Check out our 2026 AEW Fantasy Tournament!
AEW 2026 Fantasy Tournament – Round One
Match 1: Kenny Omega vs Kyle Fletcher
The tournament kicks off with a high-octane clash that immediately sets the tone. Kyle Fletcher enters with supreme confidence, backed by his size and power advantage, but Kenny Omega looks laser-focused, clearly treating this like a statement match. Fletcher tries to slow things down early, muscling Omega into the corners and throwing heavy forearms, attempting to sap the speed advantage. Omega weathers the storm, countering a powerbomb attempt into a hurricanrana that sends Fletcher crashing to the floor.
The pace quickens as Omega unleashes his trademark snapdragon suplexes, but Fletcher refuses to stay down, answering with a brutal sit-out powerbomb for a close two-count. The crowd rallies as both men trade strikes in the center of the ring, Omega’s precision clashing with Fletcher’s raw aggression. Fletcher nearly steals it with a top-rope brainbuster, but Omega kicks out at the last possible moment.
In the closing moments, Fletcher goes for another power move, but Omega slips behind, lands a V-Trigger flush to the jaw, and hoists Fletcher up for the One Winged Angel. The impact echoes through the arena, and there’s no escaping the pinfall.
Winner: Kenny Omega
Match 2: Will Ospreay vs Claudio Castagnoli
This match is a fascinating contrast of styles, with Will Ospreay’s aerial wizardry colliding against Claudio Castagnoli’s relentless strength and technical mastery. Claudio dominates early, using uppercuts and gutwrench slams to keep Ospreay grounded, cutting off the high-flying offense. Every time Ospreay tries to build momentum, Claudio drags him back down with punishing precision.
Ospreay eventually creates space with a sudden handspring enzuigiri, igniting a flurry of offense that includes a springboard forearm and a diving crossbody to the outside. Claudio absorbs the punishment and responds with a massive European uppercut that nearly turns Ospreay inside out. The match becomes a war of attrition, with Claudio swinging Ospreay around with a giant swing that leaves the crowd in awe.
In the final stretch, Claudio attempts the Ricola Bomb, but Ospreay flips out mid-move and lands on his feet. A hidden blade connects, followed by Stormbreaker in one smooth sequence. Claudio collapses, and Ospreay covers him decisively to advance.
Winner: Will Ospreay
Match 3: Hangman Page vs Bandido
Hangman Page and Bandido shake hands before the bell, but any respect quickly gives way to competition. Bandido’s speed and agility catch Hangman off guard early, as he strings together arm drags, headscissors, and a breathtaking tornillo to the outside. Hangman regroups and uses his strength to slow things down, driving Bandido into the mat with a fallaway slam and grounding him with heavy strikes.
Bandido refuses to be overwhelmed, countering a Deadeye attempt into a clever roll-up for a near fall. The match becomes a thrilling back-and-forth, with Hangman landing a moonsault and Bandido responding with a pop-up cutter that brings the crowd to its feet. Both men show signs of fatigue as the intensity ramps up.
In the closing moments, Bandido goes for a springboard attack, but Hangman catches him mid-air, spins him around, and plants him with the Deadeye. Hangman doesn’t hesitate, rolling through and hitting the Buckshot Lariat for good measure. The pinfall is academic as Hangman advances.
Winner: Hangman Page
Match 4: Swerve Strickland vs Orange Cassidy
Swerve Strickland enters with his usual swagger, clearly amused by Orange Cassidy’s laid-back demeanor. Cassidy frustrates Swerve early with his signature hands-in-pockets offense, dodging strikes and landing lazy kicks that somehow keep working. Swerve’s smile fades as he realizes Cassidy isn’t just playing around.
The mood shifts when Swerve snaps, blasting Cassidy with a sudden kick to the head and taking control with ruthless precision. He targets the neck, throwing Cassidy into the barricade and stretching him in the ring. Cassidy fires back with a sudden burst of energy, landing a tornado DDT and a diving splash that nearly scores the upset.
Swerve narrowly avoids disaster and turns the tide with a vicious house call kick that drops Cassidy instantly. Cassidy attempts one last rally, but Swerve counters the Orange Punch with a deadlift into JML Driver. Swerve makes the cover, staring coldly into the camera as the referee counts three.
Winner: Swerve Strickland
Match 5: Jon Moxley vs Eddie Kingston
This match feels less like a tournament bout and more like a personal fight. Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston waste no time, trading stiff chops and forearms before the bell even finishes echoing. The referee struggles to maintain order as the two brawl all around ringside, crashing into steel steps and barricades.
Back in the ring, Kingston unleashes machine-gun chops and a brutal backfist that nearly ends it early. Moxley responds with relentless offense, biting Kingston’s forehead and hammering him with elbows that open up a cut. The crowd is split, fully invested in the chaos.
Kingston fights through the pain and drops Moxley with a massive lariat, but Moxley refuses to stay down. In a desperate moment, Moxley traps Kingston in a bulldog choke. Kingston fights, clawing toward the ropes, but the blood loss and exhaustion take their toll. Kingston fades, and the referee calls for the bell as Moxley refuses to let go.
Winner: Jon Moxley
Match 6: Bobby Lashley vs Darby Allin
Darby Allin enters with reckless determination, but the size difference is immediately apparent. Bobby Lashley overpowers Darby from the opening bell, tossing him across the ring and dominating with raw strength. Darby uses his speed to avoid total destruction, peppering Lashley with quick strikes and a suicide dive that barely moves the powerhouse.
Lashley catches Darby on a springboard attempt and slams him down with a spinebuster that shakes the ring. Darby absorbs unbelievable punishment, kicking out of multiple power moves and refusing to quit. A coffin drop attempt goes disastrously wrong when Lashley moves, sending Darby crashing hard onto the mat.
Sensing the end, Lashley locks in the Hurt Lock, ragdolling Darby in the center of the ring. Darby struggles valiantly, but there’s no escape. The referee calls it as Darby goes limp, and Lashley releases the hold, standing tall and dominant.
Winner: Bobby Lashley
Match 7: Adam “Cope” Copeland vs Konosuke Takeshita
Experience meets explosive potential as Adam Copeland squares off with Konosuke Takeshita. Copeland uses veteran savvy early, grounding Takeshita and targeting the legs to slow his explosive offense. Takeshita fights back with blistering strikes and suplexes that showcase his immense power and athleticism.
The match builds steadily, with Copeland hitting a surprise Impaler DDT for a near fall. Takeshita answers with a thunderous blue thunder bomb that nearly ends Copeland’s night. The crowd buzzes as both men dig deep, trading counters and near-misses.
Copeland attempts a spear, but Takeshita leaps over it and responds with a brutal knee strike. Sensing his moment, Takeshita lifts Copeland and delivers a devastating spinning slam, followed by a crushing running knee. Copeland tries to rise, but Takeshita hooks the leg and secures the pin in a breakout victory.
Winner: Konosuke Takeshita
Match 8: MJF vs Kazuchika Okada
The first round closes with a dream match. MJF enters brimming with arrogance, mocking Kazuchika Okada at every turn. Okada remains calm, methodically dismantling MJF with crisp dropkicks and perfectly timed counters. MJF relies on cheap tactics, targeting the knee and constantly jawing at the referee.
MJF nearly steals the match with a sudden heatseeker, but Okada kicks out, unfazed. The pace quickens as Okada lands a beautiful top-rope elbow drop, drawing a roar from the crowd. MJF attempts the Salt of the Earth armbar, but Okada powers out and fires back with a rainmaker pose that electrifies the arena.
MJF goes for one last desperate low blow, but the referee catches it. Okada capitalizes instantly, blasting MJF with a thunderous Rainmaker lariat. The cover is academic as Okada advances with authority.
Winner: Kazuchika Okada
Quarterfinal Match 1: Kenny Omega vs Will Ospreay
This quarterfinal feels like a collision of two different philosophies of greatness. The bell rings and the pace is blistering almost immediately, as Will Ospreay tries to overwhelm Kenny Omega with speed, springboard offense, and sharp strikes. Omega stays composed, countering aerial attempts with perfectly timed knees and snapdragon suplexes that halt Ospreay’s momentum. The crowd is electric as both men push each other faster and harder, neither willing to give an inch.
Ospreay finds his opening by targeting Omega’s neck, landing a brutal Oscutter and following with a standing Spanish Fly that nearly gets the three-count. Omega barely survives and shifts gears, unleashing a vicious series of V-Triggers that echo through the arena. The match becomes a test of endurance, with both men trading strikes in the center of the ring, collapsing, and dragging themselves back up.
Ospreay attempts Stormbreaker, but Omega fights free and lands one final, devastating V-Trigger. With sheer determination, Omega lifts Ospreay onto his shoulders and plants him with the One Winged Angel, ending an instant classic and earning a standing ovation.
Winner: Kenny Omega
Quarterfinal Match 2: Swerve Strickland vs Hangman Page
Tension fills the air before the bell even rings, as Swerve Strickland and Hangman Page stare each other down, history and pride fueling every movement. Hangman starts aggressively, using his power to back Swerve into the corners with stiff strikes and a massive fallaway slam. Swerve absorbs the punishment and responds with his signature creativity, using quick counters, kicks, and underhanded tactics to keep Hangman off balance.
Swerve targets Hangman’s legs, chopping him down and yanking him into the ring post, slowly dismantling the Buckshot Lariat. Hangman fights through the pain, rallying with a moonsault and a Deadeye that nearly ends it. The crowd believes Hangman has it won, but Swerve barely kicks out, eyes wide with defiance.
In the closing moments, Hangman goes for the Buckshot, but Swerve counters mid-flight with a house call kick that drops Hangman instantly. Swerve wastes no time, hooking Hangman up and drilling him with the JML Driver for a shocking and decisive pinfall.
Winner: Swerve Strickland
Quarterfinal Match 3: Jon Moxley vs Bobby Lashley
This match is less a wrestling contest and more a war. Jon Moxley immediately charges Bobby Lashley, but quickly realizes he’s dealing with a different kind of monster. Lashley dominates early, tossing Moxley across the ring with ease and slamming him repeatedly to assert control. Moxley thrives in the chaos, biting, clawing, and using the environment to wear Lashley down.
The fight spills to the outside, where Lashley drives Moxley into the barricade and nearly ends things with a thunderous powerslam on the floor. Moxley refuses to quit, firing back with elbows and a lariat that staggers Lashley for the first time. The match turns brutal, with both men bleeding and exhausted.
Moxley attempts the bulldog choke, but Lashley powers out and hoists Moxley into the Hurt Lock. Moxley fights with everything he has, scratching and kicking, but Lashley ragdolls him back to the center of the ring. Moxley fades, and the referee calls it as Lashley stands tall, having survived Moxley’s madness.
Winner: Bobby Lashley
Quarterfinal Match 4: Kazuchika Okada vs Konosuke Takeshita
Respect and intensity define this quarterfinal as Kazuchika Okada faces Konosuke Takeshita in a battle of precision versus explosive power. Takeshita comes out aggressive, backing Okada into the ropes with heavy strikes and suplexes that showcase his strength. Okada weathers the storm, slowing the pace with impeccable timing and punishing dropkicks that target Takeshita’s core.
Takeshita refuses to be outclassed, landing a massive blue thunder bomb and a running knee that nearly scores the upset. Okada survives and regains control, delivering his signature top-rope elbow drop to thunderous applause. The match becomes a chess game, with both men countering each other’s best weapons.
In the final moments, Takeshita charges for a knee strike, but Okada sidesteps and snaps him into a sudden short-arm Rainmaker. Takeshita staggers to his feet, only to be met by a second, decisive Rainmaker that flattens him completely. Okada hooks the leg and advances, cementing his status as the tournament favorite.
Winner: Kazuchika Okada
AEW 2026 Fantasy Tournament – Semifinals
Semifinal Match 1: Kenny Omega vs Swerve Strickland
The atmosphere is electric as Kenny Omega and Swerve Strickland meet with the finals looming. From the opening bell, Swerve wrestles like a man who believes this is his moment, immediately taking the fight to Omega with sharp kicks, sudden strikes, and constant movement. Omega struggles early, as Swerve constantly shifts angles, refusing to stay in one place long enough for Omega to establish his rhythm. A sudden house call kick rocks Omega, and Swerve nearly scores an early upset with a JML Driver that brings the crowd to its feet.
Omega slowly regains control by targeting Swerve’s midsection and neck, grounding the pace and cutting off the explosive offense. Snapdragons and stiff kicks begin to pile up, but Swerve remains defiant, laughing through the pain and firing back with a slick counter into a rolling flatliner. The match reaches a fever pitch when both men trade brutal strikes in the center of the ring, neither backing down, neither blinking.
Swerve counters a V-Trigger into a backbreaker and follows with a diving stomp, coming within inches of victory. Omega barely survives and digs deep, unleashing a rapid-fire barrage of V-Triggers that finally slow Swerve. In the closing moments, Swerve attempts one last house call, but Omega ducks and lifts him onto his shoulders. Despite Swerve’s desperate flailing, Omega plants him with the One Winged Angel. The referee counts three as the crowd erupts, recognizing the magnitude of what they’ve just witnessed.
Winner: Kenny Omega
Semifinal Match 2: Bobby Lashley vs Kazuchika Okada
This semifinal is built around tension and contrast, as Bobby Lashley’s overwhelming power clashes with Kazuchika Okada’s calm precision. Lashley dominates early, bullying Okada with shoulder blocks and massive slams that rattle the ring. Okada is forced into survival mode, slipping out of holds and using quick dropkicks to create breathing room. Every time Okada gains momentum, Lashley cuts him off with sheer force.
The tide begins to turn when Okada targets Lashley’s legs, chopping him down and limiting his explosiveness. Lashley powers through the damage, catching Okada mid-air and planting him with a brutal spinebuster for a heart-stopping near fall. The crowd gasps as Lashley locks in the Hurt Lock, seemingly seconds away from victory. Okada refuses to submit, staggering toward the ropes and barely managing to break free.
From there, Okada takes control, delivering crisp offense and a perfectly timed top-rope elbow drop that shakes the arena. Lashley kicks out, roaring back to his feet, but his movements are slower now. Lashley charges for another spear, but Okada sidesteps and snaps him into a sudden Rainmaker that turns him inside out. Lashley somehow kicks out, stunning everyone. Okada stays composed, pulling Lashley up and delivering one final, definitive Rainmaker. Lashley collapses, and Okada advances to the finals after surviving a war.
Winner: Kazuchika Okada
AEW 2026 Fantasy Tournament – Finals
Tournament Final: Kenny Omega vs Kazuchika Okada
The arena feels different for the final. There is no need for hype videos or bravado; the history between Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada hangs heavy in the air. Both men receive massive, respectful reactions as they stand across from one another, knowing this is not just a tournament final but another chapter in one of wrestling’s greatest rivalries. The opening moments are deliberate and tense, each man countering the other’s signature offense almost instinctively, as if they’ve lived this match a hundred times before.
Okada establishes control first, targeting Omega’s back with precise dropkicks and a grinding neckbreaker that slows Omega’s explosive movement. Omega answers with sharp kicks and a snapdragon suplex, but Okada immediately shuts him down with a big boot and a DDT that spikes Omega hard. The pace builds steadily, neither man wasting motion, every strike landing with purpose. A top-rope elbow drop from Okada nearly ends it, but Omega kicks out to a thunderous reaction.
Omega finds another gear, unleashing multiple V-Triggers that rock Okada and shift the momentum. He attempts the One Winged Angel, but Okada wriggles free and fires back with a sudden Rainmaker that nearly wins the tournament on the spot. Both men are visibly exhausted now, trading forearms in the center of the ring as the crowd roars with every strike. Omega collapses, pulls himself up using the ropes, and lands one final V-Trigger that staggers Okada.
In the closing sequence, Okada attempts another Rainmaker, but Omega ducks, spins behind, and lifts Okada onto his shoulders. Okada fights desperately, but Omega powers through, planting him in the center of the ring with the One Winged Angel. Omega collapses on top, barely able to hook the leg, as the referee counts three. The bell rings and the crowd explodes, fully aware they’ve just witnessed another timeless classic.
Omega rises slowly, emotional and exhausted, as Okada pushes himself up and stares at him for a long moment. After a pause, Okada nods and offers a handshake, which Omega accepts. Respect is shown, history is honored, and Kenny Omega stands tall as the tournament winner in AEW 2026.
Winner: Kenny Omega
