5 Biggest Takeaways From AEW WrestleDream 2024

AEW WrestleDream 2024 was the coronation of new superstars, the return of some old favorites and the murder of Bryan Danielson—which is quickly becoming a monthly occurrence.

I don’t want to review the entire show.

I won’t pretend to have nuanced opinions on Brian Cage becoming the Ring of Honor TV House Show FTW Jr Champion. Congrats to him though. I’m sure he looks in the mirror every day confused as hell about why he’s not the main guy in every wrestling promotion in the world.

So let’s just talk about a few key moments from the show and what they mean going forward.

Here are my 5 biggest takeaways from AEW WrestleDream 2024:

1. Let’s finish MJF vs. Adam Cole, I guess

Last time these two men were in a program, their entire story melted under the weight of injuries and CM Punk’s main character syndrome, leading to a sad limp to the finish line, saved by the professionalism of Samoa Joe.

I MJF. I’m a bit concerned about the reports he plans to film more movies.

I mean, good for him. Do whatever you want.

I just hope he can tell meaningful stories in between movie filming absences but fortunately, this Adam Cole story doesn’t need a ton of runway. It’s starting at the finish line.

Very mad I’m not watching #AEWWrestleDream can’t wait to rewatch later , ADAM COLE BAY BAY

pic.twitter.com/ULrmeDpIp7

— 3TNEM (@3TNEM) October 13, 2024

Adam Cole might just be Kawhi Leonard. One huge run in his career we all thought would sustain for years to come, completely erased by frequent visits to the emergency room.

Cole needs this story to work. Killers are waiting in this locker room for a chance at the amount of TV time Cole is about to receive. He and MJF better light each other on fire by the end of this.

2. What’s next for Willow Nightingale?

Willow Nightengale is the star of this women’s division. Shout out to Mercedes Mone for being on all the promotional truck wraps or whatever but week-after-week, Willow Nightengale demonstrates she is capable of having the best match of the night, any night.

But I feel like a Thunder Rosa injury sent the entire house of cards down and everyone’s kind of just running around doing stuff.

Willow should have won this match but I understand Mariah May needs it more. AEW built a year-long feud with Toni Storm alllll leading up to Mariah May winning the Women’s Championship at All Out and then they shrugged and said “Whatever, we’ll figure it out”. But they haven’t figured it out.

Whether it’s Mariah May or Mercedes Mone or whatever random champion in Mexico or Japan, Willow outwrestles them and walks away from each match feeling like a bigger star. She has become the bar in which champions are measured.

What a finish!

Mariah May retains! 👏👏 #AEWWrestleDream pic.twitter.com/wZBH9TXYQy

— Kam Dreesen (@TheKamDreesen) October 13, 2024

And Mariah May passed the test.

Would just love to see Willow stop being the barometer of other women’s title reigns and maybe get her own.

3. Jay White and Takeshita SZN

Certain wrestlers are cool whether you’re 7 years old, 17 or 37¹.

Jay White and Takeshita are just cool.

Jay White is so cool he made me like Billy Gunn’s lame sons. White can cut a promo as well as anyone, he looks like he hasn’t had a brownie in 15 years and in a company full of ballers, Jay’s style feels like it perfectly contrasts whoever he’s in the ring with.

I’m down for Jay White and Hangman Page to keep going. They have chemistry and nothing better to do.

From the moment Takeshita appeared in AEW, I was all on in this Yakuza hitman, trained by the league of assassins and broke away to win the AEW International Championship.

Now we get to see Takeshita travel to CMLL and rip a luchador’s head off his shoulders.

AEW ending the year putting the spotlight on Jay White and Takeshita is exactly how this company should march into the new year.

4. Swerve side mission

Speaking of cool wrestlers, Swerve came to AEW WrestleDream 2024 to bless us in his home state.

Swerve Strickland, you gotta stop. you smoke too tough. your swag too different. your bxtch is too bad. They’ll kill you

pic.twitter.com/2LHcMnZO7r

— 🅰️🅾️ (@KXNGAO) October 13, 2024

It looks like it’s Darby Allin’s time at the top. Cool.

Christian Cage is somewhere with an automatic title shot. Sure.

Jay White is throwing his hat into the main event scene. Dope.

I was concerned Swerve would be without a home after his Hangman feud but the Hurt Business came along at the perfect time to save him with what will be a brutal confrontation with Bobby Lashley.

Swerve has spent so much time speaking on black representation in wrestling that I imagine it’s surreal for him to be in a program with MVP and Shelton Benjamin.

We’ll walk away from this story with a stronger appreciation for Swerve as he tells a racially complicated story while dragging old men through 5-star matches.

5. Farewell, Bryan Danielson

I am so glad the AEW record books have Bryan Danielson solidified as a former world champion because one day, some little nerd who’s just getting into professional wrestling can scroll through AEW’s history and learn about all of the greatest wrestlers, the way my lame ass did when I was a kid learning about Sting and Harley Race.

Danielson will be back at some point for a big Wheeler Yuta match or maybe one day he and Kenny Omega will be healthy at the same time for some sort of double retirement match.

I enjoyed every second of this title run. I was at Grand Slam screaming “YES” as he beat Nigel McGuinness. Bryan Danielson is the greatest to ever do it and we’ll all pretend he didn’t waste one of his few title defenses against Jungle Boy.

Random Stray Thoughts

Looking back, it’s insane how frequently Billy, Chuck and Rico were on my TV growing up. I watched them get married.

BILLY GUNN DROPS RICO WITH THE FAMOUSER!! 😂 #AEWWrestleDream pic.twitter.com/DORbPx0ntA

— 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐕𝐞𝐧 (@WrestlingCovers) October 12, 2024

And 20 years later it all paid off in a match between the gay rappers and the straight fashion stylists. As we all predicted.

Hologram vs. Beast Mortos should be on every card for the rest of the year. 1-on-1, first to 50 wins.

THE BEAST MORTOS pic.twitter.com/hoqHL4MnQI

— Eduardo Martinez (@PharrFromHeaven) October 13, 2024

Shout out to Private Party. 0% chance they were ever going to beat the Young Bucks but maybe they’ll get a title shot against The Outrunners in a few months.