Unveiling the Hidden Secrets: AEW's Mind-Blowing Exploding Barbed Wire Death Match Unraveled

AEW Fight Forever revolutionizes the wrestling fandom experience with its exhilarating matches. Unlike the WWE 2K series, Fight Forever offers a more arcade-like gameplay that adds to its appeal, as evidenced by positive initial feedback. The game also introduces unique stipulations, such as the unconventional 30-man Stadium Stampede, which are not typically found in mainstream wrestling games.

One standout feature in AEW Fight Forever is the inclusion of deathmatch stipulations. Players have the option to select from a range of weapons, including skateboards that wrestlers can ride to the ring, adding an extra layer of excitement. However, the most captivating form of deathmatch in Fight Forever lies in the thrilling and intense Exploding Barbed Wire Death Match.

The Origins of The Exploding Barbed Wire Death Match

In an Exploding Barbed Wire Death Match, wrestlers engage in a hardcore, no-disqualification competition where the ring's ropes are enveloped in barbed wire that would ignite an explosion or spark upon contact. Upon reaching a designated time limit, typically around 30 minutes, an ultimate detonation occurs, obliterating the ring and the wrestlers within it. The aftermath is a scene of smoke-filled chaos, with the wrestlers left unconscious.

This intense match first originated in Japan's Frontier Martial-Arts Wrestling (FMW) in 1990, when Atsushi Onita defended his championship title against Tarzan Goto. During this initial incarnation, the traditional ropes were replaced with barbed wire, causing significant bruising to the wrestlers' backs. Additionally, a minimal amount of C4 explosive was utilized to generate the explosions.

Many fans were captivated by the gruesomeness of it, and it sparked a trend among other wrestling promotions to incorporate similar stipulations. Legendary wrestlers such as Cactus Jack, Terry Funk, and more recently, Jon Moxley and Kenny Omega, have participated in Exploding Barbed Wire Death Matches over the years.

The highly anticipated Exploding Barbed Wire Death Match between Moxley and Omega at the 2021 AEW Revolution was a rare sight for North American wrestling fans. However, the conclusion of the match did not live up to expectations. Instead of the anticipated massive explosion when the timer ended, only four sparklers ignited as Eddie Kingston tried to shield a handcuffed Moxley in the ring. This underwhelming moment quickly circulated as a meme within the wrestling community and was later incorporated as an Easter egg in AEW Fight Forever.

How to Trigger the Exploding Barbed Wire Death Match Bad Ending in AEW Fight Forever

To unlock the Exploding Barbed Wire Death Match in AEW Fight Forever, players must complete specific tasks in the Road to Elite Career Mode. The mode consists of four story paths or Blocks, which players can choose based on the wrestlers they select and the outcomes of their matches. The ultimate objective is to reach Block 3A by losing the Casino Battle Royale and winning subsequent matches, including the final pay-per-view (PPV). Notably, some players have successfully achieved this using Malakai Black and Wardlow.

After reaching Block 3A, players can purchase the Exploding Barbed Wire Death Match from AEW Fight Forever's store for 30,000 AEW credits. It is vital to adjust the settings and select the "Historic" Explosion Type to activate the intentionally underwhelming conclusion featuring sparklers. As a comedic effect, the default response of the wrestlers will be to feign unconsciousness, simulating the impact of a loud explosion.

The disappointing outcome of the Exploding Barbed Wire Death Match in Revolution may have been AEW's playful response to the event, allowing them to share a laugh with their fans. AEW President Tony Khan, who was also disheartened by the mishap, assured fans that there would be another chance to witness a legitimate explosion in the future. In the meantime, fans can enjoy other match types in the AEW Fight Forever experience, available on June 29 for Nintendo Switch, PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.