12 Ups & 5 Downs From AEW Dark (Oct 27)

11. Matt Sydal vs. Lee Johnson

Matt Sydal Lee Johnson
AEW

A match designed to showcase Matt Sydal's continued aggression and the submission-based style he has been emphasising in recent weeks was helped by Lee Johnson, the best of Dark's enhancement crew.

Opening grapples eventually gave way to bigger bombs when Sydal dropped Lee on his shoulders and neck with a snap side slam. The pace picked up as things progressed, before Sydal started tying Johnson in knots on the mat, taking the W via modified cobra clutch.

A relatively competitive bout, this, but Johnson is very, very good, so it works.

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Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.