10 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Double Or Nothing 2021

Ups...

10. How To Do A Pre-Show Match

Serena Deeb
AEW

The fans were big into Serena Deeb. She was afforded very respectful reception in thanks for her role as an architect of AEW's renewed Women's division.

By the midway portion of her outstanding Buy-In match against Riho, she generated booming chants of "Let's go, Riho" on behalf of her opponent because it turns out that she is just as great at manipulating a crowd as elevating women to her pristine level. Deeb has already become one of the world's standout wrestlers last year. With a crowd to work, she became one of the world's standout workers last night.

This match was awesome. Deeb showed aggression and cast a withering glance towards Riho after evading her dropkick. She blew off the outstretched hand, inciting a slap battle before Riho evaded a back elbow with a more dazzling cartwheel evasion. Pissed at being outdone, Deeb drew the heat by killing Riho's poor knee and using the cables to strangle her neck. Casting a smug look to the crowd, Deeb scraped Riho's face away from hers.

The dynamic established, Deeb and Riho worked a just terrific pro wrestling match, with Deeb using Riho's flexibility to make her submission game look utterly excruciating. Riho's fire rocked the crowd, who popped daft for her forearms, stomps and one disgustingly awesome suplex head-drop, but her exuberance allowed the masterful Deeb to lull her into the maw at the finish. Deeb, diving underneath Riho's lunging knee, applied a single leg crab in one beautiful, fluid, deadly motion. Deeb was surgically attached to that knee, she worked it so well, and she retained the NWA Women's Title by smashing it into the apron before applying the Serenity lock.

Furious, ****+ stuff on a pre-show.

LFG!

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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!