Brody King, Buddy Matthews & Malakai Black vs. Darby Allin, Miro & Sting

[5.0] "Obvious pee break match is obvious. These types of pointless spotfests are never my thing but this is elevated by Darby and Sting being great as always. Not sure why this wasnt a simple tag match considering Miro was barely involved. Also had a mist spot that you couldnt tell was a mist spot. Really flat overall."

[6.0] "It's a decent enough trios match, but not the best performance from all six men involved and mostly a way to get these wrestlers on the show."

[5.0] "Weird match, Miro had almost no time in this, maybe he was injured. I thought this match was honestly a waste and proved they didn't knew what to do with House of Black. Filler match for people rest to the main event. I don't know if a co-main event should be like that - {**1/2}"

[9.0] "Was surprised at the low rating for this. My impression is people wanted House of Black to win but that didn't matter much to me, granted they could get more wins but a group like this is so easy to heat up at a moment's notice. I'm also not a huge Black fan so him being pinned didn't phase me. I thought King and Buddy did a great job, Miro looked like an ass kicker, and Darby yet again combined awesome selling and bone rattling relentless offense when given the chance. I got a whole lot out of this, highly underrated match for me."

[5.0] "Not bad to be the filler match of hte night. Good interacions among teams, maybe the inner connection between every one was no the best. This was clearly just a match built to wait until the main event. The task was achieved. [**1/2]"

[6.0] "A solid match, but a little awkward at times as well. Not everything hit as well as I think it could have, and the finish was a little weird also. I would have liked for The House of Black to get the win, but I also understand AEW wanting to protect Sting. Either way, this was fine, but not super memorable by any means."

[6.0] "Some fine wrestling at the beginning with a lot of great offense by the HOB but then the match fell off: sometimes the action wasn't very fluid and in general nothing huge happend. Sting & Malakai face off was a cool moment and also the ending was pretty good. All four men worked well and I liked Miro's character work. Wrong team won. Nothing wrong but also nothing special. 6/10 - 3.25*/5*"

[5.0] "There was some lovely wrestling in the opening segment with Darby and Buddy. Black cut off Darby with an excellent looking kick while he was attempting Code Red. House of Black dominate Darby and ragdoll him around. Darby of course excels in a match like this and against these opponents. The set-up to the hot tag was REALLY bad though. By this point the match felt awkward. Sting did his usual no-sell spots and all 6 men were in and out without much rhythm. I wasn't really loving it. House of Black impressed me with their individual performances but the match was underwhelming down the stretch. **3/4"

[6.0] "Did what it needed to do, Miro is great and the energy and roughness was good, but I believe this is more suited for a weekly show, not a PPV."

[3.0] "another pointless match. house of black looked bad and sting again was booked like a unstoppable superstar who jobs out everybody he fights."

[7.0] "A fun cooldown contest between these six stars who had a weird place again like the women but utilized their best in having the crowd entertained. The story between HOB and Sting & Darby is not ending here and I'm curious to see various layers of it which could close out on an epic wild match sooner bringing huge alterations as I expect. Miro should've been featured more as he was left out most of the time. I hope his push is not halted and continues to rise up. Malakai's timely break due to his personal battles is completely acceptable and I wish him nothing but the very best to kick those enemies off and come back more menacing by heart & mind. 3.5 out of 5 stars!"

[5.0] "Not much to say about this match but it was a fine enough way to break up the card before the main event. Comments below about Black taking time off or going elsewhere are news to me, but maybe that's why the black paint around Sting's eye was gone already without a word. The House of Black have probably used every costume from The Behemoth's music videos at this point."

[5.0] "At least this was something for the crowd that probably got them to pop on this show that was very very heel heavy from beginning to end."

[4.0] "Malakai Black should have pinned Sting and I stand by this, a lot of weird booking decisions tonight especially this one"

[5.0] "Same shit over and over for Darby and Sting on PPV's. At least, that was fun, but that still another lose for House of Black. It's predictable as hell. Nevertheless, that delivered with some good interactions between everybody. Everybody knows how to handle a crowd, even if the fans were dead."

[7.0] "I'm sorry for this match, as it was put in the worst spot, before the main event, but I still think it was a good match"

[5.0] "This match sure did exist. I don't have much to say about it. I like the Sting spots, as always, but nothing else sticks out to me. All my best wishes to Black. Whether this is his last match in the promotion or not, I hope he is able to get his head in the right place and overcome whatever personal, work or health problems he is dealing with."

[7.0] "I thought this was a fine match. Good strikes from all of the wrestlers involved. If this is Malakai's last match in AEW, it's a shame his run didn't go as well as it could've. I hope he takes the time to heal from whatever issues he's dealing with. 7/10"

[5.0] "I really wanted to like this more than I actually did. It started with some good action but got increasingly dull. It was far too late in the show for a flat match like this. I could have done without Sting no selling Buddy and especially King, too. This all just felt like a waste of everybody involved."

[6.0] "Fine, but only fine. For the placement, the talent in the ring and the respective intros, the actual match must be considered a slight disappointment due to them not ever properly going into next gear. The crowd already being tired after a long night did not help either. Malakai taking the fall makes you think whether the internet rumors are true."

[6.0] "The whole story, which could have resulted in something good, eventually cooled all six fighters in general. Sorry. Darby has been doing unnecessary things for a year and is wasting the vibe of his popularity in vain. He seems to have just started playing tough matches, but is still in the shadows. House Of Black should not lose like that for the second time for themselves, such failures simply lower the status. Miro is also somehow not remembered. As a result, a counterproductive match spoiling the status of the stars on which I had hope, the company does not fulfill them:("

[6.0] "I think part of it is fatigue of a show going this long with no breaks, but it seemed like the crowd was just not into this match as much as previous Sting and House of Black crazy matches like this. A lot of it just felt silly and the ending took a lot away from this match as well. It sucks that people as talented as the house of black and Allin, Sting, and Miro are stuck in weird situations like this. **3/4"

[6.0] "I didn't expect to like this as much as I did. I almost skipped it and took a break from this unbelievably long ppv. Starts out strong with great brawling from Miro. Can we please see more of this guy? He worked very well with the Black guys and is only tagged in twice in this match unfortunately. Darby also looked great- he's best in small doses and this was a perfect dose of him. And Stiiiiiing! Doing his greatest hits like he's on a farewell tour of high school gyms and VFW halls. He looks a little slow but man he's still got that it factor. Even his stinger splashes looked pretty good. This has the usual bullshit you see in trios matches, and would have benefitted from being about 5 minutes shorter, but it's definitely fun and worth a watch."

[6.0] "When you see the names of the people wrestling in this match, you would expect so much better. Seems like Malakai is taking a break or off to WWE."

[7.0] "This was good match, great ending with Sting using the mist. Sting is always a highlight in his AEW matches, he? s just awesome!"

[8.0] "Very good match between these trios, I'm sad House of Black loses again after match after match, but alright, it wasnt clean win by sting allin miro, black mist and good pin that can't be escaped, i understand and I like it, I hope Black will win on Full Gear if he fight with Sting, I give this match **** and 7.5 [8]"

[6.0] "Loved Miro not forgetting his history with Darby by not tagging him in and Darby having to tag himself in to get in. Everyone played their role in this well, we got the usual exciting Sting hot tag in this, where he's just no selling everything. The mist ending to Malakai was a cool way to end this match, but the crowd really wasn't into this outside of the Sting stuff.***1/4"

[5.0] "It was a "eh" match. Easily forgettable. I have to wonder on malakai's future. That ending/ pin says Im leaving."

[5.0] "I found the story behind it extremely interesting but that's very all, nothing more than that. Skippable as a match (not as an angle)."

[6.0] "Yet another not bad, but not quire good match on this card. I really hope Malakai isn't retiring, cause this is a shit way to go out."

[6.0] "A good fight, which although not that spectacular is quite entertaining, especially to see this rivalry that has long since been built."

[6.0] "I'm gonna be real. I barely paid attention to this. The story isn't captivating and the place on the card didn't help it. Sting fire ups and no selling were the best part. All the best to Malakai Black on his presumed time off. Hope he comes back better than ever."

[7.0] "A solid match but not PPV-level. Miro & Sting were awesome, Brody & Darby were great, Malakai & Buddy were good, but nothing exceptional happened except Sting no-selling stuff and doing his own mist which elevated this a good bit. ***1/4+"

[8.0] "This trios match turned out to be a pretty good one. I liked how they initially teased that Miro wouldn't work together with Darby Allin and Sting at the start; but they eventually ended up overcoming their common enemy in House of Black by the later stages of this match. I particularly loved Sting no-selling the HoB's kicks while he had the Scorpion Deathlock on Malakai Black. The finish was pretty cool with Sting blinding Malakai Black in the face (which I ALMOST missed it live the first time), and Darby Allin getting the win for his team. Hopefully, this won't be the last time that we'll see Malakai Black in a wrestling ring, and I'm hoping that Buddy Matthews still gets booked well in his absence."

[6.0] "What should've been an all out (haha) spotfest to wake up everybody that fell asleep during the last match did the opposite. Darby gets ragdolled as usual here, and the Sting hot tag was great, also as usual. I do not remember anything Miro did, but I bet he looked like a complete killer doing it (love that guy). HOB each do their normal move set individually-- nothing really special though. Sting carries the match, and he imparts an ancient lesson from The Great Muta before Darby pins Black for the win."

[6.0] "The most odd match of the night. I personally love HOB, but apart from the entrance they didn't feel right tonight. Obviously the rumour is Malakai is taking time off, and while that partially explains the finish, it doesn't help the match. This should not have been a 6 man tag in my opinion."

[5.0] "Why on earth did House of Black lose? Absolute monsters who get tricked by everything. Sting doesnt need to win in 2022 just like he didnt in 2012. Baffled by this. Who gets over? Miro? Darby? Keeping wins on people you dont need to sell the crowd on. If HOB were all fighting Sting who was held to the ring by impossible amounts of gravity, I would still think they lose to Sting based on their history."

[8.0] "This felt really fun. Still was able to get some pops out of a fatigued crowd with some good spots. Especially with Black wrestling hurt."

[6.0] "Nothing much to say here. Obviously Malakai is taking a break or is still injured or both. Maybe he's getting released. That's my takeaway from this."

[7.0] "Black was wrestling hurt, and is taking time off after this match, hence the booking. It was still a good match, with plenty of hard hitting action and some great stuff from Sting looking indestructible and ageless as usual.The finish with him neutralising Black by using his own mist was a clever touch."

[5.0] "A pretty ok multi-man tag thankfully free from Darby's worst traits. A filler in between Danielson/Jericho and the main event."

[8.0] "Sleeper match, despite the perplexing finish. House of Black have been treated terribly in AEW, and I'm not sure whose call it was to have them lose this. But the match leading up to the finish was tons of fun. ****"

[5.0] "While interesting at times this failed to ever hit a high note. Sting delivers a fun performance and his mist spot was fun. Darby gets a pin over a possibility departing Malakai Black."

[5.0] "Maybe this was Malakai's last match in AEW, which is kind of weird to think about. This felt like a nothing tag match. Crowd was totally uninvested, which is nobody's fault really."

[5.0] "It was sloopy in my honest opinion and House of Black hasn't looked good as of lately, I hope Black is ok and I wish him the best if he is taking some time off"