AEW Booms/Duds: Cody Rhodes vs. Darby Allin could be the most storied rivalry

-Boom: sometimes, an all-mayhem match is just what you need

The tag match between Best Friends and Jimmy Havoc/Kip Sabian wasn’t the greatest match ever, nor was it necessarily the best story told in the ring.

It was, however, a perfectly acceptable match that really was just what I, and I presume many of you, needed in terms of a cathartic release of pure mayhem.

I’ve discussed how Havoc has been pigeonholed as a deathmatch/hardcore wrestler even though he was trained in the traditional British style. Well, he became pigeonholed partly because he takes to these types of matches so well.

It was fun to see Trent and Chuck Taylor really let loose and let their creativity shine. That finishing sequence from Taylor was both cool and brutal. Trent putting his body through utter destruction was hard to watch mostly due to his bumping ability.

Also, much like what happened earlier in the show, Penelope Ford and Sabian had some miscommunication that resulted in Ford spearing Sabian into the ringside barricade. It seems like AEW is fond of repeating certain actions (like the tag match next week).

Also, I do wonder why in any sort of no disqualification tag match, whether traditional or multi-team, do teams even tag in and out? If there’s no disqualification, that means the ref really can’t do anything about not tagging in or ignoring the ref’s count.

I did like how Jericho (on commentary) said, “No rules, no DQ, but they still made a tag. Those are some honorable gentlemen right there.” What a way to both point out the absurdity of the rule while putting over the talent.

All in all, it was enjoyable. My only concern is we have another no disqualification tag match next week between Le Sex Gods (Jericho and Sammy Guevara) and Omega/Matt Hardy.

-Boom: “Technique by Taz” is a nice addition to the broadcast

I praised this last week, and I will again this week. Taz does a very good job of straddling kayfabe and non-kayfabe in his analysis. As wrestling fans, we know a “finishing” maneuver is only one because both parties understand the need to stay down for a 3-count (and not the stable).

Yet how Taz highlights these maneuvers is well done. In educating fans on Archer’s Blackout finisher, he makes a note to point out that Archer’s opponents are nine feet in the air at the apex of his maneuver. I love how they showed this was the case with both Stunt (a much easier person to perform Blackout on) and Colt Cabana, a much stockier and heavier wrestler.

I’ve already discussed just how impressive it was for Archer to perform his chokeslam on someone of Dustin Rhodes’ size; he had to be at least nine feet in the air for that, too.

I have a feeling this might be one of the casualties of returning to a live show and may be relegated to social media and/or Dark episodes. It would be nice to see one every few weeks on Dynamite if this is the case, however.

It will be interesting to see how AEW shifts again to live shows. I would rather they hold extended tapings like they did the past month if they’re having shows at all, but let’s hope AEW takes the necessary precautions and learned a thing or two from WWE’s misadventures into live shows during this pandemic.

Until then, please stay safe and healthy readers!