13 Match Star Ratings For AEW Full Gear 2022
11. ZERO HOUR: Eddie Kingston Vs. Jun Akiyama
Tony Khan might be the nicest promoter ever, not to fall into the trap of developing a parasocial relationship with a f*cking billionaire. Usually, when a booker doesn't need a talent for a major role at a certain point, that talent just does nowt for a bit.
Khan awards them a lifelong dream match.
A dream match for many others, but not all, this wasn't just some self-indulgent exercise. For the benefit of those unfamiliar with Akiyama's legend, his jumping knee was sold immediately, via a near-miss, as something that could prove to be Kingston's undoing were he to fail to evade it deeper into the match.
The tentative, respectful struggle gave way to an intense chop battle as both men attempted to prove their dominance over the other. Kingston sought to prove that he was no awestruck fan by chopping Jun into retreat; Akiyama sought to prove that he wasn't some item on a wish-list, to be worked before he's out of order, by drilling Kingston with a DDT on the apron.
From there, the sense of fighting pride and spirit drove a deluge of great work. Wincing chops, an array of head-drop suplexes, stoic no-sell facial expressions: it was a condensed tribute to the King's Road style, but rather than scanning as cosplay, it registered as a greatest hits set by a man worthy of playing them - in reality, and by virtue of his win over royalty, in storylines.
Star Rating: ★★★½