7 Ups & 5 Downs From AEW Fyter Fest 2021 Night 2

1. Lance Archer Wins The Big One

Lance Archer
AEW

It took Lance Archer a long, long time to get here, but finally, after high-profile losses to Jon Moxley, Cody Rhodes, and more, the monster has won the big won.

Archer took NJPW's IWGP United States Championship in a brutal Texas Death Match with Mox last night. This was a nasty, ugly fight, the likes of which have built AEW's blood and guts reputation, with Lance busted open after a Paradigm Shift on concrete in the first few minutes. Moxley carved the bigger man up with a fork, tried to Pillmanize his knee, and revelled in the bloodshed. Tables, chairs, and kendo sticks all became involved. Deathmatch Mox targeted the wound - he bit it.

And he still lost.

Hoisted from his own petard in the end, Moxley was driven through two tables that he had set up, topped by barbed wire boards of his own placement. That he was unable to answer the 10-count had as much to do with the punishment as entanglement: Jon was too tied up in the violence to physically escape.

Hikuleo stepped up as Archer's first IWGP US Title contender, having watched much of the show from the crowd. An interesting defence for next week that won't shoot for the hellfire Dynamite closed on last night.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.