10 Ups & 1 Down From AEW Full Gear 2021

9. MJF & Darby Allin: Pillars In Name And Performance

MJF Darby Allin

MJF Vs. Darby Allin was a masterpiece executed to perfection at the absolute perfect time.

In the wake of the arrivals of CM Punk, Bryan Danielson and Adam Cole, AEW told an important story that formalised MJF and Darby as the pillars of a company that didn't have to rely on megastar imports. They were a bonus; a luxury. The execution of the opener earned that lofty, crucial story beat. The pulsating early mat work was incredible in itself and in its establishing crowd psychology. This was the most unpredictable match on the card. The opening sequences, in which both men went hold for superb hold, heightened the theme that both men were perfectly matched.

They were also perfectly opposed as personalities, as expressed throughout a blistering match that never once failed to sell its electrifying pace and vicious physicality. MJF's selling was blow-away great. Every agonised howl was believable, and the sharp pain he experienced in his knee informed every move that he performed subsequently. The Code Red counter and eventual execution was an outstanding and exciting use of narrative progression in particular. The near-falls here were elite-tier.

The finish was yet another tremendous advancement of MJF's chess master persona. In the end, he didn't give a sh*t about breaking Darby mentally. He just wanted to cheat, and win, and set a trap to facilitate his victory. And now the d*ckhead heel can rightly say that he won with a simple, unfashionable throw.

Phenomenal.

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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!