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*I always say The Acclaimed should be big stars for the company, so I was enthused seeing them get the the last entrance and the big reaction from the Wembley crowd live.
*The AEW Tag Team bout was OK. The sequences where the mismatched team members did different finishers together was a cute idea. The Bucks dressed like The Beatles from Sgt. Pepper would have popped my Mom, so it popped me. Rick Knox was out of place a few times, but that's what happens with him. I thought the work was fine, but could do without the "pulling someone out of the ring during a pinfall: deal.
*The Grizzled Young Vets showing up to challenge the Bucks after was a nice twist, but the team them attacking FTR I didn't see coming. Their version of Total Elimination was cool.
*Given the amount of emails I received asking if Kazuchika Okada was going to wrestle today, there are some happy fans seeing him in the Casino Gauntlet.
*The Casino Gauntlet showed the true BOUNTY of great workers the company has. Briscoe, Strong, Zack, Kyle O'Reilly, Okada, etc. but I popped SO HUGE for Nigel McGuinness returning to the ring. That guy has been one of the true class acts and having him as a surprise in front of the UK was a big deal. Nigel facing off with Zack Sabre Jr. and Okada was something we thought never would happened so it was a nice, "whoa!" moment. Once Hangman and Jarrett got the ring, the entire flow changed from great wrestling to a bit more grittiness and fighting. Jarrett got to El Kabong Hangman, so their feud with continue. Christian winning was a bit of a letdown, but the surprises and the wrestling here really ruled. I think this was the best Casino Battl Royal/Gauntlet the company has ever done. Whoever laid this out deserves praise. It was FUN.
*Will Ospreay's entrance with the tumblers and breakdancers and Assassin's Creed tie-in felt like a big deal. That is a BIG game franchise, so AEW got some of that video game money obviously!
*MJF dressing like Apollo Creed cracked me up.
*The streamers getting caught in the production grid - whoops!
*MJF vs. Ospreay was a thoroughly enjoyable 25 minute bout with some good twists, including Ospreay wiping out the camera man with the leaping hidden blade and Daniel Garcia returning to storylines. This was about the UK babyface overcoming the American heel and it was well done. Ospreay, as had been teased, brought back Tiger Driver '91, which Bryan Danielson had told him to do. Lots of really well worked stuff here. Ospreay looked like a star with the belt and all the pyro going off.
*Mercedes Mone's entrance as if she was being carted around like the Queen of England with all the Corgis. Nice touch. Kamille looked totally badass as well.
*Mone vs. Britt was good but it felt like they went to the finish just as they were hitting the next gear, so the finish coming where it did was a little weird. Mone putting on Britt's glove to mock her and try to take her out was a nice touch. Lots of little Eddie Guerrero nods with Kamille getting tossed after Britt laid down and acted like she was nailed with the title belt as well as the Three Amigos. I thought this was solid but it needed a few more minutes that they didn't get here.
*Darby vs. Jack Perry was a solid brawl. If you wanted death-defying spots and weapons, this was for you. Darby looked like a demented Cenobite coming with the thumb tacks glued to his face. Darby is pretty much the closest thing to Mick Foley as Cactus Jack today. You know there's going to be carnage and you know he's not going to have a long career based on that carnage. Sting appearing to make the save was a nice treat for the audience and one has to wonder what his role will be in Texas next year. If you are adverse to the craziness, this was not for you.
*The video for Bryan Danielson and his entrance to "Final Countdown" ruled.
*Hip hop stars Bun B, Flash Garments, and DJ Whoo Kid came out with Swerve. His entrance with everyone dancing looked great on camera.
*Good to see Jim Ross as part of the main event announcing team.
* Bryan took a DVDR on the apron with his head hitting the ring bell. This busted Danielson open. Swerve was real good here, talking to the camera, mocking Bryan and asking why he wanted to "do this" to his family, who were ringside. Swerve worked him over for a long time to set up the comeback and boy were fans HAPPY to chant Yes. Swerve brushed off Danielson's best shot and worked him over, mocking the Yes chant as fans chanted "No." Hangman Page hopped the rail but was grabbed by security and dragged off but that distraction allowing Bryan to nail him with a running knee for a two count. They battled until Danielson scored the submission with the LeBell Lock in about 28 minutes. A very good match with Swerve playing the heavy and Bryan getting all the respect and love. Real damn good.
*Overall, a good showing for the company, which felt like they had some nice momentum from the crowd, the action and the surprises. AEW put their best foot forward here.
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