RADICAN’S 6/29 AEW Fyter Fest report: Janela vs. Moxley, Cody vs. Allin, Young Bucks & Omega vs. Lucha Bros. & Kid main event

RADICAN’S AEW FYTER FEST REPORT
JUNE 29, 2019
DAYTONA BEACH, FLA
THE OCEAN CENTER
AIRED LIVE ON B/R LIVE
BY SEAN RADICAN, TORCH COLUMNIST

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Tonight after AEW Fyter Fest, join PWTorch editor Wade Keller live with guest cohost Rich Fann from the PWTorch Dailycast “Deep Dive” to break down the show with live callers, mailbag, and a live on-site correspondent from Daytona Beach, Fla.

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BUY IN PRE SHOW

Commentators: Loganboy, Golden Sambo, and Excalibur

The pre-show began with Q.T. Marshall saying he had to do something to get the ring into the building. Cody asked from behind the camera if he did what he had to do to get the ring in. Marshall didn’t say anything and footage was shown of the ring in the building. Weird way to start the show.

They went live to the venue with women in bikinis surrounding the entrance ramp. There’s also a tent. The announcers then ran down the card.

(a) PRIVATE PARTY (MARQ QUEN & ISIAH KASSIDY) vs. S.C.U. (FRANKIE KAZARIAN & SCORPIO SKY) vs. BEST FRIENDS (CHUCK TAYLOR & TRENT BERETTA) – Winner gets a chance to advance to an opportunity for a bye in the AEW Tag Team Championship 

Quen got isolated and worked over during the early going. S.C.U. isolated Trent a short time later and began working him over. Quen entered the ring and ran wild and the fans fired up. Private Party hit a series of tandem maneuvers and wiped out everyone. The cameras missed Kassidy hitting a big dive to the floor to wipe out several man. The fans fired up big time and chanted for Private Party. Best Friends and S.C.U. got into the ring at the same time and wiped out Private Party. Best Friends cleared the ring a short time later and hugged. Taylor worked over Kassidy a short time later with some punches. Trent hit a northern lights suplex on Kassidy for a two count. Quen was nowhere to be seen as they showed the apron when Kassidy inched towards his corner. Kassidy went to make the tag, but Trent knocked Quen off the apron. Quen ended up tagging in Kazarian because Quen was still down on the outside. The action broke down and everyone traded moves. Quen took out Kazarian from the apron and tagged himself in. He hit a HUGE SSP on Trent, but he kicked out at the last second. Kassidy took a double stomp/Impaler combination from S.C.U. for a near fall. Trent went for a suplex up top on Quen as he tried to hit a move on Kazarian, but he landed on his feet. WOW! Quen then hit a jumping rana that sent Kazarian into a cutter from Kassidy, but Sky made the save! Best Friends then hit Strong Zero on Kassidy for the win.

WINNERS: Chuck Taylor & Trent Baretta in 16:00. (***½)

(Radican’s Analysis: This was a fantastic way to open the show. Private Party looked tremendous working with two experienced teams and the crowd ate up their tandem maneuvers.)

After the match, The Dark Order was shown on the big screen. Player Uno said they had chosen Best Friends to be their first. Stu Grayson snapped his fingers and the lights went out. They came back on and The Dark Order’s minions were surrounding the ring. They did not make a move and the lights went out again. The lights came back on and the minions were gone. Trent and Chuck didn’t look impressed.

The Young Bucks were shown backstage. They asked the cameraman if he was making a documentary. They were then shown sitting down complaining about their flights and accommodations at Fyter Fest. Kenny Omega was shown coming up to the Young Bucks. He said the seamstresses were going to make them three sets to make up for them having their gear go missing. Kenny left and The Young Bucks said he wouldn’t come through. Matt was shown saying Kenny blew half the budget making the gear and they cant afford.

Q.T. Marshall was shown getting rid of one of the models to cut costs. He then brought out a mannequin to replace them.

Leva Bates came out. She opened the tent and found the other librarian Peter Avalon. Avalon tossed the tent off the stage and into the pool. He then decapitated one of the mannequins. Bates and Avalon said there were gamers in the audience, but there was more to life like books. Bates and Avalon told the fans to read. Bates said she is the librarian and Avalon did the same. They then began shushing each other. Allie’s music played and she came out.

(b) ALLIE vs. LEVA BATES (W/PETER AVALON) 

Allie had the upper hand, but Avalon provided a distraction on the outside and Bates sent Allie to the floor. Bates grabbed a submission while grabbing Allie’s hair and shushing her. Bates kept shushing the crowd as well. Allie fired back and the fans fired up. Allie hit a sliding elbow drop in the corner. Bates hit a lung blower up against the ropes. She then hushed the crowd and hit a pedigree, but Allie kicked out. Avalon got up on the apron, but Allie caught the book. She tossed the book at Bates and nailed her with a thrust kick to the chest for the win.

WINNER: Allie in 8:00. (*¼)

(Radican’s Analysis: This was fairly dull and the librarian gimmick isn’t over. Allie looked unsure of herself in the ring.)

Kenny Omega was shown backstage getting things for the bands. Brandon Cutler told him all of the bands had been cancelled and he didn’t have to bring them equipment. Omega looked upset.

(Radican’s Analysis: If they want Omega to be taken seriously. This goofy backstage stuff needs to end. It look minor league for Omega to run out of budget as well.)

Excalibur said this would be the only time we see nepotism in AEW before the Michael Nakawa vs. Alex Jebaileyh hardcore match. Jebailey came out and he got pyro. Nakazawa got on the mic and called for the music to be cut. Nakazawa said he has a word for Jebailey. He called him Mr. Cripple. He said cripple isn’t a good word to use here in America. He said last year Jebailey cheated to win. That’s why CEO sucks. Nakazawa said Jebailey had made a full recovery from his right leg injury. Jebailey said it was his left leg that was injured. Nakazakwa then kicked Jebailey’s left leg.

(c) MICHAEL NAKAZAWA vs. ALEX JEBAILEY – HARDCORE MATCH

Nakazawa poured oil on himself to escape a waistlock from Jebailey. He went for a dropkick, but slipped. The ref then slipped in the oil on the mat. They went to the floor and Jebailey sent Nakazawa into the ring barrier. He got a fight stick from a fan and drove it into Nakazawa’s midsection. He then slammed it over his back for a two count. He tried to drown Nakazawa in the kid pool up by the entrance ramp. Nakazawa hit Jebailey with an inflatable flamingo. Jebailey then slammed him into the pool. Jebailey set up a table on the floor. Nakazawa hit Jebailey with a controller. He then choked him with the wire. Who uses wired controllers in 2019? Nakazawa ended up spearing Jebailey through the ropes, which sent both men through a table at ringside. Nakazawa lifted up Jebailey when the ref was about to count to three. He then hit him with several kendo stick shots. He took his thong off from under his trunks and tried to stick it in Jebailey’s mouth, but he ducked and Jebailey nailed him with a huge German that got a small CEO chant. Jebailey dumped some legos onto the mat. Nakazawa set up Jebailey for a powerbomb, but he backdropped him onto the legos. Jebailey whipped Nakazawa, who had his arm stuck in his thong still. Nakazawa went after Jebailey with the thong and got the ref instead. Jebailey got a visual pin, but the ref was down. Nakazawa then revered the cradle and got the win.

WINNER: Michael Nakazawa in 10:00. (dud)

(Radican’s Analysis: This was terrible and offensive.)

Jim Ross’s music played and he made his way down to the ring.

Jon Moxley was shown saying he would show everyone how that kind of match is done properly in reference to the Jebailey vs. Nakazawa hardcore match.

MAIN CARD

Commentary: Goldenboy, Jim Ross, Excalibur

The cold open played to begin the main card. Jim Ross then introduced the show to the viewing audience at home. The announcers then previewed the card.

Christopher Daniels was out first to face CIMA. He carried a mic stand. He lead the crowd in SCU chants. CIMA was out next. Excalibur gave background on both men before the match started. These two men have history dating back to their days in Toryumon in Japan.

(1) CHRISTOPHER DANIELS vs. CIMA 

They went at it hot and heavy right off the bat. Daniels hit an arm drag to slow the place. CIMA got a submission in the middle of the ring, but Daniels managed to get to the ropes. A new ref, Michael Posey, was reffing the match. Daniels worked over CIMA”s back. The pace slowed as Daniels worked a modified crossface, but CIMA got to the ropes. CIMA set up Daniels in-between the top and middle ropes and hit a lung blower. CIMA hit the iconoclasm a short time later for a near fall. CIMA’s back gave out and Daniels took advantage and hit Angel’s Wings for a near fall. CIMA hung Daniels up between the top and middle rope again. CIMA went for a sunset bomb off the top. Daniels tried to hold on, but CIMA hit a running Liger bomb and a Perfect Driver for a near fall. CIMA hit Shwine and Meteora for the win.

WINNER: CIMA in 9:00. (**½)

(Radican’s Analysis: A solid effort for both men. CIMA got an emphatic win in the end despite the work on his back from Daniels. This sets up CIMA nicely for his match against Kenny Omgea in two weeks at Fight for the Fallen.)

(2) RIHO vs. NYLA ROSE vs. YUKA SAKAZAKI – THREE WAY MATCH

Rose teased a handshake with Riho, but then tossed her into the corner. She did the same with Sakazaki, but they avoided a charge in the corner. Riho and Sazakaki hit a double dropkick on Rose. They went after her legs, but she powered them off. Rose hit a double splash on both women and they did a bridge escape and worked her over with punches. They went for a double suplex, but Rose countered it and suplexed both women at the same time. Rose got a double camel clutch, but Sazakaki got ot the ropes. Rose ended up alone in the ring with Sazaksaki, who hit a running rana that sent Rose to the floor. Yuka nearly fell running up the ropes to hit a dive to the floor, but she got her footing and wiped out Riho and Rose with a splash. Riho and Sakazaki traded blows in the middle of the ring. They continued to go at it. Riho finally hit a double stomp on Sakazaki’s back. Riho said up Rose on the ropes and hit a 619. Sazazaki and Riho took care of Rose and went at it again. Sakazaki hit a running lariat on Riho, but Rose broke the pin up. Sakazaki went for a diving lariat on Rose, but she caught her and slammed her to the mat with a side effect variation for a two count. Rose hit a big suplex on Sakazaki and she rolled to the floor. Rose hit a big splash in the corner on Riho. She dumped Riho over the middle rope and went up top. Rose hit a knee drop off the top onto Riho and the fans went nuts.

Rose didn’t make the cover and she went up top again. Sakazaki tried to cut her off, but she shoved her to the mat. Rose went for a swanton, but Riho got out of the way. Riho went up top, but Rose caught her. Sakazaki went up top, but Rose caught her too. Sakazaki ultimately rolled up Rose for a two count. Sakazaki went for the Magical Girl Splash, but Riho got her knees up. Rose then nailed Sakazaki with a release German. Riho hit a big running knee on Rose a short time later. She charged at Rose, but ate a DVD. Rose was slow to make the cover. Rose ended up alone in the ring with Riho. She set up for a beast bomb, but Riho slid around it and got a leg capture pinning combination for the win.

WINNER: Riho in 14:00 (***½)

(Radican’s Analysis: This was a really good match that made all three women stand out.)

Rose tried to attack Riho after the match, but Sakazaki sent her packing to the floor. Riho shoved Sakazaki away when she tried to help her after the match and she looked sad.

Kip Sabian joined the booth. He faces the winner of the upcoming four-way match.

MJF was out first and he got on the mic. The fans booed and he ran them down. He ran down his opponents and then ran down the fans again. He told the fans he loved videogames until he lost his virginity. The fans booed. Jungle Boy came out next on the shoulders of Luchasaurus. Then Jimmy Havoc came out, which excited Kip Sabian. Hangman Page was out last to a good reaction.

(3) JUNGLE BOY (W/LUCHASAURUS) vs. MJF vs. HANGMAN PAGE vs. JIMMY HAVOC – FOUR WAY MATCH 

Page and Jungle Boy had a quick exchange until Page wiped him out with a big boot. MJF came in and tried to steal a pin on Jungle Boy after Havoc had hit a falcon arrow. They went for a sequence of big moves. Jungle Boy hit a hanging cannonball moonsault off the ringpost to wipe out everyone on the floor. That was crazy. He hit a big powerbomb out of the corner on MJF for a two count a short time later. Jungle Boy went up top, but Havoc cut him off. They fought up top, but Page powerbombed off the top and they went right into MJF. MJF jawed with Page from the outside. Havoc then hit a German on him from behind. The pace picked up and MJF whipped Jungle Boy into Havoc in the corner. He made a cocky cover on Havoc, but Page pulled him to the floor to break up the pin. Page and MJF went face to face. They began trading blows and Ross said they would be two of the biggest players in AEW going forward. MJF set up for a sharpshooter and mocked Bret Hart’s mannerisms, but Page countered it into one of his own and the fans fired up.

MJF struggled, but got to the ropes. Ross pointed out that Page’s knee might not be healthy. MJF hit the Heatseeker DDT off the ropes, but Jungle Boy broke up the pin. MJF shoved Jungle Boy off the ropes, but Luchasaurus saved him. Havoc tossed Jungle Boy onto Luchasaurus from the apron to wipe them out. Havoc blocked a Heatseeker and hit a double stomp off the top for a two count. Page bloced the Acid Rainmaker with an eye poke. MJF ducked the bukshot larait and he hit Havoc. MJF tried to toss Page out, but he countered it and MJF to the floor. He then hit the Last Rights on Havoc for the win.

WINNER: Hangman Page in 12:00. (***¼)

(Radican’s Analysis: Page was the obvious winner here, but I thought MJF came across really well and he nearly won the match using his heel tactics. This was a much better presentation of MJF than what we got at Double or Nothing, as he was framed as the future of AEW along with Page. Jungle Boy and Havoc got some time to shine as well. Page goes on to face Sabian at Fight for the Fallen)

A video package aired for Darby Allin vs. Cody Rhodes. He came out first for his match with a body bag that had Cody 1-1 spray painted on one side. The announcers talked about how he was in a car accident when he was five when his uncle died and he lost all faith in humanity at that point. Cody Rhodes came out next with Brandi Rhodes. He got a good pop from the fans. Allin just sat in the corner staring at him.

(4) DARBY ALLIN vs. CODY RHODES (W/BRANDI RHODES) 

Allin stayed seated in the corner and slowly got up after the opening bell rang. Cody worked a headlock during the early going. Allin jumped up off the top rope when Cody went for a hip toss and came back down with one of his own to send Cody to the floor. The announcers worked the angle that AEW has been pushing that Cody shouldn’t have taken this match. Cody tossed Allin towards the ropes and he bumped all the way through. Cody did push ups while Allin tried to recover. Cody eventually applied a figure four as the pace slowed. Allin quickly got to the ropes. Rhodes tossed Allin into the turnbuckles and he spilled to the floor. Allin grabbed Cody’s hand from the apron and smashed it into the ringpost, but Cody clotheslined him up against the ropes and Allin fell forward. Cody made the cover for a two count. Cody hit several knees to Allin’s ribs and then worked a submission around the 10 minute mark. Cody went for a vertical suplex, but Allin grabbed his injured hand to break out of Allin. Allin hit a Torneo off the bottom rope for a two count. He then went after Rhodes’s hand and grabbed a modified Fujiwara arm bar. Cody finally managed to get to the ropes to break the hold.

Allin nailed Cody with a big dive, but the crowd was silent. He slammed Cody’s arm over the steps. He went after his hand again, but Cody avoided it and tripped him on the steps. Cody then hit a suicide dive to wipe out Allin. Allin fired back with a flurry of offense. He finished the sequence with the Yoshi Tonic for a near fall. It was announced that five minutes were left in the 20 minute time limit. Allin went up top, but Cody cut him off. Cody hit a Scorpion Deathdrop style superplex off the top and both men were down as the fans finally woke up. Allin snapped Cody’s arm against the ropes while he was on the apron. Allin went up top for a Coffin Drop, but Cody got out of the way. That looked really painful. Darby hit a slap and Cody hit a bicycle kick that sent him onto the body bag. Cody put Darby in the body bag and zipped it up. He stood Allin up and hit the Disaster kick. He took Allin out of the bag and made the cover, but Allin kicked out. Ross called Allin a crazy jack in the box with one minute left in the match. Cody hit Allin with his weight belt. The ref admonished him, but did not call for a DQ. Rhodes hit another belt shot and then dropped the belt. Rhodes went for Cross-Rhodes, but Allin blocked it and flipped over him into a stunner. Cody pulled him back in and hit Cross-RHodes. Cody went for the cover, but the time limit expired as the ref was about to count to three.

WINNER: No winner – Time limit draw. (***)

The crowd chanted for five more minutes, but Shawn Spears ran into the ring and hit Cody with an unprotected chair shot. Cody came up bleeding badly from the back of his head. It looked like he had a huge gash on the back of his head. MJF and SCU came down to check on Cody. It looked like a flap of skin had peeled up on Cody’s head. I hoped that’s gimmicked. The announcers talked about how Cody thought he was seeing his friend only for him to hit him with a chairshot.

Ross asked how this would effect Cody’s upcoming match against The Young Bucks at Fight for the Fallen. Ross said Alex Marvez would update the situation on social media.

(Radican’s Analysis: The match really dull with Cody in control before picking up nicely down the stretch and going to a hot finish with the time limit draw. The post-match angle seems to take away the possibility of a rematch with Allin.)

Ross said the unsanctioned match between Jon Moxley and Joey Janela would go on last.

The Lucha Bros. and Laredo Kid came out first. The Young Bucks then came out dressed like they were from Street Fighter. A plant ran between them and did Batista’s entrance. The lights went out and Kenny Omega had wiped out the fan when they came back on. Omega had his hair dyed red. Matt whispered something to Justin Roberts. He then said, “Round one…fight!”

(5) AAA TAG TEAM CHAMPIONS THE LUCHA BROS. (PENTAGON JR. & REY FENIX) & LAREDO KID vs. THE ELITE (KENNY OMEGA & MATT JACKSON & NICK JACKSON)

Nick and Kid had a fast exchange. All six men got into the ring to face off and the fasn fired up. Lucha Bros. and Kid hit a triple kick. They then hit a crazy triple dive to the floor to wipe out The Elite. WOW! Kid got up on Matt’s shoulders and the Lucha Bros. nailed him with a double superkick into a rana from Kid. Laredo kid hit moonsaults off the first and second rope on Nick for a two count. Matt fired back and wiped out the Lucha Bros. with a double walking the top rope arm drag. Matt tagged in and caught Kid coming off the top and hit a rolling northern lights suplex. Fenix ran in and Matt hit him with a series of rolling northern lights. Pentagon ran in and Matt hit a double northern lights suplex. WOW! Omega tagged in and cleared the ring of Fenix and Pentagon. He went after Kid, who countered You Can’t Escape. Kid hit a neck breaker and went up top, but Omega nailed him with a dropkick. Omega set up for Rise of the Terminator, but Pentagon cut him off. Pentagon set up and took his glove for the cero miedo hand gesture. He did it right in Omega’s face. They began exchanging blows. Omega eventually hit his jumping leg drop. The action picked up and The Young Bucks wiped out Fenix on the apron. The Elite went after Kid with a series of maneuvers.

Kid took a series of moves off the top capped by a senton from Nick. Omega made a cocky cover with one foot for a two count. Kid fired back and tagged in Pentagon, who ran wild. He hit a huge back stabber on Omega and the fans fired up. Fenix slid to the floor and went after Omega and Nick. He stepped up while holding Nick’s hand into a hurricanrana on Nick. He held the ropes open for Dragon Kid to hit a sick tope onto Omega. Pentagon hit a double stomp on Matt back inside the ring for a two count. Pentagon set up for the arm breaker on Matt, but he shook him off. They went back and forth and Matt hit a destroyer and then a spear. Omega hit a snap dragon on Kid a short time later. Omega fired up and went up top, but Pentagon came out of nowhere to cut him off. He sent Matt to the outside and then launched Fenix over the top to the floor to wipe out Nick. The action continued at an incredible pace. Everyone began hitting superkicks and The Elite stood tall. They set up for a triple superkick, but Lucha Bros. and Kid fired back with one of their own. The Lucha Bros. and Kid bounced off the ropes only eat a triple hadouken. WOW!

Kid and Fenix got hung up over the middle rope> Matt then went up top and hit them both with a 450! Omega made the cover on Kid, but Pentagon broke it up. Pentagon avoided Nick’s signature moonsault to the floor and hit a Sling Blade. The action picked up and Omega hita V-trigger on Kid. Omega set up for Rise of the Terminator, but Fenix came out of nowhere to hit a cutter! Nick came up from behind Fenix and nailed him with a cutter. WOW! Matt held up Fenix for a Meltzer Driver to the floor, but Nick lost his balance. He held on while holding onto Kid’s hand, but Fenix walked the ropes and hit a spanish fly to the floor that wiped out Matt. WOW! Omega hit a Tiger Driver 98 on Kid for a near fall. They announced 10 minutes left in the match. Omega hit a huge V-Trigger on Kid. He then hit the One-Winged Angel for the win!

WINNERS: Kenny Omega & Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson in 20:00. (****¼)

(Radican’s Analysis: This was great match. There was so much spectacular high-flying that my jaw was dropping at times. Nick nearly slipped setting up the big Spanish Fly spot from Fenix to the floor to block the Meltzer Driver, but he recovered and executed the spot. That was nuts.)

Omega signaled that he’d like to wrestle Pentagon Jr. after the match.

Ross said that was the official end of the show with the unsanctioned match coming up between Janela and Moxley. Ross said Moxley was trying to find himself and returning to his hardcore roots.

Justin Roberts announced when the lights went out, the official AEW event was over. When they come back on, the final match would be on. He said the next match would be unsanctioned. The lights went out. They came back on and Joey Janela’s music hit. Jon Moxley’s music hit and he came out through the entrance tunnel. I guess they’re not replicating his NJPW entrance. Moxley came out with a lot of pyro.

(6) JOEY JANELA vs. JON MOXLEY – UNSANCTIONED MATCH

They went face to face. Janela pie faced Moxley. Moxley went to the floor and Janela nailed him with a dive. They brawled into the crowd. Janela got a fake leg and hit Moxley with it. Moxley slammed Janela into the ring steps. A table was set up on the outside. Moxley tossed a chair into the ring. Moxley slammed Janela with a chair over his back. Janela fired back and put Moxley in the chair. He went up top for a swanton, but Moxley got out of the way and he obliterated the chair. Moxley had a cut above his right eye. Moxley went under the ring and got a chair wrapped in barbed wire. He put it on top of Janela and stomped it down on to Janela. The crowd chanted you sick f–k at Moxley, who bowed. Moxley went up top, but Janela cut him off. Janela then hit a super rana that sent Moxley onto the barbed wire chair. He then slammed the barbed wire chair over Moxley’s back for a two count. The fans fired up as Janela got another table from under the ring and set it up in the corner of the ring. Moxley picked him up onto his shoulders, but Janela avoided being thrown over the top to the floor by grabbing the ropes. Both men ended up on the apron and Janela hit a russian leg sweep off the apron through the table. Moxley lifted up Janela in the corner and ran across the ring to put him through a table.

Moxley went under the ring and got another table. He set up two tables on the floor and Janela flipped him off and did some crotch chops. Moxley ran into the ring and hit several punches on Janela. He went back under the ring and got a barbed wire board. He set it up in the corner. They both went for moves through the barbed wire board in the corner. Janela got Moxley up on his shoulders and hit a DVD through the barbed wire board in the corner. Janela dragged Moxley off the board and made the cover for a two count. Both men began exchanging blows in the middle of the ring. Janela hit a huge forearm that sent Moxley into the corner, but he popped up and turned Janela inside out with a clothesline. WOW! Janela hit a pair of superkicks and Moxley ended up on the apron. Janela went under the ring and got a ladder. He slid the ladder into the ring. He set it up inside the ring. Moxley dragged him back to the floor. Janela slammed Moxley’s head into the ring steps several times. He set Moxley up over the two tables. Janela then began climbing up the ladder. Janela got to the top and wiped out Moxley with an elbow that sent Moxley and Janela through both tables. WOW!

Janela set up a barbed wire board between the guardrail and the apron. He went back into the ring and Janela wasn’t paying attention and Moxley caught him with a DDT. He then tossed Janela over the top through the barbed wire board with a barbed wire bomb. WOW! Moxley hit several knees to Janela’s head. Moxley went under the ring and got a bucket. There was a bag inside the bucket. Moxley then dumped the tacks onto the mat. Moxley took off Janela’s boot. He took off his other boot and both socks. Moxley lifted up Janela and he almost landed in the tacks, but Janela got out of it. Moxley then lifted up Janela and tossed him back first into the tacks. Moxley lifted up Janela and dropped him feet first into the tacks. That has to suck. Janela told Moxley to bring it and flipped him off. Moxley went back into the bucket. He got another bag and dumped more tacks into the ring. He then hit The Deathrider into the tacks. It’s called The Paradigm Shift in AEW.

Moxley stood up and he had tacks in his back. The announcers said this match won’t go down in the record books after all they went through.

WINNER: Jon Moxley in 20:00. (***)

(Radican’s Analysis: I’m not a fan of this style, but Janela and Moxley did a good job putting on a match that went back to their respective hardcore roots. Janela going toe-to-toe with Moxley in this environment will do a lot for him going forward. I thought they went too far with the stunts that they did for a feud that had very little build outside of this past week when things really escalated out of nowhere.)

After the match, Omega ran down and wiped out Moxley with a V-Trigger. He placed Moxley between a broken table and hit Moxley with a slingshot double stomp. Omega went after Moxley and shoved him into a guardrail. Omega nailed him with a mic stand. There was a setup for a band and Omega played the drums. He then hit Moxley with the drumsticks. That looked really lame. Omega unplugged a guitar and slammed it over Moxley’s back. Omega pretended to play the guitar before tossing it down.

A couple of officials tried to help Moxley to the back, but he shoved them away. Omega then came out of the entrance ramp with a trash can. He nailed him with it several times. Omega then hit Paradigm Shift on the trashcan on Moxley. Moxley smiled and they went off the air abruptly before Ross could sign off.

Overall thoughts: (6.5) – This was a good show, but it wasn’t as good as I expecting. The hardcore aspects of the show puzzled me. Cody took an unprotected chair shot from Shawn Spears and then bled heavily from the other side of his head after. When you combine this with the main event, there were a lot of the hardcore style elements woven into the show that I don’t particularly enjoy.

It’s a shocking contrast to see Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks being goofy backstage and then they do serious angles during the show with Cody bleeding a ton from his head after an unprotected chair shot. You also had Moxley and Janela using barbed wire board, thumbtacks, tables, and all sorts of hardcore gimmicks in the unsanctioned main event.

Omega needs to find the right balance with his character. He’s great when he’s serious in the ring, but his goofy side just doesn’t jive with what AEW is presenting. Moxley was just in a hardcore match and after the match, Omega attacks him and acts goofy by hitting him with drumsticks.

I give Moxley credit for doing that style of match against Janela. It elevated Janela, but at the same time there was no storyline to justify the unsanctioned rules. A match that dangerous should be built for months or maybe even a year, but AEW put it on without much of a build at all.

The show featured some good wrestling, but nothing really stood out outside of the Six Man Tag match between The Elite and The Lucha Bros. & Laredo Kid. Laredo Kid really stood out and had a spectacular performance in that match. I give Nick Jackson a ton of credit for slipping doing a really complicated spot where he was climbing the ropes for a slingshot Meltzer driver to the floor only for Fenix to walk across the top rope and send him into Matt with a one man spanish fly. Nick’s recovery was fantastic.

Overall, this was an enjoyable show. It felt like it went a little long at three and a half hours for what was essentially an AEW house show. It’s definitely worth going out of your way to see the six man tag and most of the other stuff on the card was good or very good, but nothing else blew me away.

Contact Sean at radicansean@pwtorch.com. Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/sr_torch