AEW Redemption 2026 Review: Hits & Misses

AEW Redemption 2026 had a lot of expectations going into it. With All In approaching, this was the show that needed to create momentum, deliver some memorable moments and make fans excited for what’s next.

For the most part, AEW succeeded. The show featured some excellent wrestling, some big character moments and a handful of matches that felt like they belonged on a major pay-per-view. However, there were also a few creative decisions that left fans scratching their heads.

Here are the hits and misses from AEW Redemption 2026.

✅ Hits

🔥 Kenny Omega vs. Kevin Knight steals the show

The main event had a tough job, but Kenny Omega and Kevin Knight delivered.

Whenever Omega is in the main event, the expectations are sky-high, and he once again showed why he’s one of the best big-match wrestlers of his generation. The bigger story, though, was Kevin Knight proving he belongs in that spot.

Knight didn’t look out of place sharing the ring with Omega. He came across like a legitimate future main event player, and even in defeat, this felt like a major step forward for his career.

A strong finish to a strong show.

🔥 Will Ospreay remains one of AEW’s most compelling stars

One of the best things AEW has done with Will Ospreay is avoid rushing his story.

There are plenty of directions they could take him, but instead they’ve slowly added layers through his involvement with the Young Bucks, Death Riders and the fallout from Redemption.

Whether he eventually turns, becomes the company’s next top babyface or takes a completely different path, Ospreay feels like someone who matters every time he appears.

🔥 Willow Nightingale gets her defining moment

Willow winning the Women’s World Championship was exactly the kind of feel-good moment AEW needed.

She’s been one of the most naturally popular wrestlers in the company, and the crowd reaction showed that fans were ready for this moment.

It didn’t feel like a random title change. It felt like the payoff to years of hard work, and Willow finally getting her spotlight was one of the biggest highlights of the night.

🔥 Kyle Fletcher continues his rise

Kyle Fletcher is quickly becoming one of AEW’s biggest success stories.

His match with Bandido was one of the best pure wrestling matches on the card, with both men showing incredible athleticism and intensity.

Fletcher has moved beyond being seen as “a talented young guy with potential” — he now feels like someone who belongs near the top of the card.

AEW has a future star on its hands.

🔥 The ladder match delivers chaos

Nobody watches a ladder match expecting a five-star technical classic. You want big moments, crazy risks and memorable spots.

That’s exactly what AEW provided.

The match was chaotic in the best way, and Mike Bailey walking away with the victory gave him a huge boost heading into the next chapter.

A fun, unpredictable match that delivered what it promised.

🔥 Ciampa brings some unexpected fun

Not every memorable moment has to be serious.

Tommaso Ciampa entertaining the crowd by getting involved with the Canadian hockey mascot was a great example of wrestling embracing its sillier side. It was a fun character moment that showed Ciampa’s personality and gave the crowd something different from the usual intense wrestling segments.

Sometimes the little moments are what fans remember.

🔥 Redemption successfully built towards All In

The biggest success of Redemption was that it felt like a meaningful show.

Matches didn’t just happen and disappear. Stories moved forward, new questions were created and several wrestlers left the show with more momentum than they had going in.

It did exactly what a major pay-per-view should do.

❌ Misses

👎 Mick Foley and Divine Dominion was bizarre

This was one of those segments where you could almost hear fans asking, “Wait… what?”

Mick Foley’s involvement with Divine Dominion had the potential to be a major moment. Foley brings instant credibility, and putting him opposite a dangerous faction should have created something memorable.

Instead, the segment became one of the strangest moments of the night.

After being told to “bow down,” Foley responded by barking like a dog, creating a moment that was certainly memorable — but probably not for the reasons AEW intended.

Pro wrestling has always had weird moments, but this felt more confusing than impactful. Rather than making Divine Dominion feel more intimidating, the segment risked making them feel more like exaggerated cartoon villains.

There’s still potential in the angle, but the execution left a lot to be desired.

👎 The chain tag team match was a clunky mess

The idea behind the chain tag team match sounded like it had potential, but the execution never really came together.

The biggest issue was that the chains often became a distraction rather than adding intensity. Instead of making the match feel more brutal or unique, they frequently got in the way and made the action look awkward.

There were moments where the Bang Bang Gang and The Dogs seemed more focused on positioning the chains than telling a compelling story.

A gimmick match should enhance the wrestling — not become the main obstacle.

👎 The show was too long

Redemption had a loaded card, but there were moments where the pacing started to suffer.

By the time the main event arrived, some fans were beginning to feel the effects of the length. Cutting some time from the undercard would have allowed the biggest moments to breathe more.

The quality was there — the pacing just needed tightening.

Final Grade: A-

AEW Redemption was a strong pay-per-view that accomplished its main goal: creating excitement heading into All In.

Kenny Omega vs. Kevin Knight delivered, Willow Nightingale had a career-defining moment, Kyle Fletcher continued his rise and several major stories gained momentum.

However, the show wasn’t perfect. The pacing dragged at times, the chain match didn’t click and the Mick Foley/Divine Dominion segment was one of the strangest creative choices AEW has made in a while.

A very good show with a few noticeable misses.

Final Grade: A-