How I would book an AEW/WWE crossover event at TQL Stadium
Damon Gumbert
On a recent episode of The Cincy Postcast Kevin asked myself and Chief how we would book an event that included talent from AEW and WWE in a crossover event at TQL Stadium. Neither of us really answered the question at the time, but I’d be lying if I said that I hadn’t been thinking about it.
Much like Tony Khan, I book wrestling for the sickos.
Opening Segment
The show opens with the customary “It’s Saturday Night(as all pay per views should be on Saturdays"), and you know what that means” before a mysterious music hits. Something we have never heard before. Out strolls a geriatric Pete Rose, basking in the applause of the crowd as he makes his way to the stage. All women under the age of 18 are escorted a safe distance from the ring as Pete enters. He is handed a mic from Justin Roberts and looks around the stadium.
“I’m not here to start any trouble. I heard that big red bitch is too busy in Tennessee to give me any problems tonight, so I wanted to take a minute to thank Cincinnati for standing behind me all this time. But this is a soccer stadium right? So let me introduce you to my favorite FC Cincinnati player of all time.”
He points to the stage and another mysterious music hits. Out shuffles Frankie Amaya, donning his old FC Cincinnati jersey. The crowd loses their mind in rage. Nuclear heat. Frankie strolls to the ring and embraces Pete. Rose takes off his old Red’s jersey, showing a Philadelphia Phillies shirt. “Did you really think I liked playing in Kentucky? I left this garbage city and went to a real town. Just like this man next to me.” He hands Frankie the mic. “I want to take this time to thank the fans. Thank you, for teaching me that this is the worst place in the world.”
Fans are foaming at the mouth when suddenly ‘Mr. Brightside’ by The Killers begins to play. Three men step out on the stage: Matt Miazga, Nick Hagglund, and Luciano Acosta. Miazga has a mic, “You think you can talk about this city in OUR stadium and get away with it?” Lucho takes the mic, “This is MY city.” Hagglund, the Cincinnati kid, goes last. “It’s also this man’s city.”
Wild Thing plays over the speaker. Rose looks like he has seen a ghost. Jon Moxley beelines his way to the ring through the crowd. He comes face-to-face with Rose, rolling his shoulders while Pete pleads for his life. "Stay away from my daughter,” Moxley says as he kicks Pete in the gut and delivers a Paradigm Shift. Frankie looks on in amazement, not noticing that Lucho had snuck into the ring wielding a guitar. Mox waves to Lucho, making Frankie turn his attention. Lucho annihilates Frankie with the guitar. Hagglund gives Frankie the “Suck It” cross chops as we hear ‘Mr. Brightside’ once again. We have not seen the last of Moxley tonight.
Singles Match for the Continental Championship: Shinsuke Nakamura vs Kazuchika Okada
I could do some research but I just going to confidently say that I don’t think these two have wrestled one on one, but definitely not since 2015. Shinsuke was the original leader of NJPW group CHAOS, which Okada would eventually join. When Shinsuke left NJPW to join WWE he passed on leadership of the group to Okada. In real life these two are close friends. In this match they’ll be bitter enemies. Shinsuke was supposed to be the next big thing when he joined WWE, and hey he was in NXT. But then Vince ruined him on the main roster. And then there’s Okada, who joined AEW in 2024 after breaking almost every record for a world champion in NJPW history, has been booked the way people thought Shinsuke would be. Shinsuke treats this match as proof that he’s still one of the best wrestlers in the world.
Winner: Okada. Shinsuke puts up a good fight, but he’s old now and Okada is still in his prime.
Tag Team Fatal Four Way Ladder Match for all the tag titles: The Young Bucks vs The New Day vs DIY vs FTR
In this timeline Big E doesn’t have a broken neck. While I think there are a bunch of tag teams in AEW and WWE that I would love to see fight each other, this match is for the wrestling sickos. For as long as I can remember there were three tag matches that people wanted the Young Bucks to do: The Revival (FTR), The Usos, and The New Day. I have plans for the Usos later so I’ve subbed in DIY in their place. Big E and Kofi are my New Day pick of a tag team, they were the most successful even if I have a deep appreciation for Xavier Woods. DIY run it back against FTR. We finally get the showoff between The Elite and The New Day that they teased a ton back in the day.
Winner: The Young Bucks. I’m a The Elite mark so I’m going with these guys. Also they have the most success in ladder matches in the past.
Singles Match for the AEW Women’s championship: Rhea Ripley vs “Timeless” Toni Storm
These two know each other very well, as Toni lost the finals of the Inaugural NXT UK Women’s Championship tournament to Rhea. Toni went on to dethrone Rhea a few months later. Both women went on to have runs on the WWE main roster, with Rhea becoming a household name and Toni leaving the company due to frustration with her character and booking. Toni has reached new heights while in AEW, having cross-over interactions with TCM’s Ben Mankiewicz. “Timeless” Toni Storm is a different monster to the the Toni that Rhea knew in her past.
Winner: Rhea Ripley. Mami always comes out on top.
CREEPY OFF: House of Black vs The Wyatt Sick6
Winner: The Wyatt Sick6. The House may always win, and they have better wrestlers, but god the Wyatt Sick6 are creepy as fuck.
I don’t like booking Battle Royale’s because there’s always someone who should win that doesn’t win and that bothers me. That being said…
Battle Royale For Shits and Giggles
Your entrants are: LA Knight, Logan Paul, Andrade, Austin Theory, Grayson Waller, Bobby Lashley, Dom Mysterio, Drew McIntyre, Dragon Lee, Bandido, Claudio Castignoli, Danny Garcia, Eddie Kingston, Dustin Rhodes, Hangman Adam Page, Keith Lee, Konosuke Takeshita, Wardlow
Winner: Claudio Castignoli. Kevin was a big fan when I brought him to an AEW show so I’ll go with him to win. Doesn’t really matter though cause there’s nothing on the line here. Just one of those “get people on the card” matches. Speaking of…
Team AEW vs Team WWE elimination match
Team AEW - Darby Allin, Bryan Danielson, Swerve Strickland, Will Ospreay, and Orange Cassidy
Team WWE - Kevin Owens, Finn Balor, Cody Rhodes, Sami Zayn, and The Miz
Order of Elimination: Darby Allin, The Miz, Orange Cassidy, Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, Swerve Strickland, Finn Balor, Will Ospreay, Bryan Danileson
Winner: Team WWE with Cody Rhodes last man standing. Think about it, Team AEW led by former WWE champion Bryan Danielson loses to Team WWE led by the first ever TNT champion and founding member of AEW Cody Rhodes. What a match.
Fatal Four Way for the Unidsputed Women’s Championship (Combining WWE Womens Championship and TBS Championship): Charlotte Flair vs Becky Lynch vs Bayley vs Mercedes Mone
It truly boggles my mind that this match never happened on the main roster. The match they had in NXT was spectacular and all four of these women are better performers now than they were then. Mercedes is the only AEW woman in this match, but as we speak Becky Lynch is with neither company so I’ll take it.
Winner: Bayley. My personal favorite. Sue me, I’m the one booking this.
TNT Championship match: Jack Perry vs CM Punk
Muahahahahahahahahahahahaha
Winner: Jack Perry. Fuck CM Punk.
Women’s Battle Royale
Entrants are : Liv Morgan, Asuka, Bianca Belair, Jade Cargill, Candice LeRae, Chelsea Green, Dakota Kai, Iyo Skye, Kairi Sane, Abadon, Anna Jay, Athena, Britt Baker D.M.D., Deonna Purrazzo, Jaime Hayter, Hikaru Shida, Kris Statlander, Willow Nightingale.
Winner: Liv Morgan after she sneaks back in after sliding under the bottom rope and eliminates Jamie Hayter and Jade Cargill at the same time.
Anarchy in the Arena: The Bloodline (Solo Sikoa, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa, Hikuleo, Jacob Fatu) vs The SHIELD (Seth Rollins, Roman Reigns, Jon Moxley, The Usos)
Who wouldn’t watch the FUCK out of this match?
Winner: The Shield. Moxley pins Tonga Loa cause he’s actually a terrible wrestler and Mox is from Cincinnati.
MAIN EVENT: AJ Styles vs Kenny Omega 2 out of 3 falls
It really couldn’t be anything other than this match. They both want it and it’ll finally prove who’s the best professional wrestler on the planet.
Winner: Kenny Omega. He’s the Best Bout Machine for a reason.
Which Brand Comes Out on Top?
Neither. It’s an even split at 5 and 5. The Anarchy match is a WWE grudge match with one AEW person in it, so it doesn’t really count towards the total. That’s how you book a joint show, don’t put one over another. If one tries to force a win for their promotion all you have to remember is the most important six words in wrestling: That Doesn’t Work For Me, Brother.
