Written by: Kevin Berge
After watching Double or Nothing and discussing its impact, I consider how I wanted to cover All Elite Wrestling. I don't want to bog myself down by covering all the professional wrestling I watch, but I do want to keep the discussion focused on the alternative promotion.
While the jury is still out on what impact AEW will have on the business, it has the potential to make an important impact on the way we all discuss professional wrestling. For that reason, I'm going to try covering it a number of ways.
Until the TV show starts airing, I am going to return to an old familiar format by covering the major events and the matches that define them. Fyter Fest aired on Saturday, and it was free (in the US), so I thought I'd give my overall thoughts on AEW's second show.
While the jury is still out on what impact AEW will have on the business, it has the potential to make an important impact on the way we all discuss professional wrestling. For that reason, I'm going to try covering it a number of ways.
Until the TV show starts airing, I am going to return to an old familiar format by covering the major events and the matches that define them. Fyter Fest aired on Saturday, and it was free (in the US), so I thought I'd give my overall thoughts on AEW's second show.
Well, at least AEW isn't shying away from its own nepotism. (Image Courtesy of: youtube.com)
The Best Friends def. SCU and Private Party to Earn a Shot at a First Round Bye in the AEW Tag Team Championship Tournament
This was a fantastic tag team match between The Best Friends and Private Party with SCU occasionally getting involved. The layout and psychology of this tag team match was excellent with both central teams working brilliantly off each other.
This had more story behind it than either SCU or Best Friends' matches at Double or Nothing, and that was primarily driven by the work of Private Party. This was their standout match, and they instantly felt like stars against two established teams.
The post-match Dark Order segment was disappointing because it really killed the excitement for the crowd. Much like their appearance at Double or Nothing, they are not establishing themselves well so far.
This had more story behind it than either SCU or Best Friends' matches at Double or Nothing, and that was primarily driven by the work of Private Party. This was their standout match, and they instantly felt like stars against two established teams.
The post-match Dark Order segment was disappointing because it really killed the excitement for the crowd. Much like their appearance at Double or Nothing, they are not establishing themselves well so far.
Rating: 9/10
Allie def. Leva Bates (w/ Peter Avalon)
The librarian gimmick is really bad, and it dragged this match down. Allie and Bates were decent together, but the story was annoying. The frequent shushing only felt like the wrestlers telling the crowd not to get interested in the action.
At least Allie picked up a win to build toward Fight for the Fallen. She should be one of the top women in the division. Meanwhile, Bates and Avalon are not going anywhere fast until they get past this story.
At least Allie picked up a win to build toward Fight for the Fallen. She should be one of the top women in the division. Meanwhile, Bates and Avalon are not going anywhere fast until they get past this story.
Rating: 6.75/10
Hardcore: Michael Nakazawa def. Alex Jebailey
I get the appeal of a silly hardcore match, but this was exceptionally amateurish. Jebailey came off like a guy who got two weeks of training. AEW should not be putting amateurs at this level on their cards regardless of the previous story set up in the past year.
Nakazawa may be in AEW's plan for the future, but he was made to look like a joke here. In fact, he has been treated as a joke since the moment he came to AEW. The baby oil has been his entire gimmick, and he hasn't done a relevant thing in the ring beyond it.
Nakazawa may be in AEW's plan for the future, but he was made to look like a joke here. In fact, he has been treated as a joke since the moment he came to AEW. The baby oil has been his entire gimmick, and he hasn't done a relevant thing in the ring beyond it.
Rating: 3/10
Protect Yuka Sakazaki from the world. She is too precious for it. (Image Courtesy of: reddit.com)
Cima def. Christopher Daniels
Christopher Daniels and Cima are veterans of the business with history, so this came off as a potential fantastic match. However, it was clear from the start that they were a bit too old to be an opener for the main card.
This was a fine showcase of two guys with massive movesets. The technical side was solid. The athletic side was solid. The overall package though was not as good as it should have been. It never went beyond the first gear.
This was a fine showcase of two guys with massive movesets. The technical side was solid. The athletic side was solid. The overall package though was not as good as it should have been. It never went beyond the first gear.
Rating: 7.75/10
Riho def. Nyla Rose and Yuki Sakazaki
I loved this match primarily for the home stretch. While the women had some great ideas that started a bit rough, they gradually built to a fantastic closing stretch, the best of the night by a solid margin.
Rose in particular stood out extremely well here. She struggled to stand out working mostly with Awesome Kong at Double or Nothing. She was much better working with two fast incredible athletic women. The sequences in this match were stellar.
Riho felt like the least developed star in this match, but she's certainly a good wrestler. She needs to find a way to stand out more as the company gets close to unveiling the women's championship given she'll be a clear frontrunner.
Rose in particular stood out extremely well here. She struggled to stand out working mostly with Awesome Kong at Double or Nothing. She was much better working with two fast incredible athletic women. The sequences in this match were stellar.
Riho felt like the least developed star in this match, but she's certainly a good wrestler. She needs to find a way to stand out more as the company gets close to unveiling the women's championship given she'll be a clear frontrunner.
Rating: 9/10
Adam Page def. MJF, Jungle Boy, and Jimmy Havoc
These are four extremely talented wrestlers, who put on an athletic showcase. This was particularly true of Jungle Boy here. That said, I didn't feel like the four did much to sell this as more than an athletic display.
In particular, Jimmy Havoc just felt like a bystander here. Any of these guys would probably have a better singles match together than this. In particular, this sold MJF vs. Adam Page and Jungle Boy as money matches down the line.
In particular, Jimmy Havoc just felt like a bystander here. Any of these guys would probably have a better singles match together than this. In particular, this sold MJF vs. Adam Page and Jungle Boy as money matches down the line.
Rating: 8.25/10
Just days after Paul Heyman took creative control of Monday Night Raw, these guys got an ECW chant, something Raw will likely never get again. (Image Courtesy of: wrestlinginc.com)
Cody vs. Darby Allin Goes to a Time-Limit Draw
I love a good story, and this was an excellent story throughout. Allin's propensity for taking unwarranted risks was the framework of the contest, building to him just refusing to stay down. The underdog showcase was really well put together.
That said, this felt too reliant on spots that shouldn't have happen and struggled down the stretch. The two had some trouble keeping up the action down the stretch even while they did well keeping the story front and center.
The post-match steel chair shot from Shawn Spears was a mistake regardless of potentially being gimmicked. Steel head shots should always be banned. Cody vs. Spears should be really good, but it would have been sold just as well without potentially badly injuring Cody.
That said, this felt too reliant on spots that shouldn't have happen and struggled down the stretch. The two had some trouble keeping up the action down the stretch even while they did well keeping the story front and center.
The post-match steel chair shot from Shawn Spears was a mistake regardless of potentially being gimmicked. Steel head shots should always be banned. Cody vs. Spears should be really good, but it would have been sold just as well without potentially badly injuring Cody.
Rating: 8.5/10
The Elite def. The Lucha Bros and Laredo Kid
I suppose this was exactly as expected, but it was not my style. It was a complete spot fest from start to finish. While that's not bad (the crowd loved it), the main issue for me was the overindulgence here. It was the style of The Young Bucks I had dreaded to see.
The six are great wrestlers, and they pulled off some amazing moments. In particular, Fenix was great here. However, it was also got sloppy as they felt like they could do anything. This was far from the type of match I enjoy.
The six are great wrestlers, and they pulled off some amazing moments. In particular, Fenix was great here. However, it was also got sloppy as they felt like they could do anything. This was far from the type of match I enjoy.
Rating: 8.25/10
Non-Sanctioned: Jon Moxley def. Joey Janela
This was another match that went exactly as expected, but I enjoyed it more than I expected. It was brutal and bloody as a true hardcore match should be, but it also leaned in well to the work. In particular, it was great to see Janela refusing to give up even encouraging more suffering.
With barbed wire and thumb tacks, this match leaned into brutality that didn't feel completely unsafe. Moxley dominated throughout, yet it still felt like a complete match that used every second of its 20-minute run time. It was great to Moxley enjoying himself again.
It was smart to end with Omega getting some revenge even if there were a few too many moments in this show with guys just beating down their rivals with weapons. They blended together.
With barbed wire and thumb tacks, this match leaned into brutality that didn't feel completely unsafe. Moxley dominated throughout, yet it still felt like a complete match that used every second of its 20-minute run time. It was great to Moxley enjoying himself again.
It was smart to end with Omega getting some revenge even if there were a few too many moments in this show with guys just beating down their rivals with weapons. They blended together.
Rating: 8.75/10
The sooner AEW starts taking its own photos for its own website for its own events, the better. Thanks, AEW, ahead of time. (Image Courtesy of: rohwrestling.com)
Conclusion
This was clearly a B-show with limited build. In some ways, it felt like a well put together TV episode (after The Buy In). However, it delivered by showing how much more diverse the styles in AEW can be from what became a bit too much of an athletic showcase at Double or Nothing.
Moreover, the booking was great from start to finish. Not only did the right wrestlers win, but everyone got a chance to stand out. Allin, Rose, Jungle Boy, Private Party, and more did not get the win, but they did get a major spotlight.
It was the right way to keep people talking and began the steady build to All Out. Cody vs. Spears got its start if in controversial fashion. Omega vs. Moxley was again treated as the biggest of deals. Tag teams started to stand out ahead of the title tournament.
Fyter Fest has the energy and excitement of a young company finding its feet. I still think the production needs work. The pacing of matches feels off at times. Both will come with time as well as hiring some talented road agents to guide proceedings.
I'd certainly watch this show over another Stomping Grounds or Super ShowDown. It felt like things were always pushing forward, and no one was scrambling to figure out what to do next. There's a plan and a goal, and everyone plays a part in that.
Moreover, the booking was great from start to finish. Not only did the right wrestlers win, but everyone got a chance to stand out. Allin, Rose, Jungle Boy, Private Party, and more did not get the win, but they did get a major spotlight.
It was the right way to keep people talking and began the steady build to All Out. Cody vs. Spears got its start if in controversial fashion. Omega vs. Moxley was again treated as the biggest of deals. Tag teams started to stand out ahead of the title tournament.
Fyter Fest has the energy and excitement of a young company finding its feet. I still think the production needs work. The pacing of matches feels off at times. Both will come with time as well as hiring some talented road agents to guide proceedings.
I'd certainly watch this show over another Stomping Grounds or Super ShowDown. It felt like things were always pushing forward, and no one was scrambling to figure out what to do next. There's a plan and a goal, and everyone plays a part in that.
