PAC's AEW Debut match with Kenny Omega at All Out 2019 with The Bastard getting the win

[u/ElliotElectricity]

[u/ElliotElectricity]

PAC was replacing Jon Moxley in this match due to Moxley suffering an elbow injury so PAC got the spot and made his debut for AEW even though he was originally going to be on Double or Nothing 2019 against Hangman but visa issues got in the way of that happening.

[u/SnuffShock → u/ElliotElectricity]

I thought that PAC's delay was that he had a short-term contract with an indie company (I think in the UK) where he was champ and they didn't want him booked to lose to Hangman so they scrapped the match until PAC finished his business there. That was a good while ago so I could be remembering this wrong.

[u/HeAManToday → u/SnuffShock]

It was Dragongate I think. PAC was very loyal to DG for the opportunities they gave him. Exactly like you stated though, he wanted to drop the DG belt before losing in AEW so it would mean more for the next incumbent at Dragongate.

[u/DJ_Aftershock]

Kenny Omega was my favourite wrestler in the world at the time and admittedly I'd kinda forgotten PAC after he left WWE because they were wasting him. When PAC won this match it was a legitimate upset to me and an indication of "oh, fuck. PAC isn't going to be treated like a filler midcarder. He's gonna be for real. He's gonna be huge."

[u/ExiledHyruleKnight → u/DJ_Aftershock]

The thing I respect all of the "founders" of AEW for is they didn't come in with ego... they didn't say "Well I have to win all the matches." Kenny put so many people over, Cody gave up the World Championship almost immediately after AEW was formed when everything felt like he should have won it, and even beyond that he respected that agreement. Plus he launched MJF with that betrayal. The Young Bucks.... brother is there anyone who hasn't beaten the Young Bucks in a 5 star match?

This is their organization but all of them understood and booked it like it wasn't, and that's amazing.

And yes, I too saw PAC and was like "Who the hell is this guy and why is he so dangerous?"

[u/Sef_Maul → u/ExiledHyruleKnight]

The Elite were putting so many people over, it got to the point where it's like, ok guys you have to win some too

[u/ExiledHyruleKnight → u/Sef_Maul]

I'm glad it's not just me. Absolutely agree, Young Bucks lose a little too much even today. I'm thrilled they won the belts this weekend, but after losing to Cope and Cage, I wasn't sure it was going to happen.

That being said, I'd rather they are so selfless, I also really admire Omega, because even when he's cutting a promo, he puts the other guy over, like Zack Sabre Jr., instead of "you suck" he elevates the opponent to a high level calling them the best technical wrestler or such (honestly Sabre Jr might be). But then he lays the smack down on how he's a better wrestler, all it does is elevate both of them.

It's a masterclass in both how to talk about others (Even outside of wrestling) and how to promote a fight because... it always gets me excited. I WANTED to see Zack Sabre Jr. I WANTED to see how good he is. I WANTED to know about this guy who I haven't focused on... and I wanted Kenny to still win. So good.

And it doesn't hurt that Kenny is such a master of in-ring psychology, that I don't think I've seen a match of his where I haven't walked away admiring BOTH wrestlers, and wanting to see more of both of them.

[u/ReflectionItchy2701 → u/ExiledHyruleKnight]

I was so happy to see the Bucks win at All Out. They fucking deserved it and quite frankly they should have won at All In. But like Kenny, like Hangman and Cody also, the Elite will always be unselfish and that's why so many great talents in the World love to work with them. Swerve fucking loves Hangman and the Elite. Mow is a giant fan of the Elite. They're the heart and soul of AEW and to get back to what you said about Kenny, I think really he's the guy that embodies what AEW is and always was meant to be. He put so many people over. He helped guys like Hangman, PAC, Takeshita, Ospreay get to the next level. The way he put Ospreay over at All In and even in the build for All In, it's incredible. I respect these guys so much.

[u/WreckedByReddit → u/DJ_Aftershock]

I was in the same boat. But when PAC won I was like, “Oh hell yes! Someone is finally strapping the rocket to this madman!”

[u/el_sh33p]

This match and Lance Archer's Texas Death win on Jon Moxley are what sold me on the Top Guys needing to lose more often. It simultaneously makes them vulnerable--meaning their matches always have stakes, there's always a reason to tune in, the outcome is always just that little bit in doubt--and it cements the lower talent as a credible threat for years after the fact.

PAC was always a threat to Kenny Omega after this, even if he never beat him 1v1 again. You could never write the Bastard off because he had this as his establishing win in AEW.

The fact that the match itself is just a nonstop banger also helps.

[u/DJ_Aftershock → u/el_sh33p]

It's a shame Lance doesn't really do too much in AEW nowadays. Personally hope that the upcoming World Tag League in NJPW has him and Alex Zayne in it again.

[u/Strike_McKnifeson]

God what a great match. I'm gonna miss the fuck out of Pac

[u/thomasmbaciocco]

PAC should have been one of the first 5 AEW champions. It’s crazy he wasn’t when you see the tear he went on.

He’s my personal pick for “best wrestler to never win a world title in a major promotion.”

[u/Skywalker3030 → u/thomasmbaciocco]

Yes 100%, He was the obvious pick to take it from Hangman when Hangman finally beat Belt Collector Kenny at the time it happened

They could have went to Punk after Pac if TK really wanted to strap Punk up quickly and it still would've been so much better

When Pac was gone with health issues during a period in 2023 I was sad thinking he would probably never get to win the top belt after that, I wish he'd won before it. And he came back and didnt lose a single step

[u/SourDoughBo]

This match proves that if Mox didn’t leave WWE they would’ve pushed Pac as their guy

[u/Phog_of_War]

Hey! There I am! This entire weekend including Starcast was such a good time. 4th row tickets didn't hurt either.

[u/gate_of_steiner85]

I genuinely believe if not for visa issues keeping him off TV, Pac would've been world champ in the early days of AEW.

[u/Intelligent_Earth317]

One of the best wrestlers in the world 🌎🌍😔🥺🥺 R.I.P Pac/ Neville

[u/thegame850]

This was a damn good match.

[u/reapaica]

I loved this match! It was so different from what I expected & brought me back into American mainstream Wrestling after 20 years of absence.

[u/ExiledHyruleKnight]

I love the intensity of Kenny in the ring, but PAC was able to keep up with him. What a hell of a match. Really wrestling fans knew Omega at this point but for a lot of people this was a introduction to both of these men... and who knew how much both men would mean to AEW.

What a combo, what a match. RIP PAC, you were incredible.

[u/gorillalifter47]

I am guilty of taking PAC for granted as a wrestler and will absolutely be rewatching some of his old matches this weekend. The way he moves is just incredible, like every little motion is just perfect.

[u/ReflectionItchy2701]

What a fucking match and the 30 minutes iron man match was even better. PAC was a phenomenal performer and I'm glad he was treated like the star he was in AEW.

[u/timmayg]

I was at this match, we were all really confused by the ko finish!

[u/WalterBeige]

That brutalizer counter to the OWA was beautiful