Christopher Daniels vs. CIMA
One of the many things to love about wrestling in the modern age is just how much longer wrestlers seem to be able to perform at a high level these days. We’ve already seen that in AEW alone with the 50-year-old Dustin Rhodes putting forth a heroic performance at Double or Nothing, and on that same night, we also saw these two men move like performers 20 years younger than themselves. And no, that’s really not an exaggeration. Daniels and CIMA have a combined 90 years of age between them, and a combined 48 years of back breaking, hard bumping wrestling experience under their belts.
I point this out only because of how ridiculous it really was to see the two of them go at it as hard as they ever have back on May 25th, and I suspect we’ll see them revel in their timelessness more than ever here. Indeed, from these guys’ perspectives, I see this match as a way to prove a point. They’re old dudes (for wrestling standards anyway) on a roster full of incredibly gifted young talents that are all in their prime of their lives. There’s no disguising that, there’s no fooling anybody on that, it’s just a fact. But that doesn’t mean they can’t hang with them, and what better way to prove that then by stealing the show together?
Now granted, at Double or Nothing, they were captaining three man teams.
In a setting like that, it’s easier to hide weaknesses and accentuate strengths. Big groupings like this are often specifically used to help protect people that can’t go a typical match length by themselves for one reason or another. In fact I’d wager that’s a huge reason why OWE seems almost entirely based around factions, as much of their roster is naturally quite green, being a company based in a market that seemingly had no wrestling to speak of years ago.
But that’s exactly why they still have something to prove in that department, atleast to skeptics who haven’t followed their work in recent years enough to realize that what they showed off on May 25th was nothing new. Going one-on-one and stealing the show together is an entirely different ballgame, one that would certainly get people talking about their status in AEW going forward in a different light.
Maybe I’m getting ahead of myself, but this is a sleeper match for me. As in, don’t you dare sleep on this one. CIMA has a whole promotion to represent after all, as he’s trying to spread awareness of his budding OWE with his every appearance in an AEW ring. I’m sure that he’s well aware that they can’t afford any poor performances on these visits.
Given the need to give a rub to OWE after they already put over SCU at Double or Nothing and on their own turf, and considering the fact that he has a singles match with Kenny Omega at Fight For The Fallen to look forward to, it makes sense for CIMA to get the win here.
AEW Fyter Fest takes place on June 29th, and will be streamed for free for US viewers on B/R Live for all those who sign up. The rest of the world will be able to purchase the event on Fite.tv.
For previews on the rest of the show, check out the links below:
Michael Nakazawa vs. Alex Jebailey
SCU vs. Private Party vs. Best Friends
Jungle Boy vs. MJF vs. Jimmy Havoc vs. Hangman Page
Yuka Sakazaki vs. Riho vs. Nyla Rose
Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks vs. Laredo Kid & The Lucha Bros
