AEW Booms/Duds: Jericho calls out “Iron” Mike Tyson

Boom: “The Machine” does work, sets his eyes on Moxley’s championship

Poor Lee Johnson, jobber to the monster heels of AEW. That German suplex Cage drilled him with was impressively frightening as Johnson appeared to land on the back of his head/neck (but did more of a shoulder roll). Well, to partially quote a certain “The Man,” Johnson was there to do the job and put Cage over, and put him over he did.

Even though Cage pulled a Lance Archer by throttling his opponent before the bell, it was a bit unexpected and made me sit up. I was hoping we would see Cage pull off another “F10,000” as commentary said on Saturday because of its sheer impressiveness (probably better than Wardlow’s), but he was still dominant nonetheless.

That Drill Claw driver variation is something wicked. Cage didn’t land it as smoothly as usual, but Johnson’s ability to bump using his long body to indicate he was stiffened cold by the move added to the move’s ferocity.

Taz being paired with Cage makes them a fearsome duo. We all know of Taz’s past as the “Human Suplex Machine,” a former World Champion, and great commentator with an analytical side. Now he is imparting all of his tips and tricks to Cage, who seems destined for greatness in AEW.

I initially wondered if this would be like a Brock Lesnar-Paul Heyman situation where Taz will do 99 percent of the talking, but Cage (like Lesnar) will speak when he feels necessary, usually when the fiercest feuds reach heightened levels of intensity. Thus far, it appears Taz will be the mouthpiece while Cage speaks through his actions.

Even knowing he’s next in line for a World Championship match, them directly addressing Moxley and telling him Cage is going to “rip your heart out of your chest” just added to the sense that Cage is not to be trifled with. He didn’t need to jump Moxley like Jake Hager (yet) or take physical possession of the title like Brodie Lee (yet); he just looked Moxley square in the eyes as Taz discussed how Cage is going to dismantle Moxley.

A round of applause for Moxley as well. He started by telling commentary, “I’m doing terrible, thanks for asking,” after that physical match against Lee on Saturday. The whole time Taz was talking, he had a sick smile of sadomasochistic pleasure like he knows this match is going to be another test of brutality. Moxley knows his character, and though he doesn’t work for all fans, he’s at least consistent in his presentation.

It’s also refreshing to see AEW is avoiding more comparisons to TNA in terms of World Championship challengers being former WWE wrestlers. Jericho dropped the title to Moxley, who defended against Hager and Lee, all four being recent WWE wrestlers. Cage’s cache, on the other hand, is centered on his being a former Impact World Champion. Unlike how former TNA/Impact World Champions have been treated in WWE, Cage seems poised for a run befitting his accomplishments.

Will their match “sometime this summer” at Fyter Fest be a five-star mat wrestling classic? Probably not. Does it have to be? No. What it most likely will be is another match where Moxley takes an extreme amount of punishment, relishes in the pain, and reciprocates in kind. A good old fashioned slobberknocker is sometimes just what the soul needs.