“Acting is experience with something sweet behind it.” – Humphrey Bogart
I’ll admit it. I’m sucked into AEW in the same way I was sucked into ECW during the mid-90’s. The “something sweet” feels like the extra mile and extra push by AEW wrestlers and staff to put on a memorable and water-cooler debate on a weekly basis.
The last few weeks being out on the shelf, I found myself doom-scrolling through Twitter and find the vile venom from the wrestling community to be outright shameful. We’re in an era where there are multiple promotions, outside of AEW and WWE, to get invested in. Yet, a simple “I like AEW” post is met with an entrails of diarrhetic proportions. Maybe it is the pandemic which kept many “keyboard warriors” isolated and allowed anger to stew.
Two weeks ago, CM Punk spoke passionately about Jon Moxley and mental health. Just a week later, Eddie Kingston penned the most chilling, heart-wrenching, and impactful column I have ever read. Once again, focus on mental health. Perhaps mental health awareness should extend to those who are allowing anger and hate from a scripted combative soap-opera to seek out counseling as well. This isn’t a bad thing. Everyone benefits from getting the extra support from a non-judgmental third party. The focus on mental health is at its highest in the past decade.
I’m serious. Mental health is not a joke anymore, and it is not something to hide behind or be ashamed of.
I’ll move on, you are likely not here for my mussar, but want to read about wrestling.
The show kicks off with Bryan Danielson defeating Rocky Romero via submission
Prior to the bout, Romero formally invites the Best Friends into Chaos of NJPW. While Orange Cassidy has no clue what is going on, the rest of the stable enthusiastically accept. Of course, Kazuchika Okada is name dropped, sending fans into a positive frenzy of what may be in the future.
This match was absolutely stunning, and would be an easy candidate for Match of the Year. My favorite aspect of the match, neither wrestler has clear dominance. It was a see-saw of a rapid exchange of holds and wrestling ability to outmatch one another. At times the pace quickened, then slowed enough for a rapid-exchange of reversals. I felt like I was back at the Rec Center in Edison at a Ring of Honor show in 2007.
Danielson won the match with an astounding counter into the Tequila Sunrise submission, with some extra torque. Danielson appears to be at his best, and undoubtedly in his second “prime” of his career.
Anyone else notice Danielson seems to be opening the majority of televised shows? No complaints. You want a fired up crowd, he is easily one of the go-to-guys to do it.
I can’t wait to see Danielson vs. Miro. It will be nothing like Daniel Bryan vs. Rusev.
American Top Team attacks Inner Circle
This was great to watch. In my not-so-humble opinion, I thought the initial introduction to this feud might have been a bit lackluster, but Primus almighty, I am grateful for Dan Lambert. I have not heard live crowds overpower a person on the microphone since the horrid days of Vickie Guerrero in WWE. She generated massive heel heat, and Lambert replicates, and possibly exceeds it today. Crowds instantly boo his entrance, followed up by some ECW-esque chants which I will leave to your imaginations. What was supposed to be an interview with Inner Circle, turned into a “mugging” by American Top Team, culminating with Lambert powerbombing Chris Jericho through a table.
I liked it. Lambert is in uber-heel mode, and what better to add more salt than to have this loudmouth braggart do the deed himself.
My only minus is once Lambert speaks, no more needs to be said. I think Ethan Page and Scorpio Sky are two of the best on the roster, but they don’t have to add more when Lambert already nails the exclamation mark.
Tay Conti, Anna Jay, and Thunder Rosa defeated Dr. Britt Baker, DMD, Rebel, and Jamie Hayter
Phenomenal match. Big minus on the commercials. I am unsure if it was because I used the TNT App instead of cable to watch, but the picture-in-picture (which was present in every match) felt longer and then interrupted by brief commercials. I can’t recall the last time I saw a women’s trios match. Conti is presented as a legit challenger to Dr. Baker, however this is one of those “will be great match, knowing there will not be a title change” situation. I am fine with this. Hayter has solid skills to be a consistent mid-and-top tier wrestler as her AEW career continues. All six women are staples of an ever-expanding and improving women’s division.
Jungle Boy defeated Anthony Bowens
Max Caster back rapping pre-match is now a must-have when The Acclaimed are in town. This was a fantastic, fantastic match. “Jungle Jack” as Jim Ross calls him once again shows how he excels in singles matches, and the same can easily be said for Bowens. It’s impressive to see how established tag team members can also compete in singles matches, which throws me back to the early-90s when teams like Money Inc, The Beverly Brothers, The Steiner Brothers, and the Quebecers would mix between tag and singles matches.
The big story out of this match, Bobby Fish running in post-match to deliver a message courtesy from The SuperKliqEliteSquad. The backstage segment once more left fans aghast, with a tease of Undisputed Era, and the possible recruitment of Fish into the Elite stable, and perhaps, within the next month, Kyle O’Reilly.
Giddy giggling intensifies.
Wardlow destroys Wheeler Yuta
I feel badly for Yuta. He has some offense which looked damn good, but ultimately he gets planted with four consecutive powerbombs which all looked vicious. Wardlow, once he breaks out on his own, will be a mega-force regardless if he remains a heel or turns babyface. The carnage did not stop there, as the Hardy Family Office seized opportunity to add further injury to all members, nailing the point with a Twist of Hate to Orange Cassidy on a chair. Big ouchies.
Dante Martin and Lio Rush defeated Matt Sydal and Lee Moriarty
Incredible match. I admit, I was skeptical on Rush’s return, if he would simply be a mouthpiece or if he would get back in the ring.
Holy. Crap. This was a mad dash of a contest and all four spectacularly wowed both the live crowd and all watching from home. Yes, lots of flips, jumps, and dives, etc… But come on! It’s a goddamned television show and these guys put on a performance main-event worthy. Rush crushed it in the ring, Moriarty got over huge with the crowd, Sydal never ceases to amaze, and Dante Martin – Holy crap kid you have the main event written all over you in the future.
This goes in the “absolutely fun” category. Which wrestling programming should be. In my not-so-humble opinion.
PAC defeated Dax Harwood
In one night, there were two potential Match of the Year candidates.
Jaw-dropping wrestling. I hate it when I have hard time putting words to paper to describe a match like this. It was just incredible. It is comparable to two old school bruisers who never learned how to quit or what the word “lose” means. This is what I enjoy most about the show, the wrestlers cut their promos, but yet, the overused cliché of “storytelling in the ring” becomes a valuable truth.
There were quite a few “leap out of the seat” moments, unfortunately I physically can’t do this yet, but the biggest one was the top-rope Brainbuster, where I thought for sure Dax was done. It was the scariest looking Brainbuster I have ever seen, and I’ve watched a lot of New Japan to see some scary ones.
PAC winning with the Brutalizer following some slick countermeasures culminated in a spectacular wrestling match. The post match brawl featuring Cash Wheeler with the surprise of the lights going out, and flashing back on to reveal Malakai Black and Andrade El Idolo makes for some very intriguing storyline. This prompted Cody Rhodes and the Lucha Brothers to storm the ring to make the heroic save. This now leads to another match for Full Gear, Cody & PAC vs. Andrade and Black.
Not the first time FTR and Andrade have worked together, under the guise of MJF being paid for their services. With the inclusion of Malakai Black, one can’t help but wonder if there is more going on than meets the eye.
Contract Signing Between “Hangman” Adam Page and Kenny Omega
The banner for Hangman stating “Has Bad Penmanship” is brilliant. Whoever does these needs a raise.
Page early on implies being aware a fight will likely break out, and passionately talks about his rise and fall, with his newfound drive to be at the top again. Omega puts over the drive, but slinks back to uber-heel by condescending to Hangman this is going to be another chapter in a book of failed attempts. Omega offers the handshake, which Page reluctantly accepts, only to be bashed from behind with a camera, from one Don Callis who has not been seen for a few weeks. Segments like these never go cleanly, and while I had hoped for a surprise of no confrontation, I am reminded of Callis needing to push the devious factor higher with these antics. Omega signs in Hangman’s blood.
Full Gear will be awesome. That’s all I have to say about that.
