8 Match Star Ratings For AEW Revolution
3. Cody Vs. MJF
Cody Vs. MJF was a captivating and mostly very heated match that lulled at times, incorporated a million interesting ideas that threatened to betray the core thrust of the story, and delivered a finish that verged on repetitive and anticlimactic. Had coach Arn Anderson not studied MJF's recent match with Jungle Boy?
As uneven as a hell of a match gets, to put it succinctly.
MJF was tremendous value early - his nasty, hilarious stalling ramped up the heat that Downstait's shoddy live performance cooled off - and his heat segment while spotty was intelligent, charismatic and effective. He drew booming "You sick f*ck!" chants by biting on Cody's injured toe, which was a fantastic touch, but his arm work wasn't as effective. Excalibur tried his best, but MJF hadn't been built as a submission expert. The all-important plight and suspense elements weren't there in the middle phase. In general, a match of that length, with those stakes, felt maybe - maybe - beyond his level of experience.
In the best moment, one that put MJF over as the most evil heel in the company, even the referee allowed Cody one strap of the belt. This was a fantastic touch that highlighted the scope of the character's treachery.
This was far more entertaining than it was intense and hate-fuelled. The tone was electric, if perhaps off. When it soared, it reached its awesome potential. Cody's Great Muta tribute was ace, his use of strategic distraction informed a spot that furthered his aura as a classic, whip-smart babyface, and MJF's crying fit at the finish was committed, earned, and most importantly, fuel for the stipped-up rematch.
The resulting net effect was that of a successful first act on a pay-per-view that didn't require a euphoric resolution in this programme. Not yet.
Star Rating: ★★★¾
Extra quarter of a star without the neck tat.
Genuinely.