10 Ups & 1 Down From AEW Full Gear 2021

Ups...

10. Buy-In Match Does The Job

Nyla Rose Shida

In a great early spot, Nyla Rose caught Thunder Rosa and Hikaru Shida and attempted what Gorilla Monsoon used to refer to as the "noggin-knocker". The faces countered it when Shida picked Rosa up and assisted her dropkick. Creative stuff that put the face team over without detracting from Rose's monster aura.

Rose was on form in her heat sequence, insisting to the crowd that she was going to help Shida up before flattening her with a lariat and, when Hayter took things over in the ring, biting Shida's head. There's a tendency in AEW to really get into something, and those things are often the same. Head-biting is in now. But Nyla used her great acting skills to get it over.

The heat sequence was just there otherwise as the match slowed to a crawl, but Rosa brought the noise back with her customary fire and creative strikes.

A solid means of promoting the TBS Title tournament and little more beyond the odd spark of imagination.

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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!