Jim Cornette Reviews The Acclaimed vs. Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland at AEW All Out 2022 

Love how Keith and Swerve just embraced that they had become the heels in that match

The Acclaimed deserve the tag titles more than any of the other spoiled “stars”. They were never “pushed” like some of the other lame acts they force down your throat on that show. Those guys worked hard and made the fans love them. I remember when they used to get booed.

It actually looked like an actual tag team wrestling match.

Props to swerve and keith lee for leaning into the heel roll during the match on the fly. They properly took the temperature of the arena and adjusted accordingly. Now if only Tony could develop those same instincts to call audibles he could better compete with wwe.

best match of the night, wasn't expecting that at all.. maybe I misjudged all of these guys.

for a feud with literally no build, this was without a doubt match of the night. Bravo.

Tony Khan signed these two, paired them together, came up with The Acclaimed name and idea. By all accounts it’s an original AEW creation. Credit where credit is due, taken a while but they’re really hot now. I think it is time to give them the belts but the match hadn’t been built up well enough and it was probably the right call.

I like how they followed this up on Dynamite with Strickland playing heel and doing the biggest heel spot in recent memory of cutting off the rap (especially this rap, which everyone was waiting for after all that stuff after All Out). I wasn’t expecting this match to blow the roof off, and I was left with the same reaction as the arena, but because of that reaction, I can’t crap on the outcome THAT much. It made people feel and sometimes, hearing an arena go silent like that, can be as special as hearing it go ballistic. It made me feel more than any other match on the card, which is what the goal in wrestling should always be.

The Acclaimed are great. They actually remind me of the New Age Outlaws which might be why Billy is so invested in them. They should be the AEW tag team champion and hopefully with the reaction from the fans, Tony will see that and eventually make it happen.

Swerve Strickland has incredible ring charisma. There is star potential there. The Acclaimed were fantastic.

"Oh, sissor me daaddy!" chant was hillarious! Best match of the show!

This match was incredible. The crowd was so hot for The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn. They are winning those titles at Grand Slam. I really like how Swerve & Keith worked as heels during the match.

Swerve Strickland could have a bright future in propane and propane accessories, I tell you hwhat!

Max and Bowens are studs. Swerve is a stud. Keith is a stud. This match was an afterthought but it was the match of the night. I also disagree that they should have just called an audible just because the crowd favored one side in a face vs face match. All the more reason to split Swerve and Lee and put the belts on The Acclaimed down the line. Especially having seen Swerve's promo on Wednesday.

Damn, they’re putting out so much content for us. Much appreciated!

I don't think anyone has shown as much improvement over the last 1-2 years as The Acclaimed.

“We had a nice rap” are words I never thought I’d hear Jim say.

The Acclaimed got over on their own. They were booked as heels but they were so likeable that they had to turn them face. The one question I had was if the acclaimed can have a great match that tears the house down and then they did it and it was the best match on the night. So good. I hope they win when they run it back at Grand Slam.

The Acclaimed deserve the titles... but not as much as FTR!

As soon as this match was over. I knew Jim and Brian would love this match. Classic tag team match, good selling from caster the entire match, drama, proper use of Billy Gunn fr the match. All around good match

The Acclaimed are so over theyve been awesome! Wasnt Punk giving these guys advice as well? 🤣

The only match on the show I rewatched.. The acclaimed by far my favorite tag team right now

I was there. They tore the house down. I'd never heard a crowd like that for a tag team match outside of the Bucks or maybe FTR. It was insane!

I still maintain that after swerve and Lee drop the belts to the acclaimed, they should split those guys up. Have Keith lee go away for a while, have him come back as a heel that is similar to kingpin or Thanos. Both of those guys are massive and didn't need to project their voice to show you how intimidating they were. He could be very intelligent and very calculating. You'll be a very great adversary for a guy like wardlow or Ricky Starks in the TNT title picture.

This Keith Lee Thumbnail is Impeccable ……. 🔥

The crowd was pretty hot for Hobbs and Starks in that match where Serve in his glory won. I think the "Oh scissor me daddy" chant was what put the Acclaimed over the top here. Surprised they don't mention it.

Take a shot of whiskey every time Corny uses the word "again" in his videos

THE ACCLAIMED have ARRIVED!!!!!!!!The Champs Arrived!(Since Day1)

The crowd sounded insane. I've criticized AEW crowds for being passive(and they were for a lot of this show), but the atmosphere of that match was fun to watch. It definitely elevated the match.

They can always use this as a launchpad for a longer feud and build to a bigger rematch with bad blood.

"I said fuck it, I had to shit" 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

It was a good match, but man I don’t know how you don’t call an audible on that finish. Now they are going to run it back, but its so difficult to catch lightning in a bottle again

What a match!!! The acclaimed are the #2 team behind FTR and Swerve and Lee are amazing together! Great fucking match

The most memorable match of the night happened back stage 😂

The good thing that was done was swerve n Lee play the heel role when they noticed how the crowd was going

Bowens facials are gold.

Bowens selling his knee in that match might honestly be the best I’ve ever seen

I agree with Jim. He can't even book that right and it fell on his lap. 😞

When has an audible ever been called in a wrestling match that wasn’t an injury or a star being difficult on how the match should end? I’ve never heard of an audible being called just because the crowd reaction is bigger than expected.

the people booed before Lee N Swerve won , the big false finish wouldve took the roof off that place , soon as they kicked out the crowd booed massively

I was expecting Swerve and Lee to win no question. But halfway through the match I could not help thinking that if Acclaimed does not win it will be a disaster. This is a case where Tony is lacking in experience and did not pull the trigger on calling an audible mid-match. The show sorely needed a huge moment like The Acclaimed winning the titles would have been.

Twinkle Toes said to the camera "Beat that" to the locker room after the trios match. I'm sure these 4 guys heard it and got pissed off.

THAT was a helluva match! I don't remember another match I enjoyed more during this PPV. No doubt Lee and Swerve should be heels. They were good at it during the match by going after his knee and especially played on it at the end.

The live crowd was indeed lit 🔥

This was my favorite match of the night.

Is calling an audible really a thing.. like switching the plan into the match after hearing the crowd.. I've never heard that happen before to my knowledge

I agree Keith has gotten bigger, but however his voice isn't an issue and it's not as high as Jim portrays. After their scrum Jim said him and swerve had nothing to do with the match being good, but that's an unfair statement. I think putting it on them at Arthur ashe is a good idea. Both of them are from Jersey.

I went to the ppv. This match was awesome!! And the chants they had going about scissor me daddy had me and my friend laughing our asses off so much I actually ordered myself and him that shirt!!!

I've always been a fan of the acclaimed since they came out way back when. I think they are so good & I genuinely enjoy watching them wrestle. I won't forget when Max was ranked number 3 or whatever in the world title ranking "which means fuck all." but I was wanting to see Max get any more screentime. Dudes money. I'm happy to see they will put the titles on them very soon.

They put on the best match of the show.

Brian is ABSOLUTELY right about Rockville Centre & the parking meters there. I live about 10 minutes away from there & its literally meters EVERYWHERE......

Love the shout out to Front Street Bakery. My favorite growing up in Rockville Centre of the Universe.

Awesome cover art. Keith Lee looks like Cleveland Jr.

Lee and Sweve gave the acclaimed a lot of offense and it was great to see. They should’ve definitely won the belts but the match was byfar the best of the night and the crowd made it 10x better. SCISSOR ME DADDY ASS!

I'm thinking they will get the belts at Grand Slam. Winning the belts in front of 20,000 plus fans would mean a lot more. Just imagine the pop from the crowd.

Everyone loves the Acclaimed. ✂️

I predict a Keith Lee and Billy Gunn Tag team coming soon - name Big Daddy

Brian: 'Im being careful what I say, it's like working with Vince.'. Ha

I think it’s a great idea that the heels won the match. It legitimatizes both teams claims on the tag titles. This match reminded me of British Bulldogs vs Dream Team (Valentine and Beefcake) in 1986. The Bulldogs chased the Dream Team for months and kept getting cheated out of the titles. Once they won the place went “BANANAS!” To quote Gorilla Monsoon! Let’s have a little patience and see where this storyline goes!

It’s great, in theory, that Max Caster will get the hometown treatment. But if that’s the case, why wrestle here? They should’ve done something, promo or whatever, to build to that big moment at Arthur Ashe Stadium. It seems redundant to have them wrestle once, and lose, then wrestle again 3 weeks later.

I’m not a huge fan and I never thought Caster was a good worker, but I think the reason The Acclaimed isn’t farther along is because Bowen’s is always hurt. If they had been a healthy team for more main show appearances, I think it could’ve happened for them

The Acclaimed were so over that the crowd booed Keith Lee, of all people

As someone who lived in Rockville Centre for years I 100%agree about the parking it's a crime

TK was in a no win situation. Either keep the planned finish and go from there or take the belts off SIOG and potentially anger MORE talent and fans by doing a "rash" decision. We all know whatever move TK made woulda been HEAVILY scrutinized.

"Belts don't mean anything" - The crowd didn't agree with that "Acclaimed winning would make them mean something" - They seems pretty over without the belts, though I agree they should have won. "Lee and Swerve, who are supposed to be babyfaces" - They were clearly playing heel for the last 3/4 of the match, so it makes sense they were boo'd for winning.

I can see Swerve being a great single's heel.

If the Acclaimed could do that with Swerve/Keith, imagine what they could be working with FTR for 5-6 months.

Even as a fan of AEW I didn't care for the Acclaimed a year ago. Now I think they are one of my favorites. They should have won for sure

I hated The Aclaimed when they first debuted. They really have gotten themselves over. Good hands in the ring, a fun gimmick and both have good personalities.

I like Swerve & Lee, but The Acclaimed have been really hot for awhile now and this was the *perfect* moment to capitalize. Tony definitely should have called an audible somewhere within the first 10 minutes of the match. When Swerve & Lee retained, there was very strong booing and then the entire crowd just died. It took all the wind out of their sails. That is NOT what you want to have happen on your biggest PPV. Then to make matters worse, the same mistake was made AGAIN in the women's 4-way match. The fans clearly wanted Jamie Hayter to win, but they gave the title to Toni Storm and once again killed the crowd. This was the most disappointing PPV I've ever seen from AEW.

The Acclaim has been over for a while despite everything that says they probably should not be, and if Tony did not put the belts on them at the PPV because he wanted to wait until they were in New York, then that is kind of another one of his problems. He seems to like to make hometown mark booking that gets a pop from the audience in attendance but might not make sense with what has been happening and does not mean as much to the people watching at home. Honestly, though, the rematch in New York is probably just a reaction to the fans booing Swerve/Lee because Tony does not think far enough ahead to a book like that.

Bask in our gravy...

Cant wait to hear the Gunther vs Sheamus review

I have tickets to Grand Slam Card is stacked and I can’t wait

Everyone loves The Acclaimed ✂️❤️

I thought The Acclaimed should have won, but I enjoyed the match nonetheless. I was intrigued at first because I thought that Swerve and Lee were turning into a heel tag team, which I think is better for them. They worked well as heels in that match opposite the Acclaimed. Only to say in the media scrum that it wasn’t a heel turn. What credible heel teams are in AEW now that FTR and the Acclaimed are now the most over baby face tag teams, probably in the entire business?

Arthur Ashe stadium is larger than the NOW arena All Out was in….. that pop for acclaimed will be better

this was an exceptional match. first, the atmosphere wasn't what i expected especially after the trios match practically killed half the show. but the crowd was red hot here. Billy Gunn was mega over and he was eating it up. It was really nice to see him get the cheers. I think Swerve is really smart. You could tell at one point something clicked in his mind and he went heel in the match. Not sure if Keith Lee had that same epiphany but Swerve was like, "Alright, here's the chance." Both of those guys should go full heel. The Acclaimed really are babyfaces. They're like the tag team version of John Cena in how he originally got over with his free style. I can't tell who structured this match (maybe Billy Gunn?) but this felt like a real tag match. I loved the story they had with this match too. Bowen's leg goes out and the announcers pointed out that he's the weak link in the group. So the heels go after his leg and try to isolate him. Bowens sold really well in this match and he was consistent with it. They weren't doing ridiculous moves in this match but Swerve especially worked really smart in focusing on the leg and acting very heelish. And again this is a case where people can get into a good story with people they care about rather than forcing the wrestlers to do silly spots and injure themselves to get over. I will say this: I know a lot of people said that The Acclaimed should have got the titles here but I don't think people expected them to win. They wanted them to win which was the real surprise because of that hot reaction. So I didn't mind them not getting it here. It would've felt sudden. However, knowing that they'll face Lee/Swerve at the Arthur Ashe Stadium show, that's where I'd put the belts on them (especially if the crowd is as red hot for The Acclaimed). I hope they will do a different story that works off this one so that they advance the "weak link" idea here and show that Bowens fights from underneath and proves different to score the pin. Then at the Arthur Ashe Stadium show have Swerve go full blown heel and Lee gets frustrated to see Swerve's ways. They can still win if they lose the belts from this.

Grand slam will be the acclaimed moment

Well, it should be a hell of a rematch at grand slam.. im sure the acclaimed are going to get a run with the belts.

There are certain points in wrestling when you get the audience to such a fever pitch that the chances of you getting them BACK to that point are slim. In other words, they should have called the audible, because the chances of them replicating that match, and that energy, at Grand Slam, are slim. Yet, we know the Acclaimed will win the rematch and it just won't have the same impact.

I used to think Keith Lee was a top 10 talent in the business and could potentially end Roman's title run. How wrong I was.. he's just another guy

The worst match of the night goes to the trampoline cowboys match aka the Trios Tag team championship.

"Sounds crummy/crumb-y to me" 😂😂😂

The acclaimed have worked so hard to get themselves over and gave Tony no choice but to turn them babyface. How they or FTR are not the AEW tag champs is inexplicable.

Bleacher Reports streaming service is a disgrace.

Still waiting for them to talk about WALTER vs Sheamus.

Tazz was saying that wrestling is one of the legitimate sports. Imo

I like The Acclaimed more and more everyday and now with Daddy Ass they're absolutely phenomenal!

Billy Gunn was the best part about it

A real booker would have had a rematch on their television program. The Acclaimed win, now there is a program with two working teams. The rubber match could be at the next ppv. Inbetween no run ins or confrontations, just trash talk, and a push of the tag team belts. Then FTR gets the winner of the 3rd match. Now the belts mean something and you have 2 to 3 Months of activity in that direction wgile possibly grooming and moving other teams up the ladder, the fans win and the company wins if done correctly.

The wrong team won. Even if they win soon in a later match with swerve and Keith, the way the crowd was into this match and the atmosphere castor and Bowens should have won the match. Big fan of them and if it’s not going to be FTR give the belts to the acclaimed.

Tony should’ve learned from Thunder Rosa, when the fans are ready pull the fucking trigger! Don’t beat them at the pay-per-view & then put them over in their hometown weeks later. It would mean more at the big event when the crowd is hot & ready for it

I agree. It was time for The Acclaimed to take the titles. Caster is over, and they could really benefit from the title win. Way to go, 2X Booker of the Year!

It was very uncouth of those reporters to ask Tony why he didn’t call an audible while Keith & Swerve were sitting right there like damn just walk up to the table and spit in my face why don’t you?!

I'm sold now on The Acclaimed. Hope they pull the trigger at Grand Slam.

Punk didn’t tear a damn thing down😂

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣That Artwork

I’ll just say it, if the Buck did business like they should have, (drop it to FTR), it would’ve build up credibility for whoever beat FTR (Swerve in my Glory or Acclaimed), thus legitimizing the winner’s run, and getting over.

I don't think turning The Acclaimed face was the right decision, I like them, but I don't. They aren't the kind of guys I'd like, but the kind I like to boo. Entertaining in their own way, but to root against. But they have the people now that they've been turned face, so you might as well lean into it. Keith Lee and Shane Taylor, as The Pretty Boy Killers, usually were heels, and Shane Taylor remained one after the breakup. Keith Lee's athleticism lends itself to baby face stuff too, but if he can't do it right now, why not?