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

26. MJF Vs. Darby Allin (Full Gear 2021)

MJF had already proven he could “go” before this match - but it was here that, wearing beautiful lilac, he wrestled like a World’s Champion. Stamina, showmanship, the ability to engage the crowd across every second: this was the consummate major league performance.

A lung-bursting display of balletic technical flair, MJF was outstanding in the opening peacocking phase - but he knew he couldn’t be too good. He was the heel. And so, when Darby out-witted him time and again, by timing his ducks and using his superior agility to land on his feet, a flustered MJF simply smashed him with a forearm to the face.

In a match that took the traditional US heat structure, but sped it up and doubled the content, fans didn’t have to wait for MJF to receive his comeuppance. In an awesome spot, perfectly timed, MJF threw Darby back into the ring. He started to trash-talk the fans. By the time he turned around, it was too late: the torpedo that was Darby had flattened him with a suicide dive. This ruled: as funny as it was dangerous as it was well-timed, this was the anti-catch spot. Even the Miz couldn’t have messed it up; Darby left MJF no choice.

The sense of escalation was superb, the big action set-pieces lent it a future main event feel, and the atmosphere was unreal.

This was a major achievement. AEW had just mounted a ridiculous signing spree. MJF and Darby insisted that Tony Khan didn't have to spend millions to secure AEW’s future.