10 Ups & 1 Down From AEW Fight For The Fallen (Jul 15)
3. Fusing Styles
FTR vs. the Lucha Brothers exceeded as an effective piece of storytelling and seamless fusion of two seemingly divergent tag wrestling styles.
Aesthetically, this thing was a joy. Rather than working super slow and super grindy against the high-flyers, FTR adapted. They still cut off the ring looked to grind Fenix and Pentagon down but the pace was brisk and they even spiked the adrenaline a few times themselves, most notably when Cash Wheeler hit a tope DDT to the outside. They weren't running around hitting Corkscrew Moonsaults, but they did work to the Lucha Brother's clip, showcasing their adaptability.
The story was a hit too - and a good example of 50/50 booking not sucking. FTR shouldn't lose a two-on-two until they face The Young Bucks. Last week's defeat came via miscommunication with the brothers Jackson, not their own shortcomings, so it's fine for them to score the W here. Dax ripping Fenix's mask off before rolling him into a cradle was a smart, creative finish too.
Imagine having this outstanding tag team on your roster for two years and not doing anything with them. Astonishing.