AEW Counterfactual History

This was unplanned; with the end coming (for me, hopefully not for AEW) I just decided to envelope them in.  

(1) I'm using the same basic format, quarterly PPVs, in the case of AEW, that would mean Revolution, Double or Nothing, All Out, Full Gear. 

(2) Other than the one time I'm required to cheat (below) I'm not planning to, no titles held up, so far, no stables holding tag belts.  

(3) The WWE storylines already told require (1) Cody doesn't win the AEW Title and (2) Punk does and then has to relinquish it, thats the time I'm cheating, the title has to be held up during Punk's reign. 

(4) 4 Titles, I'm using the International Title as the secondary title.  Mens World, Womens World, Mens Tags are the other belts.  

(5) I may keep this alive in a non-canon, non new post type of way, post end of 2025. 

(6) When I did TNA, I stayed a show behind, as opposed to a full year behind, to that end, I've booked below through the end of 2024, after real world Double or Nothing 2025, I'd do Revolution 2025, for ex.

YEAR 1

May, 2019 Double or Nothing (Vegas)

AEW Title: Kenny Omega d. Chris Jericho

International Title: Cody Rhodes d. Dustin Rhodes

Tag Titles: Lucha Bros (Penta/Fenix) d. Young Bucks (Matt/Nick Jackson)

Womens Title: Riho d. Hikaru Shida

Hangman Adam Page d. MJF

Jack Perry d. Sammy Guevara

So Cal Uncensored (Daniels/Kazarian/Scorp Sky) d. Best Friends (Cassidy/Beretta/Taylor) 

Britt Baker d. Awesome Kong

Opening Gauntlet: CIMA d. Jack Evans/Angelico/T-Hawk/Lindaman

August, 2019 All Out (Chicago)

AEW Title: Kenny Omega d. Chris Jericho

International Title: Pac d. Cody Rhodes (switch)

Tag Titles: Lucha Bros d. Young Bucks

Womens Title: Riho d. Shida

Adam Page d. Darby Allin

Jack Perry d. Jack Evans

So Cal Uncensored (Daniels/Kazarian) d. Best Friends (Beretta/Taylor)

Britt Baker d. Awesome Kong

Opening Gauntlet: Scorpio Sky d. Shawn Spears/Stu Grayson/Joey Janela/Angelico

November, 2019 Full Gear

AEW Title: Jon Moxley d. Kenny Omega (switch)

International Title: Pac d. Adam Page

Tag Titles: Young Bucks d. Lucha Bros (switch)

Womens Title: Riho d. Britt Baker

Cody Rhodes d. Chris Jericho

So Cal Uncensored (Kazarian/ScSky) d. Private Party (Kassidy/Quen) 

LAX (Santana/Ortiz) d. Spears/Janela

Emi Sakura d. Bea Priestly

YEAR 2

February, 2020 Revolution (Chicago)

AEW Title: Jon Moxley d. Kenny Omega

International Title: Cody Rhodes d. Pac (switch)

Tag Titles: Young Bucks d. So Cal Uncensored (Kazarian/ScSky)

Womens Title: Kris Statlander d. Riho (switch)

MJF d. Adam Page

Chris Jericho d. Jack Swagger

Sammy Guevara d. Darby Allin and Orange Cassidy

Britt Baker d. Yuka Sakazaki

May, 2020 Double or Nothing (Jacksonville)

AEW Title: Jon Moxley d. Brodie Lee

International Title: Chris Jericho d. Cody Rhodes (switch)

Tag Titles: The Elite (Kenny Omega/Adam Page) d. Young Bucks (switch)

Womens Title: Hikaru Shida d. Kris Statlander (switch)

Sammy Guevara d. Matt Hardy

MJF d. Jack Swagger

LAX d. Best Friends (Taylor/Beretta)

Murder Machines (Brian Cage/Lance Archer) d. Private Party

Opening Gauntlet: Darby Allin d. Orange Cassidy/Scorpio Sky/Colt Cabana/Dustin Rhodes

September, 2020 All Out (Jacksonville)

AEW Title d. Jon Moxley (1 year) d. Brodie Lee 

International Title: Chris Jericho d. Eddie Kingston

Tag Titles: FTR (Dax Harwood/Cash Wheeler) d. The Elitge (Omega/Page) (switch)

Womens Title: Hikaru Shida d. Britt Baker

Young Bucks d. Lucha Bros

MJF d. Sammy Guevara

Best Friends (Orange/Beretta/Taylor) d. So Cal Uncensored (Daniels/Kazarian/Sky)

Murder Machines d LAX and Powerhouse Hobbs/Ricky Starks

Opening Gauntlet: Darby Allin d. Jack Perry/Dustin Rhodes/Matt Sydal/Jack Swagger

November, 2020 Full Gear (Jacksonville)

AEW Title: Jon Moxley d. Cody Rhodes (Rhodes losing=cant challenge again)

International Title: Chris Jericho d. Darby Allin

Tag Titles: Young Bucks (2nd reign) d. FTR (switch)

Womens Title: Hikaru Shida d. Serena Deeb

Kenny Omega d. Adam Page

MJF d. Eddie Kingston

Sammy Guevara d. Matt Hardy

Orange Cassidy d. John Silver

YEAR 3

February, 2021 Revolution (Jacksonville)

AEW Title: Kenny Omega (2nd) d. Jon Moxley (switch)

International Title: Pac (2nd) d. Chris Jericho (switch)

Tag Titles: Young Bucks d. Murder Machines

Womens Title: Britt Baker d. Hikaru Shida (switch)

Adam Page d. MJF

Best Friends (Orange/Taylor) d. So Cal Express (Daniels/Kazarian)

LAX d. Lucha Bros

Darby/Sting d. Cody Rhodes/Dustin Rhodes

Opening Gauntlet: Jack Perry d. Ricky Starks/Matt Sydal/Miro/Stu Grayson

May, 2021 Double or Nothing (Jacksonville)

AEW Title: Kenny Omega d. Adam Page

International Title: MJF d. Pac (switch)

Tag Titles: Young Bucks d. LAX

Women's Title: Britt Baker d. Riho

DeathRiders (Jon Moxley/Eddie Kingston) d. FTR

Christian d. Cody Rhodes

Chris Jericho/Jack Perry d. Sting/Darby

Miro d. Sammy Guevara

Opening Gauntlet: Orange Cassidy d. Lance Archer/Brian Cage/Powerhouse Hobbs/Matt Hardy

September, 2021 All Out (Chicago)

AEW Title: Kenny Omega d. Chris Jericho

International Title: MJF d. Orange Cassidy

Tag Titles: Young Bucks (one year) d. DeathRiders (Jon Moxley/Eddie Kingston)

Women's Title: Britt Baker d. Thunder Rosa

CM Punk d. Christian

Darby Allin d. Jack Perry

Lucha Bros d. Private Party

Paul Wight d. Satoshi Kojima

Opening Gauntlet: Matt Hardy d. Wheeler Yuta/Chuck Taylor/Angelico/Jack Evans

November, 2021 Full Gear (Minneapolis)

AEW Title: Bryan Danielson d. Kenny Omega (switch)

International Title: Adam Cole d. MJF (switch)

Tag Titles: Young Bucks d. FTR/Lucha Bros/LAX

Womens Title: Britt Baker (one year) d. Jamie Hayter 

Adam Page d. CM Punk

Eddie Kingston d. Christian

Malakai Black d. Cody Rhodes

Chris Jericho/Jack Perry d. Darby Allin

Opening Gauntlet: Andrade d. Miro/Sammy Guevara/Jack Swagger/Scorpio Sky

YEAR FOUR

March, 2022 Revolution (Orlando)

AEW Title: Bryan Danielson d. Jon Moxley

International Title: Adam Cole d. Kyle O'Reilly

Tag Titles: Young Bucks d. House of Black (Black/Matthews)

Womens Title: Britt Baker d. Thunder Rosa

CM Punk d. Adam Page

Keith Lee d. Brody King

Sting/Darby d. Jericho/Perry and Hobbs/Starks 

MJF d. Eddie Kingston

Opening Gauntlet: Pac d. Sammy Guevara/Andrade/Christian/Orange Cassidy

May, 2022 Double or Nothing (Vegas)

AEW Title: Bryan Danielson d. Pac

International Title: Swerve Strickland d. Adam Cole (switch)

Tag Titles: Young Bucks d. Hardys 

Womens Title: Britt Baker d. Ruby Soho

CM Punk d. Samoa Joe

DeathRiders (Jon Moxley/Eddie Kingston) d. Powerhouse Hobbs/Ricky Starks

Adam Page draw MJF

Lucha Bros d. House of Black (Black/Matthews) and LAX

Opening Gauntlet: Kyle o'Reilly d. Keith Lee/Brody King/Sammy Guevara/Darby Allin

Sept, 2022 All Out (Chicago)

AEW Title: CM Punk d. Bryan Danielson (switch, subsequently, Punk is stripped, title vacated)

International Title: MJF d. Adam Page and Swerve Strickland (switch)

Tag Titles: Trash (Pac/Claudio Castagnoli) d. Young Bucks (switch)

Women's Title: Toni Storm d. Britt Baker (switch)

DeathRiders (Moxley/Kingston) d. FTR

Lucha Bros d. Motor City Machine Guns (Chris Sabin/Alex Shelley)

House of Black (Black/King) d. Jericho/Perry and Sting/Darby and Hobbs/Starks

Miro d. Tomohiro Ishii

Opening Gauntlet: Kenny Omega d. Keith Lee/Buddy Matthews/Christian/Andrade

November, 2022 Full Gear (Newark)

AEW Title: Kenny Omega (3rd title) d. Bryan Danielson

International Title: MJF d. Swerve Strickland

Tag Titles: Lucha Bros (2nd) d. Trash (switch)

Women's Title: Jamie Hayter d. Toni Storm and Britt Baker and Paige (switch)

Young Bucks d. DeathRiders

Darby/Sting d. Jericho/Perry

Samoa Joe d. Keith Lee

Ricky Starks d. Powerhouse Hobbs

Opening Gauntlet: Orange Cassidy d. Trent Beretta/Brian Cage/Jun Akiyama/Sammy Guevara

YEAR FIVE

March, 2023 Revolution (San Francisco)

AEW Title: Kenny Omega d. Adam Page

International Title: Bryan Danielson d. MJF (switch)

Tag Titles: Young Bucks (3rd) d. Lucha Bros (switch)

Women's Title: Jamie Hayter d. Britt Baker

Malakai Black d. Jon Moxley

House of Black (King/Matthews) d. Jericho/Perry

Mark Briscoe d. Christian

Samoa Joe d. Orange Cassidy

Opening Gauntlet: Ricky Starks d. Jay Lethal/Jeff Jarrett/Wardlow/Tony Nese

May, 2023 Double or Nothing (Vegas)

AEW Title: Kenny Omega d. Adam Cole

International Title: Bryan Danielson d. Claudio Castagnoli

Tag Titles: FTR (2nd titles) d. Young Bucks (switch)

Womens Title: Kris Statlander (2nd) d. Jamie Hayter (switch)

Jon Moxley d. Malakai Black

House of Black (Matthews/King) d. Lucha Bros and Hardys

MJF d. Adam Page and Swerve Strickland

Ricky Starks d. Bandido

Opening Gauntlet: Jay White d. Sammy Guevara/Darby Allin/Komander/Keith Lee

September, 2023 All Out (Chicago)

AEW Title: Kenny Omega d. Adam Cole

International Title: Jay White d. Bryan Danielson (switch)

Tag Titles: DeathRiders (Jon Moxley/Eddie Kingston) d. FTR (switch)

Womens Title: Kris Statlander d. Willow Nightengale

Takeshita d. Kyle Fletcher

Powerhouse Hobbs d. Ricky Starks

Claudio Castagnoli draw Samoa Joe

Young Bucks d. Best Friends (Cassidy/Beretta)

Opening Gauntlet: Adam Page d. MJF/Komander/Daniel Garcia/Brian Cage

November, 2023 Full Gear (LA)

AEW Title: Adam Page d. Kenny Omega (switch)

International Title: Jay White d. Claudio Castagnoli/Samoa Joe

Tag Titles: Darby/Sting d. DeathRiders (Moxley/Kingston) (switch) 

Womens Title: Toni Storm (2) d. Kris Statlander

Edge/Christian d. Young Bucks

Strickland d. MJF

FTR d. House of Black (King/Matthews)

Rush d. Malikai Black

Opening Gauntlet: Chris Jericho d. Orange Cassidy/Jay Lethal//Nick Wayne/Ricky Starks

YEAR SIX

March, 2024 Revolution (Greensboro)

AEW Title: Bryan Danielson (2) d. Adam Page (switch)

International Title: Konosuke Takeshita d. Jay White (switch)

Tag Titles: FTR (3rd) d. Darby/Sting (Stings final match)

Women's Title: Willow Nightengale d. Toni Storm (switch)

Will Ospreay d. Claudio Castagnoli

Horsemen (Joe/Roddy Strong w/Flair) d. Young Bucks 

Jon Moxley d. Eddie Kingston

Swerve Strickland d. Darby Allin

Opening Gauntlet: Daniel Garcia d. Christian/Chris Jericho/Powerhouse Hobbs/Orange Cassidy

May, 2024 Double or Nothing (Vegas)

AEW Title: Bryan Danielson d. Jon Moxley

International Title: Kazuchika Okada d. Konosuke Takeshita (switch)

Tag Titles: Trash (Pac/Claudio) (2)  d. FTR (switch)

Women's Title: Sasha Banks d. Willow Nightengale (switch)

Will Ospreay d. Jay White

Edge/Christian d. Best Friends (Orange/Beretta)

Loser Leaves Town: Young Bucks d. Lucha Bros

Swerve Strickland d. Malakai Black

Opening Gauntlet:  Roddy Strong d. Brian Cage/Jericho/Perry/Katsuyori Shibata

September, 2024 All Out (Chicago)

AEW Title: Will Ospreay d. Bryan Danielson (switch)

International Title: Takeshita (2) d. Okada (switch)

Tag Titles: Horsemen (Strong/Garcia w/Joe) d. Trash (Pac/Claudio) and Young Bucks

Women's Title: Sasha Banks d. Kris Statlander

MJF d. Sammy Guevara

Best Friends (Orange/Wheeler) d. The Acclaimed and The Gunns

Swerve Strickland d. Adam Page

Mark Briscoe d. Jack Perry

Opening Gauntlet: Beast Mortos d. Juice Robinson/Lee Moriarity/Dante Martin/Dustin Rhodes

November, 2024 Full Gear (Newark)

AEW Title: Will Ospreay d. Ricochet

International Title: Takeshita d. Kyle Fletcher

Tag Titles: Horsemen (Strong/Garcia w/Joe) d. Private Party

Womens Title: Sasha Banks d. Kris Statlander

Jon Moxley d. Jay White

Buddy Matthews d. Malakai Black

MJF d. Orange Cassidy

Adam Page d. Swerve Strickland

Opening Gauntlet: Beast Mortos d. Komander/Dante Martin/Jack Perry/Bobby Lashley

March, 2024 Revolution (LA)

Title Histories

AEW Title:

1. Kenny Omega (5/19)

2. Jon Moxley (11/19)

3. Kenny Omega (2) (2/21)

4. Bryan Danielson (11/21)

5. CM Punk (9/22 - Punk stripped, title vacated, the same month)

6. Kenny Omega (3) (11/22)

7. Adam Page (11/23)

8. Bryan Danielson (2) (3/24)

9. Will Ospreay (9/24)

International Title:

1. Cody Rhodes (5/19)

2. Pac (8/19)

3. Cody Rhodes (2) (2/20)

4. Chris Jericho (5/20)

5. Pac (2) (2/21)

6. MJF (5/21)

7. Adam Cole (11/21)

8. Swerve Strickland (5/22)

9. MJF  (2) (9/22)

10. Bryan Danielson (3/23)

11. Jay White (9/23)

12. Kenosuke Takeshita (3/24)

13. Kazuchika Okada (5/24)

14. Kenosuke Takeshita (2) (9/24)

Tag Titles:

1. Lucha Bros (Penta/Fenix) (5/19)

2. Young Bucks (Matt/Nick Jackson (11/19)

3. Kenny Omega/Adam Page (5/20)

4. FTR (Dax/Cash) (9/20)

5. Young Bucks (2) (11/20)

6. Trash (Pac/Claudio) (9/22)

7. Lucha Bros (2) (11/22)

8. Young Bucks (3) (3/23)

9. FTR (2) (5/23)

10. Jon Moxley/Eddie Kingston (9/23)

11. Sting/Darby Allin (11/23)

12. FTR (3) (3/24)

13. Trash (2) (5/24)

14. Horsemen (Strong/Garcia) (9/24)

Women's Title:

1. Riho (5/19)

2. Kris Statlander (2/20)

3. Hikaru Shida (5/20)

4. Dr. Britt Baker (2/21)

5. Toni Storm (9/22)

6. Jamie Hayter (11/22)

7. Kris Statlander (2) (5/23)

8. Toni Storm (2) (11/23)

9. Willow Nightengale (3/24)

10. Sasha Banks (5/24)

Wrestlemania 40

The build.

Wrestlemania 40 comes to you from Philadelphia.

The announcers (analysts rotate throughout the broadcast) Michael Cole (8th PPV) Corey Graves (10th) Wade Barrett (10th) Steve Regal (29th)

Music from the Rocky catalog plays for all the highlight packages, because of Philadelphia, and because of Rocky III and the Hulk Hogan/Eye of the Tiger of It All, and because a million years ago I decided when I did my last WM, the closing package would be black and white stills to "The Final Bell"  The opening montage will be all the Brother v Brother matches from WM 10, 20, 30 leading to images from the builds for tonights matches, and the end package will be still images from the prior 39 Manias, going backward from tonight all the way through to 1985, so when the final notes are played from the Conti song, a black and white shot of a smiling Steamboat, holding the WWF Title belt aloft is shown.

Additionally, throughout the night are packages of wrestlers stepping alone into one of those immersive theaters to watch "this is your life" clips where they can see themselves from childhood all the way to their first WM appearance.  It's likely an emotional night from Philadelphia - Summer Slam is going to be a much more wrestling focused, stripped down show - this is the blow out.

Dark: Dragon Lee d. Je'von Evans

          Bron Steiner d. Sheamus

          The Culture (Hayes/Williams) d. Axion/Frazer

          Dark Ride Title: Cedric Alexander (w/Culture) d. Ilja Dragunov

 The 19th Dark Ride Champ is Cedric Alexander, the Mania telecast begins with Alexander/Hayes/Williams standing triumphantly on the turnbuckles

The opening highlight package includes clips from the Brother v Brother matches from 10, 20, 30:

-Owen v Bret

-Shawn v Razor

-Eddy v. Chavo

-Shawn v Hunter

-Claudio v Danielson

-Nemeth v Sheamus

-Brock v. Swagger

1. TRIPLE CROWN (Styles/Mysterio w/Nakamura) d. UNION OF CROWNS (Dunne/Bate)

-Styles gets the fall on Bate; Triple Crown is a pretty flexible box, I could see guys moving in and out, as anyone with a TC is eligible under this conceit - there's a Main Event Mafia possibility here, if Zayn and Rey are ever part of a heel faction, this is the mechanism for that.

2. MILLION DOLLAR RETIREMENT MATCH: PRINCE DEVITT d. LOGAN PAUL (w/McAfee)

-Devitt gets the fall, McAfee tries to sneak off with the briefcase, it's partially open and leaking money, McDonaugh appears, taking him out on the ramp, securing the briefcase, still leaking money, Devitt and McDonaugh are reunited and all is right with the world.  There's cash all over the place, roadies sweep it into corners

3. STREET PROFITS d. YOUNG MONEY (Killings/Kingston w/Woods)

-Woods turns here, joining the Profits, who are also turning, as this started as an all babyface matchup.  The Woods/Profits act becomes more serious - I'd like to get Kingston in a babyface tag act with Orton, give them a run, have Orton turn on him setting up the last stretch of both guys WWF careers.

Here come the lumberjacks - the idea is 40 total, given that its WM 40, all in pairs who have some sort of connection with each other; whether on TV or through social media, ideally all 40 have chosen sides, half are with the Rock (the new ownership, new booking direction, etc..) half with Knight (Hunter's side, keeping WWF stuck in the most shlocky parts of its past).  It's possible not all 40 guys are available here (Batista is the biggest stretch).  They all get introductions, it's a long spot, it's WM 40 after all.  

HBK/HHH-M

Windham/Rotundo

Rick/Scott

Undertaker/Kane

Cena/Batista

Bubba/DVon

Waltman/Road Dogg

Helms/Rhyno

Chavo/Carlito

Angle/Haas

RVD/Sabu

Sheamus/Barrett

Booker/Bradshaw

Fit/Regal

Arn/Tully

Raven/Dreamer

Crews/Bernard

DiBiase/DiBiase Jr.

Foley/Snow

Natty/Bret

4. LEGENDS LUMBERJACK MATCH: THE ROCK d. LA KNIGHT

-This is really just fan service; the lumberjacks break down, of course, and start to brawl - eventually, Knight's ridiculous act pushes a step too far and the guys who had been on his side now change their minds, there's a ref bump, Hunter winds up aiding the Rock, Shawn superkicks Knight to get his revenge, as many guys who can do some approximation of a finishing move lay Knight out postmatch - then the guys find the money and hand it to fans in a supersized IRL Andre at WM spot. All the money is now gone - we get a giant dose of nostalgia without it coming at the finish of the main event (everyone liked the finish of IRL 40 more than I did).

5. NO HOLDS BARRED: DEFIANCE (Priest/Dom/Ripley) d. RANDY ORTON/ANDRADE/BECKY LYNCH

-Reed returns and he and Priest wipe out Orton, the finish comes when Andrade inadvertently chairshots Lynch, Ripley gets the fall.  Black sprints to the ring, his match is supposed to be next, he's out of his mind with concern, he's furious at Andrade - eventually they all go to the back.  The set up next step is Black/Andrade, Andrade returned because of what Reed did to Flair and now he has, albeit accidentally, injured Lynch - and then that is designed to set up the Flair/Lynch breakup as they align, understandably with their husbands in the next chapter of their forever on again/off again friendship.  Now, as it turns out, Flair/Andrade are already IRL divorced and Lynch still doesn't have a return date.  Back to this show - Black's match against Escobar is supposed to go next, but there's shuffling around and the women's tag title match is moved up. 

6. WOMENS TAG TITLES: BIANCA BELAIR/BAYLEY d. NAOMI/DAKOTA KAI

-The babyfaces keep, Belair gets the fall.  Quick, painless.

7. SANTOS ESCOBAR (w/Twisted Sun Gods) d. TYLER BLACK

-Black is distracted, he goes under, and then as quickly as possible runs back to the back - Lynch is going to be gone long enough (maybe really, really long enough) that the severity of what's happened to her can be emphasized by his essentially giving away this match.  I think this might serve as the impetus to put Black back with Langston, either as "Langston pulls Black from darkness" or "Langston gives Black the grit he needs to push harder".  

8. DREW McINTYRE (w/Union of Crowns) d. ROMAN REIGNS (Special Guest Referee: Chad Gable)

-Its the blowoff to the feud - McIntyre goes over, there's more juice left in his ability to have good wrestling matches, in this heel/heel program, it's Drew who establishes himself as the man; he/Dunne/Bate pose, it's time for In Memorium.

In Memorium

Bray Wyatt

Terry Funk

Iron Sheik

Superstar Billy Graham

Billy White Wolf

Adrian Street

Bushwacker Butch

Droz

Killer Khan

Virgil

Butcher Vachon

Ole Anderson

9. IC TITLE: LADDER MATCH: JIMMY USO d. JEY USO

-Given the Brother v. Brother theme we've done every decade at Mania, every version of this card for the past couple of years had an Usos ladder match for the IC, with a slight pause given how bad their IRL match was at 40.  Roman runs in on behalf of Jey, we get the return of Solo, he comes out of the crowd to help Jimmy - bumps all around - Jimmy climbs the ladder, takes the belt, the crowd yeets (Jimmy got the Yeet gimmick) and there's a new IC Champ, the 86th IC Champ in history.

10. WOMENS TITLE: IYO SKY d. ASUKA/KAIRI SANE

-There's also a new women's champ, the 18th modern women's WWF Champ - this is the blow off for this feud and really a turning of the page, Asuka has been the ace of the division for years, really her entire run with the promotion, but Sky beat her at last year's Mania and now pins her here, taking the title and establishing that she's the best women's wrestler in WWF.  

11. TAG TITLES: SAMI ZAYN/KEVIN STEEN d. KINGS OF WRESTLING (Gargano/Ciampa)

-It's my ideal final Mania tag title match; Steen and Zayn reunited the year prior, won the belts at the Rumble and now vanquish the challenge from their former stablemates.  

12. WWF TITLE: WALTER (w/Heyman) d. CODY RHODES

-The 66th WWF Champion is Walter.  Nearly 2 years ago, the plan to have Walter win the title at 40 was created, albeit, initially Brock was the penciled in opponent.  Here, Walter and Heyman enter the ring to the ECW theme, Heyman wearing the old duster.  Rhodes fights from underneath, Walter attacking that knee that was injured by the masked man a couple weeks prior.  Codys been the champion for a year - but still feels like the underdog throughout the match, and eventually, succumbs.  

Postmatch handshake, Cody leaves the ring - and with his back turned as he's walking away, the masked man emerges from under the ring, two glass light tubes, he cracks Cody's knee again - he drops like a shot - medical emerges to aid Cody as the masked man, with one light tube, enters the ring - he and Walter nose to nose - Heyman intercedes - theres a moment.....and then Heyman and the masked man hug.  They hug, I tells you, they hug.

Heyman pulls off his mask.

CM Punk.

Punk unzips his black coat, revealing an old school Paul Heyman Guy t shirt - Punk has shockingly joined Heyman, the three men pose for the Philadelphia fans as Wrestlemania 40 comes to a close.

I've got a post ready to go for May, for June - then I'll build to Summer Slam, WWF 150, the final PPV for the Counterfactual, in July.  

The Final Bell

One black and white image from each WM, working backwards.  

40-The Punk unmasking

39-The Zayn/Steen reconciliation hug

38-Cody waving the Bullet Club flag at the top of the ladder

37-Zayn, bleeding through the El Generico mask, on top of the Cell

36-Lynch submitting to Banks in the Montreal Match

35-Kurt Angle held aloft by Shoot Nation after his final match

34-Nakamura with the Bomaye on Lesnar

33-Claudio/Pac swinging ladders onto Steen/Generico

32-The Bullet Club formation

31-Kenta with the Go 2 Sleep on Danielson

30-AJ Lee shaking hands with Natty Neidhart before the first women's PPV match

29-Punk throwing in the towel to end the Danielson/Lesnar match while Bruno and Steamboat look on

28-Danielson kicking Jericho's head in.

27-The huge Underground celebration in the ring, Punk laying on the ground at Bret's feet

26-Bret and Shawn nose to nose before each man's final match

25-Steamboat chopping Punk

24-Edge standing over a fallen Jericho

23-Undertaker tombstoning Michaels, Austin as the referee

22-Cactus sending Van Dam through a flaming table

21-Eddy/Dean/Benoit with their hands raised together as the confetti falls

20-Jericho throwing Christian off the Cell

19-Lesnar shooting star press

18-Hennig submitting to Angle

17-Austin stunner on Regal

16-Carnage from the first TLC match

15-Edge/Christian and Trish turning on the Hardys, joining the Clique

14-Shamrock and Austin bleeding in the Octagon

13-Austin double middle finger to Bret

12-Michaels/Diesel/Razor with the Clique handsign

11-Michaels submitting to Bret in the sharpshooter

10-Owen celebrating with the WWF Title 

9-Michaels/Razor/Diesel brawl with Bret/Owen/Savage

8-Bret and Flair nose to nose

7-Savage in mid air, dropping an elbow on Hennig

6-Bret waving the Canadian flag in Toronto

5-The Brainbusters and Rockers all bleeding

4-Dynamite screaming at Steamboat

3-Hogan dropping a leg on Piper

2-The 4 members of the Hart Foundation all holding title belts, standing on the turnbuckles

1-Ricky Steamboat holding aloft the WWF Title

One show left.  But some other stuff to come beginning next month with...an alternative AEW history.