6 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Rampage: New Year's Smash

5. A Fine Opener

Darby Allin and Anthony Bowens put a lot of thought into their match. Or, at least, that's how it came across in execution. Bowens proved to be a neat opponent for Allin, and vice versa. The Acclaimed man is bigger than Darbs, but not too big - that meant both men could bump around for one another without ditching Allin's familiar underdog routine.

Bowens also tried to cheat a ton, which cost him, and the classic never-say-die spirit of Darby helped him rally for the win. Being honest, yours truly really enjoyed this match. It had good pacing, they managed to get Max Caster and Sting involved without making them the focal point, and then the babyface won with his Coffin Drop finish.

Cracking stuff.

Allin and Andrade El Idolo should use this match as a rough template for their own bouts in the near future, and Bowens managed to show that he's capable of more if AEW lets him wrestle as a singles. Saying that, he wasn't the only one you could say that about...