[5.0] "This match happened towards the end of Cole-MJF team's hot run and it's not anything to write home about. They just got their shit in on this opening match. This angle went sideways a few weeks later."
[6.0] "Loving this Better Than You Bay Bay relationship, but the match didnt really work for me. Like the idea of building a match around MJFs neck, and the friendship between him and Cole works really well. Just not invested in the Dark Order at all, seemed like anyone couldve been in the ring with BTYBB and it wouldve been exactly the same."
[5.0] "[2.5*] This was built around MJFs neck selling and his big comeback spot into the match, so the focus here was not much into the wrestling itself and more in hyping the crowd up for the rest of the PPV, trying to avoid a Chicago hijack by the fans, which thankfully did not happen. It was fun but average."
[6.0] "The booking of this match was awesome, I understand that the in-ring work wasn't the best and clearly behind some things that came next, but it was truly a joy to watch this. Max coming to help Adam after a "injury" shows how much he changed and gives a deeper viewership on his evolution. Amazingly well booked match and awesome pops too, the Better Than You Bay Bay are insanely hot, and it's very fun to watch their matches. The post-match angle with Joe was INSANE as well - {***}"
[6.0] "A solid way to kick off the show from a story perspective, but the match itself wasn't amazing or anything, unfortunately. I did appreciate them briefly leaning into the face that Reynolds had a hand in training MJF. Aside from that, this was nice, but nothing you really need to go out of your way to watch."
[3.0] "Meh pretty much most of the match was a 2 on 1 handicap match as it focused of MJF injuring his neck then coming in in typical fashion towards the close of the match but this felt like your typical wwe tag team match which isn't always bad but there's a certain way they do them but this match wasn't great which is a shame because i like all four workers involved"
[6.0] "Very solid match that played into MJF's neck injury and also started his feud with Samoa Joe. It was a solid tag match but nothing too crazy with the ROH tag champs retaining."
[7.0] "despite the fact that MJF was out for almost half of the match, but it was still a good performance by Adam and especially The Dark Order team. but i think Adam and MJF together, are much more capable than this, and it could've been much better. but still, i rate this match more than average. The Dark Order should be given more chances, because they already proved, that they can deliver such a great performance. (***1/4)"
[6.0] "This was a fine match. Nothing special, they worked a really face angle in this match, Max gets hurt, gets escorted to the back while his partner Cole is trying to keep the Championship for them, Adam gets outnumbered but as all hope seems dimmed, Max returns, gets a hot tag and retains. We have seen this type of angle many times and this wasn't anything new. It was fine for what it was but not great. ***"
[8.0] "They made what looked like random dynamite main event match into spectacular show. Ring side stuff with MJF was may be little bit longer, then I'd prefer, but I swear him coming back got the loudest pop I heard, also pacing gets better towards MJF comeback. Offense was well executed, Cole & MJF got great chemistry together, their angle is really well thought in and ouf of ring, also both teams worked well together. Glad that Dark Order got a chance to showcase themselves, even though winners were obvious from a start. [***3/4]"
[6.0] "A decent opening match that added some "fun" to a card that featured a lot of brutality. Both teams know how to work the crowd, and it's clear the fans are savoring the chance to cheer on a babyface MJF. I still can't believe he got "Kangaroo Kick" over so quickly. The post-match angle with Samoa Joe makes a lot of sense too, and didn't feel out of place."
[7.0] "It was a very nicely worked angle with MJF going full babyface. The Dark Order held their own and they were decent as heels here who worked the crowd well when they had to control Cole for the most of the match. Uno pulled of being a little prick here and him finally getting superkicked felt great. Nice opener, they made something enjoyable out of the cold match."
"Not really much to this match but it was fun. The in-ring work was excellent as well. It was mainly about furthering BTYBB Story but thats also what it needed to be. They played the crowd perfectly and it was a nice way to start the show. Afterwards Samoa Joe comes out and shoves MJF which was a surprising and nice callback to NXT. Id go with ***"
[9.0] "Pretty much a near perfect match. MJF's babyface comeback was beyond euphoric. Loved the Dark Order here too, just nasty, unpleasant, crowd-killing heels, perfect guys to have in this role, despite them being an unexpected choice for this spot. Traditional, simple match but everything hit the right notes."
[5.0] "Essentially a reset button after the godawful main event of All In, this was all about the crowd pleasing signature spots and storyline stagnation (they have new t-shirts to sell, folks - they're gonna milk this schtick 4Life). Dork Order gained nothing from this **1/2"
[4.0] "I hated the neck injury angle. It was so stupid and I just dont understand how or why people got so sucked into it. I dont hate MJF... at least I keep telling myself that, but hte way people fawn of the most basic stuff and over react to everything he does like he's attitude era The Rock levels of entertaining is just baffling and makes me roll my eyes and groan. Dark Order also deserve better."
"[6.50] This match did its job as an opener for a ppv that followed a huge event only a week prior. All the wrestlers were fine in the match but there wasn't anything really special about the match. i wouldn't recommend anyone go out of their way to watch this title defense nor would I rewatch it. It honestly felt like a Zero Hour match and the match itself becomes quickly overshadowed by the post match events with Samoa Joe"
[4.0] "The injury angle was the only way to make this one believably go more than 5 minutes. Silver at one point goes for a three kick combo on Cole and missed every single kick from looking like they were anywhere near Cole. Evil Uno back to being evil makes him at least bearable these days as he goes for cheap heat on the outside attacking Cole whenever within range. I loved Silver n Reynolds calling for a double clothesline. MJF comes back to the expected big pop. Didn't much care for the over the top overacting from Reynolds deciding whether to fall or not onto Silver. This was ok. **"
[5.0] "This was a decent PPV opener, with the biggest issue to me being trying to buy the Dark Order as these vicious heels. The MJF Cole dynamic is entertaining enough, and MJF coming back after an injury angle to take out the Dark Order with Cold was a proper conclusion to this. **1/2"
[5.0] "The MJF/Cole thing is not really for me. This was a strange match to make, Dark Order are just not going to be heels, John Silver is small and bald and people love small bald people. The neck injury thing was weak, it played no part when MJF was wrestling and only sold when the storyline called for it."
[5.0] "This was the only match of the night that I wasn't into. I didn't "get" MJF's neck injury, I wasn't sure what I was supposed to feel there, since a lot of this story is based around *intentional* turns and actions. MJF leaving Cole to fight alone is a good angle, but the way it was done was confusing. Ring work was very simple, MJF and Cole got their double clothesline and now the kangaroo kick in, and Dark Order could match them perfectly fine. They're a joke now, but they're good in the ring. I just didn't like the way this played out, felt unneccessary and heatless. I loved Joe's entrance and the brawl at the end though, that was great."
[7.0] "Pretty basic match, but MJF and Cole are so entertaining that they managed to turn what is a decently worked tag match, with an injury angle thrown in, into something far better. The in ring work was solid, Dark Order had some great moments, but MJF and Cole's shenanigans were what made this match. Solid opener. ***1/2"
"So I guess every MJF match now is going to have the kAnGaRoO KiCk and stopping in the middle of a match to deliver a monologue. Wonderful. Hopefully WWE wins the "Bidding War of 2024" so I don't have to suffer this dork that much longer. Also I'm still trying to figure out why these two were defending their belts on ppv against a couple of jabrobis rather than, oh I dunno, The Kingdom? Who are also a couple of jabrobis but least they, yknow, just started a program with Adam Cole. But what do I know"
[7.0] "I usually don't enjoy matches where one of the wrestlers have a "injury", just to come back and get the pop... but this one was oddly good, pretty much because of the talent of the ones involved in the match. Cole and MJF are fantastic as a singles wrestlers, and work unbelievably well as a tag. Reynolds and Silver are maybe the most underrated tag in the division, when they got the chances, they always delivers they always deliver a spectacle. Overall, solid opener. ***3/4."
[5.0] "This was a total throwback opener with basic in-ring wrestling and a cheap injury angle to build heat. Everything about it was textbook, complete with MJF's return to a monster reaction and the champs retaining cleanly. This was fine for what it was. **1/2"
[7.0] "BTYBB are excelling at these remarkably simple matches that get the crowd to explode for the smallest things. I don't think there was anything too exceptional here besides MJF's insanely good body language throughout, but they overdelivered in terms of crowd investment. Dark Order played fine heels even if Reynolds is the least-interesting guy signed to AEW since Silver is one of the most interesting and Uno played a great role on the outside. The Cole 1v2 was necessary for the structure but not all that exciting to me. Simple effective finish after Max got the pop for returning and hitting their moves though. Post-match was EXCELLENT however, the setup for Max & Joe was one of the best pieces of booking AEW has ever put together and they didn't even cut a promo, it was all physical. ***1/4+"
[6.0] "MJF is one of my favorite wrestlers right now and has been for a while, but winning the ROH tag titles and their first defense were TV quality matches. Disappointing start to the run. Overall fun match with Cole working underdog and MJF coming to save the day."
[7.0] "You know what... I'm going to be a bit generous with my rating here, because I thought these guys worked their asses off. The Dark Order are a poor fit for their new serious heel role, but they made the most out of their opportunity here. Uno just looks too silly and even toned down Silver's goofiness comes out too much for it to really work. I generally find Reynolds to be very unimpressive but I thought this might have been his best showing in AEW - I liked that little move where he snapped Cole off the ropes, too. I am usually negative about Cole, too, but even he did pretty well here and was an effective face in peril. Some aspects of the match were a little cheesy, but I did admittedly enjoy MJF's 80s babyface routine and he did a great job making sure to sell his neck the whole way through. The energetic crowd reaction really helped elevate the match, too. Considering this match had a lot of guys that I'm not a fan of, I thought this was a really good effort. Loved the post-match, too."
[6.0] "The dark order never disappoints. Good to see them getting space on a pay-per-view again. John Silver is one of my favorite wrestlers and he deserves it. And I'm looking forward to seeing Roderick's performance now that MJF has a sore neck too. Cole and MJF's bromance is wonderful."
[7.0] "Classic hot babyface opening act right here in Better Than You BAYBAY. MJF is rocking his shit wonderfully. This was a solid match - very much nothing out of ordinary, but a good-time-thing to start a show with. AEW PPV's usually get the openers right & such was the case here. FUN!"
[7.0] "This match was all about Mjf returning from a neck injury and get a hot tag for the win so there it wasn't much focus about the action but overall it was very fun match. Cole and Dark Order had some good sequences and Mjf got a big pop when he came back. He hit the kangaroo kick and with Cole they hit a double closthesline for the victory. This match had the goal to not let people hijack the show with Cm Punk chants and they did it so it was good for what it was. Happy to see Dark Order get some shine as well. 7/10 - 3.5*/5*"
[6.0] "Perfect way to start this show. Just a fun tag team match with the usual return to an injury moment and yes, the Kangaroo kick by MJF that is just one of my favourite moves in wrestling. Solid title defense and a babyface performance by Better Than You Bay Bay here. ***1/4"
[5.0] "5.5 - Given how strongly they're doing this tongue-in-cheek schtick, MJF is pretty damn good at it. His exaggerated babyface tactics fluctuate between funny and annoying, but he at least is more committed to it than Adam Cole. For similar reasons, Silver looked better in this match than Reynolds, who also had a weird springboard move that didn't land."
[5.0] "If you like the emphasis on character drama that permeates these BTYBB tag matches, then you'll like this one again. I admit that I do enjoy these matches, and I enjoy the chemistry of these two, but a goofy match with the Dark Order? Seriously? I could've really gotten behind it, but the Order got treated almost like jobbers. Why are efforts being made to rehab their image into something more dangerous, but you just shit on them on a PPV ffs? Not a fan of the injury angle either."
[7.0] "A very good opening fight for All Out, it's not technically the best but I think it works well to draw attention from the start, so it's worth watching mostly for the storyline with MJF and Adam Cole, which is certainly one of the best of AEW in recent months."
[5.0] "They sure are going hard on a lot of the drama for these MJF/Adam Cole matches. Really not something I like. This was fine but Dark Order haven't been rehabbed enough to make this close to an interesting match and the drama around it just came off extra."
[5.0] "I was impressed by Adam Cole's ability to sell himself as an underdog (against the Dark Order of all people! ) despite this newfound level of babyface stardom. I was less than impressed by Reynolds and Silver, who leant into the heel role too aggressively, without any indication of a character change on the main show beforehand. MJF pulls a Brock Lesnar in this match and conveniently disappears for a good majority of it. This is not to say that these portions of the match were boring, however. Just underdeveloped and unpolished."
[6.0] "There were flashes of somerhing better in this match. I like Silver & Reynolds, they work well together and can be a lot of fun. But, they were treated like jobbers. Despite taking out MJF with the chair, the segment where MJF was gone was mainly controlled by Cole. Even though they would gain control over Cole for a bit before MJF came back, they never felt like a threat, and that hurt the story of the match. ***1/4"
[8.0] "I knew this match would be great when Dark Order won the Battle Royal, because they're great and have really good chemistry with Adam Cole and MJF. BTYBB are still my favorite tag team ATM because of the excellent story and simply how well these two work together. (****1/4)"
[5.0] "A bit of a strange choice in a PPV opener. I enjoy Silver and Reynolds as a team but their usage in AEW has left a bit to be desired in terms of believing they even remotely had a chance of winning here. The MJF story was a fine way to go to at least some more drama with the match. Cole and MJF retaining at least was a satisfying way for the crowd to start off the show. I did feel the match may have been able to have been a bit shorter (like a number of other matches on the show) but not substantially enough to have taken away from it."
[4.0] "This was fine for some story progression, but ultimately not a ton of meat on the bone there. Nobody thought Dark Order was winning, and probably looked worse coming out of this than going in somehow. I didn't like the neck injury angle at all, it just didn't work convincingly here, and played out very by the numbers."
[5.0] "Not a bad match by any means but more of a storytelling effort than anything else. Reynolds & Silver get a bit of the jobber treatment here, looking quite weak in defeat. MJFs tongue-in-cheek tweener-but-not-really face push continues. A decent crowd-feeler kind of match, but not your usual fire-stoke welcome to the show banger of an opener."
0x
1x
44x
177x
190x
105x
3x
1x
0x
0x
0x