It’s week 24 of the combat sports style scorecard scoring the Wednesday night Wars. We continue with the no fans wrestling, Brum has been really busy, I’m still super unmotivated by this situation and have thrown my energy into creating Match of The Day style highlights for a Football Manager Draft game so again we have OG reviewer Matt Connolly to thank for getting this out! As is tradition his opinions will be first.
Overall scores are NXT 10-9 AEW with 4 draws.
Form Guide:
Week 23 - AEW by Split decision
Week 22 - AEW by Knockout.
Week 21 - NXT by majority decision
Week 20 - NXT split decision
Week 19 - AEW unanimous decision.
1. KENNY OMEGA VS TRENT --- BOBBY FISH VS VELVETEEN DREAM
Matt: Really good opener on AEW. These two had a good encounter in NJPW a few years back for the US strap. Both Men really going for it and Kenny struggling to get it done in the time limit only helps Trent. Was nice having a splattering of wrestlers at ringside too in terms of some sort of atmosphere. NXT had a solid opener and continued the Dream chase for the gold. Not really too much to say about it though. AEW with the easy first round win.
AEW 10-9 NXT
Brum: Apologies if my reviews are a bit concise this week. Work is chaos. Though I should probably be happy I still have work in these mad times.
Anyway, 2 strong matches to kick off both shows. Nice seeing Fish in singles action but preferred Omega Trent overall. My main criticism is how Tony pronounces “winged” as a 2 syllable word.
10-9 AEW.
JCH: Kenny Omega vs Trent was too long for a non fans match. I love Bobby Fish and I thought this match was actually good. Easy win for NXT
NXT 10-9 AEW
2. ANNA JAYE VS HIKARU SHIDA --- DEXTER LUMIS VS JAKE ATLAS
Matt: AEW put on a solid enough encounter here. Shida is one of the main players in their Women's division and keeping her warmed up makes sense. I love the look of Dexter Lumis. The stuff I saw of him in TNA was alright too. Shame that someone with the fanfair of Jake Atlas was just used as a jabroni here but he will have his chance in the future no doubt. Also quite controversially enjoyed Sam Roberts on Commentary and his putting over of Lumis helps NXT take the round.
NXT 10-9 AEW. 19-19
Brum: Surprised to see Atlas used as enhancement after his BOLA performances. However, you can't push everyone at once and due to the nature of his character, early losses won't hurt him down the line. I like the Lumis character. I’m not sure what mileage it has but that’s nothing to worry about at the moment.
I like Shida but didn’t really get anything from this match. NXT square things up.
10-9 NXT. 19-19 so far.
JCH: Dexter Lumis is back! Where has he been for the last, I don’t know 9 months? Shida was in the other match though so AEW win this one. Go Shida. Loved Cody talking about her excellent social media as well.
AEW 10-9 NXT. 19-19
3. LANCE ARCHER VS MARKO STUNT + JAKE 'THE SNAKE' ROBERTS PROMO --- WOMENS GAUNTLET: SHOTZI BLACKHEART VS DEONNA PURAZZO VS XIA LI VS AALIYAH VS KAYDEN CARTER VS DAKOTA KAI
Matt: I know it hasn't been everyone's cup of tea but I'm willing to let this Archer stuff play out. He's huge and has a fantastic mouth piece. On paper that's an old school combination I want to get behind. His disposal of Runt Stunt was as enjoyable as a squash can be in my opinion and I'll never say no to another storytime segment with Jake either. The Women's second chance gauntlet was entertaining enough and Shotzi Blackheart gets a huge rub. The right winner too. I just failed to care about the stream of no marks who Shotzi beat on her way to the final two. AEW had less ring time but was more effective for me.
AEW 10-9 NXT. 29-28 AEW
Brum: Thoughts on the gauntlet match:
- I loved that seated cattle mutilation that Shotzi uses!
- I'm struggling to imagine what they could do with Aliyah to make me interested in her? Maybe if she's accompanied by a 1996 Robbie Fowler?
- Did commentary call Io “Asuka”?
- The Dakota finisher looked pretty poor.
- I've tried not to focus too much on the lack of crowd in these reviews, but this match really missed it. Shotzi's plight would have felt more real with the crowd rallying behind her. I do like Shotzi. She is not the tightest wrestler but her pluckiness makes you want to support her.
Lance Archer is supposed to be a dark bad ass but he's wearing bright flashy pink pants; the biggest noob haircut you've ever seen; and comes out to the worst entrance music in wrestling history. Why can’t he just fuck off & join Coal Chamber rather than polluting a wrestling ring?
10-9 NXT. 29-28 NXT so far.
JCH: Now I’m not the biggest Lance Archer fan, but I loved seeing him beat up Marko Stunt. Stunt was great in this as well. Playing his role perfectly. A Really good segment. Also a good showing from Shotzi in NXT and Dakota deserves ‘The big Takeover spot’ I think though for getting me to enjoy Lance Archer and Marko Stunt that AEW takes this one.
AEW 10-9 NXT. 29-28. AEW
4. 8&9 VS THE NATURAL NIGHTMARES --- JOAQUIN WILDE VS KUSHIDA
Matt: A nothing tag encounter from AEW here. I'm quite sad the Dustin seems to now be right to the bottom of the card in this going nowhere tag team. He showed against Cody last year that with some meat to chew he can be a fantastic performer still. Kushida is just my boy but Roberts again on point on Comms arguing that so far it's all hype and he needs gold to prove the point. Wilde makes people look good and did so here in a fun five minutes. NXT comfortably taking this round.
NXT 10-9 AEW. 38-38
Brum: Joaquin Wilde is now furious that Lance Archer has taken away his throne of “Twattiest Attire on a Wednesday Night Wrestling Show”. He must look at his helmet & think how is it possible to look a bigger knobend than this? Poor padawan, you have so much to learn from Archer & his grebo ways. KUSHIDA is good at wrestling.
Does the Dark Order storyline feel like we're missing an act? It’s like this bullying of the minions should come later after we've seen a dominant streak from the faction. I can’t believe I’m saying this but I think I preferred them before Brodie turned up. This match did nothing for me.
10-9 NXT. 39-37 so far.
JCH: Dustin and a few jobbers vs a match with Kushida. Easy win. Dark Order are crap. Bring me more Brodie Lee eating steak please.
NXT 10-9 AEW. 38-38.
5. CODY & DARBY ALLIN VS SAMMY GUEVARA & SHAWN SPEARS --- KEITH LEE VS DAMIEN PRIEST VS DOMINIC DIJAKOVIC
Matt: AEW spinning the wheels somewhat here by going Teddy Long and tag match playa! for their main. It was fine enough but was just a little taster for the singles matches we are going to get in the coming weeks. The triple threat on NXT was a worthy main event that obviously suffered from the lack of a crowd. Super athletic and all that but lets move on from Dijakovic in this scene. NXT wins because the stakes added a higher level of excitement.
NXT 10-9 AEW 48-47 NXT
Brum: Tough one to grade here. NXT had the better wrestling match (whatever that means) but I liked the AEW storytelling more. Darby continues to be a delightful madhead. I’m struggling to pick so will sit on the fence.
10-10. 49-47 so far.
JCH: Shawn Spears was quite entertaining here, bartering with Guevara. The Big Lads match was better, but it felt such a letdown compared to what it could have been. A disconsolate JCH gives this the rare 9-9
AEW 9-9 NXT. 47-47
6.JON MOXLEY VS JAKE HAGER HYPE PACKAGE + DARK ORDER VIGNETTE + CHRIS JERICHO & VANGUARD PACKAGE + YOUNG BUCKS PACKAGE --- MALCOLM BIVENS ENTERPRIZES INTERVIEW + RHEA RIPLEY VS CHARLOTTE FLAIR HYPE PACKAGE + JOHNNY GARGANO VS TOMASSO CIAMPA HYPE PACKAGE + JOAQUIN WILDE KIDNAPPING
Matt: Loads to unpack on AEW. I'm fine with Moxley/Hager. Think it could surprise a few actually. Dark Order are in murky waters here. I did enjoy this week again but let's knock the cheap digs on the head now. Young Bucks getting in the zone was fine but the real star Promo of th week comes from Jericho. So many fantastic moments here. The wearing of Jeans, the kids T short for Vanguard. Releasing the hounds. Stupid wrestling madness that has to surround Hardy if it's going to work. NXT didn't have quite the same substance. More build for some of their top feuds is alright I guess. Wilde getting kidnapped has me interested even if the actual segment was a bit crap. Bivens was fire on the mic in the time he was allowed and I am really hoping that his stable continues to add bodies. AEW take this round easily.
AEW 10-9 NXT.
Brum: It’s ridiculous that the best feud of the Covid Aggression Era is Jericho vs a drone.
10-9 AEW.
JCH: Bivens was good here, but Jericho takes the points for feuding with a drone. The sad part being I’d rather see that than a Matt Hardy promo. Enough to take it this week for AEW
AEW 10-9 NXT
Overall
Matt: A big old draw. Both shows had their moments. Not really hot takes but solid outings for both.
NXT 57-57 AEW
Brum: My scoreline gives the nod to NXT by a solitary point but not sure if my overall ranking would be the same. Neither were poor shows but I wasn’t crazy into either. Shotzi was probably the MVP so it’s maybe fair that her side won.
59-58 NXT.
JCH; Another week goes by, thanks so much to Matt for this week. I’m really struggling to watch these shows. Hopefully on of them pauses soon, so we can as well!
AEW 57-56 NXT
The winner is……a split draw. AEW just fails to level up the overall scorecard as this week ends in a draw. Maybe next week!
OVERALL SCORECARDS
NXT - 10 (by split decision - 5, by majority decision -3, by unanimous decision - 2)
Draw -5 (3 majority draws, 2 split draw)
AEW - 9 (by majority decision - 3, by unanimous decision -2, by split decision - 3, By Knockout - 1)
INDIVIDUAL SCORECARDS:
JCH: NXT - 11; Draw - 3 AEW - 10
Brum: NXT - 10; Draw - 5; AEW - 9
Matt C: NXT - 5; Draw - 2; AEW – 6
Ross : NXT - 3; Draw - 1 AEW - 1
DVD: NXT -0; Draw - 1; AEW - 1
Sal NXT - 0; Draw - 0; AEW - 3
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