IT'S FRIDAY! Let's watch some wrestling!
AEW World Championship Eliminator Tournament Semi-Final Match: Bryan Danielson vs. Eddie Kingston
These two go right at it! Stiff strikes and physical exchanges on the mat. Danielson seemingly has the edge, which frustrates Kingston. Kingston starts to target the neck of Danielson to take over. Danielson is able to weather the storm and was able to catch Kingston while he's on the top and hit a back suplex.
Danielson lights Kingston with strikes but Kingston starts to fight back too! This is a fight! Kingston hits a backfist but collapses with exhaustion. Crowd on their feet! Kingston crawls for the cover but gets caught in a Triangle Choke! Elbows to Kingston's head. A middle finger from Kingston as he goes out! Referee calls it! What a battle between these two! Loved it! ****1/4
Tony Schiavone backstage with CM Punk. Punk is excited for Halloween and to be in Boston. Kingston is heard screaming off camera about the referee calling for the bell. He gets in Punk's face as officials back him off. Punk is disappointed in Kingston. Like every Kingston segment, this felt real. Kingston gets it.
Commentary reacts to the action of Kingston and we see Chris Jericho (who is on commentary) has a ridiculous white wig on. I have no idea who he is dressed as.
Matt Sydal vs. Dante Martin
Leo Rush comes out with Dante. Dante is in all white gear with some black while Leo Rush is in all black. Storytelling? Sydal and Dante start off with some nice counter-for-counter exchanges with Dante coming off with the winning edge.
Sydal takes over for a few, thanks to his experience but Dante is quick to take it back with her superior quickness. Dante hits a standing double stomp to Sydal's chest. By that I mean Dante jumped straight up and landed his feet on a standing Sydal's shoulders and chest. INSANE!
Sydal keeps getting openings and eventually goes for the Lightning Spiral but Dante flips out of it. Cutter and a Double Jump Moonsault by Dante and he wins it! Great showing by Dante here and Leo Rush added a lot as the manager ringside. ***3/4
Mark Henry with Britt Baker, her crew and Abadon for split screen promos. Abadon spits up blood and acts spooky. Britt isn't worried because she has zombies of her own (Rebel and Jamie Hayter are made up with face paint). This was a segment... yeah....
Trick or Treat Match: Britt Baker vs. Abadon
Abadon is "spooky" so Britt immediately gets weapons. They fight to the apron and Baker hits a swinging neckbreaker on Abadon on to a table. But it's a Japanese table. Suplex on the table but it's still Japanese. These poor women.
Abadon introduces thumbtacks to the match. A great shot of Baker looking terrified calling back to her match with Thunder Rosa. Abadon slams her in the tacks for a near-fall.
Baker gets a chair and Sabu-ed it at Abadon. Wraps it around her head and a stomp by Baker on the chair. Abadon gets back up as Baker gets the glove for Lockjaw. Superkick and a superkick with tacks in Abadon's mouth. Lockjaw but Abadon bites Baker's hand. Jamie and Rebel distract Abadon and Baker rolls her up.
FUCK THIS MATCH! First off, I am not a fan of the Abadon gimmick because it just doesn't fit in AEW. Maybe Lucha Underground or CHIKARA but not here. Baker looks unable to beat this stupid gimmick and gets a fluke win when she is the face of the women's division. Who is Tony trying to protect? Abadon is never going to be a draw. Baker already is. Sort your shit out, Tony. I loved the Halloween match on Dynamite. This was garbage! 1/2*
We were so close to an all time classic episode of Rampage. Danielson vs. Kingston was fantastic and a match worthy of PPV. Dante vs. Sydal was a great match that did a lot to elevate the young wrestler and Kingston and Punk's argument made me excited to see what they do next. And then we got to the main event. It was a nothing match with some crazy spots that were wasted in a match that no one is going to remember because Abadon isn't going to be anyone special in AEW. I'm sorry, I am sure she is a nice girl but that gimmick is trash, and in my mind, AEW should be past these stupid gimmicks that this point.
For more thoughts and opinions, follow me on Twitter @AlexKalil
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