From a storyline standpoint, wins and losses mean a fair bit in AEW - particularly for the bigger stars who rarely lose. However, for some wrestlers, losing can be more than just a simple three-second count, and it can be hugely embarrassing for their characters.
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There have been several occasions in which a wrestler has lost a match in very embarrassing fashion, whether that be an upset loss or a complete humiliation within the match. There are several examples to pick out for sure, and this will cover a range of different types of embarrassments for AEW’s roster. Embarrassment comes in many different ways, and this will be proven here.
10 MJF Vs. Wardlow
MJF is someone who doesn’t lose all too often in AEW, which makes it a big deal when he does. The most definitive loss he suffered was at the hands of Wardlow, who completely squashed him on PPV.
Fans were expecting at least somewhat of a competitive contest, but Wardlow steamrolled him in five minutes, winning the match after delivering a powerbomb symphony. MJF has never been beaten again quite like this in AEW. It is a shame AEW didn’t capitalize on this win for Wardlow in the long run,
9 Sammy Guevara Vs. Matt Hardy
The Elite Deletion match saw an array of Hardy Family Compound shenanigans, as Sammy Guevara was defeated by Matt Hardy in a match which saw Guevara get embarrassed on more than one occasion.
Guevara was completely and cleanly beaten when all was said and done in this match, despite this being all about the younger star trying to beat the veteran. Guevara got his comeuppance and was embarrassed here.
8 Jungle Boy Vs. Christian Cage
Although Luchasaurus attacked Jungle Boy before the bell at All Out 2022, allowing Christian Cage to hit the Killswitch and win the bout in under 30 seconds, it didn’t make it any less embarrassing.
Christian was injured going into this match, and the fact that he only needed one move to beat his opponent wasn’t the best of looks for Jungle Boy, and for a little while he struggled for momentum following it.
7 Shawn Spears Vs. Dustin Rhodes
Dustin Rhodes humiliated Shawn Spears in their match at Double or Nothing 2020. Spears was tripped down, exposing his underwear which had Tully Blanchard’s face printed on it, and then he was beaten in under five minutes.
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Spears entered AEW feuding with Cody Rhodes in a competitive PPV match, but this complete embarrassment at the hands of Dustin Rhodes showcased just how much he had fallen.
6 Ricky Starks Vs. Powerhouse Hobbs
When Powerhouse Hobbs turned on Ricky Starks, fans were expecting the start of a star-making feud for the pair. However, an inconsistent rivalry led to a match with little heat. However, a good match could have turned their fortunes.
Unfortunately for Starks, he was presented as an overzealous jobber in this match. He went full throttle only to get absolutely battered by his opponent. Starks displayed no form of tactics in what felt like a glorified squash. It is a surprise that he managed to overcome this defeat.
5 Chris Jericho Vs. Orange Cassidy
At All Out 2020, Chris Jericho and Orange Cassidy fought in one of the more ridiculous gimmick matches in AEW history, as they competed in a Mimosa Mayhem. The winner was the man who submerged the other into a vat of mimosa.
The ending of the match saw Jericho, a multi-time world champion of the business get thrown into a big bowl of mimosa, sitting there drenched after the bell and completely humiliated.
4 Young Bucks Vs. Private Party
On just the second ever episode of Dynamite, the top tag team in the division the Young Bucks went up against the new young team of Private Party in the AEW World Tag Team Title tournament.
In a complete upset, Private Party won the match to a massive ovation. The Bucks, who were the favorites, went out in an embarrassing fashion (by their standards at the very least).
3 MJF Vs. Shawn Dean (Twice)
MJF has a bogey opponent, and it is “The Captain” Shawn Dean, who barely ever gets a shot on AEW Dynamite, but when he does (mostly against MJF) he manages to make it count.
Dean has scored two victories over MJF - DQ and count out - both of which has left MJF hugely frustrated and embarrassed, and for good reason given Dean’s status as a performer in the company. Whilst Dean didn’t win on his own, it was still embarrassing for MJF.
2 Cody Rhodes Vs. Chris Jericho
At Full Gear 2019, Cody Rhodes challenged Chris Jericho for the AEW World Title in a match where if he lost, he would never challenge for the belt again.
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Due to MJF throwing in the towel and then turning heel on him after the match, Rhodes lost the match. He could no longer reach the pinnacle of AEW, and it led to his eventual downfall in the company. The whole scenario of Rhodes getting conned out of the match made things even worse for The American Nightmare.
1 Chris Jericho Vs. Action Andretti
Chris Jericho wanted to beat up a jobber, and he found himself in the ring with someone who presented as such in the unknown Action Andretti. However, as their match progressed, Andretti was getting more and more offense and support from the fans.
Andretti managed to defeat Jericho with a simple standing moonsault, scoring a completely squeaky clean victory. This is by far the biggest upset in AEW history, and therefore it is among the most embarrassing too, especially someone as big as Chris Jericho.
