Lance Archer Def. Colt Cabana
Summary:
Before the match starts Lance Archer attacks Cabana to gain the upper hand but Cabana battles back and between some back and forth is able to knock Archer outside the ring. With both men back in the ring Cabana get Archer in a wristlock but Archer battles out and takes control and slams him down for the first pin attempt. Archer continues his assault no selling Cabana’s attacks but after Archer misses a knee drop the momentum changes. The two men battle back and forth but once Archer has Cabana on the top rope he puts him in position for the blackout and secures the win.
Review:
For the past two weeks Lance Archer has faced off against smaller opponents to build up his character, Colt Cabana is Lance’s first outing in AEW against a regular-sized opponent. Colt is put in a tough position in this match with Archer being the obvious favorite to win this tournament. He puts on a good match by faking and dodging where he can, the momentum never fully shifts to Archer and it feels like Cabana has a chance.
Colt comes out of this match looking stronger while Lance Archer keeps his dominant streak.
Rating 3/5
Britt Baker Def. Cassandra Golden
Summary:
Baker strikes Golden on the shin and then strikes with a super-kick. With Golden on the rope’s Baker strikes a pose before hitting her with a back knee and setting her up for the curb stomp and pinning her.
Review:
I don’t like complaining about the women’s division but the following weeks have been abysmal for them. The limited number of matches combined with this being another squash doesn’t do any favors to the division.
Rating 1/5
Sammy Guevara Def. Suge D
Summary:
Guevara takes Suge down before posing on top of him. Sammy gets Suge in a headlock but Suge reverses it gets him in a wristlock and gets him to pop and lock. Suge continues by going for a lucha arm drag. A little too much dancing by Suge and Guevara capitalizes with a big knee to the face. Sammy continues to be in control and puts Suge in an inverted torture rack to knee strike for the pinfall win. Sammy cuts a promo on Darby Allin and starts to attack Suge but Allin comes out for the save.
Review:
After the last match, this is slightly better. Suge D isn’t just squashed but actually gets in some offense and pulls off some impressive moves. Watching Suge dance around and annoy Sammy by doing so is some nice irony. While the outcome was obvious Suge getting to show off what he can do is a plus.
Rating 2/5
Kip Sabian Def. Chuck Taylor
Summary:
Chuck Taylor gains the advantage as the two exchange locks and holds. After being put in submission Sabian and Taylor gives chase only to be met with a flying kick when he tries to re-enter the ring. Despite a missile dropkick and some pinfall attempts Kip is unable to score the win. Penelope Ford comes in to distract Taylor and Sabian takes advantage. Orange Cassidy tries to even the playing field but is attacked by Jimmy Havoc meanwhile, Ford hits Taylor with a hurricarana and Sabian wins with a roll-up.
Review:
This is probably the best match of the night but that’s not saying much. A combination of technical wrestling and some aerials along with being a full match make it the best of the show. Sabian and Taylor know their roles and play to them. As an added bonus we get Jimmy Havoc being added to the story making use of the Heel/Face crowds.
On any normal show this would rank at a 3 but for actually being a full match this ranks higher.
Rating 4/5
Shawn Spears Def. Justin Law
Summary:
Shawn Spears sends a majority of the match mocking the young wrestler and dodging attempts to lock up. Aside from a wristlock Shawn decides to lie prone and give Law a chance end gets pinned for a 2 count. Angry Spears beats law until he decides to hit him with a C4 ending the match.
Review:
Another squash match with what looks to be a young student from a local wrestling school. I get that this has been difficult on AEW and that they may not be able to get all their talent to do shows, but this is the third squash match of the night and it’s getting old.
Rating 1/5
Jon Moxley Def. Jake Hager to Retain the AEW Heavyweight Championship
Summary:
The match starts off like an MMA contest with both men reversing holds and ends with both of them exchanging blows and holds around the arena before ending up back in the ring. After the battle steps outside again Jake Hager starts assaulting Moxley with a chair and brings the action back inside. Moxley starts to battle back and gets Hager with a paradigm shift onto the chair for the win.
Review:
Throughout the show the match was talked up by wrestling and entertainment personalities. By the end it was overhyped.
Jon Moxley is a man known for his hardcore style of wrestling with matches and we’re promised a no-holds-barred match. Instead, we get something that looks like a backstage fight with no high points, and limited use of weapons.
Through the whole match Moxley and Hager both looked tired and fought like they had just finished a serious workout.
The fact that this was not only a championship match but the main event of an already dismal night just rubs salt in the wound. I have to declare that this is one of the worst AEW shows I’ve watched in my entire time of reviewing them.