6 Ups & 4 Downs From AEW Dynamite: Fyter Fest (20 July)
1. Brody King Vs. Darby Allin Comes As Advertised
Brody King vs. Darby Allin couldn't fail.
Two guys with fantastic in-ring chemistry who have worked multiple independent matches in the past. Their AEW beef is now well-established, giving them heat heading into Fyter Fest. Stylistically, they are a perfect match for each other: skilled big man vs. skilled smaller man is a classic pro wrestling format and that they both work at a similarly intense clip makes them an excellent pairing, even with everything else removed.
And excellent they were.
This was a fantastic Dynamite opener. Allin bumped like a maniac for Brody, whether being forearmed out of the sky or launched into the barricade. There isn't a better bumper or seller walking this earth at the moment. Hitting the deck at nasty angles and constantly folding his body up to make King's work look even more brutal, he entered another impactful performance.
Not that Brody needs help to look like a beast, though. His caveman style is incredibly compelling, particularly opposite somebody he can ragdoll. The God's Hate frontman swinging Allin around by his belt was a stunning visual. In that spot, and others, Darby looked weightless. The ease with which King was able to throw him around the ring was terrifying.
Credit to AEW, too, for allowing this to be so one-sided. King dominated Allin for the overwhelming majority. Although Darby enjoyed a few comebacks (most notably when using his belt to drag Brody to the outside), the House of Black man looked a class above. The killer finish of Darby barely surviving a countout (stemming from another dangling rear-naked choke) before immediately walking into a devastating-looking Gonzo Bomb hammered this home. This is how you put somebody over.
Add the interesting post-match angle of Miro walking out to save Sting from the Kings of the Black Throne without getting physically involved, and you have triumphant 20-ish minutes of television. The House of Black has never looked stronger.