8 Ups & 3 Downs From AEW Dynamite (Feb 17)
2. Riho & Deeb Weave Technical Ecstasy
Serena Deeb vs. Riho was excellent - and another sign of improvement in a division that continues making gradual steps forward in 2021. Make no mistake, progress is here - and this women's tournament rules.
Riho's first AEW match in 11 months was a crafty, technical affair. The duo fought to break parity early on, with Deeb transitioning from limb to limb and hold to hold like Zack Sabre Jr., protecting her pad-covered knee in the process. Held together by a brace, the joint was targeted by Riho, prompting Doc Sampson to check on the NWA Women's Champion during the picture-in-picture.
This flipped a switch in Serena. Increasing her urgency and thunder, she started laying into Riho like the clock was ticking, with Riho's excellent performance from underneath building in-arena support for her comeback. She found her own knee targeted by Deeb from there, as the veteran looked to keep the smaller, faster athlete grounded, and an electric closing stretch saw a kickout from Riho's double-stomp, the Japanese star countering out of Detox, a thrilling exchange of pin attempts, then, finally, a Gedo Clutch for Riho's win.
A razor-sharp, refined match with an evolving, fluid story and targeted limbwork that stayed with the bout from bell to bell, this was great stuff from two of the best in the division.