ALL IN 2018: Star Ratings For All 9 Major Matches

3. Kenny Omega Vs. Penta El 0M

Hangman Page Stars II
FiteTV

A slightly messier Kenny Omega mega match than we've become accustomed to, the bone-rattling intensity meant this translated as something raw and unvarnished. It was just the right amount of ugly.

The character dynamic was awesome. The imperious Omega waved away Penta's fearlessness with a pithy slap. Penta then proved this fearlessness by shrugging off crunching V-Triggers to the face by taunting Omega after every sickening moment of impact, laying the foundation of a story in which whomever emerged victorious had to practically kill themselves trying. Penta wrestled with as much studiousness as his trademark sadism, leaning heavily into every creative kick-based counter.

Upping the danger and anxiety in the molten final third, both men kicked out of truly disgusting head and neck-first bumps to an extent that would have veered into the territory of the unbelievable, if it didn't serve the characters so immaculately. Omega is the best wrestler in the world in the universe of Being The Elite; Penta, simply, a hard-as-nails b*stard with the terrifying look and ring presence to back it up.

Omega sold Penta's trademark arm-breaker spot with a gritty authenticity, and recovered to detonate the One-Winged Angel before an awesome moment - Chris Jericho's first non-WWE appearance on US Soil in decades - created yet another indelible memory on a show that will stay with us for some time.

Star Rating: ****1/2

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!