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Post by lemming on Mar 17, 2022 6:36:42 GMT -5
Despite all the love for current AEW this match doesn't seem to have got the hype it deserves. It's the MOTY so far for me and one I definitely want to revisit.
This was all struggle and grit and violence and a great showpiece for what both these guys are about. In WWE Bryan majored on his underdog selling and comebacks but in AEW he is always on the front foot, swarming his opponent with relentless offense. He gets to unleash a whole lot of nastiness here with stiff strikes and tight holds, working over Moxley's midsection in the first half then switching to target the head and neck.
Moxley is a natural match up for him as his act is all about taking the hard knocks and battling through; he gets his kicks from facing up to the storm head on and daring it do its worst. Here Bryan is the typhoon and Moxley is in its path, relishing the battle even as he is battered and bloodied by it. Bryan meanwhile shows sadistic and almost ecstatic delight in the level of violence he is driven to inflict on his foe in order to break him.
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Post by [Darren] on Mar 17, 2022 7:17:35 GMT -5
This match got so much better for me on second watch, after the Regal promo on Dynamite and after I rewatched the brilliant Regal/Ambrose feud for the first time since 2012.
The Revolution crowd was one of the worst crowds I can remember for a major PPV but it somehow enhances the match. This is an NXT Takeover crowd that doesn’t understand how to process a match this intricately and subtlety violent. It’s fantastic.
The post match angle is done so brilliantly and this instantly became the most intriguing story in wrestling. Regal, the father coming to put an end to the brothers fighting. Bryan snuggly thinking since he’s the golden boy, not expecting his slap but realizing that’s what was needed. Bryan may be the golden child but Mox has the same demons Of regal. They are kindred spirits.
I love this match but this story keeps adding layers to it and I think it will age well on revisits. I say that same thing about the other two instant classics from this show.
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Post by makaiclub on Mar 18, 2022 12:16:19 GMT -5
This made me appreciate MJF vs Punk a little more. I considered that a disappointment. But this was truly a disappointment. This had potential with the blood and stylistic choices but this was so tame and dull to watch. Moxley tries hard and can actually hit hard on occasion but for whatever reason, his chemistry with Bryan was lacking. The grappling aspects weren’t particularly good (nor were they bad) and the stiff action didn’t translate to interesting wrestling. The crowd died after Punk/MJF and until William/Steven Regal came out, the crowd was dead for this too. Shockingly average. The finish was beyond awful, too. Bryan just lets Moxley pin him after spending far too much in the hold and does very little to try and get the shoulder up, only to feign surprise at the three. For all the talk that Bryan is flawless and perfect, this was a pretty bad effort from him. **1/2
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Post by [Darren] on Mar 18, 2022 14:21:57 GMT -5
I was hoping for a non-finish and a pull apart but this finish was much better. I can’t think of a more perfect finish to this match that exceeded my expectations.
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Post by [Darren] on Mar 18, 2022 14:25:22 GMT -5
The crowd being dead is not the fault of the wrestlers and they were right to ignore them. Few wrestlers have the ability to stay compelling with probably the worst crowd in company history
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Post by elliott on Mar 18, 2022 19:45:58 GMT -5
What was up with the crowd? Were they in Sturgis or something?
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Post by [Darren] on Mar 18, 2022 23:54:21 GMT -5
To me, it’s as if they transplanted a 2018 NXT crowd and they were sitting on their hands and didn’t know what dumb thing to chant when matches didn’t feature Elite members.
They were pretty good for Jericho/Kingston. I will give them that.
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Post by elliott on Mar 19, 2022 0:18:46 GMT -5
Wasn't this one of the big shows of the year? Was it in like a different venue or city than they usually are in?
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Post by [Darren] on Mar 19, 2022 8:08:00 GMT -5
Yea… they need to stay outta Florida. It’s a mix of a not-great/burnt out on Wrestling market and the fact that the AEW audience is growing and changing. Honestly the crowd might not have been an issue for most people but it was foremost for me.
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Post by elliott on Mar 19, 2022 18:31:29 GMT -5
Aren't they based in Florida?
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Post by [Darren] on Mar 19, 2022 20:35:11 GMT -5
Yes. Jacksonville.
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