Overall Evaluation and Achieved Goals
Less than a year ago I was at the Wintrust Arena with my friend, a new friend, and 7,000 other people.
We were at AEW Revolution, and as someone who dabbles in the personalities of both delighted fan and detached cynic… it was incredible.
AEW was less than a year old then and still finding itself, but that night it came into full view. They were building out the World (Mox! Darbs! Kenny and the Hangman!), they delivered the Wrestling (Tag Team Titles!), and there was plenty of entertainment (Orange Cassidy! PAC! Judas sing-a-long before it was overdone!). Even that terrible Dustin Rhodes/Jake Hager match was just a part of the experience, and over the last year I hope more people have gained an appreciation for embracing the experience.
Afterwards, we got lost trying to find the off-site parking. I think all our phones died. We spent an hour-and-a-half walking around Chicago in cold and confusion, making jokes while realizing it was another hour until home.
Almost a year has passed.
I want to get lost again.
Areas of Excellence Within Performance
I was getting a little worried about Revolution this year, but it really took shape this week and they’ve ended up with an interesting card — even before the announcement of an Exploding Barbed Wire Match.
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh…
One of the things I like most about AEW is how much they are always building out a world, from rankings to just getting guys on TV in tag matches. The card came together because of that world. Hangman Page vs. Matt Hardy was never a match I ever even considered, but they’re a pair of fun characters with motivations that make sense even if they’re explaining on a live microphone how they tricked each other. Plus Private Party against the Hardy Boys when it happens is going to be so cool.
There were a lot of little jabs at WWE on this show from MJF calling out the invisible camera to backstage TV viewing angles, but the Inner Circle and Bullet Club sagas weaving into each other for the Young Bucks vs. Jericho/MJF Tag Titles build and not feeling clumsy felt like the biggest shot of all.
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh…
Brian Cage giving a powerbomb to 61-year-old Sting, who just laid there in old man pain after taking his first on-screen bump in six years, made me more uncomfortable than intrigued but I still can’t deny Taz‘ promos and the fact that they got a meme out of it. Really hope Steve knows what he’s doing.
The wrestling was good too. Like really good. Riho vs. Serena Deeb in the first round of the Eliminator Tournament was the best AEW women’s match since the last time Riho was around: credible holds, blistering speed, and a stretch muffler. Riho’s double foot stomp might be my favorite wrestling move too. The Young Bucks vs. Santana & Ortiz for the Tag Titles and the 6-man tag main event both rocked too, with the former being a wild preview of what HAS to be a major match later this year.
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh…
The show is just fun too. There are bits for wrestling fans, but also regular people: MJF and Sammy Guevara are actual humans, Matt Hardy is grumbling over being bamboozled, an 8-year old is calling out re-enforcements. I said “oh my god” out loud when Hangman wrecked Jack Evans and thought that was fun until I found out Evans might’ve actually got hurt.
Also, the re-introduction of Joshi puroresu and Death Matches to America. AEW is covering bases.
Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh-oh!
Suggested Areas of Improvement
Even on a wrestling show, even as a heel… if you are an adult and going to do a bit at a daycare, wear the mask.
Please don’t kill Sting.
I still can’t follow the approach with Lance Archer, and at this point it really seems as simple giving somebody else Jake the Snake.
The picture-in-picture stinks, but the picture-in-picture jokes that JR and Tony keep making might be worse. If the picture-in-picture is staying, just lean in.
My Favorite Things
- Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston trading strikes
- Cash Wheeler’s first move in his match being a backdrop suplex
- DOUBLE-BARRELL BUCKSHOT LARIAT!
