[9.0] "Darby Allin found a way to get a focused performance out of Will Ospreay, which was the most shocking part about this match. I like Ospreay, but he has matches that are super unfocused, but this wasn't one of them. For the most part. This is a match that everyone has seen at least one of those things, and it has been embedded into my brain since I first saw it. THAT sequence, you know the one, is one of the coolest sequences I have ever seen in a wrestling ring. Darby dies like normal, but I like the stuff around the high spots. The opening stuff is a normal Darby and Ospreay sequence. Normal stuff, but then the Coffin Drop bump happens. Darby has done this bump several times, but this is one of the worst ones. Darby's back gets killed, but Ospreay doesn't take the countout; this is important for later on in the match. After that, we go into the commercial break, and we get some solid back work from Ospreay. It is nothing crazy, but since he had 90 seconds to work with, I did like it. Once we get back into the match and THAT sequence happens, we get some great back-and-forth action before a great kickout from Ospreay. After Darby moves out of the way of the Os Cutter and hits a springboard Coffin Drop, we get another one of those crazy spots. Ospreay has done the Styles Clash off the apron since, but this was the first time I remember seeing it, and it is brutal. He hurts his knee, but this time he is taking the countout. I was super interested in this as the moment Ospreay got hurt, he took the coward's way out and tried to end it with a count-out. Showing the difference between him and Darby. Too bad he hits an os cutter right when Darby enters the ring. After more great action, Darby gets the win, and I thought this match was great. Not 5 stars, but still really good. ****1/2 (4.5)"
[7.0] "Such a fun match (if you can stand the kind of wrestling it represents) in front of a red hot crowd, but man, I'll never get over the result, shocking as the surprise was. After what happens to Darby immediately preceding the finish, Ospreay comes out of the end looking weak."
[9.0] "I watched months ago and not enjoying it. I decided to give it another chance to win me over, and wow, was I in a bad mood that day? Cause this was amazing. The sequences these guys did were amazing and well done. The near falls in this match were also incredible. The one thing I hated the first time I watched this and still do was that coffin drop on the ring apron. This dude doesn't give a shit about this health does he?"
[10.0] "So I just watched the Mone vs Hazuki which has about the same rating as this one. Anyone who thinks that these 2 matches are even close to the same quality needs to get their head checked. It not only has it outstanding sequences but they were smooth unlike the other match which was filled with hesitation. I saw Darby live in 2016 and thought he has a poser and I thought the same thing when he joined AEW. I was so wrong, that's what makes him so great is his authenticity. We can all see now that it was Darby carrying Sting the whole time."
[10.0] "Absolutely amazing! First match I've seen of Darby, and I'm all for him. The thing he can do and what he's willing to do in a match, OMFG. Ospreay is as amazing as ever, but the clash of styles aspect of this match is sooooo great. The crazy sequences that they did in this match are FUCKING AMAZING (low-key one of the coolest I've seen in wrestling). Just watch it, IT'S THAT GOOD."
[10.0] "I absolutely loved every second of this. It wasn't very long, didnt overstay its welcome, but did what it needed to do, had a awesome crowd popping for every big spot, and 2 insanely talented wrestlers doing what they do best, FRICKING WRESTLE. Darby is insane for that ring apron spot btw, this was awesome. Go and watch it if you get time. Less than 20 minutes and will cerainly entertain you throughout."
[9.0] "Superb match, honestly superb. Two incredibly talented, athletic guys giving it their all for the pure love of the game, it was short and sweet. That Code Red spot was mind-blowing, got me and many others out of our seats. The ending was clean, Darby going for the two coffin drops to put Ospreay away was really cool to see."
[10.0] "Recently my roommate has been watching more matches with me and i wanted to find a good short match was high energy and showcased two incredible talents and my mind went to this match. The first time I watched it I really enjoyed it but the match didn't fully stick with me. So when we watched the match, i was blown away. It really grabs you from the first sequence. These two are not know for their holds and submissions and they dont care to show it too much. immediately these two show there speed and style in expert fashion. This all builds to an incredible in ring story of darby going for the big coffin drop early and misses with one of the most brutal spots in match. this leads will taking a powerful lead and shows the size and power advantage. Then the magic truly starts when the sequences of counter after counter starts and this was like crack to me. The match ends with darby finally using wills size against him and hitting 2 drops to win. The stormbreaker into code red sequence is one of my top 3 favorite sequences in the wrestling so far."
[10.0] "Definitely one of if not the best match of this years continental classic, even if they did only get 15 minutes they used that time perfectly, this match is nonstop action and all of the spots flow together perfectly. The only down side is that I wish it went on a little longer but other than that, another ppv worthy match that we get on free tv and one of the best tv matches i have ever seen. 9.6/10"
[10.0] "Just rewatched this match, and my god it holds up even on the second watch. Two of the best TV wrestlers of this generation just going fucking crazy for 15 minutes with no dead space or downtime, this match is just non-stop insanity. This is without a doubt one of the best TV matches I've ever watched, might even be THE best (I can't think of one that tops it right now). (*****)"
[10.0] "(4.75*) One of the best TV matches i think i have ever watched, seriously. Both men played their role extremely well and that Darby spot when he did a coffin drop on the apron was brutal, i really enjoyed this for some odd reason."
[10.0] "Some types of matches you can only see than and think "holy fucking shit". Cause being honest, what else can I say about this match? The Styles Clash Ospreay did into the outside was AMAZING, and it was not even the best spot from this match. Undoubted the best match of the tournament until the final, and the one with the best storytelling and probably the best in ring action, it's so good to see Ospreay fight in a high-intensity style and insane speed with a wrestler that can clearly fight like that. Two babyfaces helping each other to deal with the bad thing happening in the company, that destiny somehow put them to face each other for something valuable for both. They didn't take easy with each other, and it was PERFECTLY booking Darby Allin winning Will Ospreay clean. This is NOT a five stars match for me, but if you only check the Code Red spot, you notice that this was gorgeous. One of the best 14 minutes matches of all time."
[7.0] "It's exactly what you'd expect from a Darby Allin vs. Will Ospreay match, and I have no problems with that. However, this wasn't a 5-star match; I'd say it was 4 at best. Also thought it was a bit rushed and could have gotten more time to tell a story, but it is very hard to see an outright bad Will Ospreay match."
[7.0] "It's very odd to me to see this match rated so highly. I didn't think much of it at the time other than it was a pretty good match but nothing more to really bite into, but I guess people really liked the athleticism on display here along with Darby taking some trademark nasty bumps. All of that was good to me too, but it just didn't have the structure of a classic match to me."
[9.0] "[4.25*] I think this kind of match is the perfect fit for it, I genuinely liked this more than Ospreay vs Bryan for example. My Top 3 favorite matches from him this year were Takeshita, PAC and Darby. All of them were not long, took place on the midcard and absolutely teared the house down. The perfect fit, at least for my taste. Darby and Will had less than 15 minutes and they created magic in a match that very much looked like the old AEW. I think the Restore The Feeling talk is kinda ridiculous but I agree with the sentiment of the campaign and a MOTYC in free TV at a small, intimate, cool-looking Arena definitely brought this feeling back. I will never forget when they ran Dragon vs Andrade labeled as a Dream Match in the fucking Memphis Grizzlies arena lmfao. A 20k seat venue with less than 3k people in attendance, it was one of the worst atmospheres for a big match I have ever seen. I am glad they are changing things."
[9.0] "This is everything you could ever ask for in short, televised tournament match. Two of the most over wrestlers put on a fast paced, fun spot filled match. It was really pleasant to see Darby wrestle this style of match, but he still couldn't help put to destroy his back on that coffin drop he always does to the apron. Ospreay was great as always, but it was cool to see Darby get the win in the tournament match here. The win was cool for the underdog, but did nothing to harm Ospreay. (4.75 ****3/4)"
[9.0] "[****1/2] Ospreay trolls Darby, fake chopping him, and more graps commence. They scuffle fast, Darby trying to roll up Will for a kick out for Darby to middle a springboard middle rope cross body onto Will. Darby does a cannonball through the middle rope at blistering speeds right into Will. Darby again shows no care for his health and does a coffin drop onto the apron, which Will dodges, fucking up Darby's thoracic and lumbar. 1-2 minutes of nothing go by, and the Will show starts again. Ospreay is just making random slow moves at this point; in-ring psychology showing dominance? I guess? They have a fun spot where Will went for a neckbreaker, to a suplex, to where Darby hit a stunner. Ospreay counters a Code Red, only to get hit with a Hidden Blade and immediately no sell to hit a Code Red, which was fun with a 2.9 kick out. After being hit with insane offense, Will doesn't care and chops at 110% strength. Darby does the "fighter's spirit" trope and counters the Oscutter with a second Coffin Drop, only for Ospreay to kick out again. Ospreay does a fucking Styles Clash to the outside. Darby somehow goes from dead at 8, to get up and run in at 9, get hit with an Oscutter, and still kick out? Darby counters Stormbreaker with the Scorpion Death Drop followed by two more Coffin Drops for the win. Decent pace with crazy spots, a lot of no sells, and flippy shit, but still, undeniable crowd reaction and body of work between the two. Just wish the in-ring psychology was a bit more emphasized, as the totalled 3-4 minutes of lul time out of the 14 minute match could have been better utilised."
[9.0] "[4 , 75 Stars] An excellent, dynamic match! The best match broadcast on national television in 2024. Ospreay & Allin are 2 of the most enjoyable wrestlers to see in the ring on the AEW side and this match proves it. (****, 75)"
[9.0] "That was likely the TV match of the year for professional wrestling. Both Darby and Will are fantastic Faces, and the crowd was divided, but they loved every second of it. Amazing stuff. (****1/2)."
[6.0] "There were a lot of dangerous and pointless spots in the match, which is basically normal for Ospreay matches. But here I didn't understand why it was necessary to create so much tension. This complaint applies to almost all of Will's matches. The wrestlers were trying so hard to beat each other up like they were fighting for the main event championship. I'm happy for Darby's win, but I didn't like the match that much."
[9.0] "Everything worked well, it was a ppv level match on Dynamite. Darby's coffin drop on the ring's edge crashing and burning. Then Ospreay's focus on his offense on Darby's back it made sense for in-ring psychology. The knife edge chops by Ospreay were also particularly brutal sounding and Darby sold this well. Then the Ospreay hidden blade followed by fast reversals into a Code Red. The Styles Clash off the mat onto the floor easily could have gotten to be life threatening for Darby if they didn't execute move well enough, but they both did. It was followed by an Oscutter but Darby then released a flurry of finishers, a Scorpion Death Drop and two rapid succession Coffin Drops. Also the crowd was hot the entire time, there was credible tournament stakes as well. It was an all around great match. Even Ospreay's kick out after the pin at 3.1 was a nice touch."
[9.0] "When I talk about "Darby's formula" this is exactly it, for the best here. Will Ospreay is a perfect opponent for this formula, not much psychology, just fast-paced action. I see why people don't like this kind of wrestling but it's perfect for worldwide television. Not as good as some people say it is, but it's excellent television wrestling."
[7.0] "This match was very fun to watch but I thought it was a bit rushed and could have gotten more time to tell a story.Will is the king of matches and Darby straight up fire and they really connected but personally the emotional side wasn't there for me but overally it was lovely"
[5.0] "Lively start. That horrific trademark bump of Darby's led to some promising back work.. but then they soon reverted to their usual stuff, and all meaning was lost. The rest was a mindless jumble. Shame."
[9.0] "One of the best if not the best TV match of the year, Ospreay does it again and Allin showed up delivering one of his best performances ive seen so far from him. They worked the time given so perfectly with everything building expertly, darby kills himself as per usual with two horrifying bumps (the apron coffin drop specifically is so insane but who agrees to take a styles clash from the apron? ! ) and the pacing after the first bad bump was great. The sequences are spotty but not to the point where its over contrived IMO. With a great surprise win for Allin."
[9.0] "So this is a bit odd for me. Really I don't care for Ospreay at all, his style grates on me, he never reacts authentically to anything, and I don't like that he is spawning off a vast number of less talented imitators in the current scene. However, I am nuts about Darby, in fact I kind of view Darby the way some people view Ospreay, basically if he's in the match it's pretty much going to rock no matter what. So yeah, I actually did like this match a whole lot. Darby is a rare guy who can make Ospreay at least slightly adjust his style because Darby's offense is so unique, Ospreay can't just slot in his usual formula (like 95% but still). Darby of course took insane bumps, that drop on the apron in particular of course (miss with Ospreay's goofy mugging reaction). Ok I'm getting off topic a little, yes this match was very good, it's definitely not Darby's best singles match in my opinion but it is a great one so for once I agree with the high rating."
[9.0] "Fantastic dream match between two of the best in the world. Ridiculous bumps from Darby. Best match of the c2 and honestly the best TV match of the year as well. Was slightly worried coming into the match that they wouldn't be able to match expectations but they smashed it out the park.."
[9.0] "An incredibly fun match for the tournament in what's actually my second favorite thus far, right behind Mark Briscoe versus Kyle Fletcher on Collision. I think if these two were to run this back with more time, I might end up giving it a 5/5 or 10/10."
[10.0] "Really good match, one of the best TV matches of the year and the best TV match on AEW in my opinion. Both Darby Allin and Will Ospreay are elite talents and put on a show."
[8.0] "Maybe I was expecting too much because I saw the rating prior to the match itself, but this is not a 9+ match in my eyes, It was great for what it was, a very good weekly match, high-paced and some very good spots, but it didn't reach the drama to become really great. They had 5 more minutes on the time limit, maybe they could have used that, but for 14 minutes it was still very enjoyable. ****"
[9.0] "9.0 - this is one of the matchups I was most looking forward to when the matchups were released and it did not disappoint. Was really impressed at the chemistry of these two and Darby's willingness to take punishment is a perfect fit for Will's devastating offense. I had a hunch after the promo on Collision that Darby might get the win here and the crowd clearly loved to see it, as did I. Awesome stuff."
[9.0] "Very very awesome. Phenomenal action, typically strong character work from Darby, and really impressive character work from Ospreay as his struggles continue amid a seemingly crumbling mental state."
[9.0] "yeah! this is what I'm talking about! two of the best in the business today went for each other, and made one of the best matches ever on Dynamite and arguably, the best TV match of the year! as I was expecting (which was also very predictable) the chemistry between these two was insane and I'm sure, that all the fans are looking forward to see more and more battles between them! (****1/2)"
"[Using a translator] Darby's body-slapping pro-wrestling style always makes you worry, but I think there are also matches you can make because of that style. Not to mention the excellent skills of the osprey, it was a great match made in conjunction with Darby's body-throwing style."
[9.0] "Might be the best AEW TV match of the year. Ospreay gets the absolute best out of Darby here, getting some amazing counters as well as two absolutely absurd bumps. Typical Ospreay magic but the best wrestling I've seen out of Darby in some time. My only real complaint (other than the typical TV restrictions of length and commercials) is that if you're going to pull out something as insane as a Styles Clash onto the floor, that should really end the match. But a blistering ride of a match in all the best ways."
[9.0] "An amazing match. Hoping for more to come from this pairing. Darby and Will have incredible chemistry and this needs to be a World Title program in 2025. ****1/2"
[8.0] "If watching this match has made me feel anything, its overwhelming gratitude for the fact that Darby Allin is some kind of invincible masochist. Best match of the C2 so far. fantastic structure of Darby just getting brutalised by Will and slowly having to scratch and claw his way back up to pull off the upset. I don't think I've flinched nearly as hard for any other spot this year than I did for the Coffin Drop bump on the apron, just fucking sickening. Maybe this is my personal favourite TV match Will's had in AEW, other than maybe the Shibata match. Great effort from both men."
[7.0] "I thought this was hurt a bit by being a TV match, especially with the ad breaks and the time restrictions, but it was largely pretty good. It felt a bit like the entire match was Darby's crazy apron bump, a few very well-executed exchanges, and a rush to the finish. A match like this can make you wonder why they're doing it on TV and not a PPV but I thought this match was pretty exciting without being entirely satisfying. You know for sure these guys can have a better match without TV restrictions and I'll look forward to seeing it one day."
[10.0] "Man, AEW has these freaking awesome matches on a weekly show. Ospreay is a wrestling machine, and Darby is a crazy wrestling psycho. Fast-paced and dynamic, technically flawless, and rough as f*ck. The Coffin Drop to the death, that Code Red sequence, the Styles Clash; even when the match slows a bit, that hard-hitting moment was really great. Finally, they culminate the match with that Coffin Drop to the back, and if that wasn't enough, another one. These two men are stars, what a match. [5/5]"
[10.0] "UNBELIEVABLE action-packed wrestling to the brim. It's stuff like this that makes me never wanna quit wrestling. Darby wrestles from down under, he is risky and adamant to never throw in the towel. While it is unfamiliar territory for babyface Ospreay, he's the one dictating the pace after Allin's nasty fall back first to the edge of the ring apron. He works on the back tactfully and prudently. The sequences that ensue after Allin gathers enough reserves are absolutely mind-blowing in every way possible. The Styles clash to Allin to the outside was sick AF and Allin's head literally bounced off the mat. Allin then musters enough energy despite near incapacitation and manages to connect with a Scorpion death drop followed by two coffin drops one to the back and one to the front and Ospreay cannot kick out but kicks out right after the 3 count. I loved that attention to detail because while Allin might not have dominated, but he had a high tolerance to pain and was extremely resilient enabling him to pick himself up and give all he had left in the tank and tonight that was enough to put him over the line. Magnificent. ****3/4"
[10.0] "I have been waiting for this match since it was announced and I knew it would be good but my expectations were blown completely out of the water and the sequences were awesome. Will is a freak athlete and everything he does is so smooth. Darby is crazy and I don't how he does what he does. Awesome match I hope they run it back with a title on the line and a little longer. Best TV match maybe of all time"
[9.0] "Will Ospreay is as fluidly high level an in ring performer as there has ever been in professional wrestling and Darby Allin manages to make any of his opponent's offense look like a million dollars; Allin is like an Attitude Era Jeff Hardy reminiscent bumper taken to another level and it's not surprising in the slightest that he'd sell & bump as hard and viciously as ever for a match with Will Ospreay, Darby's apron bump was especially violently brutal even by his standards, wonderful TV match well worth watching."
[7.0] "Fun TV match. From what I gathered this "Continental Classic" thing is the exact copy and paste of the G1 Climax tournament, and yea, it sure did feel like a very good G1 Climax match airing on AEW programming. A hot crowd mixed with some, even by Will Ospreay standards, genuinely impressive sequences in a 15-minute compact sprint, it was a really fun watch. Dont necessarily agree with the 5-stars and 10s across fans and critics, but super entertaining nonetheless - ***3/4."
[10.0] "This is one of the best tv matches I have ever seen. Amazingly paced with a roaring crowd that is madly in love with both Darby and Ospreay, and they made sure to show everyone why they are so beloved. This was fast paced, brutal, wonderful counter sequences with many fun moments and Darby taking some of the most brutal bumps I have ever seen. Especially the top rope coffin top to the apron, which is easily the most brutal bump I have seen in wrestling since Darby (yet again) jumped off of the ladder into glass for Sting's retirement match. While Ospreay is arguably the best wrestler in the world right now, there is no arguing that Darby Allin is the greatest TV wrestler in the world right now and maybe ever. This is Definitely the best match of the Continental Classic so far and the TV match of they year in a landslide. 5*"
[10.0] "This is a plead for Darby Allin not to do career shortening moves on free television. Don't get me wrong, that coffin drop to the apron looked insane and devastating towards himself, and it added a fuck ton to this match, but please for the love of god you can't keep doing this to yourself. Very akin to Mick Foley taking powerbombs on the concrete in WCW. For real though, one of the best television matches of the year, and a sign of what's to come with Darby's future in the company. Ospreay has seriously elevated several people this year with his matches, at least in my eyes, and at the end he has done especially so. Kyle Fletcher's victory was incredible, and so was this. Fuck ton of near falls and many spots that would kill any other wrestler, and just shows how invincible Darby is in the ring. Such great chemistry, and a great use of both wrestlers."
[10.0] "Absolutely phenomenal match between both men with phenomenal in ring action and spots throughout, both their performances and psychology between each other are just absolutely superb and Ospreys definitely helped Darby have the best singles match of career. Both are worthy of being AEW World Champions one day."
[10.0] "Easily one of the best TV matches this year and can possibly be in talks for MOTY. For me Darby Allin was the MVP throughout this match as he would not except defeat and a lot of the near falls was great. Also how did Darby Allin not break his on back on that coffin drop at the beginning of the match? That was really gross looking."
[9.0] "You can feel the rush, the tension in this match. High paced, High adrenaline action. These two were going in at full speed, there was no down time, no nonsense, it was a rollercoaster action packed match filled with amazing sequences and awesome spots. I wasn't that hype for this match because of the time limit and despite the hype and build up, I was a little sceptical they wouldn't live up to the billing but somehow they managed to reached the hype. Even the time limit worked in their favor and they somehow managed to cramped in plenty of wrestling in this 15 min match. Great chemistry and an excellent dynamic to add to that and you have the best TV match of 2024. This is what you want to see from the Continental classic and these two just delivered the best match in the continental classic history. Another excellent match in Ospreay's career and Darby's best match I have ever had the pleasure of viewing. Excellent match. ****3/4"
[9.0] "Darby Allin is a mad bastard. He's able to work Ospreay's maximalist style and they come up with some truly insane sequences. After eating shit by missing a Coffin Drop and hitting the apron with a sickening thud, they get a lot of drama of Allin trying to hang with Ospreay. The nutty moments don't end there though, as we also get a Styles Crash from the apron to the floor. This could have ended Allin, but Ospreay damages his knee delivering this and it gives Allin that much needed opening. This was a great match and showing from both men. The 20 minute time limit stopped them from going too long. It might not sell Ospreay to the fans who've made up their minds on not liking him, but this bout was a good example of why people hold him in such high regard."
[8.0] "****3/4 a very great match, the best of the tournament by far, a very great chemistry (surprising), very great sequences, great spots, Darby looked like never before with that final babyface aura that surpasses the adversity despite the damage received, Ospreay shined and made Darby shine, very good duration although it could have been a little longer closer to the time limit, a very great ending that leaves Darby as a possible finalist of the tournament but, I also think that his moment will be delayed because either he loses the tournament and somehow recovers and wins the maximum title against Mox, or C2 wins it and would have his moment in All In or until after 2025"
[10.0] "The problem with Rating Ospreay matches, it's that he has so many bangers and classics that makes hard to decide when to give it a 9 or a 10 lmao"
[9.0] "Now this is what the C2 should be all about. Glad to see that the matches in final legs of the tournament are starting to deliver on what last year promised but this match here blew those expectations out of the water. I think if it wasn't for the TV match structure this would be another perfect 10 match for me. There were some slow parts for sure but they complimentary to the gnarly and jaw dropping spots that surrounded them. Fantastic booking for the tournament aswell. Darby Allin needed and earned this win over Will Ospreay, Ospreay still looks strong going forward and considering Claudio Castagnoli will be facing Darby next this will set up a dominant win. This is when AEW is at its best"
[8.0] "(Grade:B) This was a solid dream match in the C2 so far, honestly its definitely in my fav list of matches so far but Brody King vs. Claudio Castagnoli is definitely my fav! They were so swift and quick which I can applaud them for that. Darby just goes for it especially with that Coffin Drop on the apron which is some cringe to watch, just the way he makes he's body go limp is impressive! The whole sequence mid way through the match had me hyped! The style-clash off the apron was sweet but what I enjoyed the most about that spot when Ospreay setting up for it, the little facial expression he makes is underrated realizing he gonna have to jump off to ensure Darby doesn't get up."
[10.0] ""The match was very good because it wasn't centered around Ospreay! All of Ospreay's matches in the Elite are focused on him, meaning he solely constructs the entire match, which isn't effective. Since Ospreay joined the Elite, he's not the same Ospreay as before. The old Ospreay would work on his opponent's back when he saw Darby was hurt, building momentum in the match before moving to finish things off with head attacks. But now, without any story behind his strikes, he just throws punches (in this match, he did perform well and effectively targeted Darby's back to gain good momentum, but afterwards, it went nowhere). So why is the match good? They both created engaging sequences, near falls, etc., which is the foundation of a good singles match. It had a great start, and the ending was very good and exciting.""
[8.0] "AEW really does put on some good TV matches. There was a bit of tension to this with expectations high. The match delivered. Darby Allin took a nasty coffin drop to the outside which got everyone's attention, then there was some nice flippy shit at the midway point highlighting the chemistry these two have. The Styles Clash to the outside didn't look great, but the finish was smooth soon after. These two at a pay per view would be great."
[9.0] "Will Ospreay vs. Darby Allin was one of the greatest TV matches of all time. From the opening bell, it was clear both men were determined to create something unforgettable, and they absolutely delivered. Ospreay's unmatched precision and Darby's fearless, chaotic energy combined for a match that was as emotional as it was thrilling. Darby continues to prove he's the greatest TV wrestler of all time, consistently delivering at the highest level. This was a match of the year contender, no question. ****1/2"
[8.0] "Good, really good, but I did not feel the same tension than in the Briscoe Fletcher match from last Saturday. Also, I unfotunately got spoiled before having a chance to watch it, it would probably have been a nine if I didn't know the winner."
[9.0] "That coffin drop on the apron was brutal to watch. Stuff like that just kinda hangs with you after the match. Some great stuff here, and I'm happy to see Darby pick up the win. This C2 has been better than last year in not knowing who would win which matches."
[9.0] "i think this is a strong candidate for tv match of the year for aew and for all of wrestling this year. Very surprising that they had darby go over here and i hope we get this match again sometime in 2025 the chemistry seems to be outstanding between these two with some of the best counter wrestling i've seen all year. Great match these guys made some magic with this one. 4.75 stars"
[10.0] "Awesome, just awesome. Both guys were incredible, I still can't believe how Darby's body is still one piece. I was expecting this match to be good but they really overdelivered. Congrats to both guys."
[9.0] "Das war ein richtig richtig starkes Match mit tollen Aktionen und einer guten Portion Spannung. Die Moves von Darby Allin waren stellenweise wiedermal der pure Irrsinn mit gnadenlosem Risiko. Das Finish kam sehr überraschend für mich, passte aber top in die ganze Begegnung. Absoluter Banger"
[9.0] "This is it. This is EXACTLY what AEW is all about, this is the feeling. A balls out banger of a match that overdelivered. Ospreay and Darby NAILED IT."
[6.0] "I was really on board with this in the first half of the match. Darby takes one of the craziest bumps ever doing the coffin drop straight onto the apron and then Ospreay starts targeting his back after. Darby puts in a really good selling performance for a bit until at some point Ospreay remembers he needs to get all his signature moves in, meaning Darby has to completely stop selling his back so that the two of them can put on a PWG style "banger". Started off great then just massively fell off in favor of no selling and spamming finishers"
"An absolute banger that proves that these two probably will be AEW world champions in 2025. The fact they were to put this match of this quality out in such a short time is truly outstanding."
[10.0] "It's almost the end of the year and these guys just stole the best TV match of the year. Darby and Will are both fantastic wrestlers and it was no doubt they would bring something special. Little did I know I would witness the best sub-15 min match I have probably ever seen. They have packed everything they could in these 15 minutes, including a classic WTFDARBY stunt, amazingly smooth sequences and even sprinkled it with a pretty good story around Darby doing more damage to himself than to Will. It's not the first time Darby takes a Coffin Drop on the apron, but my heart skips a beat every time he does that. And that was not his only stunt, as he also took a Styles Clash outside of the ring, which is crazy to think that it's only the second worst thing he took here. The sequences they had here and perfectly smooth, its amazing how coordinated they were with each other to pull this off. "That" sequence will be in my head for a long time. And on top of all that - they gave the win to Darby. Not only it solidifies him as someone who is still to be considered one of the best even with the new wave of wrestlers in AEW, but it gives more heat to the tournament, as there are not 4 potential block winners still in, with only ~2 matches left for everyone. This match is probably one of the best I've seen this year, one of the best Dynamite matches and definitely my favorite sub-15 minute match of all time. Simply fantastic. Will and Darby are in the top of the wrestling world right now."
[10.0] "A ten is justified here, the crowd is psyched and loud and reacting to everything they are doing from the entrances. This had a big fight feel and it delivered beyond that. Darby ate so much punishment and Ospreay's selling and physical storytelling is unparalleled."
[9.0] "This was the match that i was most interested in seeing when this year's C2 blocks got announced. I'm by no means an Ospreay fan but I was interested in seeing just how he would work against someone like Darby. As it turns out, really fucking well. This match was absolutely phenomenal and shows just how good Ospreay can be when he's not dictating the pace of a match. Ospreay couldn't wrestle at his usual pace here, because he's against someone who actually takes time to sell and the match benefits greatly because of it because the big moves and sequences are actually built to effectively instead of being spammed every 10 seconds. I think a large reason as to why I enjoyed this as much as I did is because of Darby. At this point he just is the best wrestler on the planet, bar none. As I've already said, his selling in this match is phenomenal and allows him to dictate the pace instead of Ospreay. He also puts in one hell of a babyface performance and takes some of the worst bumps I think he's ever taken. I say that about every single Darby match but I genuinely think that disgusting apron spot is the gnarliest thing he's ever done, like it genuinely made me fucking recoil. The crowd also added to this by just being mega hot all throughout. AEW hasn't had an atmosphere like this in a long time and it really benefited every match on this show but especially this one. Overall, this match was incredible. There's been a lot of excellent TV matches this year but this one is by far my favourite and is also likely the best Ospreay match I've ever seen. ****1/2"
[10.0] "This revives the tournament for Darby Allin and leaves us with one of the best fights to end this 2024. I really liked the performance of both, it was tremendous from start to finish and with a time more than befitting television (only has a 2 minute commercial break). I especially appreciate the risk of Darby Allin in many of the spots and how, finally, he can take the 6 points to continue fighting in this tournament. Will Ospreay is the face of AEW, time to time."
[7.0] "It's never not funny to see something actually exciting and potentially scintillating after AEW fans pretend Shelton Benjamin facing Beast Mortos is a dream match. The match starts well with a short lock up with Ospreay pushing Darby against the ropes, establishing his clear strength difference. In this moment, Ospreay decided to emulate his former mentor Kazuchika Okada with the fake out against the ropes before getting caught with a headlock and one of Darby's high angled arm drags, which Ospreay effortlessly flips out of, avoiding the damage. There is a quick sequence where no-one can hit a move with each other before slowing it down with another lock-up where Ospreay decides to hit some heavy chops before working the crowd. Darby hits a sick tope but misses a coffin drop for a brutal landing, potentially leading to an early end. Ospreay naturally works the back and works with a grounded purpose where he seems intent on doing great damage, which works fine with Darby's great selling. There is a cool sequence that ends up with a terrific hidden blade with an equally great selling by Darby who collapses into himself but they sort of blow it off by adding a rather needlessly jumping code red counter by Darby which felt like a cheap way to keep Darby alive after the hidden blade. This restarts with both struggling to get to their feet however. Ospreay returns to the chops but Darby continues to use his quick moves to evade Ospreay. He makes a grave mistake by trying to suplex Ospreay onto the outside and gets caught and Ospreay is able to hit a styles clash to the outside floor which was crazy. Ospreay sells his leg well, leading to him not being able to follow up as fast. Darby barely makes it in the ring but Ospreay hits an Oscutter, getting a close two count. Darby quickly bounces back, countering a stormbreaker and hitting two coffin drops for the surprise win. Good match. The crowd was up for it. The sequences were all pretty great in isolation too. However, the transitional stuff felt a little rushed and lacked any real thought outside of Ospreay selling the leg for the styles clash on the floor. It was a tried and tested reason not to immediately kill Darby and let him recover. The rest felt like a rush to get to the next bit. A cool match nonetheless. ***1/2"
[9.0] "This match was truly amazing, one of the best Ospreay matches of the year, if not the best, and what can I say about Darby Allin? The kid is unreal, what a special talent, he extracted the most out of his opponent and the match, incredible maturity, he's phenomenal. This was a joy, the match is under 15-min, very short, and it was simply a blast, I knew it was going to be special because they were announcing with a lot of anticipation, and it's truly an unique and very interesting matchup, but the match managed to be the best one of this C2 so far by A LOT, when they had the initial staredown with the 'holy shit' chants I knew this was gonna be the most special thing on AEW TV in a long time. The match started with fast and breathtaking sequences, and it really went to another level when Darby had that unreal bump on the coffin drop, that was crazy, and it became the storytelling of the match, with Ospreay doing lots of moves on his back, trying to physically hurt Darby as hard as he could. Darby thrives under the underdog role, and Ospreay is a great demolisher as well, that's why he's such a good heel, he's awesome dominating matches and inflicting pain into his enemies, but this time, it was the underdog that got the upper hand and won, after a fantastic scorpion death drop and multiple nearfalls. This match was thrilling, frenetic, athletic, and also delivered a very nice and logical story, one of the most fun matches of the year, and probably the TV match of the year - {****1/4}"
[9.0] "Didn't follow the Continental Classic a lot but among the stuff I saw this was the best, Darby went Elbow to Elbow with Ospreay, got a terrible Style Clash from the apron and at the end his courage paid off as he connected a Scorpion Deathdrop from out of nowhere and two Coffin Drops to get the win. Didn't see this the result coming, I just wish they 'll have more time one day but given the circumstances they couldn't have pulled of more. ****1/2"
[7.0] "Darby gets typecast a lot as the 'daredevil' foley-esque stunt performer, and his bumping is incredible, but the way he structures his stuff is even better. His psychology is amazing, and his approach to technical wrestling is even better. I can appreciate Ospreay's athleticism, but he doesn't really do it for me a lot, honestly. I love how Darby grounds Ospreay in this, really making the action and reversals really feel impactful."
[10.0] "What a goddamn match. Really impressive sequences, really good shit put into 20 minutes, loved Darby having the scorpion death drop, felt the notes of the match just played perfectly and it was the best TV match i've seen in a long while, definitely the best under 20 minute TV match i've seen in a while. I think this match will really age well, as you need to know next to nothing to appreciate what they did, this was just really well sequenced, really cleanly wrestled, really enjoyed it, glad I got to watch this without knowing the winner too, and thought Darby getting the win is probably the right call."
[10.0] "Legit one of the best tv matches of all time. Darby's selling and willingness to take insane bumps makes him one of the most intriguing wrestlers to watch but Ospreay's sell of the finish stretch was what put this into the elite tier. What a year for both men. *****"
"[ 9.0 ] "The match was great fun. The fluidity of the sequences, the chemistry between the two wrestlers, the false finishes, the atmosphere. Potential TV match of the year. Many say that the Coffin Drop on the apron serves no purpose, but it's a visual spot, yes, which proves above all that Darby won't hesitate to break his body to get the win. The only drawback was watching the match with the commercials out, there was so much to see!"
[10.0] "Giving 10 on this match, might give 12/10 if the fight again on ppv one day. This could absolutely be the best tv match of 2024. Just perfect and insanely creative, a dream match that came true."
[9.0] "Will is mostly annoying to me, but his match with Darby was excellent. Did he sell the knee damage like he should have? Of course not. But I saw sequences that finally made sense. They weren't done just for the sake of doing something insane. Talking about insane, Darby's ability to take as much harm as he can and then go toe to toe with his opponent should be studied"
[8.0] "Darby's style works so well with guys who have strength and body control, and that's Will's main thing. The Coffin Drop on the apron was unnecessary in hindsight. Their sequences were great and the match was competitive. I don't think Darby needed to put himself in such a hole."
[9.0] "Ospreay vs. Darby war absolut verrückt und ein großartiges TV Match, bei dem sich Darby mal wieder fast umbringt durch den Coffin Drop auf den Apron."
"was sceptical about this match going into it, about how these two would gel but they overdelivered! One of my favourite aew matches of all time! Hope to see Darby and Will do more matches in the future 5/5!"
[8.0] "The best thing about this match was certainly the counter sequences and especially the reversal of Stormbreaker into a code red, even though I really liked Darby's victory to make the tournament more interesting, but due to the structure of the match, Ospreay's victory was more plausible, even more so after the incredible Styles Clash from the apron to the ground, in my opinion the match had ended there in a count out, but they made Darby's comeback very hasty. Since it was supposed to make Allin win, they saved this brutal spot (****1/4)"
[10.0] "This was the perfect clash of styles in 2024. In this age, the Ospreay style has become the house style for almost all promotions. Even in WWE, you'll see that style, it doesn't necessarily have to be at the top of the card but you'll see it. So what sets Ospreay apart? He is simply the best at it, it is not close either by the way. No one can induce awe from the live-crowd and capture their rabid enthusiasm based on moves alone as much as Will Ospreay. Darby Allin might seem to the untrained eye that he does wrestle in that style but he doesn't. Darby's style is simply that he dies, every single time he goes out there you feel he just god murdered. This made for the perfect TV match, Ospreay started out fiery as always but because Darby died he had to slow it down and then IT HAPPENED. Darby's amazing selling led him to a very earned comeback which then gave us one of the best 7 minute stretches a match has ever seen. This was the Ospreay throwing bombs style but with everything registered and feeling more and more important as time went by. This brilliantly laid out, excellently wrestled + electric atmosphere is what AEW is all about. AND IT WAS A TOURNAMENT MATCH TOO! Pro wrestling f***ing rules."
[8.0] "Ich werde in diesem Leben nie wieder ein Will Ospreay Fan und finde die ganzen 10er Wertungen auch persönlich viel zu überzogen. Aber selbst mir hat das Match wirklich gut gefallen und das liegt vor allem an Darby Allin. Durch sein selling und seine Art zu leiden bekommt Ospreay Moveset endlich mal eine Bedeutung und kann die Aktionen mal wirken lassen. Hier gibt's erfreulicherweise mal nicht big move after big move für die Meltzer Generation sondern Darb gibt dem ganzen mal Luft zum atmen und Zeit zu wirken. Sehenswerte Chemie und einige coole Sequenzen. Vor allem fehlt hier endlich mal die völlig überzogene Ospreay Theatralik, eines seiner bisher besten AEW matches."
[8.0] "This was undoubtedly a very fun and exciting match, but I'm not quite on board with the idea of it being the best TV match of the year. While Ospreay and Allin seem to impressive chemistry together and pulled off some very seamless looking manoeuvres, I thought some of the selling was a bit questionable. I don't really understand why you'd do such a huge momentum changing spot like a Styles Clash off the apron, only to more-or-less immediately put Darby back on offence and have him win quite decisively? I definitely enjoyed the match, but from a storytelling perspective I thought this could have been stronger."
[8.0] "Some good moves and sequnces but come on, this wasn't the best tv match of the year. Styles clash from the apron should be looking great in the theory but in reality it was one of the ugliest styles clashes ever. And Darby won after that like nothing happens. But guys have shown us a lot of other good moves so it's still a good match."
[8.0] "Will is so much better when he slows down and lets the other wrestler dictate the rythm of the match. Darby's year has been amazing and I think they should put the belt on him. Great TV match and the CC delivering as always. ****1/4 stars."
[10.0] "An incredible television match that helps justify the Continental Classic because we can get matches like this and feel like the tournament provides enough of a story for it. Thought Darby sold *the* bump really well (probably not hard to pretend after that TBF haha) and the quality of some of the wrestling and reversals was next level. I rate Darby's match with MJF crazy highly (one of the best one-on-one matches in AEW) and this has some of the sauce I loved that for. Would be very cool to see this match again. I think one of these definitely becomes a world champ in 2025."
[9.0] "There was a time where I thought Will Ospreay sucked. I thought he was just moves, I thought he was a one trick pony, I thought he straight up stank at the subtle things. I was, as usual, wrong. This is his greatest performance in AEW thus far. Lethal, domineering, persistent, but beaten in such an understandable way. Not the way he was with Fletcher where he simply couldn't hang, but his opponent just had him. Darby was just a little too resilient, and that cost him the match. Isn't that great? Being able to see reason in a Will Ospreay match? This also solidifies my belief that Darby Allin is the best active wrestler in the world. He just keeps delivering! How the hell does he keep doing it? ! Unbelievable match, TV MOTY."
[7.0] "Fiery little match, which has clearly got the gif junkies drooling. I'm not sure why Darby would go for the apron coffin drop having seen Ospreay move there to get out of the way of the regular version, but the bump was as nasty as it gets. Main problem with the match was consistency - so while Darby got to bounce back from that bump, a standing Hidden Blade to the jaw, the Styles Clash to the floor (which didn't work visually because Ospreay had to pull out of it), an Oscutter and more, it didn't take that much (especially by Will's standards) for Allin to finish Ospreay off ***1/2"
[10.0] "If it wasn't for Danielson going insane in 2021, this would've been the greatest TV match in the history of wrestling. Just a crazy-ass spotfest with one of the loudest crowds in recent memory for AEW and some of the wildest shit I've seen in a while. There was a lot of anticipation for this match and it overdelivered. As another comment said both men bought their A-games to DC and put on a classic. Not even 15 minutes of pure adrenaline and madness. From the coffin drop on the apron, to the stormbreaker/code red, to the styles clash on the floor, just total madness. In the end Darby gets a surprising win following a scorpion death drop and two back-to-back coffin drops. Amazing match. One of the best matches of the year. 10/10 - 5*/5*"
[10.0] "Jesus fucking Christ. If there was ever a reason for Tony to break out the "Justified This Is Awesome Chants" tweet that we all lightly mock him for, this is it. I honestly haven't seen a crowd so hot for a Dynamite match since Danielson vs. Omega, and although the attendance in DC was less than a quarter of that at Arthur Ashe, they were just as loud. And dear god, both Darby and Will brought their A-game tonight, between the coffin drop onto the apron, the Styles Clash off the apron, the Code Red-Hidden Blade-Stormbreaker-Code Red sequence, the Death Drop, and the multiple coffin drops to end the match? Yeah, I'm not even hesitating to give this the 10. Darby has cemented his rightful place as THE babyface hero to finally dethrone Moxley at All In, and although Ospreay as world champion is already an inevitability, it's even more so tonight. Fucking hell."
[10.0] "This match, to me, is the best television match of 2024. For two wrestlers apparently wrestling each other for the first time ever, Darby and Will worked like they wrestled each other a thousand times. They were so crisp with one another, with each sequence looking so smooth. The energy from the wrestlers and the crowd was fantastic, The missed coffin drop to the edge of the apron by Darby sounded like a shot and it actually made me recoil back in my seat. The styles clash off the apron to the floor was, the storm breaker reversed into a code red, the swift counters, so much incredible action in this match. There was just so much impressive stuff. This is a match you just have to see for yourself. Incredible. Absolutely incredible."
[10.0] "Candidate for fight of the year. In less than 15 minutes they gave a spectacular battle with very memorable moments. They both started from less to more, with great chemistry and physicality between them. The public accompanied the match at all times and that made it much more enjoyable for the spectator. Personally, it is the match that I have enjoyed the most between Darby and Ospreay during this year 2024, also one of the best C2 fights in its two editions. A big congratulations to both involved. 10/10."
[10.0] "That was genuinely insane. A PPV main event quality match in the middle of the CC on Dynamite and I couldn't be happier. I know there's a lot of discourse about Dynamite and what directions they should take, but I just want more of this. Awesome wrestling and two really creative guys stringing together absurd sequences. Darby's flip out of the Code Blue move was absolutely insane and I love that that sequence ended with him finally hitting the move. And both guys feel like they're around the same level in kayfabe so I had no idea who would win, which added to the drama. TV MOTY right now, imo."
[10.0] "Unreal match. Easily best TV match of the year and you could seriously make a case of this being just straight up MOTY. Fucking nonstop explosive, fast paced action. Just bomb after bomb after bomb after bomb. Perfect sequence after perfect sequence, and this was just their first time wrestling each other! All in less than 15 minutes! if you gave these guys over 20 minutes and made this for a title, I mean, that genuinely has a chance at best match of all time. Hot crowd added a lot, as well. (*****)"
[10.0] "Easily the TV Match of the Year, no question about that. The chemistry that these two have is beyond incredible, and for their first match together, for them to work so well in the ring together just goes to show how well versed these two are in the ring. This was the perfect mix of ospreay's trademark high flying skills vs darby allin's unorthodox technical / OMG style thats just so hard to describe. If we dont get another match between these two soon, then its wasted potential. I need ten more of these matches, this time without a time limit."
"Yeah that settles it. Darby has to be the one to beat Mox. Do it in the next 2-3 months and actually capitalize on the momentum please. He balled out. Insane chemistry with the two."
[10.0] "Definitely the best race in C2 so far! Finally we got the dream race we wanted, at a tournament level. Darby's StormBreaker against Ospreay was the best counter in the game. The Styles Clash on the side of the ring is also very awesome. It's a pity that the time is too short, and another 5 minutes can hit the next 5 stars, and there is also a slot that ends a little suddenly, Darby's classic was beaten for a whole game, and a wave of combos took away the game. Ospreay hasn't played at its full level yet, 4.75 stars! It's also an expected result, and I hope the two can meet in the final!"
