AEW : (A+) Arcade Craziness & American Carnage

In February, the pressure was on AEW to deliver their best pandemic lockdown show of 2021, and in my opinion, they did just that. I criticise the promotion at times like any fan, but I'm also happy to praise them when I enjoy a show. Momentum is king in sports entertainment and things have really been picking up pace lately, with more fans in attendance (though they're following health & safety measures), the much-maligned women's division finally stepping up a level and wrestlers returning from long-term injury to join in with new signings in free agency (all of whom have to prove themselves at AEW).

I think this week was the best AEW episode possible under the circumstances, and it climaxed with an A+ show-stopper that left me speechless (Bleacher Report also rated it A+ so it's not just me).

Here's the bookends (beginning, middle and end), as well as a couple of key plot twists for good measure ...

The show opened with the return to wrestling of Christian Cage against old rival Frankie Kazarian. The controversial Cage has never been one to pull his punches and he was definitely up for the fight, ring-rusty but ready. Kazarian looked to exploit the obvious weaknesses of a veteran who's been out for 7 years. What followed was an old-school, technical wrestling clinic, the likes of which I struggle to see how any wrestling fan wouldn't enjoy.

JR sounded like he loved this one in commentary and it was a hard knocks affair from the whistle. Kazarian came into this match with an 11-0 singles record in 2021, he's the first ever AEW tag-team champion and he's been in scintilating form.

But Cage isn't the Stinger with a baseball bat, he's not Big Show hiding out backstage, and he's certainly not Matt Cardona flexing down the Impact gym with Brian Myers ... I think this return was the best from a WWE old-timer since Matt Hardy arrived to settle some old scores with Chris Jericho. Sure, he missed a few moves, but he made far more than he missed. With physical decay said to now be plagueing the veteran, he wrestled a smart match. It was a gruelling encounter, 17 minutes of pure wrestling in which Cage somehow kicked out of a beautifully executed, top rope flux capacitor.

The crowd applauded both men at the finish and Bleacher Report rated this one A. They get no argument from me.

Team Taz is splintering and QT Marshall's been a constant thorn in the Rhodes Mafia and Gunn dynasty's connected side. With the Inner Circle striking back at the Pinnacle and the Dark Order occupied by Big Money Matt Hardy's takeover of Eddie Kingston's faction, there's a chance for a new alliance to become the top dog in Florida. But did anyone expect to see this?

Jon Moxley insulted the 4 x All-Pro Brazilian tight end Big Cezar Bononi. Moxley delivered a devastating cross-armbreaker that Alberto Del Rio would have been proud of, and finished the big man off with a naked rear end sleeper having countered Bononi's attempted pump-handle sitter. Earlier in the night, Moxley had flipped the bird at 'Baywatch' hunk Bononi, but this wasn't the whole story.

A six-man tag team match was the highlight of the show for some wrestling fans and it may have signalled a new phase for Moxley's career.

Lucha Bros join the Laredo Kid to take on Kenny Omega and the Good Brothers

Big Money Matt Hardy's put a bounty on Tay Conti's head as she's friends with Anna Jay and connected to the Dark Order. It's guilt by association in Hardy's mind. Conti's the fastest-improving talent in the women's division and she has the record to prove it, but the Bunny's been unleashed. Like Christian Cage, the Bunny showed clear ring-rust, but she's only now getting started at AEW and expect (hope!) this feud to run and run ...

There were some special guests at the main event, 'Arcade Anarchy'. Orange Cassidy and Sexy Chucky T came in to music from my joint all-time favourite band, the Pixies (joint with their sister band Throwing Muses), so I was literally in heaven! Best Friends are my favourite team in tag team wrestling today, bar none, and I'm a dedicated Orange disciple - this dude's the James Dean of wrestling.

The Best Man and the Newlyweds were right at home in arcadeville but hadn't planned for a 'Pulp Fiction' wall of weaponry. This is the kind of match to send Jim Cornette apopleptic with rage, his eyes and wallet bulging as he rants. Sometimes, there's no more words to write, only action to take in, and I agree wholeheartedly with the Bleacher Report giving this an A+. Show them the money!