30 Best AEW Matches Ever (So Far...)

30. The Young Bucks Vs. Eddie Kingston & Penta El Zero Miedo (Dynamite June 30 2021)

This was AEW’s answer to Steve Austin Vs. Dude Love from Over The Edge 1998: a deliriously unhinged blast of a match in which the frenzied machinations of the TV show bled into the in-ring action. If one single AEW match bottled the “feeling”, this was it.

The Young Bucks, so obnoxiously flamboyant that Matt Jackson had taken to wearing what can only be described as a chandelier on his head, had never been better in an AEW setting, or perhaps ever. The fans were desperate for the comeuppance.

The in-ring action itself was white knuckle drama wrestled with flair and danger. In one spellbinding sequence, Nick Jackson kicked Penta several times. He tried to bulldog him and kick Eddie Kingston in the corner at the same time - but Eddie ducked and backdropped Nick’s head onto the top turnbuckle. Penta nailed him with a kick, Kingston quickly followed with a release German suplex, and Matt Jackson only just made the save after Penta completed the combo with a backstabber.

Young Bucks' stooge Brandon Cutler then attempted to mace Penta, who slipped out of Matt’s grasp. Cutler was such an outstanding, terrified imbecile that he simply kept spraying Matt with his legs shaking. He apologised as he did it. It was magic. After Elite Hunter Frankie Kazarian cleared the scene, Penta hit Matt, too busy using ref Rick Knox’s shirt to wipe his eyes, with the match-winning package piledriver.

A goofy, exhilarating riot fusing comedy with state-of-the-art action, this was an inimitably “AEW” match. No other promotion was equipped with the bold audacity to do anything like it.