AEW Redemption: Why Tommaso Ciampa holds the tactical edge

Analyzing the Montreal card and a questionable main event

AEW Redemption lands at the Bell Centre in Montreal on July 26, 2026. The Canadian venue demands high-workrate matches. Yet, the matchmakers have made a bizarre decision at the top of the card.

AEW World Champion Kenny Omega defends against Kevin Knight. Knight earned this shot by defeating AR Fox in an eight-minute Collision match on July 18. While Knight is an athletic marvel, this main-event matchmaking feels lazy and unearned.

Knight's typical strategy relies on high-speed springboard cutters and top-rope dropkicks to disrupt an opponent's rhythm. While that approach worked against AR Fox, it will fail against Omega's championship pedigree. Omega has spent years dismantling high-flying cruiserweights on major stages.

Omega will dominate the ring's geography by occupying the center 60 percent of the canvas. He utilizes his signature Snap Dragon suplexes to push opponents toward the turnbuckles. Once they are cornered, he strikes with V-Trigger knee runs.

Knight must rely on high-velocity lateral movement to stay out of Omega's pocket of control. If Knight slows down to engage in a technical exchange, he will lose. Omega will isolate Knight's cervical spine and finish him with the One-Winged Angel.

Psycho Killer vs. Painmaker: Pacing and stipulation dynamics

The brawling undercard presents a much cleaner tactical narrative. Tommaso Ciampa will face Chris Jericho in a No Holds Barred match. The stipulation completely changes the physical boundaries of their rivalry.

Their first match at Dynamite: Beach Break ended in controversy when Ciampa blinded Jericho with sand. He then hit a jumping knee strike to secure the pinfall at the 14 minutes mark. Jericho welcomed the physical damage and demanded a rematch under his revived Painmaker persona.

Ciampa accepted the challenge on the July 18 episode of Collision. After defeating Myron Reed with a backstabber and a running knee, Ciampa spoke to Paul Wight. According to reports from the arena, Ciampa sent a direct warning to Jericho's camp.

"Not only is Tommaso Ciampa better than Chris Jericho, but the Psycho Killer is not afraid of the Painmaker. Tell your boy Chris if he wants a fight at Redemption in Montreal, he can have it, but it's going to be No Holds Barred."

Jericho's Painmaker gimmick is a tired crutch to hide his declining speed with slow weapon brawls. Ciampa must avoid getting drawn into this slow-paced walk-and-brawl. If Ciampa maintains a high workrate, his superior conditioning will overwhelm the veteran.

Tag team geometry and the double-team trap

The tag team division features two massive matches that will test spacing and communication. The most intriguing addition is the non-title tag match. Will Ospreay and Jon Moxley team up to face The Young Bucks.

As F4WOnline detailed, the match was set after Matt and Nick Jackson issued an open challenge on Collision. The Young Bucks are masters of tag team geometry. They use blind tags and quick double-teams to create instant two-on-one advantages.

Ospreay and Moxley are an awkward partnership with contrasting styles. While Ospreay relies on high-velocity strikes, Moxley prefers to brawl in the ringside dirt. The Bucks will try to isolate Moxley on the floor and double-team Ospreay inside the ring.

Meanwhile, Christian Cage and Adam Copeland defend the tag titles against Pac and Claudio Castagnoli of the Death Riders. The champions are veteran ring generals who rely on stall tactics. This Copeland and Cage pairing feels like a forced nostalgic cash-in rather than a logical team.

Pac and Claudio cast a dangerous shadow over the division. Claudio's giant swing can drain an opponent's cardiovascular endurance in seconds, while Pac adds high-angle German suplexes. If the Death Riders keep the pace high, they will easily dismantle the aging champions.

Undercard battles and the women's title picture

The mid-card titles will also be contested under high-pressure parameters. International Champion Kyle Fletcher defends his title against Bandido, whose high-angle suplexes will test Fletcher's defensive recovery speed. Fletcher must crowd Bandido early to prevent him from scaling the ropes.

Fletcher has maintained a high workrate by defending the title in matches averaging over fifteen minutes. Bandido represents his most unpredictable challenger yet due to his high-angle German suplexes. Fletcher must keep his feet planted and avoid chasing Bandido to the outside.

National Champion Mark Davis defends against Andrade El Idolo. Davis must use his massive size advantage to dictate the pace. Since Andrade relies on setting up his signature hammerlock DDT from the corner, Davis must keep the action centered to neutralize those setups.

Mark Davis will look to crowd Andrade El Idolo using heavy chops and powerbomb variations. Andrade will counter by trying to slow the pace and work Davis's left arm to set up his submission holds. Davis's sheer physical size should allow him to bully Andrade in the corner.

The women's division features two high-stakes title matches. Women's World Champion Thekla defends against Willow Nightingale, pitting technical submission holds against raw power. Thekla must keep the match on the canvas to avoid Nightingale's crushing Doctor Bomb.

TBS Champion Hikaru Shida defends against Maya World. Shida turned up her aggression on Collision by beating Queen Aminata and launching a post-match assault. While Shida's kendo stick strikes are brutal, Maya's lateral quickness can exploit Shida's defensive lapses.

The real-world battle: Rebel's fight and the AEW absence of Britt Baker

While the roster prepares for Montreal, a more significant fight continues outside the ring. Britt Baker recently posted a video participating in the Rebel Heart Ice Bucket Challenge. This campaign raises funds for ALS research to support her AEW partner Rebel.

Rebel is currently battling a terminal ALS diagnosis. AEW has launched a dedicated fundraiser for the cause. As F4WOnline reported, other wrestlers are joining the effort to support Rebel's work as an ambassador for I Am ALS.

Baker's video featured Gail Kim and Sean Dean assisting. Her appearance highlights her close bond with Rebel, even as Baker's own AEW career remains in limbo. It has been over two years since Baker last competed in an AEW ring, leaving her status with the company highly uncertain.

Confident predictions for AEW Redemption

Let's make some bold calls for July 26. Kenny Omega will retain the AEW World Championship because Kevin Knight lacks the pedigree to dethrone him. Omega's One-Winged Angel will seal the win around the twenty-minute mark.

The Death Riders will win the tag titles. Copeland and Cage cannot keep up with Pac's high-flying speed and Claudio's raw power. Claudio will pin Cage after a giant swing and a Ricola Bomb.

The Young Bucks will defeat Ospreay and Moxley. Moxley will get distracted brawling on the floor, allowing the Bucks to isolate Ospreay for the Meltzer Driver.

Finally, Ciampa will defeat Jericho. In a No Holds Barred environment, Ciampa's youth and brutal running knee strikes will retire the Painmaker gimmick for good.