Fyter Fest happened live on Saturday June 29, 2019 and was AEW’s second real venture (joint with CEO Gaming) and streamed for free on Bleacher Report Live.
Ever since the announcement of AEW, I’ve been pretty excited to see what was going to happen, so I decided I’m going to give you an in depth look at all of the events AEW does – starting with Fyter Fest! A couple notes going in: I have really only ever watched the WWE and I know very little about many of the competitors in AEW. So that means my opinions may be the furthest thing from the truth, but, this is Opinions Anonymous, and these are MY opinions! So buckle up, everyone, you’re in for a treat.
Background
As I mentioned, this was the second event from the real “AEW”. I’m not counting All In because it was prior to the organization starting and it featured a lot of non-AEW people and titles. The first event was Double or Nothing, which was headlined by Chris Jericho vs. Kenny Omega to fight in a match to crown the first ever AEW World Champion. Jericho won and then Jon Moxley (formerly WWE’s Dean Ambrose) debuted and wrecked everyone.
The Pre-Show
BEST – First of all, the pre-show started at 7:30 and the first match started at 7:33 – so we didn’t waste any time and we got right into the wrestling, that’s what I LOVE!
BEST – but before that, somehow we got one of the best things in the world. Remember this guy and this meme?
That’s Andy King – the guy who said he was willing to suck some dick to make sure the Fyre Festival still went as planned. Well, AEW spoofed it and it was GREAT!
Okay, let’s get to some wrestling.
BEST – The 6 man tag between Best Friends (Chuck Taylor and Trent Beretta), SoCal Uncensored (Scorpio Sky and Frankie Kazarian) and Private Party (Isiah Kassidy and Marq Quen).
I thought this was a great match and a huge showing for Private Party. They certainly appeared to only be here to take the pin (which they did) and were the third best team involved. Just take a look at this sequence below. The match was full of this!
There were also chants for all three teams at different points during the match which always helps. A hot crowd and a hot match to kick off the pre-show.
BEST – Also a best – The Dark Order coming on at the end and threatening the winners, Best Friends. I love a good stable and The Dark Order seems interesting enough to keep me coming back. Overall, great stuff!
Then another spoof of Fyre Fest, which was great. They took a couple of the models away because they were bleeding money. The Young Bucks talking about how they were promised a private jet – but got economy. They were promised villas but got tents….THE SAME TENTS FROM THE DOCUMENTARY. Love it!
WORST – The next segment was setting up for Leva Bates vs. Allie – and the set up was fine; however, the announcers kept mentioning that if we are following along with Being the Elite – which I wasn’t! This is new – we need a little more detail. So apparently there are two librarians, which is a fine gig, but I was more confused than anything.
Overall, I thought the women’s match between Leva Bates and Allie was a little raw. It was obvious ahead of her showdown with Brandi Rhodes, that Allie was going to take this one. I think Leva Bates needs some development and should get it – this wasn’t bad. It was nowhere near the WWE garbage in the early 2000s, but it also wasn’t as great as I know women’s wrestling can be.
The third match on the pre-show was a Hardcore Match between Michael Nakazawa and Alex Jebailey. Alex Jebailey is the CEO of CEO Gaming and organizer of all of the gaming events – so definitely not a wrestler.
The match was sufficient and did what it needed to do. It wasn’t too much and it wasn’t way overboard – so I was fine with it. Overall, though, I’m going to give this a WORST – not because it was awful, but because I just don’t know that it was needed. On this show, sure, because it was AEW x CEO but I don’t want CEO’s getting involved. There’s a reason I hate WWE.
One BEST though for Jebailey taking a little bump.
That’s it for the Pre-Show – now it’s time for Fyter Fest!
BEST – before the main show, JIM FUCKING ROSS was introduced and came down to commentate. It’s just nice to hear a familiar voice that I know and love and Jim Ross is very skilled.
Fyter Fest kicked off with SoCal Uncensored’s third man – Christopher Daniels vs. Cima from Strong Hearts. This was brought up as a 20 year history between two veterans and it was a fine opener for the main show. It was nothing flashy or exciting, but it was relevant. I will say a huge BEST for Cima as he was selling his ass off….ON OFFENSE! His back was hurt and he sold the entire match. This is great. It’s a minor point, sure, but it’s super important.
Two other BESTS, 1.) Jim Ross through it to Excalibur with every intro and asked him to detail the wrestler and detail the rivalry. I think this is imperative for a new show and new watchers (like me). This was very helpful! And 2.) They mentioned that the winners would get a larger share of the purse for the show – so they are actually giving a little motivation for two wrestlers who could be fighting just to fill the card. At least now we know that wins mean more because they at least get more money. I love it. Give me details like that!
BEST – Nyla Rose vs. Riho vs. Yuka Sakazaki was a great triple threat. Sometimes, shows can go overboard with their multi-(wo)man matches, but I think it worked for this match. The reason is because Nyla Rose would destroy each of these invidiuals in a one-on-one match; however, a triple threat match can open up many possibilities.
Two great moments were when Nyla Rose caught Riho and then Yuka Sakazaki went up and jumped AND NYLA CAUGHT HER TOO! And then Nyla did….this:
Nyla lept up to the top rope right before this. A bigger women that is super agile. I think the potential is there – but it’s tough to book someone so dominant. Triple threat matches are probably the right way to go, but she shouldn’t take the pin. The match got this is awesome chants; well deserved. It was a great match between these three women and the storylines are endless. After the match, Nyla got some of her heat back by attacking Riho – then Yuka Sakazaki made the save…but instead of a feel good moment, Riho shoved Sakazaki down before leaving. This opens the feud up in both ways for Riho and gives some character developments for all three women. WRESTLING!
The fatal four way match between Adam Page, Jimmy Havoc, Jungle Boy, and MJF was also pretty telegraphed as Adam Page is fighting for the AEW World Championship against Chris Jericho at the next PPV. HOWEVER, a huge BEST for MJF who is probably my favorite character EVER. He is such a heel who gets awesome heat and everyone hates him. He is so, so, so, so good on the mic. It’s important for great heel work.
Two of my favorites “Actually MJF I’m a level 45 Padawan Warlock Knight” – and “Guys, guys – we’re not so different you and I. I used to love video games (then starts a video games chant) but then I lost my virginity.” I’m better than you, and you know it.
Also – there was a match. And during the match – he went for this dive:
I’m going to be keeping my eye on this guy for a long time. He’s going to be a top star for sure. Also Jungle Boy is amazing. I can’t find a GIF but he did a weird flip off the turnbuckle to the outside that if you watched, you definitely remember.
Cody vs. Darby Allen was slated as Cody has everything to lose and Allen has nothing to lose. He’s a 22 year old upstart that tricked Cody into a match to try to make a name for himself. The match was a story of Cody absolutely dominating Darby Allen but he never would put him away. Cody was being too cocky and confident facing this young kid. It’s really a slow burn match – kind of like a movie. The first 15 minutes weren’t exciting but they were necessary. It built up Darby Allen and also give Cody Rhodes some character development. When Allen got some offense in, he was impressive. And he did this….
The ending was Cody having Allen beat – but running out of time. It was a great showing for Allen. The fans wanted 5 more minutes and the match restarted but Shawn Spears (formerly Tye Dillinger) came out and destroyed Cody with a chair. Very gruesome blow that made Cody bleed.
BEST – an easy best as 6 of the best competitors in the world face off. The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson) with Kenny Omega versus the Lucha Brothers (Rey Fenix and Pentagon Jr) teaming with Laredo Kid. This was a spot fest and these 6 men have fantastic chemistry. The Young Bucks really might be the best tag team in the world. They are incredible.
I loved Rey Finix and Pentagon from the little Lucha Underground I watched so it was great seeing them all compete. Just an overall best – please watch this match because my words can’t do it justice.
And that’s the official end of the event…official end. BECAUSE. Jon Moxley and Joey Janela decided they were fighting in a lights out, non sanctioned event. Joey Janela literally said he was willing to die in this match. He wants to live in infamy by dying in the ring. Whoa, dude. Calm down, okay? NO ONE wants that. And their history says someone might die. Moxley has taken a tree trimmer to the face which was disgusting to watch. Janela has jumped off a roof through light bulbs. They’re crazy. I admit. I don’t really want to see that kind of stuff. I don’t mind hardcore but let’s not kill these guys who are incredibly talented. With that being said….
I thought they kept it simple enough. They used thumbtacks, tables with barbed wire, chairs with barbed wire – and I’m okay with that. No chainsaws or pizza cutters to be found – so I was good with it. This almost seemed like a “let’s have a crazy deathmatch for free so more people will watch” versus the end to a great feud, which I think is what it should be used for. But overall, I thought it was fine. Moxley winning was a must as he is being built up – and I actually like that he’s not in the title picture initially. That’s a smart move.
Overall, I was really happy with this show. It was something that was new and refreshing and I love getting into these characters and learning about them. I am excited to see where AEW goes and I’m already looking forward to the next show. Speaking of…..
AEW Fight for the Fallen is just 2 short weeks away – let me know what you thought of Fyter Fest and come back for my Fight for the Fallen analysis in a couple weeks!