9 Match Star Ratings For AEW Fyter Fest

1. John Moxley Vs. Joey Janela - Non-Sanctioned Match

Moxley Stars 2
Fite TV

Jon Moxley found that match less painful than the WWE creative process.

A disgusting visual metaphor for a totally bonkers year, this was also a totally bonkers match fought with intensity and conviction and character, at a deliberate pace. That pace, and the early gore, combined to create the impression that they'd either peaked, or weren't going to. That was until Janela careened off a shaky ladder, elbow-first into the heart of Jon Moxley and through a table. The pace instead informed a theme of lurching, compelling dread, as the horror of what they might put one another though next drove the anxious drama. Janela did spike it briefly when blasting Moxley through a table with a lightning-quick Russian leg sweep in a quality jump scare spot.

Moxley recovered to retrieve a bucket full of thumbtacks. Two bags. The first, he used to spike Janela's bare feet, which Janela sold brilliantly, just under the level of cartoonish, to put it over as essentially one of the most painful things one could ever endure. The second saw Moxley spike Janela skull-first into the spikes. This match was vile, beautifully vile, and Moxley put himself through harrowing punishment to position Janela, alien to the mainstream, not too far removed from his level.

A psychotic spectacle that added significantly to the unhinged aura of both winner and loser.

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!