...All Right for Fighting | AEWeekly #186

Welcome to the #AEWeekly review discussion where PWM contributors reflect on the highlights of the last week in AEW. The eligibility week always includes the most recent episode of Dynamite and Collision, plus any social-media exclusives up until publication.

This week’s contributors are Abel [@loza3.bsky.social] covering Match of the Week, Emiliana [@emilianartb.bsky.social] giving us the MVP of the Week, and Sergei [@sergeialderman.bsky.social] talking Best Interview as well as editing and organizing it all.

 A page of links to prior installments may be found here: #AEWeekly

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Jon Moxley vs Daniel Garcia 

“Sometimes good just ain't good enough...”

by Abel.

The creative for AEW coming out of Forbidden Door has been in a regrouping stage, as Tony Khan and Co. have to deal with an immediate – as well as long-term – future for All Elite Wrestling without two of their biggest stars: Will Ospreay and Swerve Strickland. One talent who has stepped up to the challenge of filling that void has been former TNT champion Daniel Garcia. Garcia is no stranger to the main event scene, having been a mainstay during the 2023 Dynamite / Rampage days, and is now looking to get some of that momentum back.

The story that they are leaning into is that Garcia is always so close, yet so far away from making that next step in his career. Who better to help him do that than the most consistent wrestler the company has ever had – Jon Moxley. Their second match, just 10 days after the first, was just as good. Physical, great in-ring and out of the ring storytelling, which is why Moxley vs Garcia on Collision was the AEW match of the week. 

The match kicked off the Saturday show, and you knew Garcia was all business the second he walked in. Not one pelvic thrust was done on the walk up to the ring. Garcia was totally focused on trying to beat Moxley, finally, where he had failed three times before. That translated well into the ring, as both men were physical and beat the absolute snot out of each other. Not one trick or Death Rider interference, as has been the usual for Moxley's matches. After all, he's trying to lure Garcia to the dark side. 

So far, this has been mainly about Garcia's place in this; we can't forget Moxley. The leader of the Death Riders remains as formidable in the ring as ever, looking to be in the best shape of his life. Garcia gets so close to beating the former AEW World Champion. Still, that lack of experience – the experience Moxley can give him – is costing Garcia against the leader of the Dearth Riders. Moxley took advantage of another one of DG's mistakes and reversed the roll-up and got the win, making Moxley 4-0 all-time against Garcia. Matt Menard's facial expression after the match says it all. Garcia had it. It was in the bag, and Moxley escaped again. 

This match is the turning point for this storyline. It would be a compelling angle if one of the supposed saviors of AEW, and one of its strongest and earliest fighters against the Death Riders, were to become one of them – a Judas. This is where this all appears to be leading to, and it will be the shot in the arm Garcia needs at this point in his career. 

Will Garcia finally join Moxley, when he should have joined him and Bryan Danielson when they were the Blackpool Combat Club? It sure seems like that is going to happen. Does Garcia help Moxley versus Darby Allin? So much meat on this bone, and it just feels like this hasn't even gotten started yet. 

For the next chapter of this compelling story, this match set up what might happen at All Out, and we are on the cusp of the third chapter of the Death Riders, and not the end. 

Big Bill

"Say His Name..."

by Sergei.

There were a few compelling promos this week, mostly on the Saturday night show, in my opinion. Jon Moxley and Toni Storm each have a brand of crazy that's tough to look away from. But we have all said and heard plenty about those two's words over the past couple years, so let's focus on something a little different: how about Big Bill this week? Icymi (and honestly I couldn't blame you for mistakenly assuming this would be ffwd-able)...

So our friend Redwood William starts out with some classic heel promo fare: this town sucks. But his vitriol towards Philly seemed personal in a way perhaps beyond kayfabe? So I went to the chat for help in understanding the context here, but our contributor Emi informed me that she does "... not keep files on Big Bill lore"... And really, that says something in and of itself: I think that could add a whole new level to Bill's rants… "I cut this inside-baseball promo referencing a legit personal trauma and nobody remembered the reference."

But then #AEWeekly emeritus Peter [@peteredge7.bsky.social] saved the day, reminding us of the incident in question. 7 YEARS ago, in this very arena, William – at the time known as CassXL – had a seizure in the ring from alcohol withdrawal. And the anger directed towards the Philly fans was based on the fact that they (maybe understandably?) assumed it was kayfabe and all part of the show.

So the dark shoot history underpinning this interview was in fact… maybe even darker than we might have imagined. But then our William moves on to lighter and more fun takedowns of the Philly fans, like how they steal foul balls from kids. (I was honestly like "wasn't that in New York?... and a hat?" Evidently I haven't been keeping up on the latest "stealing stuff from kid sports fans" news.) And their only sports hero being a fictional character. (This knock on Philadelphia is an oldie, but imo, a goodie.)

And then he makes the most obvious dig of all – to point out that he comes from the place REAL tough guys come from, (left unspoken that many rival sports teams are from there as well): New York City. But then he takes a complete left turn: this has all been building up to a call out… but NOT, as it turns out, of some Philly hometown hero, but rather of a fellow New Yorker. Somebody with a big mouth who LOVES to hear himself talk, but who they haven't heard from in a very long time.

I admit it, I missed Bill's throw here completely, saying out loud to my screen "Christ, has all of this been to hype up a return of Chris fucking Jericho?" I mean, it would be logical, but… eh. But instead, Large William said the last name I ever would've expected: Eddie Kingston. And the fans roared. Out of left field? A hated New Yorker? They don't care – it's Eddie!

And "talks a big game" may seem like a crazy knock to put on Mr. Legit Eddie Kingston but, personally, I get where Bill is coming from here. I love the Mad King, but the dissonance of the man who everyone knows can cut an extemporaneous promo on any random object with the facade of always claiming everyone talks too much, what's the point of all this talking? is the one sour note of one of the most meticulously and beautifully crafted characters in this art form we love.

This interview had a lot to recommend it: fiery delivery, strong structure, funny bits and other parts that were shockingly personal. But the #1 reason for making it Interview otW is saying the name "Eddie Kingston" on AEW television in the YoOL 2025. Thank you for that, Big Bill.

Say it two more times! (Then pray…)

Maxwell Jacob Friedman

"Haterism takes no Honeymoon…"

by Emiliana.

Everyone is going to be soooooooo mad at me. But I just think it’s really funny, so we’re going there. While I admit that the most entertaining story for me so far since our residency in the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia has been whatever erotic shit Mox has going on with various young wrestlers (gender non specific), last week we had a particular person come back after a short absence that absolutely made me cackle in delight – and I don’t say this lightly, because I am one of his most annoying critics.

Maxwell Jacob Friedman appeared on Collision (of all places!) to ruin Mark Briscoe’s night. Briscoe was on track to – earning a TNT title shot? I think? Frankly, I haven’t been paying enough attention the past couple weeks, what with school and all, so take this with a grain of salt – beating Takeshita in the main event of Collision, when MJF came in, did god knows what (my brain was distracted I’m so sorry), pulled a Hangman and Christian Cage laying down below the ring apron, cut an angry promo, and bounced. Basically.

Now, the reason that I am giving MJF most valuable player of the week is because the night before, on the Friday, Maxwell got shoot-married to one of AEW’s non wrestling personalities, Alicia Atout.

But Emi, shouldn’t that mean that Max was supposed to be on his honeymoon?

And my answer to that is: You would think that, wouldn’t you? Because you’re a MARK.

(Just kidding.)

Anyway, wow, MJF really brings out the worst in me. My apologies.

The only Mark around here is Briscoe, and he’s exactly the guy who got the rug pulled out from under him moments before victory.

I just really find it funny that Maxwell spent the day after his wedding day committing acts of haterism instead of, ya know, what you’re supposed to do when you just married a really pretty lady that you love very much. Nobody can say that Max doesn’t keep kayfabe - even if some wrestling fans (not me, I wouldn’t go on that site if you paid me) found it acceptable to search through Facebook* and find photos of Hangman Page** at the wedding of his most recent and annoying rival.

** (Admit it: you thought you were going to escape this section without hearing Hangman’s name, didn’t you?)

* (I actually don’t know if that’s what they were doing, as I don’t even know who these hypothetical “wrestling fans” are - but as is common with the IWC, someone shared with someone who shared with multiple others who shared with their own someones and well now we all saw MJF’s wedding photos and Hangman’s cute little face peaking out from the back of a group shot. It is what it is.)

Aside from everything else, I do have to say this about Maxwell – he sure knows how to piss Mark Briscoe off. I, for one, cannot wait to hear what Briscoe has in store for the stipulation of their blow off grudge match. Make it good, because I think Maxwell deserves it.