AEW Booms and Duds: Jake the Snake has still got it on the mic

Boom: Darby Allin is a future AEW World Champion in the making

After a pre-match attack left Moxley lying unconscious in the concourse, Allin took on Jericho and Guevara in a 1-on-2 handicap match. As with most Allin matches, this young star took a tremendous amount of punishment, including a stiff running knee strike from Guevara and a Judas Effect counter right on the chin, countering his tope and landing with a “thud” on the floor.

Still, watch the above clip and just look at one, his quickness; two, his speed/fluidity; three, his talent; and four, the crowd reaction.

Allin is arguably AEW’s “homegrown” star as his stock has done nothing but rise even in defeat/ties with Cody, Moxley, and Jericho. Tonight was another step in building fan support for what I foresee as an AEW World Championship run for Allin by the end of the year.

Also, he’s a fellow Washingtonian like me as I have lived in the state since 1993, and in Seattle since last summer, so of course I root for Allin.

The announcers also do a wonderful job describing Allin, including his otherworldly ability to absorb punishment and continue; he was in the Walls of Jericho almost as long as Jungle Boy was (around 90 seconds). He also puts his body on the line to taste victory, including two coffin drops: one to the outside on The Inner Circle, and one back in the ring to Guevara that would have won the match had Jericho not broken up the count.

Yes, he needs to string some wins together instead of trading wins/losses. Still, the connection he has with fans, coupled with his skill and in-ring style, makes Allin one of the top face acts in the company (after Cody, The Elite, Riho, and Moxley in no particular order).