This feels egregious to write, considering I have been quite adamant in my desire not to see Darby Allin as AEW World Champion. A man who compels me only in his ability to run through literal walls and still not only finish a match, but come out victorious and somehow able to do the next crazy stunt the next week. But also someone that is quite hard to root for, both owing to outside-of-wrestling noise and the very fact that, death-defying stunts aside, he doesn’t exactly come off as a worthy protagonist.
Even still, it has to be said that tonight saw Allin crowned World Champion in such a great way.
From the show kicking off with MJF, having told Renee Paquette on Sunday that he would be ditching social media until he’s called upon again, learning that he will, in fact, be defending the title against Allin.
To the following segment with MJF seeming to weasel his way out of the match, only for Allin to cut a compelling teary-eyed promo about his need to be World Champion, and Bryan Danielson relaying Tony Khan’s decision that MJF would get his wish to have time to prepare – and defend the title in the main event instead.
And finally to the main event of the show as MJF came out completely bricking it on such short notice, trying to rush into a cheating finish only to get c***-blocked himself and dropped five times both in the Scorpion Death and Coffin variety. When all was said and done, Allin won the title in mere minutes.
A man who climbed Mount Everest and planted the company flag on its summit finally reached the company’s own summit. Complete with a Sting pep talk and appearance to embrace the new World Champion as the show went off air. That’s a heck of a story.
Time will tell whether he turns out to be a champion to remember or goes down as a better chaser. But for the time being, taking the night and the moment for what it is, everything was done really well, and it made me, a proclaimed Allin detractor for all that is worth, actively root for and celebrate with Allin.
A special shout-out should be made for the loser on the night, MJF, coming off an exceptional bout with Kenny Omega on Sunday. Without his heel work and organic “What the f***?!” reaction to the whole defending the title ordeal, perhaps nothing about tonight feels as special as it does. He really is one of the best workers to root against, and that was definitely exemplified here.
Written by Max Everett
