All In Goes All Out.

Max Ringside
Sep 3, 2018 · 14 min read

It was a long winding road to get here, but All In accomplished all of it’s goals.

To fill a 10,000 seat arena. Done.

To put on an All Star show with talent from around the world. Done.

Vince Probably Had A Similar Reaction When He Heard This Show Sold Out.

To make a statement that there’s more than the WWE in wrestling. Done.
At one point during the night and as a matter of fact for most of the show, All In was the #1 trend in the world on Twitter. It started out the night at #9 and gradually grew. Literally every single person I know that watched wrestling was watching this show. And I know for a fact that multiple people in the WWE locker rooms were watching this show.

The show was not perfect. There were the usual ROH audio problems, the show ran long and Bully Ray was on the show. In a way the show felt much like an old ECW show. It was a variety show. There was something for everyone and everything on the show was enjoyable. That is almost impossible to do. There’s also the fact that this was essentially a 5 hour show and the crowd, while obviously a little tired by the final three matches, was still into everything on the show and reacting loudly. WWE and Vince McMahon will probably attempt to pass the show off as it being lightening in a bottle and may even go the glorified bingo hall route on Monday, but tonight proved further that the WWE style of booking a long show DOES. NOT. WORK. And that there are ways to book long shows. This show was not good because it was Bullet Club affiliated. It was good because it was booked well. If WWE decides to change the way they book long shows, you can certainly look to this show as the reason why.

The biggest problem of the show was that everything felt like it wasn’t leaving room in case something went long. At one point there were three hours left and 6 matches. Which would normally be enough time but sure enough the Okada/Scrull match went long. And when I mean long I mean SUPER LONG. The match was supposed to go 12 minutes and instead went 26 minutes. From all that’s been gathered it seems like Okada went into business for himself and just decided to do a long match. It literally was so ridiculous that someone was yelling at ringside “MARTY GO HOME” And Rick Knox during the main event could be heard saying “When you gotta go home you gotta go home” and “Go home, NOW” Things like this happen usually because lots of little things go long by a minute or two. This was literally one guy deciding to to long by 12 minutes.

The first hour of the show was broadcast live on WGN America and presumably was a Time Buy. It’s not known how many people watched the show and we most likely never will know because WGN usually doesn’t reveal viewership for their shows.

1. SoCal Uncensored (Frankie Kazarian and Scorpio Sky) defeated The Briscoes in 12:33.

I’m not doing play by play of every spot because I will be here for a thousand years so I’m just gonna go over the highlights. SCU came out doing Rocky III cosplay. Scorpio did his “Worst town I’ve ever been in” gimmick. Lots of All In chants. Briscoes worked heel and it was pretty good action early on. Briscoes cut off the ring and kept Sky in their corner. Briscoes hit Redneck Boogie on Kazarian. They tried a top rope version but Sky cut them off and sent Jay into the barricade and then gave Mark a Frankensteiner. SCU hit a double team Lungblower that looked cool. Jay hit a Jay driller on Sky and then Mark followed it up with an elbow for a near fall. Briscoes went for a Doomsday Device but Kazarian caught Mark with a Powerslam while he was on Jay’s shoulders. Sky cut off Jay and SCU got the pin. ***1/4.

They had a trending worldwide graphic and did a hard sell of the PPV. They then went to a Kenny Omega Interview with a nameless interviewer. They made fun of the thing WWE interviewers do where they stand with their legs really wide to make people look taller. Kenny said she didn’t have to do that here.

2. Flip Gordon won the Over The Budget Battle Royal over a bunch of people last eliminating Bully Ray to get a shot at the ROH World Heavyweight Championship later tonight.

Bully Ray came out and took out Chico El Luchador under the ring ropes and then powerbombed him through a table. A lot of this was comedy. There was brawling on the outside and Tommy Dreamer and Billy Gunn teased doing dives and instead stepped through the ropes and jumped down and joined the brawling. Moose got some shine and then Marko Stunt who I’m fairly certain is 14 years old hit a dropkick and eliminated him. I haven’t watched Impact that much but the fact that the guy who is probably going to be a top contender to your World Heavyweight Championship was in a Battle Royal and was eliminated by Marko Stunt is probably something Impact won’t be too happy about. Everyone went after Bully Ray. Ray tossed out everyone and then Ray and Cabana were the alleged final two. Cabana hit him with a chair but got thrown out. Then Chico El Luchador came back in and unmasked as Flip Gordon He then eliminated Ray and got booked for All In. Probably the best traditional battle royal I’ve ever seen. ***.

They ended the WGN show with a hard sell for the PPV and a card rundown.

3. Matt Cross defeated MJF in 9:23.

This was an unannounced match. Lots of athletic stuff from Matt Cross including a dive to the floor that was so fast he walked all the way back up the stage and played to the crowd. MJF then got the heat and worked on Cross’ arm. Pretty sure you’re supposed to work on the leg of a high flyer but okay. Cross hit a hurricanrana and a handspring back elbow and a springboard cross body for a two count. MJF went back to the arm and hit a double foot stomp. He hit a shoulder breaker on the arm for a two count. MJF is a pretty good heel. MJF hit a pile driver looking move using the ropes for a two count. Cross made the comeback and hit a shooting star for the pin. Good opener. ***.

They said they were going to hear from Christopher Daniels but they then showed a backstage interview with Sean Mooney interviewing Nick Aldis. Okay. Nothing of note from this promo.

4. Christopher Daniels defeated Stephen Amell in 12:30.

This was pretty much a Shane McMahon stunt show. But Stephen Amell is was more believable as Shane McMahon that Shane McMahon is. Jerry Lynn refereed the match. Daniels took Amell down and stepped on him. They traded chops and Amell took down Daniels and stepped on him. They went to the floor and Amell sent Daniels into the guard rail. Amell pulled out a table. They went back in the ring. I believe Excalibur either at this point or later called the table “Chekov’s Table” A wonderful reference. Amell hit a Falcon Arrow that looked pretty bad. Amell put Daniels in the corner and hit a Van Terminator for a giant pop. Daniels it a B.M.E. for a two count. Christopher Daniels is in his mid 40’s and he is still in incredible shape. Amell and Daniels fought on the top rope and Daniels got knocked off onto the apron and then rolled onto the table. Amell went for an elbow but Daniels moved. Lynn teased a double count out and then went outside and threw both guys back into the ring. Lynn argued with Daniels and then Lynn threw his ref shirt at him. Daniels tried the Angel’s Wings but Amell countered for a two. Daniels hit the B.M.E. for the win. Lots of smoke and mirrors and gimmicks but fun stuff. ***.

5. Tessa Blanchard defeated Chelsea Green, Madison Rayne and Britt Baker in 12:41.

Blanchard came out and gave hugs to her father Tully and Magnum T.A, who was in a wheelchair and is still having movement problems on the right side of his body 30 years after the accident. Don’t drink and drive kids. Britt Baker came out to Adam Cole’s old music because of course she did. This was a total spot fest. They fought for a while and Green hit a dive to the outside hitting Baker. Blanchard then did a dive. Rayne then hit a Cross Body off the tope rope to the outside onto all three. Baker hit Sling Blades and got a two count on Green. Blanchard then hit a really good delayed vertical suplex on Rayne. Blanchard is a power house which is funny considering she’s only like 130 pounds. Green did Zack Ryder’s Woo Woo thing and hit a Rough Rider for a near fall. Rayne did a top rope facebuster. Action went by pretty fast here. Rayne then hit a Crucifix Bomb for a near fall. Green then hit a fucking Canadian Destroyer on Blanchard that looked sick. Blanchard then hit the Hammerlock DDT on Green and Baker was supposed to come up short on the break up but got way too close and the ref counted the three anyways. All four women worked super hard. Good match despite the weird finish. ***1/2

6. Cody Rhodes (With Brandi Rhodes) Defeated Nick Aldis to win the NWA World Heavyweight Championship in 22:01.

Cody came out with his Nightmare family including Brandi, DDP, Tommy Dreamer, Tim Storm and even Pharaoh, who if you are unaware is a dog. Pharaoh got a big pop. Aldis came out with Jeff Jarrett, Shawn Daivari (?) and others. Earl Hebner got them in the middle of the ring for pre match instructions. This felt like a JCP NWA title match from the 80’s and the crowd ate it up. Crowd largely behind Cody here. Largely even until Rhodes tried a springboard cross body to the floor and Aldis hit him with an elbow and Cody gigged. They tried to tease the match was going to be stopped but DDP ran out and he hit Shawn Daivari with a Diamond Cutter. This NWA World Heavyweight Title Match went very ECW for a minute there. Rhodes went for a moonsault and missed and Aldis took over. Rhodes got a Figure Four and Aldis made it to the ropes. Aldis then gave Rhodes a running power slam on the mats outside. Ouch. Rhodes fought back and they fucked up an Alabama Slam, but they just redid the spot. Aldis hit a powerbomb and went for the Texas Cloverleaf. Rhodes made it to the ropes. Brandi told Cody that “You don’t have to keep doing this” Aldis hit a pile driver and as he went to the top rope Brandi begged him to stop. She got on top of Rhodes basically doing a Baby Doll spot and Aldis went for an elbow that hit Brandi. Rhodes made a comeback and hit the Disaster Kick and Crossroads. Alids tried a sunset flip but Rhodes sat down and pinned Aldis for the win. I believe that was a callback to Dusty’s first title win. Fans popped huge. ***3/4.

Blood.

6. Hangman Page defeated Joey Janela (With Penlope Ford) in a Chicago Street Fight in 20:01

This match was fucking insane. Page hit a top turnbuckle moonsault to the floor onto Janela. Page then hit a suplex on Janela onto a chair. I was worried Janela was going to do his senton spot onto a chair to the outside so that’s good at least. They brawled to the outside and Hangman reveled an actual cracker barrel. Awesome. Page sent Janela into the barrel. Janela then did a running dive off of the barrel into the crowd onto page. Janela rolled the barrel at Page but Page did a Donkey Kong spot. Literally. Page set up a table. Janela then set up a ladder on the barrel and the apron. Page then gave Janela a fucking Burning Hammer onto the ladder. Janela hit the part of the ladder that was over the barrel by the way because of course he did. Page pulled a bag out from underneath the ring. Then Ford jumped onto Page from behind and tried to do a choke on him. Needless to say it didn’t work out to well. Page chased her but she did some back handsprings and ducked under a Lariat and hit a stunner. She then hit a cross body to the floor onto Hangman. That woman just made herself a god damned superstar. Janela then hit an elbow on Page onto the table. They went up onto the entrance ramp. Janela set up two tables and Page hit a superkick and then threw Janela with a powerbomb off of the entrance ramp onto the tables. Janela landed super short and he only hit the first table. I’m not joking when I say I think Janela almost died in this spot and I don’t even think it was the 10,000th dumbest spot Janela has ever done. Page hit Rite Of Passage but Ford broke it up. She had another garbage bag and in them were Page’s boots that were talking to him on BTE. He freaked out and Page super kicked Ford. Janela then hit a super kick on Page. Janela then set up a ladder because of course he did. They fought on the ladder while Page had a garbage bag and in the bag was a phone that looked like or perhaps was the phone Page used to kill Joey Ryan. He hit Janela with the phone and strangled him with the cord and hit Rite Of Passage off of the top of the ladder through a table for the pin. Janela landed directly on his fucking head. Insane brawl. ****1/4.

They then did the weirdest segment of all time in a wrestling event. They did a video package of Joey Ryan and at the end it showed him having a giant erection. Then a bunch of people in penis outfits walked out on stage like The Undertakers druids. And Joey Ryan came out. Crowd popped for Joey Ryan. Then he beat up Hangman and did a Penis Suplex on him and hit him with a Superkick. The Penises then carried Hangman out like he was Shawn Daivari on that one episode of Smackdown. It was the most hilarious thing I’ve ever fucking seen.

7. Jay Lethal (With Lanny Poffo) defeated Flip Gordon (With Brandi Rhodes) in 14:21 to retain the title.

Lethal was seen walking out and a person off camera handed him Randy Savage glasses. Lethal sighed and the man hit Lethal on the shoulder. Gordon came out with Brandi dressed in an army style outfit. Brandi I guess recovered from that elbow earlier. Jay came out with Lanny Poffo and was wearing Randy Savage’s gear from when he debuted in WCW. Really cool stuff. Lethal and Gordon did the Megapowers handshake. After the bell rang Jay went out and grabbed Brandi and dragged her over to his corner. Amazing. It was pretty even early on. Lethal went to the outside and chased Brandi into the ring and she yelled “I’m not Liz” Then she touched him on the shoulder and turned him back into Jay Lethal. Gordon hit two suicide dives and a twisting splash. Gordon went for a 450 and Lethal hit Lethal Combination. He went for Lethal Injection but Gordon rolled him up and then afterwards went for a Falcon Arrow. Poffo jumped on the apron and touched Lethal on the shoulder and that turned him back into Black Machismo. Lethal hit three elbows for a near fall. Gordon then kicked out and Hulked up. Gordon hit a big boot and then his springboard sling blade which has a clever name but I can’t remember what it’s called. Gordon hit a samoan drop and a standing shooting star press and a skytwister press for a two count. Gordon went for a springboard and Lethal hit him with a cutter. Lethal hit Lethal Injection for the pin. Good match that was super fun. ***1/4.

Lethal and Gordon shook hands and then Bully Ray came out and beat both of them up and then he hit Lanny Poffo with a low blow. Ray pulled out a table and Colt Cabana came out and speared Ray. They then all powerbombed him through a table. Considering the show was already running long this entire segment felt uncesessary. I guess maybe they felt after Flip losing they were worried about the crowd being down, but this segment didn’t need to happen.

9. Kenny Omega defeated Penta El Zero in 17:47.

Pentagon was over as FUCK. Omega wasn’t too far behind in crowd support. Pentagon did the “Cero Medio” spot where he throws the glove but Kenny cut him off. They did spots where they teased dives to the outside but they got cut off by their opponent getting in the ring and hitting them with something. Pentagon hit a GIGANTIC swanton to the floor. They brawled on the outside and Pentagon hit Omega with a power slam on the floor. Omega got control again and went for You Can’t Escape but Pentagon got the knees up. Omega built up meter and went for V-Trigger but Pentagon got a counter hit with a superkick. Omega went for One Winged Angel but Penagon countered into a backstabber. Omega went for a superplex but Pentagon hit that weird Alberto Del Rio double foot stomp in the corner for a near fall. Omega saved up his meter and hit V-Trigger but Penta pretty much no sold it. Omega hit a power bomb and another V-Trigger. Petnta fought back and hit Black Mass for a two count. They then fought on the apron and Pentagon hit a Fear Factor on the apron which looked disgusting. Omega’s head hit the apron and I thought for about a second that Omega for sure had a concussion and wouldn’t be able to continue but he kept going. Omega came back and hit a piledriver. He went for One Winged Angel again but Penta countered and snapped the arm. Pentagon hit a second Fear Factor and I thought for sure it was over but it was a two count. Omega came back with another V-Trigger and a poisionrana for a near fall. Omega hit a V-Trigger and a One Winged Angel which he hit with the other arm that wasn’t snapped for the pin. Great match. ****1/2.

After the match the lights went out. They came back on and the announcers tried to pass it off as a technical issue. But when they came back someone dressed as Pentagon hit Kenny from behind. You could tell it wasn’t Pentagon because the tattoos were different. The man unmasked and it was Chris Jericho. He then said he’d see Kenny on the cruise. Eh.

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN I CAN’T GO 20 MINUTES?”

10. Kazuchika Okada pinned Marty Scrull in 26:05.

Marty came out before the match and Arthur and Trevor told him that he was fucked. But Marty grabbed both their fingers and broke them. Awesome segment. Marty came out and looked like a fucking star. Okada was by far and away the most over guy on the show. They did some mat wrestling. Scrull took over and did a dive. Scurll worked on Okada’s arm. Okada got heat back. They fought outside and Okada hit Scrull with a DDT on the floor. Scrull hit Okada with an incredible looking brainbuster. Okada tried for the tombstone but Scrull reversed into a DDT. Scrull got Okada’s fingers and snapped them. Okada tried the Rainmaker but Scrull got the Chicken Wing but couldn’t lock the fingers. Okada got free but Scrull got the Chicken Wing again but couldn’t get the fingers locked. Scrull superkicked Okada and Tiger Hattori went down. Scrull did a spot with the umbrella. Okada tried a Rainmaker but Scrull blocked it with the umbrella. Scrull spit at Okada and slapped him. Okada hit Scrull with two rainmakers. Excellent match. Crowd was very patient but was super into it at the end. ****1/2.

11. The Golden Elite (Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson and Kota Ibushi defeated Rey Mysterio, Rey Fenix and Bandido in 11:48.

As soon as the Scrull/Okada match ended they showed a match graphic for the main event. Mysterio’s music hit and Mysterio took like a minute to get out on the stage. This match was fucking nuts. I can’t possibly explain any spots. Kota and Mysterio stood in the ring early on and people went fucking insane. Finish came when the Golden Elite did a triple More Bang For Your Buck followed by the Meltzer Driver for the win. Insane match considering it was only 12 minutes long. This was just about the best 12 minute match you will ever see. ****3/4.

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