Rassle Inn #27

AEW's Revolution took place last night.  It was a speck interminable, but I was awake to enjoy most of it.  The promotion's harshest critics were powerless in opposition to one match.  They have been powerless in opposition to the entire angle because it's unquestionably good.  No other adjective fits.  It's just plain good, but not less than great.  It's fucking good, the way that a well-marbled ribeye is good.  The way that a supple lobster tail soused in butter is good.  The way that--okay, I'm making it obvious that I haven't eaten dinner yet.  I'll move on by naming the participants in said match, in case your reading comprehension is destitute of vision.  CM Punk took on MJF in a dog collar match.

This is why stipulations exist in pro-wrestling.  They are meant to dress up a rematch, to give the viewer a reason to want to sit through Starman vs. The Amazon part...three!  Ideally, the stipulation will relate to the feud.  Punk chose a dog collar from his satchel of provisions as a trenchant callback to MJF's own words.  The guy keeps evoking the genius of Roddy Piper, as he sees himself in Piper's league (no doubt, he sees himself above Piper's league).  One of Piper's most memorable matches from before his ordination into The Fed?  A dog collar match against Greg Valentine.

Everything made logical sense going into the bout, but the fight itself would have to be a thriller to continue the winning streak that both Punk and MJF have worked to secure.  And it sucked!  No, I'm kidding.  It was a brutal contest held together with believable selling and unique spots that we haven't seen a million times.  Of course, the match climaxed with a moment that fans have been clamoring for, a turn that has been DECADES...well, years in the offing.  It has felt like decades at times, which is a testament to the substantial contributions of the wrestling royalty involved.

Wardlow is finally a full-fledged babyface.  Was it too soon to switch him?  Did Tony Khan wait too long to rehabilitate his loyalties?  Honestly, I don't care.  Maybe I'm guilty of overexposing myself to wrestling, but on this spectrally mellow Monday, I have no desire to nitpick.  Glad to see Top Flight back on four operative wheels.  I'm a big fan.  Give it a few years and they will be AEW tag team champions.  Or ROH tag team champions.  Hmm...