Once again, AEW carried over a million views beating out NXT on Wednesday night. That means AEW 2, WWE 0. Let’s freaking go!
Tag Team Championship Tournament Match – Private Party def. The Young Bucks
The tag team division electrified the crowd to start the second episode of AEW. Private Party upset The Young Bucks knocking them out during the first round. This is what I love about AEW already…it is not too predictable. They have already pulled a few swerves. The match itself was fantastic. I love the high risk moves AEW has unleashed. The tag team division looks like it is going to be filled with them. This match should not have been a first round match so I am excited to see the rest of the tourney. Considering Young Bucks are executives within the company, it is awesome to see them put over someone this early.
Grade: A+
Chris Jericho Promo
Jericho announced the name of his stable (Jake Hager, Santana, Ortiz, Sammy Guevara), Inner Circle. First off, I love the name. It is simple and easy to remember. He introduces why he hand picked each of them. Once he got to Hager, “we the people” chants erupted and he shut that shit down real quick taking shots at WWE creative and wasted talent. AEW chants erupt. That is what Jericho does so well is putting others over while still being the alpha. He did it yet again with everyone in his stable, especially Hager. It was so nice to see Jericho with a live mic and not being scripted. It feels so much more genuine and real. (Side note, Sammy Guevara is a fucking stud.)
Grade: A+
#1 Contender Match for AEW Championship: Darby Allin def. Jimmy Havoc
I don’t know much about these two yet, but I like both gimmicks and looks. Darby Allin more so than Havoc. His face paint is dope. I also love The Coffin Drop, his finishing move. The match was entertaining, but certainly a step down from match one. Upon doing some reading, these two are supposedly more hardcore style wrestlers which makes sense based on their appearances. It was still a quality match. They did have a funny spot where Havoc bit Allin only for Allin to return the favor a little while later.
Grade: B-
Riho & Britt Baker def. Emi Sakura & Bea Priestley
Considering how high the bar was set with Riho and Nyla Rose last week, the first taste of women’s tag team action was a step down. I would be lying if I said I was super into the match. It was also late when I watched and I was tired as it was. Although it was decent match, I can’t remember anything super memorable about it.
Grade: C-
Jon Moxley def. Shawn Spears
The match itself was a typical Moxley match filled with plenty of brawling both inside and outside the ring. It is good enough to entertain. Seeing Moxley back in the ring was great. Spears had a pretty move where he did a falling fireman carry almost like a death valley driver onto the side of the barricade. That looked brutal. Moxley went on to end it with a Paradigm Shift. The real action came after the match when Kenny Omega showed up with a broom and bat, both of which wrapped in barbed wire. He tossed the bat to Moxley. PAC, who was on commentary, showed up blasting Omega with a chair. Moxley just stood over the injured Omega.
Grade: A-
Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevara (w/ Hager) def. Dustin Rhodes & Hangman Page
Rhodes and Page controlled most of the match, mainly picking apart Guevara. Page looked strong in this one and Guevara did a hell of job selling the moves including a clothesline that sent the latter flipping out of control. It ended in typical heel fashion with some outside interference by Hager, a distraction by Guevara and Hager belting Rhodes, which of course led to Jericho hitting the Judas Effect for the 1-2-3.
After the match, the war began as the 3 on 2 brawl began. Page and Hager took the fight outside the ring leading to a 2 on 1 assault on Dustin. The lights dim and Cody appears behind Guevara and Jericho, hitting the former with a Cross Rhodes. He then continued his assault on Jericho only to be met by Santana and Ortiz. MJF made an appearance with a steel chair in hand as he looked at Santana, Ortiz and Jericho battering his best friend Cody. They made you think a potential heel turn was coming, but then he made the save. Eventually, he lost steam and numbers took their toll. The Young Bucks then show up to even the odds as the heels scattered.
Jericho is seen hanging at the ramp while Inner Circle gets pummeled. Darby Allin rides a skateboard down the ramp and attacks Jericho with said skateboard. Inner Circle finds their way to the ramp and all retreat. Jericho grabs a mic and says to Cody he will see him soon. As for Allin (who he will defend his title against next week), he ends the show telling him “it’s your funeral, bitch.”
Grade: A
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