7 Ups & 4 Downs From AEW Dynamite: Quake By The Lake (10 Aug)

3. Blood, Guts & Coffins

Brody King and Darby Allin's coffin match came with the same brutal, bellicose energy as their first AEW encounter and added pro wrestling theatrics to the mix, as it should have.

The opening half was as violent as expected. King was busted open almost immediately, his skin pierced by the tacks on Allin's skateboard. The crimson streaming down his black and white corpse paint made for an incredible visual that lasted the duration of the match, making the House of Black's powerhouse look even more terrifying in his role as the horror movie monster.

King's caveman offense once again looked great against Darby, who bumped like crazy. His chops hit as hard as anything else in the match. For all its smoke and mirrors, Big Bad Brody's big bad assault was one of the bout's most compelling components.

The remainder of the match was pure theatre. The House got involved after cutting the lights, beating Darby down. When Malakai Black opened the coffin, out popped Sting, sporting a black ring around his eye from Malakai's mist. Darby had his pathway back into it - and capitalised by hanging Brody from the apron by his own chain, mirroring the incredible battle royal elimination. Unconscious, the monster toppled down into the casket, the lid shutting on impact.

That's how you kill a monster.

And that's how you deliver a great sequel to a great first match that takes established foundations and builds something new.