10 Ups & 1 Down From AEW WrestleDream

6. Eddie Kingston Vs. Katsuyori Shibata Literally Slaps

WD Eddie Kingson Katsuyori Shibata
AEW

Eddie Kingston Vs. Katsuyori Shibata was an unfussy crowd-pleasing sprint elevated by its intoxicating rhythm and mastery of the basics.

It wasn't without the keen attention to detail that elevates AEW, still, above every wrestling promotion on the planet. There are too many titles in AEW, so many that Khan booked two champions to lose at WrestleDream. That is far-from-ideal booking, but few have pointed that out because it's the norm nowadays: Shibata, ROH Pure champion and Hangman Page, ROH World Trios champion, both lost. As did NJPW World TV champion Zack Sabre, Jr., come to think of it.

Khan can't use his best talents without walking backwards into beating a champion, which underscores the problem, but it was pointed out by the wonderful Excalibur that, had the match adhered to Pure rules, Kingston would have ran out of rope breaks.

This defiantly strong style match - and its soulful, hard-hitting brevity - was just joyful. After a macho exchange of chops, Kingston was out-wrestled by Shibata on the mat. This was the core idea of the match; Kingston had to survive Shibata's brutal striking onslaught, but Shibata, dominant, took the piss. This was his undoing; in a wonderful spot, making exquisite use of Shibata's mischievous, cruel streak, he annoyed Eddie with a series of Kawada kicks.

This enraged Eddie, but Shibata ate and no-sold his Uraken finish. Eddie, and he's the best at this, kept fighting - and in a great finish avenged the disrespect by defeating Shibata with his hero's high-stack powerbomb.

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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!