Redemption 2026: AEW’s Montreal Debut Has Strong Matches but Too Much Transitional Weight

Orange Cassidy pinned Jay Lethal after Roderick Strong hit End of Heartache and tossed Cassidy onto the challenger, allowing the Conglomeration to retain the AEW World Trios Championship against the Lethal Twist. Lee Johnson had tried to enter with a title belt, but the referee caught him, while Kyle O'Reilly trapped Johnson in an ankle lock to stop a save. Earlier, Blake Christian broke up Cassidy's attempted finish and the challengers nearly won after a Lethal Injection. C+ (6.8) credits a fast-moving Buy-In defense with an identifiable pinned wrestler, not a title switch or outside interference by Ricochet, who joined commentary.

Mike Bailey won the six-man ladder match by pulling down the contract for a future AEW International Championship opportunity, not by pinning one of his five opponents. Jack Perry sent the Beast Mortos through a table with a hurricanrana from the apron, Nick Wayne put El Clon through another table with a Phoenix Splash from a ladder, and Komander stopped Mortos from climbing. Bailey survived the exchanges and hit Mortos with Ultima Weapon across a ladder before making the final climb. B+ (8.2) credits the intricate ladder sequence and identifies the earned title shot rather than recording a championship change.

Nick Jackson pinned Jon Moxley after the Young Bucks overwhelmed him with superkicks and a BTE Trigger in the tag match against Moxley and Will Ospreay. Ospreay had become concerned when Nick appeared dazed from an earlier collision and hesitated to continue the attack, prompting Moxley to take over aggressively. Ospreay prevented Moxley from using a chair near the end, only to be knocked down before the Bucks isolated and finished Moxley. B+ (8.0) credits the shifting loyalties and actual deciding pin; Ospreay's later break from the Death Riders happened afterward.

Kyle Fletcher retained the AEW International Championship by pinning ROH World Champion Bandido after a brainbuster onto the top turnbuckle. Bandido had survived a sheer-drop brainbuster, answered with a Revolutionary Fly and hit the X-Knee into a 21 Plex for an agonizing near fall. Fletcher regained control with an avalanche Michinoku Driver, drove Bandido into the corner and finally hit the decisive brainbuster. A (9.0) recognizes the striking counters and champion's successful defense; Bandido's ROH championship wasn't on the line and did not change hands.

David Finlay pinned Juice Robinson after Marina Shafir passed him a shillelagh during the Double Chain match between the Dogs and the Bang Bang Gang. Jay White had tried to set up a Blade Runner on Finlay, but Wheeler Yuta and Daniel Garcia dragged him out; the Gunns and Ace Austin arrived to stop that interference. As the confusion unfolded, Finlay struck Robinson before he could attack and covered him. C- (5.8) credits the distinctive chain stipulation and identifies the illicit finishing shot without suggesting that White submitted or that a championship was involved.

Maya World captured the AEW TBS Championship by catching Hikaru Shida with a bridging fallaway slam for the decisive three-count. Shida had punished World's knee, connected with a Falcon Arrow and applied the TBS Lock before switching into a release German suplex. World repeatedly survived near falls, answered with a series of Shining Wizards and escaped a later Shida charge to find her finishing counter. C+ (6.6) credits the challenger's resourceful upset and exact pinfall; the champion's unsuccessful defense was a real title change, not a time-limit decision.

Adam Copeland pinned PAC following a spear set up by Christian Cage to retain the AEW World Tag Team Championship. PAC and Claudio Castagnoli had jumped the champions before the bell and isolated first Copeland, then Cage, but both survived repeated double-team attacks. Cage saved Copeland from an assisted Neutralizer, later speared Castagnoli and lifted PAC into Copeland's final spear. B- (7.4) recognizes the champions' tandem escape and PAC as the wrestler pinned; the Young Bucks' confrontation and All In challenge followed the finish.

Chris Jericho's Painmaker persona defeated Tommaso Ciampa by submission in their No Holds Barred match after repeated weapon exchanges in Montreal. Ciampa had driven Jericho through a table with the Fairytale Ending and later landed an avalanche Psycho Driller through a mirror, but neither secured the decision. Jericho survived both, blinded Ciampa with mist, struck him with a tack-covered Judas Effect and finally forced the tap after bringing out a power drill. B (7.8) accounts for the stipulation and unconventional submission finish, not a normal pinfall or a championship defense.

Andrade El Idolo won the AEW National Championship by pinning Mark Davis after landing El Dia de los Muertos and The DM. Davis had kicked out of an early finishing attempt, driven Andrade into the corner and countered several aerial moves with heavy strikes and a piledriver. Andrade recovered through a moonsault combination and escaped another attempted piledriver before connecting with both of his final attacks. B (7.6) reflects the late comeback and unmistakable championship change, rather than treating Davis's earlier defenses as part of this result.

Willow Nightingale won the AEW Women's World Championship by catching Thekla in a backslide after avoiding the champion's attempted head stomp. Thekla repeatedly attacked Willow's bandaged ear and countered Babe with the Powerbomb, while Willow survived a Muta Lock and scored near falls with a Death Valley Driver. Skye Blue tried to save Thekla from a powerbomb pin by moving her arm onto the ropes, but Willow drove Blue down outside and returned to surprise Thekla. B (7.6) credits the earned title change with the exact cradle finish, not a pin after the earlier powerbomb.

Kenny Omega retained the AEW World Championship by pinning Kevin Knight with the One-Winged Angel after surviving the challenger's Crash Landing on the TNT title belt. Knight had aggravated Omega's knee, interrupted a moonsault and scored near falls after an aerial assault, while Omega answered with Snap Dragons and repeated V-Triggers. Knight tried to use both championship belts as distractions but couldn't keep Omega down. A- (8.7) credits the pinfall and actual AEW World title defense; Knight's TNT Championship wasn't transferred, and the Death Riders/Ospreay confrontation occurred after the match.