10 Ups & 8 Downs From AEW Fight For The Fallen

1. Old School Rules

After stealing the show alongside brother Dustin Rhodes at Double Or Nothing, Cody got his first AEW main event at Fight For The Fallen, as the former 'Dusts joined forces against The Young Bucks.

Most previews had this down as a styles clash, with the Bucks flying all over the place while the more grounded Rhodes boys played bases. That's not what happened. While the opening stage brought flurries of the Jackson brothers' video-game movez, it played out as a smart, methodical southern-style tag, with Dustin playing a masterful face-in-peril.

The Bucks played heels for much of it. They continued their open trollery of Cody's "I need my older brother" spiel by embracing in the ring after taking their opponents out. Later, Nick Jackson spat at 'The American Nightmare' while working his sibling, then mockingly screamed "tag me, Dustin!" from the outside a few minutes later. It was as character-driven as it was old-school.

This is the kind of wrestling the Rhodes family love, much of AEW's audience want to miss, and the company will thrive on if they're able to keep delivering at this level. It was magnificent. Layered without being overly complicated and slow without ever coming close to being too slow, it favoured physicality and perfect psychology over highlight-reel moments, making it another devastating loss for those who still call the Jacksons "spot monkeys."

A bout of finisher theft preceded the finish - the Bucks putting Cody away with the Meltzer Driver. This will prove a divisive match. Some won't like its length and pacing, but those with patience and an eye for detail will be richly rewarded.