Jon Moxley overcame Darby Allin in dominant fashion to usurp his place as number one contender to Bryan Danielson’s World title, ascending to become the Omega-level threat to the title reign – thus, career – of the “American Dragon” at WrestleDream next month. It was a moment of inevitability seemingly from the moment Moxley and his BCC mutineers ejected Danielson from the group at All Out, suffocating him with a plastic bag to close out the show in Chicago. But it was done in a way that was far from expected, with the normally inhuman Allin appearing to be three steps behind his opponent at every turn, leaving it to Moxley to find new ways of brutalizing him – which he did to maximum effect. The match ended much in that vein, Allin finding the strength in him for one last flurry and taking to the top rope for an avalanche move.

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However, much as she had made her presence known when the referee had his back turned, Marina Shafir climbed the apron to afford her mentor enough time to scout the attempted move and deliver an improvised avalanche DDT to close things out. Moxley has had the attitude of a killer since he made his return, but this was a glimpse into how that translates into the ring, and it was some of Mox’s best in-ring storytelling for quite some time. Everything was believable and had a degree of synergy with the overarching storyline. Moxley will now be stepping inside the ring with one of – if not the – best bell-to-bell performers in the world in Danielson, and his new edge had to shine through with his last in-ring outing a defeat to Tetsuya Naito. So to do it opposite one of the most plot-armored characters on AEW’s roster, neutering everything that separates the “Half-Dead Daredevil” from your average 5’6 skater boy, delivered on that idea to great effect.

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The only thing that could have feasibly cost the “Death Rider” this week was complacency on his behalf, but he remained true to his goal and decimated his opponent. Even as Danielson emerged for an ill-advised melee with Mox, becoming swarmed by the BCC before Private Party and Komander made the save, it appeared to be a situation the villain was in control of. It was like he expected and wanted the ambush, if only for an opportunity to administer further punishment, but he would make do with Danielson’s declaration of war; Moxley smirked as he exited through the crowd, a somewhat composed way of reacting to someone saying they’ll kick your f***ing head in. There is a very strong chance now, with the trajectory being Danielson vs. Moxley at WrestleDream, in the Tacoma Dome where Danielson said he wanted to wrestle his last match, that the “American Dragon” finds his final destination at the hands of the man he formerly called brother. If this week is anything to by, then it certainly won’t be pretty.

Written by Max Everett