10 Ups & 0 Downs From AEW Dynamite: Fight For The Fallen (27 July)
3. The Triumph Of Team Taz
Everything involving Team Taz was tremendous pro wrestling television. We'll break it into two parts to ensure each component gets highlighted here.
AEW started by airing a sensational vignette featuring Ricky Starks wearing flashy clothes in a flashy house, coming off like a flashy guy (and an 'Absolute' megastar). This preceded his match with Danhausen, who, while wily, was flattened with relative ease. Danhausen scored a couple of pin attempts through his evasiveness but the curse didn't work - and Ricky put him down with the Spear.
Emboldened by this easy win, Starks got on the microphone, opening the door for an immediate open challenge.
Cue: Action Bronson.
Taken aback by stablemate HOOK's arrival but ready to fight nonetheless, Starks was bowled over by an awesome opponent he wasn't prepared for. This was a riot. Short, neat, and tidy, it started with typical HOOK shock and awe into Starks countered out of El Camino. The ensuing Spear wasn't enough. When HOOK reversed the Roshambeaux into Redrum, Starks fought hard, but had no choice but to tap. Taz's son is now FTW World Champion.
A dejected Starks accepted the fistbump from HOOK after the bell. It seems their union remains intact, despite what happened afterwards.
HOOK felt like the biggest deal he has in a while. With his heat tapering off shortly after Hookhausen ceased being a thing, he was overdue another moment in the sun. He got that through a complete performance in a short but exciting match, re-establishing him as one of the most interesting young prospects in wrestling. He and Starks should have a bright babyface future together - assuming they stay together. It's incredible, too, that given how over HOOK still is, Starks didn't come off villainous at all here.
Speaking of which...