[6.0] "[3.0*] I usually love the Darby vs Big Man formula and I even want to use the opportunity to pay tribute to the late great The Butcher, who created one of the best Rampage matches ever against Allin back in 2024 in this exact same formula. However, I wasn't a fan of the layout of this one. Darby's win didn't feel earned, which left a bad taste in my mouth. Of course the match was good and it had some impressive spots, but ultimately it made Davis look kinda weak lol Darby needed almost nothing to beat him. Idk. Great idea with some good things but it could've and should've been better."
[7.0] "Allin vs. Davis was a good match that featured Allin diving off the stage rafters again before the bell had even rang. Davis spends a lot of this match throwing Allin around like a rag doll, making the match pretty similar to Darby's encounters against Brian Cage as of late. The match kept a good pace as they exchanged offense but Allin hits a missile dropkick to the floor then two Coffin Drops back in the ring to win the match. Rating: ***1/2"
[7.0] "A very good first defense for Darby Allin, with Mark Davis controlling much of the match and making him work hard for the win. The crowd brawl and Darby's balcony dive gave the match some memorable moments, while needing two Coffin Drops was a smart way to protect David after such a dominant performance. Josh Alexander returning afterward was also a strong hook for what could come next."
[8.0] "Do you need a good TV match, well just put Darby Allin against a big man who will absolutely man handle him, with Darby doing his best rag-doll selling. I think this match was excellent, a walk and brawl to start, with Darby doing a Coffin Drop off something (also thought his cross body to get Mark over the ropes was a great spot). Thought there was a lot of great innovative offence in the final stretch, I loved Darby using the tag rope to tie Davis' hand up to get offence in (and Davis then getting a powerbomb in with one hand), and the finish of Darby beating the count by climbing the ropes to do the coffin drop from Davis who was also trying to beat the count. Great stuff."
[6.0] "Not so hot on this but there is a great match in here. I think having a walk and brawl before the bell ring was a fun way to get Darby Allin to do some crazy shit and not be too much of a suspension of disbelief but it went on for far too long. It's the story of the match unfortunately, it wasn't even a bad walk and brawl but that along with a really dragged out beat down match just felt bloated to me. It's a shame too because with spots like Darby's dive from the balcony and Mark Davis pulling off a one armed Powerbomb plus the natural chemistry a monster like Davis and a nutcase like Darby, this match should've been a slam dunk but it was just a bit much in all honesty"
[9.0] "There is such a simple joy in watching a beast like Mark Davis man handle Darby Allin. Darby as always was the perfect crash test dummy here, insanely fun match"
[7.0] "As expected, Allin, barely champion, is already defending his title, this time against Davis. Davis attacked him even before the match started, which allowed for a brawl in the crowd, always a good thing. I really liked the moment when Allin jumped off the balcony. Davis dominated a good part of the match. A memorable moment was when Allin tied Davis's hand only to be thrown by the other. At the end of the match, Allin had to do two coffin drops, and for once, I'm going to defend multiple finishers because Allin took a lot more of a beating, and that keeps Davis strong. Watch the post-match because Josh Alexander is back. Could he be the next challenger?"
[8.0] "Ah Darby. It's been less than a week since his 30ft Coffin Drop, so naturally he goes straight into being killed by the absolute bear of a man that is Mark Davis. A tried and true formally for delivering a TV banger."
[5.0] "Not my type of matches, really disappointed from the match, it could've been better, I liked the story of the match but he could've made it more real, nothing much to say about the match Ig."
[10.0] "Not only my favorite match on Dynamite, but I think I actually liked it even better than anything on the PPV. While Darby's PPV outing had the spectacular dive spot, this was a lot more pure Darby in the sense of what I love to see from him. It was incredibly scrappy, a scratching and clawing match, an opponent capable of ragdolling him like a crash dummy, the grit, the selling, that uniquely Darby sense of "if you want to beat me you'll have to kill me". From well before the bell even rang, this ruled when Davis seemingly materialized out of nowhere and obliterated Darby like a mack truck. The violent brawl around the arena was awesome, including of course Darby dropping himself bodily off the balcony onto his meaty opponent. I have to praise Darby above and beyond but take a moment to appreciate how great Davis was in this, long before Fletcher put the pieces together Davis was already a hell of a good big man and he's been finally allowed to show it out after his latest return. I will never tire of seeing a big guy swing a little guy back and forth against a wall or barricade. It rocked once the match finally got properly started as well, I won't try to say every part I loved but I gotta highlight this one. When Darby tied Davis' wrist to the tag rope and went after him like a rabid dog, only for Davis to grab him and hit this insanely great looking one armed power bomb? That's gorgeous work, just beautiful. Darby scrapped his way to a win and I can't wait to see what else he's got up his sleeve for this TNT title reign. #38 on my MOTY list to date."
[7.0] "Typical Darby Allin style Title Defense a Big Man vs. the little Darby Allin, but Darby Allin always finds a way to win. I thought this was where Ilja Dragunov would've debuted, but sadly that didn't happen; guess we have to wait a little longer for that to occur. But this was a very fun match, and Darby Allin has had a remarkable 2026 and contiunes to have a case for AEW Wrestler of the Year."
[7.0] "A great first defence for Darby. It's the classic formula of him getting killed before he makes a comeback and wins, but as someone who enjoys most Darby matches, this worked for me. Darby was great in this, and Davis puts in another great performance, further establishing himself as one of the company's best TV workers at the moment. ***3/4"
[6.0] "Another enjoyable match, though lacking in suspense. I'm factoring the out-of-ring action into the score, though it is admittedly a fairly standard structure for an Allin match. In-ring quality: 2.75/5. Stakes: 1.5/2. Justification: 0.5/1. Card placement: 0.75/1. Suspense: 0.25/1. Bonus/penalty: none. Total: 5.75/10. Match watched on MyAEW."
[9.0] "[4. 50*] This was incredible. Darby is back to his old TV ways and this absolutely rocked, Mark Davis is so so good he just threw Darby around, Darby sold like a rockstar and there were so many nasty bumps, some only slightly awkward moments on Darby's end that amplified the punishment he was taking. Wish the finish took a bit more offense from Darby's end."
[6.0] "[3.5] Growing increasingly tired of the same Darby Allin match structure, especially against big men. Growing increasingly more excited every time I see Mark Davis is working a show, and hopefully there's something genuine for him besides being the guy to heat up other wrestlers."
[7.0] "Darby doing what he does best, underdog murder match where he barely survives against a larger opponent. Once again, his value as a TV wrestler can't be overstated. Davis more than did his part and I love watching his work. He's a proper old school big man with enough modern athleticism to be entertaining. Top man."
[7.0] "I like Darby but I am getting a little tired of his matches being identical and him still winning almost every time. He doesn't need the TNT title. I did like this match because while Darby can bore me sometimes, Mark Davis cannot. I did enjoy this match."
[7.0] "Davis and his gigantic dump truck show up for Darby's weekly destruction. Very good match, Darby getting wrecked per usual. I wasn't certain how I felt about Steve being incorporated so heavily already into the actual show, but I'm coming around to him and Darby together as a familial unit."
[7.0] "Well i thought this was a pretty good match obviously much longer than the listed match time as the brawled on the outside for a while. The match was fast paced with lots of moments that leave you thinking yeah only Darby is agreeing and thinking of stuff like that to do. I will never get bored of the spot of him being charged into whilst he skates down to the ring. I liked the brawling on the outside with the moments like Davis swinging him back and fourth into the walls. Also his coffin brought of the stands and his crossbody sending them back over the barricade. But i do feel they could of cut some time from it as it did drag as touch on the outside. The stuff after the bell rang was also pretty good as they were killing each other with some nice moments. Davis hitting some huge forearms and lariats throughout. Darby hit some great moves the code red in this match was pretty insane. The finish with the 3 coffin drops 1 outside then 2 after Davis beat the count where all good. I feel like i had high expectations for this like every Darby tv match and it felt a bit underwhelming by the usual high standards he has set particularly this year but it was still a very fine smack about. (***3/4)"
[9.0] "Some great pre-match brawling before the bell rings. Darby bumbs like maniac the entire time. Davis just launches him all around the arena, and the ring. One of the better TV matches all year."
[10.0] "First, and only ever one on one singles match between Darby Allen and Mark Davis by the way, and they put on a absolutely banger of a pro wrestling match and a simple and easy career highlight for both men here in this matchup, If that don't scream and show that how good these two are, then question a lot about your thoughts man, David and Darby are just so incredible. What a match man."
[6.0] "No way this was 9 minutes like it says. Maybe 9 minutes without commercials. But there were two commercial breaks which really took away the match and the flow. And this was too long for a Darby beat down and comeback win. This was too one sided even for a Darby Allin match. Even when Darby would get a move in, Mark Davis would sell it and then just go back to beating Darby. But, it was still enjoyable to watch - seeing Darby get thrown around never gets old."
[7.0] "Mark Davis has been on a hell of a run over the past number of months in AEW, and this was another great showing by him here, even if Darby's win was never in doubt. A fun match that highlighted the best of both men, even if the constant post-match DCF attacks are getting dull and played out."
[7.0] "This match was not 9 minutes, it was like 16, which is why it was good. This could've been a throwaway first defence for Darby but Davis properly made him earn it."
"Tony Khan has built such an impressive roster that I'm looking forward to almost every matchup lately. I knew this match would be good, and it really was as Mark Davis is incredibly talented both ways. He can work with smaller guys and make it look good. To me he's like a modernized JBL in the ring and he's the tank version of Will Ospreay in some cases. His speed and brutal move list against Darby are what brought me to this conclusion. There were some nasty plants in this match, and I loved every minute of it."
[6.0] "So basically someone backstage pitched to have Darby go up against a grizzly bear, and they threw Mark Davis at him. It's the Darby David vs. Goliath match where he takes a mauling and is left in agonizing pain, which he sells so damn well, remains resilient and defiant, and sprinkles in some fiery comebacks with a dash of daredevil, and it's a hit. My only complaint about this match is I wish the closing stretch of Darby slaying Goliath was extended to put an emphatic stamp on how overwhelming Davis was. The spot where Darby smacked Davis with the skateboard and Davis retaliated with a stiff forearm appeared like a receipt to my eye. ***1/4"
[7.0] "A bit too one sided, it is a weird first defence for Dayby but isn't it always like that for him. The sheaningans outside before the fight was a bit meh, but it gets good on the ring. Really liked the spot where Darby tie the hand of Davis to the corner , and Davis managing to give him a one handed powerbomm."
[7.0] "Perhaps I had sky-high expectations for this match, and it only managed to meet the bare minimum of what I was hoping for. It had a frenetic start--with the two going all-out at ringside before the bell even rang--and later showcased the great chemistry between them; it was a very physical contest, with Darby putting his body on the line for the crowd's entertainment. I might have liked the match to go on a little longer, but I loved various parts of it. 7/10."
[9.0] "Darby Allin has gotta be one of the most consistent TV match guys I can remember. Feel like he delivers, no matter the opponent. And Mark Davis has just shined so much in 2026. This dude is big, mean and will just beat the living hell out of you and always look like a formidable challenger. Every roster needs guys like Mark Davis, imo."
[8.0] "This was a really rad match, not quite the Darby v Joe/Brody that I kinda expected. I felt they wrestled this as though Mark Davis was 50 pounds lighter which was a bit weird at times. But the action was really really good the whole time. Hopefully Darby has similar defenses every week just like his World Title run!"
2x
10x
72x
115x
32x
1x
0x
0x
0x
0x
0x