10 Outstanding Wrestling Matches That Ended Without Finishers
2. Nick Aldis Vs Cody (ALL IN)
ALL IN was far more than the celebration of independent wrestling it promoted itself as, but the trojan horse reality mirrored the buzz around the initially unfashionable NWA Worlds Heavyweight Championship match between Nick Aldis and Cody.
Not without merit on a card that also promoted Ring Of Honor and New Japan stars, the '10 Pounds Of Gold' had been as rehabilitated as it was ever to going to be under Aldis, but Cody had to work overtime on the sell to convince people why it mattered to him.
Drawing on the belt's history with his Father - as he, in the background, crafted a brand new company to make real his "Wrestling has more than one royal family" mantra - the 'American Nightmare' spoke in grandiose tones about his birthright, then went on to wrestle a match that paid loving tribute to that very legacy.
Rich in contemporary fan service obscured by vintage pro wrestling tropes, the measure of the men was in the meat of the match. Walking a fine tweener line in the build, Cody was emphatically babyfaced by his crowd in Chicago - something the finish magnificently foresaw.
Locking Aldis' legs from a sunset flip attempt was more Ric Flair than Dusty Rhodes, but it was artistic on his own terms. In one grasp, Cody captured everything - his opponent's limbs, the belt he'd longed to hold, and the imagination of an audience ready to receive a mainstream pro wrestling alternative.