5 Count: December 16-31, 2024
1) Will Ospreay vs Darby Allin (AEW Dynamite 12/18/2024) Continental Classic Match. Winner: Darby Allin. There is a growing consensus in the wrestling intelligentsia that Ospreay is the greatest wrestler in the ring today and shortlisted for the greatest ever. It's not a hard argument when you look at his 2024, each AEW PPV since his arrival has been banger after banger. He's athletic, physical, a good promo in rough around the edges way, and a true connection to with the crowds. Objectively, its a pretty open and shut case, but yet...but yet..for some reason I can't whole heartedly love this guy. I see it, I gasp once or two times at every one his matches, but I don't completely feel him.
The main issue I think is I want to see Will dominate some opponents. Not every match has to be a G1 classic, but that is his style in AEW. Partly becasue he was a main eventer from the start in AEW and has worked primarily in the upper card. Part of it his generous nature in giving his oppenents alot. All to be applauded, but I think it detracts his character. MJ was great not just for those buzzer beaters, but also for dropping 40 plus points and running the other team off the court in a blowout. I'll put it this way--when I watch the other top male wrestlers in AEW: Mox, Swerve, Hangman, Omega or MJF--there is a feeling, perhaps not a rational feeling since this is scripted, but a feeling nonetheless that they can take out their oppenent in minutes; they could walk to the ring and one Paradigm Shift, Buckshot Lariat, Housecall later and it will be all over. With Ospreay, its always gonna be a Tarkovsky flick...I'll be impressed, but I know I am going to be here for awhile. I don't mean that he needs a run of squashes, but one Kenny Omega/Sonny Kiss moment would go a long way.
That's why I was excited for this match. You cannot go 50-50 with Darby-it kills his whole gimmick. Darby is outsized, but wrestles without fear for himself or others. He has to be the underdog. Now in this match you could say it was a classic give and take Ospreay affair--alot of counter exchanges including Ospreay reversing a Code Red into a Hidden Blade (GASP!) and then Darby turning an Ospreay Tiger Drive into a successful Code Red. However, this was a match of Will's aggressive offense vs Darby's aggressive defense. Will was throwing bombs while Darby was going for interceptions and trying to run them in for a pick six. Ospreay's offense got nastier-wrist-held hard chops and an ungodly Styles Clash to the floor (GASP-THIS IS THE WILL I WANT). Allin survives tho and had one last desperation play in him--reversing the Stormbreaker into Scorpion Death Drop and then coffin drop for the win! Will may have lost, but what's that tingling in my heart? Rating: HOT ROCKS 64-71 (all killer no filler).
2)Satoshi Kojima(c) vs. Ultimo Guerrero (MLW Holiday Rush 12/24/24) MLW World Heavyweight Title Match. Winner: Kojima. This was one of my favortie matches of the year. Just two old warriors battlin' each other for 10 minutes. Hard chops, punches, and shoulder blocks--just goin at it. There was a moment when Kojima withstood a clothesline, Guerrero went to the ropes for another, but Kojima knocked him down with one of his own. Kojima just stood there arm out and vibrating-just gunslinger shit. Guerrero got back into it with back to back avalanche face buster and power bomb, but Kojima rose again and landed that signature lariat. This was not flawless match but it's perfect wrestling. Rating: Roast
3)Dalys La Caribeña vs Lady Maravilla (XLL 12/29/2024) Bull Terrier Match. Winner: Dalys La Caribeña. The debut episode of XLL-a lucha indie taking over the now defunct Big Lucha. This was the lesser type of dog collar match-the hit the four corners kind. In the ring, it was pretty decent, two vets going hard--sloppy but stiff enough to look good. Dalys had to work against both her opponent and an apparaently crooked or incompent ref to pull off the victory. When this match movedo outside the ring, it was a hell of lot of fun--plenty of audience particpation whether the crowd was ready for it or not. Maravilla pulled one kid out of their chair to throw it at the head of Dalys. Then Maravilla tossed her four rows back to the absolute terror of a very young child who immediately started bawling. After a tad too long spot with Maravilla trying to get more blood out of a busted open La Caribeña – Dalys regained control by power bombing Maravilla onto an unprepared middle aged man in the audience. Loved it! Rating: Rocks
4) Nicole Matthews vs. Megan Bayne vs. Viva Van vs. Sandra Moone vs. Amira (Defy Blueprint 12/29/24) Five Way Match. Winner: Viva Van. A good showcase of indie's women's wrestling talent. Bayne was a surprise participant in the match, and was definitely the standout; not just for her physical stature and presentation, but also for her in-ring ability. She showed off her power with a simultaneous backdrop/fall away slam on Moone and Amira and then later with that leaping lariat. Moone and Amira teamed up in the match--making sense since both are plucky babyfaces; Moone more technical and Amira the under sized powerhouse. Between the two, I am really interested in Amira-she's still relatively green, but wrestling regularly for Portland indies, Prestige, DOA and POW (where she is the champ). She's got a great crowd connection and instantly credible look. Imagine hugger-era Bayley with the Angle-esque athletic build of an amateur wrestler.Nicole Matthews provided the needed vet leadership in the multi-person match, working her roughhouse style . Perhaps the least impressive was the victor, Viva Van. I've watch her this year wrestle in CMLL and AEW(where it is rumored she has been signed) and seen her live at past Defy events and despite a good look and decent entrance-her ring work has been pretty forgettable-especially compared to her competitors. Maybe I'm just blinking at the wrong time. RATING: ROAR
5) ELPIDA (Rising HAYATO (c) -& Yuma Anzai) (c) vs. Kento Miyahara & Ryo Inoue (AJPW New Year's Eve 2024, 12/31/24) All Asia Tag Tile Match. Winner: ELPIDA. Helluva battle here with ELPIDA getting one last big win to cap their great 2024 especially Yuma Anzai. Anzai is the future face of the place and easy to see why. He's got those Prom King/High School QB looks--handsome, slim but muscular build, great height and good hair--easy to see why he got such a great push in 2024. HAYATO is his perfect completement; the drama club heartbreaker--deadpan, pretty and androgyous—maybe he will write you poem or maybe he'll show a dead transient in the field. His style is an odd but successful mix of Orange Cassidy and Jeff Hardy.
On the other side, we have young undersized, but scrappy Inoue and, perhaps the greatest working wrestler alive in Miyahara. Similar to Kenny Omega, Miyahara's mere presence means you might be something special. He oozes charisma—got that Mark Harmon Summer School vibe --pickng up divorcees at the parent conferences—he's not going to be your new dad, but he will make your mom feel like a woman again.
This match was showcase for all four men. Inoue taking it head on to his opponents– nice stiff forearms and KENTA-style kicks to chest. Anzai shaking off those big hits to come in with flying forearms into the corners and those deadly high knee strikes. HAYATO flying feet first for those shotgun dropkicks and leveling over hand chops. Then Miyahara just doing what he does-mastering the pacing--going from brawling and head buts to lightning speed strikes. This was physical and fast--not a wasted moment or move. RATING: ROAST