kick things off with one of the best wrestling matches ever.
1. Kenny Omega vs. Will Ospreay – Forbidden Door 2023
Oh yeah, I’ll die on this hill. Kenny Omega and Will Ospreay don’t need much of an introduction. They are, without a doubt, two of the best wrestlers in the world today and, honestly, two of the best ever. Period.
Kenny’s explosive style and versatile move set, combined with excellent ring psychology, make him a performer you can always count on to deliver greatness, especially during big pay-per-view moments like this one.
Will Ospreay, on the other hand, has elevated himself from a junior heavyweight into what many consider the best pound-for-pound wrestler in the game. He can hit with power, then follow up with aerial moves so quick they defy belief.
This was the second singles match in their 2024 feud, and in my opinion, it was the most epic. The crowd and I were locked in from bell to bell. It was another clear example of why AEW is a place where the best truly wrestle.
This match also took place at Forbidden Door, the crossover event where AEW collaborates with other promotions to deliver major dream matches. Ospreay was still signed to New Japan Pro Wrestling at the time, but he gave everything he had to make this match something special. And you know Kenny matched that energy.
I put this match first because it means a lot to me. So give it a watch, and I’m willing to bet you’ll be hooked on AEW shortly after.
2. Young Bucks vs. Kenny Omega/Hangman Page – Revolution 2020
If I didn’t include this on the “Best AEW Matches” list, I’d probably lose my fan card. This match is both beautiful and ironic in all the ways that matter.
First, it took place in a packed arena just days before the global pandemic shut everything down. If we had seen it in front of no crowd, it wouldn’t have hit the same. Second, leading up to the event, many fans online (especially in the infamous IWC, or Internet Wrestling Community) weren’t thrilled that The Elite were putting themselves in a major pay-per-view spotlight. No matter who won the tag team titles, The Elite would still have them.
But what those critics didn’t realize was that these four incredible talents were about to deliver what many consider the greatest tag team match in wrestling history. The Young Bucks created AEW in part to bring tag team wrestling back to the forefront, and while they’ve done that in many ways, this might be their magnum opus.
This match wasn’t just about high-level wrestling. It was about layered, in-ring storytelling, which AEW leans into more than most. The action was top-tier, but it was the small moments and callbacks to past tensions that made it unforgettable. Hangman Adam Page, who’s now preparing to challenge for the world title at AEW All In Texas, was in the middle of a slow-burning character breakdown. Kenny Omega was trying to hold him together, while the Bucks were fed up and basically trying to push him off the edge.
All of that emotion exploded in this match, and even when the bell rang, the story kept going. That’s the beauty of AEW. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, they hit you with something unexpectedly great.
3. Orange Cassidy vs. Pac – AEW Revolution 2020
Let me tell you about a man named Orange Cassidy.
As I mentioned in the intro, AEW welcomes all styles. They want high-flyers, technical wrestlers, epic tag teams, and women of all shapes and sizes. They’re also fans of something a little more niche—comedy wrestling.
Orange Cassidy is a “sloth.” That’s his gimmick. Early in AEW’s run, he didn’t really “wrestle” with his tag partners, the Best Friends. He didn’t try. He’d come in, throw out some soft kicks, get the crowd laughing, surprise you with a random burst of energy, and then tag out. But deep down, we all knew it was building toward something bigger.
Pac, on the other hand, is one of the most underrated wrestlers of his generation. Injuries may have limited his AEW run, but his intensity, technical precision, and overall presence make him a must-see. So what happens when you put a “Bastard” in the ring with a “Sloth”? Greatness.
This match was the other side of the coin when it comes to in-ring storytelling, especially compared to the last entry. Pac wasn’t amused by Orange Cassidy’s antics, but OC didn’t care. He stuck to his style, frustrated Pac, and then—when the time was right—he actually tried. And when he did, Pac was stunned.
The crowd helped elevate this match into something special. And even though the outcome didn’t matter much in the end, it was the moment where everyone knew that Orange Cassidy was destined to be a star in AEW.
Sure enough, he went on to become one of the company’s best champions and proved that you can be both a sloth and a hard worker at the same time—and still be something truly special.
Why?
“Because my name is Orange Cassidy, and I do not have a catchphrase.”
4. Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. vs. Thunder Rosa – AEW Dynamite 2021
Look, if you ask any diehard fan which division in AEW took the longest to truly thrive, most would point to the women’s division. Don’t get me wrong—there were great wrestlers from the start, including Riho, Hikaru Shida, Kris Statlander, Nyla Rose, and others. But they didn’t always get the spotlight, especially on pay-per-views.
Every now and then, though, a match came along that proved the division could shine when given the opportunity. Britt Baker vs. Thunder Rosa at St. Patrick’s Day Slam was that match.
The feud had been building for a while. Thunder Rosa had injected new energy into AEW after coming over from the NWA in 2020. Britt Baker, D.M.D., was an AEW original. The story practically wrote itself.
Their lights-out match was raw, emotional, and absolutely brutal. Despite taking place during the pandemic with no live crowd, it was so beloved that it earned widespread praise and won multiple awards, including Pro Wrestling Illustrated’s Match of the Year. Yes, the women of AEW did that in 2021.
This match helped set a new tone for AEW’s women’s division. It gave fans something to rally around and proved that the women could absolutely deliver when given the chance. Fast forward to 2025, and the women now shine regularly on Dynamite and Collision. Just earlier this year, we even got a Match of the Year contender starring Toni Storm, who is arguably the most over woman in wrestling right now.
Thunder Rosa vs. Britt Baker remains iconic and respected for all the right reasons. And now, with Toni Storm facing Mercedes Moné at All In Texas in one of the most anticipated matches on the card, it’s clear how far the division has come.
5. Bryan Danielson vs. Zack Saber Jr. – WrestleDream 2023
The words “dream match” in wrestling can be deceptive. I’ve seen plenty of matches hyped up with that label, only for them to fall flat when the bell rang. But Bryan Danielson versus Zack Sabre Jr. at the very first WrestleDream event wasn’t just a dream match done right. It was one of the best technical wrestling matches of all time and easily one of the defining matches of this generation.
Here’s the setup. Bryan Danielson came to AEW after a legendary career in that other place (you know the one) because he wanted to be a wrestler again. A pure, unfiltered professional wrestler. And that’s exactly what he became. But we also knew we wouldn’t have him around forever. Sure enough, Danielson announced his retirement tour and named Zack Sabre Jr. as the first opponent on that run.
ZSJ is widely regarded as the best technical wrestler on the planet today. He’s a submission machine, capable of twisting you into a pretzel from any position. He had only faced Danielson once before, back when he was just starting out, so this was very much a master versus apprentice scenario. And when the bell rang, it became a showcase of pure technical excellence.
Reversals, counters, chain wrestling, submissions—everything you would expect from two of the best at their craft was on full display. Some even said it was the closest thing we’ve seen to a modern-day match in the spirit of Antonio Inoki, the legendary Japanese wrestler known for his technical skill and innovation.
A lot of people like to claim that AEW is just about flips and chaos. This match proved otherwise. It reminded everyone that AEW is also a home for real wrestling, where talent and technique are front and center. We should all be grateful we got to see this match before Danielson stepped away from full-time competition.
Oh, and Jon Moxley was on commentary. He was absolutely hilarious.
6. Bryan Danielson vs. MJF – Revolution 2023
What? You thought I was only going to have one Bryan Danielson match on this list? He’s the GOAT to many, and given his AEW run, I could have MANY more matches of his on here.
Anyway, before his retirement announcement, Danielson went after the AEW world title, which was held by the “Salt of the Earth,” the “Devil,” “Our Scumbug,” Maxwell…Jacob…Friedman… MJF.
AEW has never been shy about doing incredibly long matches on TV or on PPV, and this match at Revolution was insane because it didn’t just go an hour, it went an hour and five minutes! Danielson and MJF put on a spectacle, going back and forth and making you wonder if Danielson really was going to win the title and shut MJF up for good.
Fans cite this as one of the best parts of Bryan’s AEW run, and MJF happily boasts that this is “the greatest Iron Man match ever.” He’s a scumbag…but that doesn’t really mean he’s WRONG here…
7. Jon Moxley vs. Hangman Adam Page, Texas Deathmatch – Revolution 2023
For “lucky No.7,” how about a little foreshadowing?
As I noted before, Hangman Adam Page was an AEW Original and a key member of The Elite. Meanwhile, Jon Moxley was the man who “shocked the wrestling world” by pulling off a “Paradigm Shift” when he arrived at the first AEW PPV, Double or Nothing, to show that he was “ALIVE!!!!!” and that wrestling was going to make a big comeback.
Both men were staples in the title chase ever since AEW started, and eventually, they had themselves a non-title feud that would end in a Texas Deathmatch. This match was brutal in all the ways that matter, and the finish was equally brutal.
Why is this foreshadowing? Well, while it definitely fits on the “Best AEW Matches” list, the literal rematch of this fight is about to happen at All In Texas. This time, though, Moxley is the world champ, and Hangman has come out of a years-long “funk” to try and take it away from Mox and the Death Riders (Mox’s crew) to save AEW from the terror they’ve imposed on it. And, once again, it’s a Texas Deathmatch.
Many fans, including myself, know the rematch will be even more insane than this one. So consider this video the “appetizer” to the main course we’re getting on Saturday.
8. Stadium Stampede – Double Or Nothing 2020
This one…will need a little explaining. Hehe.
When the pandemic hit, everything was thrown out the window. Literally. For AEW, they had been building up to a huge double cage match called “Blood & Guts” featuring The Elite and Chris Jericho’s group, The Inner Circle. However, plans changed, and so, a new concept was born thanks to the “location” that AEW owner Tony Khan had: EverBank Stadium, the home of the Jacksonville Jaguars. …if you didn’t know, Tony’s dad owns the Jags.
“Stadium Stampede,” as it was dubbed by Jericho, would be a 5v5 match where ANYTHING could happen all over the stadium. On the field, in the stands, in the back, at the in-stadium bar, even the pools were used in the match! Nothing was off limits, and the AEW team went nuts with that.
Everything about this match is fun, hilarious, beautiful, and insane. I watched it not too long ago, and it made me laugh all over again. The match was such a success that they had a “repeat” the following year, and then, they evolved the match (thanks to the fans being able to come back) into the equally insane “Anarchy In The Arena,” which is now an AEW tradition unlike any other.
Everything has to start somewhere, though, and AEW absolutely knocked it out of the park with this first Stadium Stampede. Enjoy.
9. MJF vs. Will Ospreay – All In London 2024
It’s actually fitting that the last two matches on this list are from All In last year. The first two All In shows from Wembley Stadium changed the wrestling game once again. Period. Most agree, though, that the second year had the better overall matches, with MJF vs. Will Ospreay being a standout.
Long story short, Ospreay was the AEW International Champion, and then MJF stole it from him in an hour-long match on a landmark AEW episode (I actually would’ve put that match here if they had uploaded it!!!!). MJF rebranded the title as the “American Championship” and labeled himself “an American hero.” Ospreay vowed to get it back, especially after MJF kept using his brutal finishing move, “The Tiger Driver,” against some of Ospreay’s allies.
The match was fun and brutal, and the London crowd was literally All In for Ospreay. The “OSPREAY! OSPREAY!” chants were nothing short of deafening, and I can’t wait for these two to do their “Rubber Match” down the line.
…oh, it appears AEW didn’t include Ospreay’s awesome Assassin’s Creed entrance in full…I can fix that!
10. Swerve Strickland vs. Bryan Danielson – All In London 2024
Whose House? SWERVE’S HOUSE!
Swerve Strickland is easily one of the most important signings in AEW history, and when he won the world title at Dynasty in April 2024 (an event I got to see live!!!!), it was a very deserved moment for him, and he had a great reign. But…by the time All In London came around, it was his title…versus the career of Bryan Danielson.
The retirement tour was soon coming to an end, and this was Bryan’s final shot at the title. Pretty much everyone wanted him to win, and we could FEEL that he was going to win it. However, AEW loves tugging on our heartstrings, and this near-30-minute match had so many back-and-forths that you did have to wonder if Swerve would pull it out and be the nail in Danielson’s career.
Just as awesome as the match and the fakeouts was the crowd. Despite this being the main event of All In London 2, they were red hot throughout, putting their own energy into the ring to try and get Bryan the victory.
…and he got it. I know I didn’t spoil many of the match results on this list, but Bryan winning is considered one of the most uplifting finales in AEW history, if not wrestling history. Bryan did this for himself, his family, AEW, and wrestling as a whole.
What a perfect way to end this list, wouldn’t you say? I believe the answer here is, “YES! YES! YES!”
And that’s a wrap on this “Best AEW Matches” list. Just to be clear, there are PLENTY of epic matches in All Elite Wrestling’s roster that still need to be uploaded to the AEW YouTube channel, and there are other matches uploaded right now that you can check out that are also really good, such as Willow Nightengale vs. Mercedes Mone, Young Bucks vs. FTR, Christian Cage vs. Darby Allin, Jon Moxley vs. Kenny Omega, and more. Plus, AEW seems bent on uploading even MORE matches as time goes on, and I don’t blame them.
As for All In Texas, it’s got a stacked card that deserves to be viewed. So, check your local PPV provider so you can get it for yourself, as it’s THIS Saturday, July 12th, at 2 PM Central Time. I’m definitely going to be watching, and I hope you will, too! As for AEW as a whole, you can check it out on TBS and TNT on Wednesdays and Saturdays (typically…) and it streams live on Max!
