(Promotion: All Elite Wrestling – Announcers: Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone & Excalibur – Location: Agganis Arena, Boston, MA – Attendance: +/- 6,000 – Date: October 9, 2019)

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Main Card Results

-AEW World Tag Team Championship Tournament (Round One): Private Party defeated the Young Bucks via pinfall.

-Chris Jericho came out to cut an in-ring promo accompanied by Sammy Guevara, Jake Hager, Santana & Ortiz. He announces that the name of the faction is the “Inner Circle.”

-AEW #1 Contender Match: Darby Allin defeated Jimmy Havoc via pinfall.

-RIHO & Britt Baker defeated Emi Sakura & Bea Priestly via submission.

-The Best Friends are interviewed. Orange Cassidy gave a trademark “thumbs up.”

-Jon Moxley defeated Shawn Spears (w/ Tully Blanchard) by pinfall. He was jumped afterward by PAC, who had been a guest on commentary. After, he is confronted by Kenny Omega, who was carrying a barbed-wired baseball bat and a barbed-wired broom. PAC attacked Omega from behind with a chair.

-AEW World Champion Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevara (w/ Jake Hager) defeated Hangman Adam Page & Dustin Rhodes via pinfall. There was a brawl after the match involving the Inner Circle and Cody Rhodes, MJF, Nick & Matt Jackson and Darby Allin.

Observations

-The live audience was absolutely electric during the show introduction. “This is awesome” and other chants were peppered throughout the opening bout.

-The Bucks v. Private Party was exactly what it should have been. It is interesting watching how the Bucks re-tune their take-no-prisoners New Japan/PWG/Super Indy live show style to be appropriate for an sustained run on live weekly television. This match was not only entertaining but appropriate. (I was a bit surprised that the Bucks went out in the first round. However, the overall seeming lack of ego across the board in the company is refreshing. Names like the Bucks and Kenny Omega can afford to eat losses to a certain extent to build the young roster members up.)

-Jim Ross name-checked Primanti Bros. (a local sandwich chain) while plugging the tv taping in Pittsburgh on 10/23.

-Darby Allin. This kid sizzles when he is in the ring. He has that same relatable white trash charisma and daring as that of a young Jeff Hardy. He is going to be a star. (And I love his theme song. More trashy rock that the hardcore punk that inspired his ring name. RIP Darby Crash and GG Allin.

-Allin’s “Coffin Drop” finisher is a mesmerizing maneuver to watch.

-The announce team is excellent. There were a couple times tonight when Schiavone wasn’t quite sure when to step in an opening but otherwise the trio has been terrific.

-I’m curious what the casual fan makes of Orange Cassidy’s “post-modern Fonzie” take on the business.

A real dentist using a real mandible claw? What the hell is happening? –Jim Ross

-Moxley headbutting Tully Blanchard at the beginning of the bout with Spears was a great little touch.

-The Spears/Blanchard pairing is sorta brilliant. It was unexpected yet desperately needed by Spears, who has always felt to missing the tiny piece or two that has kept him from truly becoming a star. Tully Blanchard is a fountain of untapped knowledge and experience who can mentor Spears to big things.

-I love Blanchard’s comfy orthopedic “dad” sneakers.

-The Cleaner with a barbed-wire broom. It’s the little touches like these, the cheekiness without going overboard, that is helps form AEW’s unique identity.

-Schiavone’s observation comparing Hangman Page to Barry Windham was so prescient. An announcer is often working at their best when they say is both obvious, yet previously unnoted.

-And for the record, I would not be upset by an extended tag run for Dustin Rhodes and Adam Page. Not only would Page benefit greatly from Rhodes’ counsel but there is definite chemistry there, as well.

-I’m digging Guevara’s swag walk to the ring. He’s been studying tapes of Conor McGregor.

-While the sobriquet “Inner Circle” feels either a little “indie” or a lot “90s,” it is unquestionably a strong group of performers who, rather inexplicably, makes total sense as a unit. They feel legit from the get-go. Hager is going to excel in the role of the heater of the group. He will surely be a real threat once he goes off on his own in the future.

-I tend to normally enjoy referee Bryce Remsburg’s hammy acting. I’ve been following his career since I first saw him officiate in Cleveland All-Pro Wrestling in late-2005. He is good. Tonight I noticed that he saw Hager in the ring interfering during the main event but he did nothing. There will be growing pains like that as the talent adjusts to working live television.

-The brawl after the bell was hot and left the viewers on a high note. The booking was thoughtful and had both Cody Rhodes and Darby Allin interact with Jericho in anticipation of their respective title matches against the champion, next week and on the November PPV. I do hope, however, that the end of show brawl doesn’t become a “thing,” as that can easily become a crutch.

-Overall, this was a sensational episode of wrestling. This did not feel like the second week of a brand new company. It might have even been better than the first week. The Inner Circle, Darby Allin, Private Party and Jon Moxley all feeling stronger at the conclusion of the show. This, my friends, is what happens when logical booking is combined with quality matches. The fans take notice and bond with the wrestlers.

To be continued…

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