Roderick Strong vs. MJF
MJF is such a cartoon these days. He was never the most subtle but he aims for the most outrageous and bombastic approach which leads to an undesired comedic effect. The first thing he did was come down to the ring area while humping and swearing at the fans and I’m questioning my life in the meantime. Strong is no less of a cartoon character wise but I can expect business when the bell rings. When the bell rings, MJF rolls to the floor and asks for a mic - he shits on the fans and baits Strong with a comment about his father and mother. Strong immediately chops MJF in the chest and takes it to MJF with aggression. They transition quickly into MJF working the hand after he ducks a chop attempt by the ring post which was a smart way to give Strong a handicap. MJF powerbombs Strong on the ring apron and digs into Strong’s finger joints. They keep up a nice, steady pace through a 50/50 structure with MJF continuing what he was doing while Strong lives up to his "Messiah Of The Backbreaker" moniker, and this is complimented well through the selling throughout. I liked MJF’s selling in this match more so than I usually do as he didn’t exaggerate too much while still portraying enough pain to make the work fruitful. In addition to the work on the back on its own, Strong’s work in his cut offs and general offence is so fluid and precise that he comfortably is able to get credible offence on someone way above him on the card. The work on the hard wasn’t a constant fixture in the match but it was meaningful in some of the pivotal moments of the match. For example, when Strong had to break the cloverleaf, he did so because of the hand, and then again later in the finish when MJF was able to tap Strong with his Salt Of The Earth submission hold with extra focus on the hand joints. The match ended as it should’ve with an earned win by MJF but without more than necessary. MJF's cartoon sensibilities were somewhat muted in this match in contrast to the usual series Strong (within the ring). His selling was good and the work on the hand, while not constant, provided key moments in the match. Strong was fluid and solid as always. Good match. I think the post-match angle was okay for what it was, which was to feed into the tension between MJF and Adam Cole more by injuring Roderick Strong. But I do question why Cole and his group didn’t help Strong quicker since MJF didn’t exactly rush to use the chair. ***1/4
AEW TBS Title Match: Mercedes Mone (c) vs. Kris Statlander
The match went into the meat of the match quickly, establishing Mercedes Mone as the quicker and more crafted of the two and using it to gain quick control. Mone hit a meteora on the floor to Statlander and then, in a genius character moment, started to count alongside Girl Hebner. And then, in another great moment, she hit another meteor to Statlander against the ring steps when she began to stir. More meteoras followed in this 2013 Dream Gate title match. Statlander after basing for what seems like an age, begins offering more offensively, using his power offence to get some control. Statlander is a decent wrestler but I find the match bores me when she is in control. She also tends to rely on nearfall spots too which is 50/50 in terms of effectiveness for me. The key highlights of the match was Mone’s more dynamic spots and character work which can be described as bratty. Statlander impressively attempts a 450 splash but misses and hurts her knee in the process which Mone notices. She hits a diving splash on the knee which is quite unique and attempts a cover. Mone runs through her big signature moves one after the other but Statlander kicks out of them to a big pop. Statlander has one final run of offence, dragging Mone into a tombstone position but Mone fought her way out of it and sort of rolled Statlander face first into the ropes and pinned her in a great and different finish. Such a great performance by Mercedes Mone met with a decent but creatively bland one by Statlander. To conclude, I think Statlander is good but she is pretty bland and compared to the much more dynamic Mone, I couldn't help but be unmoved by her despite her solid performance. Mone reminded me why she is the greatest US Women's wrestler ever though. So great. ***1/2
Hangman Adam Page vs Jay White
Another match that wasted no time in getting to the crux of the story, which was Hangman working Jay White’s ankle. The crowd were dead early on but slowly began getting into the action as the match progressed. And I don’t blame them really as the pacing was really awkward and slow, even if the work was solid. I think Hangman came up with interesting ways to attack the ankle and Jay White’ selling was good. Even his defensive work, which was to work on Hangman’s knee, was well worked. If there was another criticism, it’s that there wasn’t much drama in a potential submission finish. The match finally escalates following a snap half dragon suplex on the apron and then another one on the apron. Page’s short term selling of these two spots were dreadful though as he regains offence quickly and applies an ankle lock. He does offer something genius character-wise though, when he baits Jay White to enter the ring while he’s on the apron so he can set up the Buckshot lariat. This is blocked though as Jay White catches him in a bladerunner attempt. More ankle locks by Hangman to more tepid drama, but White’s selling remains excellent following his escape. The counters become more quick and desperate towards the finish, being built around the bladerunner which is paid off when Jay White is able to execute it finally and gets another win over Hangman Adam Page. I’m struggling to really resonate with the match despite its strengths and good performances by the two. The weakness in the pacing which was tepid and slow, and the lack of drama, made worse by the sometimes apathetic crowd, really harmed this match. Jay White’s selling was tremendous as always and they clearly have a great match in them similar to the Wrestle Dream match, but this didn’t work fully for me. Not to that level. ***1/4
Will Ospreay vs. Kyle Fletcher
The match started with an interesting flurry of offence which began with a hurricanara and ended with Fletcher spiking Ospreay on the outside floor with a brainbuster. The flow from one to the other was natural and exciting. It also introduced one of the main stories of the match which was Ospreay’s neck being focused on by Kyle Fletcher, which was initially well done. I think Fletcher provided a great aggressive approach to the match when attacking the area and Ospreay’s selling was strong in the moment. One particularly great selling moment was Ospreay crumbling after a handspring springboard attempt. My personal criticism of Ospreay is usually him being able to do such moves with ease when he has an injured body part which is meant to severely affect him so he wouldn’t be able to do them without some effort, and he addressed that wonderfully with that little sell. The best moments of the match were when the two aimed to work an aggressive match where the tension was Fletcher viciously attacking Ospreay or even later in the match when Ospreay was punching Fletcher violently while he was on the floor covering. When the match stuck to the story of two friends having a violent confrontation, this resonated with me the most. But this seemed to conceptually fluctuate between that and a broad idea that Fletcher is just trying to keep up with Ospreay during his usual run-of-the-mill workrate spots which is something that’s more suited to the friends vs friends story type. Not a betrayal feud, which this is. I don’t mind the story on its own, and it was well done in terms of getting the crowd over and showcasing Fletcher’s athleticism, but these two stories failed to be merged smoothly enough, in my opinion. It felt confused and I was left emotionally unsure because I’d be interested in Fletcher spiking Ospreay on the steel steps but I’d be left slightly impressed but majorly less interested when they were doing rana reversals and the standard crowd pleasing routine. There is room for these broad concepts to work together, but this wasn’t it, despite the execution of the moves being more than good. The finish was indeed great though. The top rope brainbuster is a match ender regardless of who or when and it was perfectly credible for Fletcher to beat Ospreay with. ***
AEW World Title Match: Jon Moxley (w/Marina Shafir) (c) vs. Orange Cassidy
Great opening flurries with Orange Cassidy hitting a series of orange punches and they brawl across the announcers table where OC bites Moxley which makes up for his weak punches. Moxley, initially flustered, soon steamrolls OC and hits a DDT on the steel steps. Blood is drawn and Moxley continues his assault which is enhanced by Moxley laying in his punches more than usual. They capture the spirit of OC being completely out of his depth really well with great body language from Moxley, who looms over OC with a menacing stance, while OC’s sells like death. Orange Cassidy is a bit too light on offence but he is an excellent seller and is great at little flurries. The first hint of something cliche was the strike exchange, which is a tiresome restart sequence. It concluded with OC putting his hands in his pockets after surviving the exchange but Moxley not immediately killing him doesn’t fit his character imo. He has a menacing look on his face and is still angry but him just standing there kills the concept that he proclaims to be for getting rid of the silly stuff in AEW. This transitions into the closing stretch where the Death Riders interfere in the match which brings out the Conglomeration to make the save. OC hits Moxley with a briefcase for a really good false finish among a sea of overbooking, but gets attacked by Wheeler Yuta. Moxley hits the death rider and wins the match. More overbooking follows with Hangman Page, Christian Cage and Jay White come out to the ring and sort of set themselves up as challengers. AND THEN Darby Allin almost kills himself by crashing his car into the Death Rider’s vehicles while they run away like DX 2000. What a whiff of a closing finish and multiple angles following the match which is just another example of a sports entertainment like mindset that the Death Riders are supposed to fight against. Weird end to a strong main event. ***1/2
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