This page will be your hub for the best AEW matches of 2021. These matches have been rated by Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (you can subscribe here). These matches have received a 4-star or above rating in 2021
The Best AEW Matches Of 2021
Note: We have not provided the winners, so you will be able to watch these matches unspoiled.
Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian, Matt Jackson, & Nick Jackson vs Anthony Bowens, Max Caster, Angélico, & Jack Evans
Event: AEW Dynamite (January 6th)
The January 6th edition of Dynamite featured an 8-man tag team match. It was Christopher Daniels, Frankie Kazarian, Matt Jackson, and Nick Jackson vs Anthony Bowens, Max Caster, Angélico, and Jack Evans.
- Rating: 4.00 stars
Serena Deeb vs Riho
Event: AEW Dynamite (February 17th)
The February 17th edition of Dynamite featured a match between Serena Deeb and Riho. This was a first round match in the Eliminator Tournament for the AEW Women’s Championship.
- Rating: 4.00 stars
Hangman Page vs Isiah Kassidy
Event: AEW Dynamite (February 24th)
The February 24th episode of Dynamite featured a match between Hangman Page and Isiah Kassidy.
- Rating: 4.00 stars
Casino Tag Team Royale
Event: AEW Revolution (March 7th)
Revolution featured a Casino Tag Team Royale. This was to determine who would be the next challengers for the AEW Tag Team belts.
- Rating: 4.00 stars
Darby Allin vs Matt Hardy
Event: AEW Dynamite (April 14th)
The April 14th episode of Dynamite featured a match between Darby Allin and Matt Hardy. This was a Falls Count Anywhere match for the TNT Championship.
- Rating: 4.00 stars
Darby Allin vs Miro
Event: AEW Dynamite (May 12th)
The May 12th episode of Dynamite featured a match between Darby Allin and Miro. This was for the TNT Championship.
- Rating: 4.00 stars
Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson vs Brian Pillman Jr. & Griff Garrison
Event: AEW Dynamite (May 19th)
The May 19th episode featured a match for the AEW Tag Team Titles: The Young Bucks vs Varsity Blondes.
- Rating: 4.00 stars
Serena Deeb vs Riho
Event: AEW Double Or Nothing (May 30th)
Serena Deeb and Riho faced off at Double or Nothing. This was for the NWA World Women’s Championship.
- Rating: 4.00 stars
PAC & Penta vs Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson
Event: AEW Dynamite (June 4th)
The June 4th episode of Dynamite featured a tag team match: PAC & Penta vs The Young Bucks.
- Rating: 4.00 stars
Darby Allin vs Ethan Page
Event: AEW Dynamite (July 14th)
The July 14th episode of Dynamite featured a coffin match between Darby Allin and Ethan Page.
- Rating: 4.00 stars
Chris Jericho vs Nick Gage
Event: AEW Dynamite (July 28th)
The July 28th episode of Dynamite featured a match between Nick Gage and Chris Jericho.
- Rating: 4.00 stars
Shawn Spears vs Sammy Guevara
Event: AEW Dynamite (August 18th)
Shawn Spears and Sammy Guevara faced off on the August 18th episode of Dynamite.
- Rating: 4.00 stars
MJF vs Chris Jericho
Event: AEW Dynamite (August 18th)
MJF and Chris Jericho faced off on the August 18th episode of Dynamite.
- Rating: 4.00 stars
Ortiz & Santana vs FTR
Event: AEW Dynamite (September 1st)
The September 1st episode of Dynamite featured a tag team match: Ortiz and Santana vs FTR.
- Rating: 4.00 stars
Miro vs Eddie Kingston
Event: AEW All Out
All Out featured a match for the TNT Championship. It was Miro vs Eddie Kingston.
Jon Moxley vs Satoshi Kojima
Event: AEW All Out
All Out featured a singles match: Jon Moxley vs Satoshi Kojima.
Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. vs Kris Statlander
Event: AEW All Out
All Out featured a match for the AEW Women’s Championship. It was Britt Baker vs Kris Statlander.
- Rating: 4.00 stars
Eddie Kingston & Jon Moxley vs Lance Archer & Minoru Suzuki
Event: AEW Rampage (September 24th)
The September 24th episode of Rampage featured a tag team match: Eddie Kingston and Jon Moxley vs Lance Archer and Minoru Suzuki.
- Rating: 4.00 stars
Miro vs Sammy Guevara
Event: AEW Dynamite (September 29th)
The September 29th episode of Dynamite featured a match between Miro and Sammy Guevara. This was for the TNT Championship.
- Rating: 4.00 stars
Casino Ladder Match
Event: AEW Dynamite (October 6th)
The October 6th episode of Dynamite featured a Casino Ladder match to determine the 1 Contender for the AEW World Championship.
- Rating: 4.00 stars
Bryan Danielson vs Bobby Fish
Event: AEW Dynamite (October 16th)
The October 16th episode of Dynamite featured a match between Bryan Danielson and Bobby Fish.
Sammy Guevara vs Ethan Page
Event: AEW Dynamite (October 27th)
The October 27th episode of Dynamite featured a match between Sammy Guevara and Ethan Page.
Bryan Danielson vs Anthony Bowens
Event: AEW Rampage (November 5th)
Bryan Danielson faced off against Anthony Bowens on the November 5th episode of Rampage.
Adam Cole vs John Silver
Event: AEW Rampage (November 5th)
Adam Cole faced off against John Silver on the November 5th episode of Rampage.
Bryan Danielson vs Rocky Romero
Event: AEW Dynamite (November 10th)
Bryan Danielson faced off against Rocky Romero on the November 10th episode of Dynamite.
Matt Sydal & Lee Moriarty vs Lio Rush & Dante Martin
Event: AEW Dynamite (November 10th)
The November 10th episode of Dynamite featured a tag team match. It was Matt Sydal and Lee Moriarty vs Lio Rush and Dante Martin .
Cody Rhodes and Pac vs Malakai Black and Andrade El Idolo
Event: AEW Full Gear
Full Gear featured a tag team match. It was Cody Rhodes and Pac vs Malakai Black and Andrade El Idolo,
- Rating: 4.00 stars
Chris Jericho, Jake Hager, Sammy Guevara, Santana, and Ortiz vs Ethan Page, Scorpio Sky, Andrei Arlovski, Dan Lambert, and Junior dos Santos.
Event: AEW Full Gear
Full Gear featured a Minneapolis Street Fight. It was Chris Jericho, Jake Hager, Sammy Guevara, Santana, and Ortiz vs Ethan Page, Scorpio Sky, Andrei Arlovski, Dan Lambert, and Junior dos Santos.
- Rating: 4.00 stars
Sammy Guevara vs Tony Nese
Event: AEW Rampage (December 3rd)
The December 3rd episode of Rampage featured a match for the TNT Title. It was Sammy Guevara vs Tony Nese.
- Rating: 4.00 stars
The Young Bucks vs Rocky Romero and Chuck Taylor
Event: AEW Dynamite (December 8th)
The December 8th episode of Dynamite featured a tag team match. It was The Young Bucks vs Rocky Romero and Chuck Taylor.
- Rating: 4.00 stars
Darby Allin vs Brian Cage
Event: AEW Dynamite (January 13th)
Darby Allin and Brian Cage faced off in the main event of the January 13th episode of Dynamite. This was for the AEW TNT Championship.
- Rating: 4.25 stars
Lance Archer & Jon Moxley vs KENTA & Kenny Omega
Event: AEW Dynamite (February 10th)
The February 10th episode of Dynamite featured a Falls Count Anywhere, No Disqualification Tag Team Match. It was Lance Archer and Jon Moxley vs KENTA and Kenny Omega.
- Rating: 4.25 stars
Ortiz & Santana vs Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson
Event: AEW Dynamite (February 17th)
The February 17th edition of Dynamite featured a tag team match: The Young Bucs vs Ortiz and Santana. This was for the AEW World Tag Team Championships.
- Rating: 4.25 stars
Lance Archer vs Rey Fenix
Event: AEW Dynamite (February 24th)
Lance Archer and Rey Fenix faced off in the main event of the February 24th episode of Dynamite.
- Rating: 4.25 stars
Hikaru Shida, Mei Suruga, & Rin Kadokura vs Emi Sakura, Veny, & Maki Itoh
Event: AEW Bleacher Report Special (February 28th)
The AEW Bleacher Report Special featured a 6-woman tag team match. It was Hikaru Shida, Mei Suruga, and Rin Kadokura vs Emi Sakura, Veny, and Maki Itoh.
- Rating: 4.25 stars
Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson vs Chris Jericho & MJF
Event: AEW Revolution (March 7th)
Revolution featured a match between The Young Bucks and The Inner Circle. This was for the AEW World Tag Team Championships.
- Rating: 4.25 stars
Rey Fenix, Penta, & The Laredo Kid vs Kenny Omega, Doc Gallows, & Karl Anderson
Event: AEW Dynamite (March 31st)
The March 31st episode of Dynamite featured a 6-man tag team match. It was Kenny Omega and The Good Brothers vs The Laredo Kid and The Lucha Bros.
- Rating: 4.25 stars
Darby Allin vs Jungle Boy
Event: AEW Dynamite (April 21st)
The April 21st episode of Dynamite featured a match between Darby Allin and Jungle Boy. This was for the TNT Championship.
- Rating: 4.25 stars
Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian vs Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson
Event: AEW Dynamite (May 12th)
The May 12th episode of Dynamite featured a match between The Young Bucks and SCU. This was for the AEW Tag Team Championships.
- Rating: 4.25 stars
Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson vs Eddie Kingston & Penta El Zero Miedo
Event: AEW Dynamite (June 30th)
The June 30th episode of Dynamite featured a tag team match: The Young Bucks vs Eddie Kingston and Penta El Zero Miedo.
- Rating: 4.25 stars
Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson vs Eddie Kingston & Penta El Zero Miedo
Event: AEW Dynamite (July 7th)
The main event of the July 7th episode of Dynamite was a Street Fight for the AEW Tag Team Titles. It was The Young Bucks vs Eddie Kingston and Penta El Zero Miedo.
- Rating: 4.25 stars
Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson, Doc Gallows & Karl Anderson vs Penta, Fenix, Luchasaurus & Jungle Boy
Event: AEW Dynamite (September 1st)
The September 1st episode of AEW featured an 8-man tag team match: Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson, Doc Gallows and Karl Anderson vs Penta & Fenix, Luchasaurus, and Jungle Boy.
- Rating: 4.25 stars
Kenny Omega vs Christian Cage
Event: AEW All Out
All Out featured a match for the AEW World Championship between Kenny Omega and Christian Cage.
- Rating: 4.25 stars
Andrade vs PAC
Event: AEW Rampage (September 10th)
Andrade and Pac faced off on the September 10th episode of Rampage.
- RAting: 4.25 stars
Rey Fenix, Penta El Zero Miedo, Santana & Ortiz vs The Butcher, The Blade, Marq Quen & Isiah Kassidy
Event: AEW Rampage (September 24th)
The September 24th episode of Rampage featured an 8-man tag team match.
- Rating: 4.25 stars
Adam Cole vs Jungle Boy
Event: AEW Dynamite (September 29th)
The September 29th episode of Dynamite featured a match between Adam Cole and Jungle Boy.
- Rating: 4.25 stars
Evil Uno, Alex Reynolds, & John Silver vs Adam Cole, Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson
Event: AEW Dynamite (October 16th)
The October 16th episode of Dynamite featured a 6-man tag team match between the Dark Order and The Superkliq.
- Rating: 4.25 stars
Bryan Danielson vs Dustin Rhodes
Event: AEW Dynamite (October 23rd)
The October 23rd episode of Dynamite featured a match between Bryan Danielson and Dustin Rhodes.
Cody Rhodes vs Malakai Black
Event: AEW Dynamite (October 23rd)
The October 23rd episode of Dynamite featured a match between Cody Rhodes and Malakai Black.
Serena Deeb vs Hikaru Shida
Event: AEW Dynamite (October 27th)
The October 27th episode of Dynamite featured a match between Serena Deeb and Hikaru Shida.
PAC vs Dax Harwood
Event: AEW Dynamite (November 10th)
PAC and Dax Harwood faced off on the November 10th episode of Dynamite.
- Rating: 4.25 stars
Penta and Rey Fénix vs Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood
Event: AEW Full Gear
Full Gear featured an AEW Tag Team Title match between FTR and the Lucha Bros.
- Rating: 4.25 stars
Sammy Guevara vs Jay Lethal
Event: AEW Dynamite (November 17th)
The November 17th episode of Dynamite featured a match between Sammy Guevara and Jay Lethal. This was for the TNT Title.
Cody Rhodes, PAC and The Lucha Bros vs Malakai Black, Andrade El Idolo and FTR
Event: AEW Dynamite (November 24th)
The November 24th episode of Dynamite featured an 8-woman tag team match: Cody Rhodes, PAC and The Lucha Bros vs Malakai Black, Andrade El Idolo and FTR.
- Rating: 4.25 stars
Cody Rhodes vs Andrade
Event: AEW Dynamite (December 1st)
Andrade and Cody Rhodes faced off on the December 1st episode of Dynamite. This was an Atlanta Street Fight.
- Rating: 4.25 stars
PAC and Penta El Zero Miedo vs. FTR
Event: AEW Rampage (December 3rd)
The December 3rd episode of Rampage featured a tag team match. It was PAC and Penta vs FTR.
- Rating: 4.25 stars
Jungle Boy vs Dax Hardwood
Event: AEW Dynamite (January 27th)
Jungle Boy and Dax Hardwood faced off on the January 27th edition of AEW Dynamite.
- Rating: 4.5 stars
Kenny Omega, Doc Gallows, & Karl Anderson vs Jon Moxley, Pac, & Rey Fénix
Event: AEW Dynamite (February 3rd).
The main event of ‘Beach Break’ was a 6-man tag team match. It was Kenny Omega, Doc Gallows, and Karl Anderson vs Jon Moxley, Pac, and Rey Fénix.
- Rating: 4.5 stars
Kenny Omega vs Jon Moxley
Event: AEW Revolution (March 7th)
Kenny Omega and Jon Moxley faced off at Revolution. This was a Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch for the AEW World Title.
- Rating: 4.5 stars
Matt Jackson vs Rey Fenix
Event: AEW Dynamite (March 10th)
Matt Jackson and Rey Fenix faced off in a singles match on the March 10th edition of Dynamite.
- Rating: 4.5 stars
Matt Jackson, Nick Jackson, & Brandon Cutler vs Pentagon Jr, Rey Fenix, & Laredo Kid
Event: AEW Dynamite (March 24th)
The March 24th episode of Dynamite featured a trios match: Brandon Cutler and The Young Bucks vs Laredo Kid and The Lucha Brothers.
- Rating: 4.5 stars
Kenny Omega vs Matt Sydal
Event: AEW Dynamite (March 24th)
Kenny Omega and Matt Sydal faced off on the March 24th episode of Dynamite in a non-title match.
- Rating: 4.5 stars
The Pinnacle vs The Inner Circle
Event: AEW Blood & Guts (May 5th)
The Pinnacle and The Inner Circle faced off in a Blood and Guts match. The Pinnacle featured MJF, Wardlow, Shawn Spears, Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood. The Inner Circle featured Chris Jericho, Jake Hager, Sammy Guevara, Santana and Ortiz.
- Rating: 4.5 stars
“Hangman” Adam Page vs Brian Cage
Event: AEW Double Or Nothing (May 30th)
Double or Nothing featured a singles match between “Hangman” Page and Brian Cage.
- Rating: 4.5 stars
Kenny Omega vs Orange Cassidy vs Pac
Event: AEW Double Or Nothing (May 30th)
Double or Nothing featured a triple threat match for the AEW World Championship. It was Kenny Omega vs Orange Cassidy vs Pac.
- Rating: 4.5 stars
Kenny Omega vs Jungle Boy
Event: AEW Dynamite (June 26th)
Kenny Omega and Jungle Boy faced off on the June 26th episode of Dynamite. This was for the AEW World Title.
- Rating: 4.5 stars
MJF vs Sammy Guevara
Event: AEW Dynamite (June 30th)
MJF and Sammy Guevara faced off on the June 30th episode of Dynamite.
- Rating: 4.5 stars
Lane Archer vs Jon Moxley
Event: AEW Dynamite (July 21st)
Lane Archer and Jon Moxley faced off in a Texas Deathmatch for the IWGP United States Championship.
- Rating: 4.5 stars
Doc Gallows, Karl Anderson, Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson, and Nick Jackson vs Adam Page, Alex Reynolds, Evil Uno, John Silver, and Stu Grayson.
Event: AEW Dynamite (July 28th)
The July 28th episode of Dynamite featured a 10-man tag team match: Doc Gallows, Karl Anderson, Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson, and Nick Jackson vs Adam Page, Alex Reynolds, Evil Uno, John Silver, and Stu Grayson.
- Rating: 4.5 stars
Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks vs Dante Martin & The Sydal Brothers
Event: AEW Dynamite (August 11th)
The August 11th episode of Dynamite featured a trios match: Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks vs Dante Martin and The Sydal Brothers
- Rating: 4.5 stars
Christian Cage vs Kenny Omega
Event: AEW Rampage (August 13th)
Christian Cage and Kenny Omega faced off on the debut episode of Rampage. This was for the Impact World Championship.
- Rating: 4.5 stars
Nick Jackson & Matt Jackson vs Luchasaurus & Jungle Boy
Event: AEW Dynamite (August 18th)
The August 18th episode of Dynamite featured a tag team match: The Young Bucks vs Luchasaurus and Jungle Boy. This was for the AEW World Tag Team Championships.
- Rating: 4.5 stars
Penta & Fenix vs Luchasaurus & Jungle Boy
Event: AEW Rampage (August 27th)
The August 27th episode of Rampage featured a tag team match: Penta and Fenix vs Luchasaurus and Jungle Boy.
Rating: 4.5 stars
Bryan Danielson vs Nick Jackson
Event: AEW Rampage (October 1st)
Bryan Danielson and Nick Jackson faced off on the October 1st episode of Rampage.
- Rating: 4.5 stars
MJF vs Darby Allin
Event: AEW Full Gear
MJF and Darby Allin faced off at the Full Gear PPV.
- Rating: 4.5 stars
Bryan Danielson vs Miro
Event: AEW Full Gear
Bryan Danielson and Miro faced off at the Full Gear PPV. This was for a future AEW World Title match.
- Rating: 4.5 stars
CM Punk vs Eddie Kingston
Event: AEW Full Gear
CM Punk and Eddie Kingston faced off at Full Gear in a singles match.
- Rating: 4.5 stars
Britt Baker vs Thunder Rosa
Event: AEW Dynamite (March 17th)
Britt Baker and Thunder Rosa faced off on the March 17th episode of Dynamite. This was an Unsanctioned Lights Out Match.
- Rating: 4.75 stars
Eddie Kingston & Jon Moxley vs The Young Bucks
Event: AEW Double Or Nothing (May 30th)
Double or Nothing featured a match for the AEW World Tag Team Titles. It was Eddie Kingston and Jon Moxley vs The Young Bucks.
- Rating: 4.75 stars
Adam Cole, Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson vs Bryan Danielson, Christian Cage, Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus
Event: AEW Dynamite (October 6th)
The October 6th episode of Dynamite featured an 8-man tag team match. It was Adam Cole, Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson, and Nick Jackson vs Bryan Danielson, Christian Cage, Jungle Boy, and Luchasaurus.
- Rating: 4.75 stars
Bryan Danielson vs Minoru Suzuki
Event: AEW Rampage (October 15th)
The October 15th episode of Rampage featured a match between Bryan Danielson and Minoru Suzuki.
- Rating: 4.75 stars
PAC vs Andrade El Ídolo
Event: AEW Rampage (October 22nd)
The October 22nd episode of Rampage featured a match between PAC and Andrade.
- Rating: 4.75 stars
Bryan Danielson vs Eddie Kingston
Event: AEW Rampage (October 29th)
Bryan Danielson and Eddie Kingston faced off on the October 29th episode of Rampage.
- Rating: 4.75 stars
Rey Fénix vs Kenny Omega
Event: AEW Dynamite (January 6th)
Rey Fénix and Kenny Omega faced off on the January 6th episode of Dynamite. This was for the AEW World Championship.
- Rating: 5.00 stars
Rey Fénix & PAC vs The Young Bucks
Event: AEW Dynamite (April 14th)
The April 14th episode of Dynamite featured a tag team match. It was Rey Fénix & PAC vand The Young Bucks.
- Rating: 5.00 stars
Bryan Danielson vs Kenny Omega
Event: AEW Dynamite (September 22nd)
Bryan Danielson and Kenny Omega faced off on Dynamite in a non-title match.
- Rating: 5.00 stars
Christian Cage, Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus vs Adam Cole, Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson
Event: AEW Full Gear
The Full Gear PPV featured a 6-man tag team match. It was Christian Cage, Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus vs Adam Cole, Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson.
Bryan Danielson vs Adam ‘Hangman’ Page
Event: AEW Dynamite (December 15th)
The December 15th episode of AEW Dynamite featured a match between Bryan Danielson and Adam ‘Hangman’ Page.
- Rating: 5.00 stars
Kenny Omega vs Adam ‘Hangman’ Page
Event: AEW Full Gear
The Full Gear PPV featured a match for the AEW World Championship. It was Kenny Omega vs Hangman Page.
- Rating: 5.5 stars
Penta & Fenix vs Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson
Event: AEW All Out
All Out featured a steel cage match for the AEW Tag Team Titles between The Lucha Bros and The Young Bucks.
- Rating: 5.75 stars
What is your favorite on the list of best AEW matches of 2021? Let me know in the comment section below. On a related note, you can check out the best WWE matches of 2021.