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

7. Sting & Darby Allin Vs. Young Bucks (Revolution 2024)

Beyond the unadulterated insanity of what was a true Death match, Sting and Darby Allin Vs. the Young Bucks was as pure as pro wrestling gets. This was so unreal that it was thought the feeling had been restored.

Darby’s unhinged fall through a pane of sugar glass informed the drama of the match immeasurably. Also, what a visual: the million specks of blood that materialised on his body were superficial, only a significant risk in the event of infection. But your wrestling brain told you something else. Your wrestling brain told you: Darby was dead!

Leaving Sting alone in there was the perfect decision. It was his moment, but with the face paint flaking and his breathing heavy, he made you feel like it wasn’t.

This was perfect pro wrestling, intersecting the big-bumping madness of a party match with the most agonising emotional weight.

The Bucks, were outstanding at creating movement for Sting, and were at their old, transgressive brat best in kicking the heads off Ricky Steamboat and Ric Flair. Beyond their unrivalled ability to structure an exciting twist-heavy match, the Bucks built their brand by disrespecting pro wrestling royalty. Retiring a legend was the match they were born to work. It was, distressingly, how they got over in the first place.

A wrestler always goes out on their back, too, or at least, that’s the romanticised notion. You wanted your hero to win - and how cool was it that you could even root for a hero as a millennial husk? - but he wasn’t going to.

They didn’t win; Sting did, and it was beautiful.

Twin Peaks: The Return; Mad Max: Fury Road; David Bowie’s Blackstar: add ‘AEW Sting’ to the list of precious, impossible, late career magic.