AEW Double Or Nothing: Star Ratings For All 9 Matches

7. SoCal Uncensored Vs. Strong Hearts

DoN Omega
FiteTV

A perfect choice to open the show.

SCU are over as sh*t with this audience because they personify what is so alluring about Independent wrestling. They showed bags of personality in their call-and-response bit before marrying that wonderful d*ckhead charisma with crisp technique and the match layout skills of learned vets who have mastered the game.

It was heartwarming to see CIMA afforded the time and freedom to wrestle at his ageless, timeless best, too. His influence over pro wrestling is vast; his work with the Dragon Gate promotion was proto-everything you see and love now, and this match proved that he hasn't lost his dynamic brilliance. His teammates, largely unfamiliar to the audience, got themselves over with them through stunning, complementary chemistry. T-Hawk's vicious strikes were followed instantly by the lightning-quick timing of El Lindaman's jaw-dropping deadlift power arsenal as this beast sprinted towards a nuts finish.

Regrettably, nobody told Jim Ross that these men were not, in fact, Chinese, which proved distracting and discouraging. In a happy and reassuring development, however, Ross grew in composure throughout the night - as if the wrestling was so good that it sharpened his iron.

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!