9 Match Star Ratings For AEW Fyter Fest

6. CIMA Vs. Christopher Daniels

Moxley Stars 2
All Elite Wrestling

A very solid effort contested by two game veterans, CIMA and Christopher Daniels acted their age, in a neat psychological touch, by training their respective assaults on and selling the damage inflicted to their backs.

An authentic and gritty match that perhaps wasn't the best option for a hot opener, there was still much to admire. Daniels and CIMA exchanged submissions at the midway point, the escape attempts from which saw both men reach out very slowly to the ropes. This manipulated the crowd into a rising buzz, framed the parity of the dynamic, and generally accomplished something with little, as expected from two battle-worn craftsmen. The pace felt at odds with its slot on the show - the cracking six-man sprint of Double Or Nothing was more successful in capturing the crowd - but while it meandered, the finish arrived at precisely the right time.

Saving their bombs until last - preserving their bodies and the peak of the match - CIMA won out after blasting Daniels with a barrage of moves that still look just awesome and vital, all these years on.

Star Rating: ***

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!