Photo Credit: AEW
GREAT: AEW started off with John Moxley successfully defending the IWGP United States Heavyweight Championship against Karl Anderson in a great match, which was probably Anderson’s best match in a couple years.
Result – John Moxley Retains
Dakota Cohen WR Star Rating – 4 Stars
GOOD: Lance Archer cut a promo backstage where he talked about how dominant Moxley had been as IWGP US Champion & then he challenged Moxley to a Texas Death Match, which would be their second of the kind.
GREAT: Ricky Starks defeated Brian Cage to become the new FTW Champion in an awesome match after Hook distracted the referee so Powerhouse Hobbs could hit Cage in the back of the head with the belt, allowing Starks to spear Cage.
Result – Ricky Starks wins the FTW Title
Dakota Cohen WR Star Rating – 3.75 Stars
MUST WATCH: Cody came out to the commentary desk & started yelling and saying that Malakai Black should not have kicked a 62 year old man in the face & then took a mic and went to the ring. Cody then called out Black & Black appeared on the screen and started telling a story about a man with a horse & how the horse used to be a competitive horse but then the horse got old so he had to put the horse to bed. He said he no longer sees the same look in Cody, which led Cody to tell him to come to the ring. Black said he would & then the lights went out & when they came back on the two stared each other down & then started brawling till they were broken up by security. This was so awesome and the feud has already been one of the best in AEW this year.
MUST WATCH: Hangman came out to say he was going to challenge Kenny Omega for the AEW Championship until he was interrupted by Don Callis & the Elite where they started telling him that Hangman is “not that guy.” Matt Jackson said that he left the Elite for a bunch of losers like the Dark Order. Matt Jackson starts telling Page that he is the only person that he can blame & he’s the next wrestling tragedy. Hangman then beats up the Elite and the Dark Order come out to try even the odds. Page told Omega he isn’t leaving without a match & Omega says that they will do a 5 v 5 between the Elite & Page and the Dark Order. Hangman said when they win, they will get a shot at the World Title and the Tag Titles. Omega accepts after refusing at first & tells Page that if the Dark Order and Page lose then none of them will get a shot at any of the titles. Omega tells Page that he knows he is afraid to fail in front of everyone. Page then tells Omega that they are on. This was an a fantastic storytelling segment!
GREAT: Christian Cage defeated Matt Hardy in a really fun match.
Result – Christian Cage wins
Dakota Cohen WR Star Rating – 3.75 Stars
GOOD: After the match HFO looked like they were going to beat up Cage, until Jurassic Express came to the ring to help save Cage. Luchasaurus then put Cage on his shoulders & Jungle Boy looked a little concerned. This was very good even if AEW does too many breakouts after matches.
GREAT: Britt Baker said that she is the baddest bitch on the block & she has been keeping Nyla Rose relevant. She then said that she is in a league of her own & tells Vickie Guerrero she will stay relevant only because of her last name. Baker said the only place the title is going is right back around her waist & no matter what she is Dr Britt Baker DMD. Britt Baker always cuts great promos.
GOOD: Sammy Guevara defeated Wheeler Yuta in a good match.
Result – Sammy Guevara Wins
Dakota Cohen WR Star Rating – 3.25 Stars
AVERAGE: Yuka Sakazaki defeated Penelope Ford in an average match that was a bit awkward at times.
Result – Yuka Sakazaki Wins
Dakota Cohen WR Star Rating – 2.5 Stars
MUST WATCH: Darby Allin defeated Ethan Page in such a wonderfully violent & entertaining Coffin Match.
Result – Darby Allin put Ethan Page in a coffin
Dakota Cohen WR Star Rating – 4.25 Stars
A very good show overall, which was brought down slightly by the women’s match being underwhelming and Guevara v Yuta not being given enough time. The main event was one of the best Dynamite main events recently and helped to build Allin into more of a star than he already was before.
