10 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Revolution

4. Skate Or Die

Though the match itself barely hit five minutes from bell-to-bell, Sammy Guevara vs. Darby Allin, as a complete package, was absolutely f*cking outstanding.

This was two livewire lunatics engaging in an early battle for AEW's future at the end of a bitterly personal rivalry. The scrapping began with Allin diving through the ropes onto Sammy and it was pure propulsion from there on out, with 4-5 minutes of big bombing on the outside preventing the bout from officially starting. Sammy and Darby thrashed each other around like madmen. Allin's missed dive was covered extremely well by an announce team that expertly put over that Darby had gotten too carried away. Seconds later, the former EVOLVE ace had his skateboard lobbed in his face before 'The Spanish God' hit a goddamn 630 splash off the top, to the outside, and through a table.

Fans barely had a chance to pick their jaws from their laps, though this was far from a mere spotfest. This was a foot-to-the-floor, hateful war of escalating violence, great character work from both, and incredible pacing. Allin showcased his versatility through an expertly-worked submission sequence in which he twisted and contorted Guevara as if he'd been possessed by Zack Sabre Jr., with added biting! The man's got range.

Chicago standing up in unison for the match-ending Coffin Drop was a heartening sight. Darby is over. He and Sammy are the future of this company and though Allin took the win, this was but the first banger over what should be a multi-year rivalry.