10 Match Star Ratings For AEW All Out

6. Jimmy Havoc Vs. Darby Allin Vs. Joey Janela - Cracker Barrel Clash

Hangman Page Chris Jericho
James Musselwhite/AEW

An absolutely piss-funny and demented hardcore match, obviously, a lot of people were going to despise it. This worked so well because every performer in it knew this, and gave no f*cks.

Joey Janela was wonderful value. Putting himself over as charming masochist, that facial expression he pulled when bantering off the idea of using a tennis racket as a weapon was sublime, bloody hell. He looked like Cornette would look at literally every other point in the match. Darby Allin was a joy to watch, too, absorbing insane punishment to further get over as a marketable wild man. He drove a skateboard covered in thumbtacks into Janela's back in a great hardcore spot brimming with character, but to focus too heavily on the spots does the match something of a disservice.

Janela and Allin (literally) pinpointed Havoc as the most dangerous man in a dangerous match, and aimed to sideline him immediately. He responded by carefully strategising around the lunacy and suffering the least amount of pain. A minor comedy horror masterpiece, this attraction defined AEW's selling point.

Expressive, funny, violent - this wild burst of unregulated creativity was refreshingly different from the studious formula of acclaimed wrestling elsewhere.

Star Rating: ★★★★½

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!