[10.0] "Man this match is awesome! .MJF and Adam Cole have great chemistry they both did great here.MJF being MJF proveing he is one of the best pro wrestlers today by going toe to toe with a guy like adam cole and adam cole showing Max that he still is the adam cole he grow up on.This is a great match one of the best aew tv matches."
[9.0] "Dynamite startet mit meinem MotN. Cole und MJF zeigen hier ein Match, das nur noch wenig Raum für Verbesserung bietet, die Schlussphase war fantastisch. Die Beiden hatten eine außergewöhnlich gute Chemie und konnten wirklich voneinander profitieren. Cole's Big-Match-Stil kommt seinem Gegner sehr gelegen. Auf jeden Fall hat dieses Match das geschafft, was die Segmente davor nur bedingt geschafft haben: Ich hab jetzt richtig Bock auf die MJF/Cole-Storyline."
[9.0] "Another old-school homage by MJF, while Cole followed him in that wet dream pretty well. MJF paid tribute to the Ric Flair who bullied babyfaces back in the day, while the latter surprised him with some good comebacks, and sequences. Nonetheless, that's freaking Adam Cole, and after a shitty feud with Jericho, it was a great way to showcase Cole as an always big threat for any champion. Great build, a slowly one, but the finish had a sense thanks to the build. They also displayed great technique, striking, and other crazy stuff they can easily do. That was really fun, and interesting watching it. It had a lot of details. For once, the eliminator rule had a meaning in AEW's booking. Superb bout, they could have fought all night long. And I'm pretty surprised of how Adam Cole can be over as a babyface. That lad is meant to be a hell all his life, but he showed he's also good being the good guy."
[9.0] "Fantastic match and one of the best Dynamite openers I've ever saw. This was the match that kicked off with a right foot the story between MJF and Adam Cole. This was incredibly good produced and had several amazing moments. This had big match feel and the crowd was all into it. Crazily good progression - {****1/4}"
[8.0] "Really fun, really fast & really creative. These three use the stipulation perfectly, and come up with a lot of creative spots involving all three, which is what all triple threat matches should aspire to. Perfect length too. They build on the history of Edge & Mysterio, and AJ getting the win felt good because he's the one the other two are least familiar with. It was just missing the hard hitting element but otherwise, incredible."
[9.0] "This was actually a really entertaining match. Unlike most matches that end in time limit draws, the two had more of a sense of urgency and actually tried to put each other away. The match kept me engaged the whole way through, and the time ran out right when Adam Cole had MJF beat."
[9.0] "What a show... In my opinion best Adam Cole match in his career. Slow build, amazing wrestling, technique, sotrytelling and most important thing that other Cole matches luck great psychology. Probably my favourite dynamite match even toping Omega Danielson. And i realy like ending, for last 6 minutes i was siting on the edge off my seat. Loud crowd made a big fight feel. Superb"
[8.0] "[4.5*] Going back to that time, MJF was a perfect heel, his provocations towards Cole and interactions with the crowd are hilarious, he knows how to generate a reaction from the public like no one else. MJF's character and his future friendship with Adam Cole was perfectly built in this match. The action in the ring was very good, Adam Cole and MJF are not known for carrying matches but they both did a good job in this match, the ending was great and creative, the team limit draw happened when Adam Cole was about to become champion."
[9.0] "This was an awesome opener for Dynamite. Cole and MJF's character work was great and they worked really well together here. The crowd was hot and there were some great spots like the elbow drop through the table. The only problem the match had was that it had some small pacing issues. ****1/2"
[10.0] "Honestly this could have main evented a PPV. MJF is at his peak here and its insane that hes not getting more spotlight in the business, this should have at least main evented Dynamite. The ending was so perfect, and a great way to protect MJF while basically giving Cole the win. I think the only thing holding this back from being 10/10 was just it not being on a PPV, lacks some of that aura, some of that atmosphere but still a phenomenal match. MJF is killing it! - changed my mind and am putting this at a 10 because i think about this match too damn much for it not to be a 10"
[9.0] "AEW has a catalog of phenomenal TV matches and this was another example. This wasnt a world title match so we had a 30 minute time limit here. Adam Cole was coming off a flop of a program with Jericho and was at a low point in his AEW career. Turns out all he needed was a banging match with the champion! Heel MJFs desperation in these longer matches is my favorite version of MJF. He has a way of really portraying that he gives a shit about winning. Truly phenomenal work and an intelligent finish I didnt see coming."
[7.0] "The first 8-10 minutes were entirely dominated by MJF. He completely controlled the match and the room. His heel antics were tremendously fun and filled the time perfectly. His arm-targeting was really good. The simple things like the arm wringers into the mat and the pump-handle driver were all exceptionally done. Cole working from underneath doesn't do anything for me. His babyface selling isn't sympathetic. More on that later though. His comeback was solid. He hit an impactful superkick to foil one from MJF. There were some back-and-forth exchanges afterward which showed good chemistry. MJF repeatedly going back to the arm with whips and shoulder breakers was nice to see. Cole's offense looked better than it usually does, but he still had a few bobbles (I doubt the botched ushigoroshi was intentional). I have to elaborate on Cole's selling by this point. During the midpoint of the match it became more noticeable that he was immobile selling. MJF is taking exaggerated bumps and selling in a very animated way while Cole is rolling into places and just laying there. No facial expressions, no body language, just dead. Very ineffective babyface work from Cole. The tombstone on the apron was the break spot. The submission sequence after the break was contrived. The final 1/3rd of this match was really busy and overbooked. Table and apron spots, horribly botched ref bump, the Eddie trick, finisher kickouts, low blow, MJF's diamond ring, and then the time limit draw. I think most of this worked, but my biggest complaint goes back to Cole. He didn't show nearly enough urgency in the final moments. This is the best Cole match in God knows how long and he was dragged to it by MJF. ***1/2"
[9.0] "This was an awesome match to open things up here. While I don't typically prefer neither person winning a match, I think AEW has definitely used the Time Limit policy to their advantage. It hasn't been overused, but it has been used a few times throughout their history. Plus, when it's done, it's usually for good reason. This time, I think it's a good thing that will advance the story between these two, and I'm very interested to see where this goes next."
[6.0] "They obviously held back a lot in this match, but the crowd work was amazing (mostly from MJF) and the 30 minutes flew by. Still, the in-ring action was nice but not special and I have a huge flaw to remark concerning the way AEW presents time limits. Justin Roberts never does time calls, but in this match he called the 20 minute mark. This absolutely killed any suspense for me and it was obvious it'd be a draw. Then, they don't even announce the time again, just that one remark at 10 minutes left, which doesn't make any sense to me. Plus, of course the bell didn't ring at exactly 30 minutes, but well, that I can excuse. Still concerning the finish, I think they shouldn't make it so certain that Adam Cole was gonna win. It makes MJF not look great nor smart nor a scumbag, it just makes him look super lucky. In my opinion, they should have made Cole hitting his finisher and making it seem like he was going to win, but not this blatantly. Nevertheless, they showed great chemistry and the rematch can certainly be very good."
[8.0] "Despite not reaching the next level that would've made this match fantastic, I think that it's still great: Mjf's work on the arm was very good altough Cole's selling wasn't very good. Cole had a couple of good comebacks, there were a lot of high risk spots like the tombstone on the apron or the diving elbow drop on the table and also some nice exchanges. The match was paced very well and the ending was great. This is one of those cases where a draw doesn't hurt the match. Great perfomance by both men, can't wait for a rematch. 8/10 - 4.25*/5*"
[8.0] "Was für ein Match für Dynamite! Das Finish hätte nicht besser getimed werden können. Ich hoffe auf ein Titelmatch zwischen den beiden weil da bestimmt noch mehr rauszuholen ist. ****1/4"
"Loved this match, MJF and Adam Cole work so well together. They had me entertained throughout the whole match and i look forward to seeing what they do later on."
[6.0] "It was fine but had a lot of gimmicks heaped upon it. A table bump, a ref bump, a belt shot, a three count interrupted by the bell. I have a big disconnect with both wrestlers right now."
[6.0] "Didn't feel like this was either of their best work, and the time-limit ending desperately tried to be a big deal. Definitely didn't fit this match. At the same time, it was fine (but boring) with the screwy-ness of the last half."
[9.0] "Fantastisches Match.Zu Beginn noch recht langsam, aber spätestens nach 10 Minuten, drehen beide gut auf, dazu noch eine großartige Schlussphase. ****1/2"
[9.0] "An excellent opener for a Dynamite. Adam Cole is such an over babyface but still contains rest of his past heel runs. MJF is an amazing heel and is really bringing prestige to the World Title after CM Punk's destructive run. The match is well paced and the draw is really a well constructed finish. Loved this match, can't wait for the rematch."
[9.0] "What could I expect from a match between MJF and Adam Cole other than a great match? And indeed it was what I wanted, half an hour of wrestling magic. Like many I wanted an Adam Cole victory to see these two clash again, but honestly the beauty of the match made me forget that. Tell me I'm not the only one who caught the (probable) quote from the Ironman match between Kurt Angle and Shawn Michaels, which also lasted half an hour, with the "five more minutes""
[8.0] "Damn good match, but it never clicked into that next level. Both guys were on their A-game, and the heel work from MJF was masterful, that kid is a prodigy. Cole was also very good and looked a lot more confident than he did when wrestling Jericho. I would say this is the best he has been since his return. Good comebacks and heat spots, but the match seemed to lack a hook or ongoing story and seemed to be a bit aimless at times. Despite that, I enjoyed it, and would like to see a rematch between these guys, with a proper finish."
[6.0] "I can understand why others liked this match, but this match wasn't really for me. The first 10-15 minutes were absolutely nothing. Wasting time, doing holds, typical heat segments, nothing really worth seeing here. The second half it picked up pretty decently but wasn't anything special. The finish was pretty good, the ref spot was fun. I get why they needed it to be a draw but this match could've been 15 minutes shorter easily and and been the same quality and saved me 15m. Nothing special here. Perfectly fine for what it was meant to do."
[8.0] "MJF spends the first half of the match using really simple moves but it gets him a tonne of heat and proves his statements right that he doesnt have to do flippy moves to get you to care. The crowd lap up every minute of this and they obviously kept a lot back for the inevitable rematch. Was wired commentary not mentioning Shawn Michaels when MJF was doing the mock spot - I understand why, just didnt seem to connect. Finish was great and if I hadnt seen spoilers I wouldnt have seen it coming."
[9.0] "These two had surprisingly good chemistry that I did not expect, but considering the calibre of wrestlers involved, I should not be surprised. Crowd was into it from the start to the end, the match flew by. Everyone looked better off by the end, and it heats up the story between them. The selling was a bit meh and inconsistent at times, my only criticism of this match."
[4.0] "While I appreciate the effort both guys put forward and the fact AEW finally tried to make an eliminator match matter, this didn't work for me. It felt flat and dull for the most part and there were far too many bells and whistles for me to get remotely invested in the outcome."
[8.0] "Really fun match. I'm a low voter on Cole but this was near his best in AEW, and MJF has pretty much mastered his big match style. Really good."
[8.0] "2023 - A very good time limit draw that didn't drag what so ever. Very little time wasting. MJF is killing it in the ring, one of Adam Cole's best in AEW. ****1/4"
[7.0] "This match has some issues with me that are holding it back from being great to me, but overall this was a good match. The start of this is a bit awkward, but once MJF started working over Cole's arm this match got a clear focus. Cole's selling of the arm was pretty bad, but at least his offense looked decent here, and his attempts to sell a bad knee were also pretty bad. MJF's big tombstone on the apron is great, but I could do with him over-exaggerating with the way he sells his leg. The final moments were crazily overbooked, but at least the crowd was with Cole there. The time limit draw was quite obvious here, but that didn't really take away from my enjoyment here or anything.***1/2"
[9.0] "Sensational match, first time that an eliminator match served for something, they made the challenger leave with credit and protected the champion from defeat, the near falls were all very well done, in addition to the spots being well executed (****1/2)"
[9.0] "MJF gegen Adam Cole war unglaublich gut. Es fing langsam an und brauchte ein bisschen um Pfad aufzunehmen. Wo es dann aber einmal richtig zur Sache ging war das Match ausgezeichnet. Sehr gute Spots die man nicht immer sieht und gute Sequenzen. Das Ende war unglaublich Clean. Hat mich sehr beeindruckt (**** 1/2)."
[10.0] "What an incredible match! The leap that MJF took from the top rope to the table was simply amazing. The 30-minute duration felt way too short for the incredible showdown that MJF and Adam Cole delivered. Long live Dynamite!"
[10.0] "Great opener, amazing match, with good chemistry between Adam Cole and mjf, the finish was good. Good result, Adam Cole stay strong. I hope to see these 2 guys face again at ALL In."
[9.0] "Banger of a match. MJF keeps up his sensational form and this is probably my favourite Cole match in his AEW run. Felt big and the crowd were really hot, the subversion of the Eddie belt spot was brilliant and the finish was incredibly well timed. Great match, look forward to them running this back down the line"
[9.0] "This match was a banger. Lots of great in ring storytelling and MJF made Adam look like a credible threat. Honestly not a fan of the time limit stoppage but it indeed shocked the shit out of me. Max hardly wrestles but when he does, hes able to back up his talk. He definitely played the devilish heel to perfection. The way he just slithered out of the ring instead of giving Cole an extra 5 minutes drew so much heat, and set up a possible rematch in the near future. Id say this is the best Ive seen Adam perform in his time at AEW. The DC crowd was fire hot and they were really into the match, which also gave it a big match feel. Ive been loving MJFs title run even if some people feel like hes getting stale. I personally believe we are witnessing something special every time MJF steps into that ring. Its definitely worth a watch, and an awesome way to kick off a great episode of Dynamite. 9/10"
[5.0] "I'm shocked this has a high rating at all. AEW tried to recreate the magic of their last two Dynamite opener Time Limit Draws and to me they absolutely failed. MJF cycled through all of his PPV offense which Cole barely sold besides lying down to waste time, so many moments of setting a up a move only for it to not go through and then get tried again immediately and/or 10 minutes later. Apron spots, table spot, all for a pop into selling to kill more time. This was tremendously dull, but I will say that the failed attempt at pulling an Eddie was awesome; the exact kind of spot MJF excels at not just because of what it is but because of his delivery as a dastardly heel. All in all the way they pull the draw while making Cole look strong was actually really neat, but the short promo he cut after and how Max just blew it off dismissed that quickly. This match only happened a day ago and I couldn't tell you how they managed to go 30 with so little. Remarkably, the crowd was hot and into Cole the whole time, so I don't know if this was exactly poorly paced, but the structure of the match did nothing for me until the belt spot.**1/2"
[9.0] "The second 30 minute draw in AEW history. This wasn't as good as Kenny/Bryan but that's a high bar anyway and this was still very good. Cole has never been my thing but occasionally he clicks like here."
[6.0] "I really dislike Adam Cole so my expectations were low for this, and I'll say it was definitely better than I feared. MJF was working overtime to get the absolute max out of Cole, I almost didn't mind watching him for 30 minutes straight. MJF definitely played this brilliantly. Cole, well, he still just didn't impress me at all, but the crowd was behind him so it worked well in the end."
[9.0] "Normally Time limit draws without any time cues are anticlimactic but this worked so perfectly here. This match is without a doubt Adam Coles best performance in AEW so far."
[8.0] "This was really good, but it could have been terrific were it not for all of the over-used tropes. First off, that ref bump was one of the worst I have seen. Bryce practically threw himself into Cole's path to make the bump happen, and then he was out for two minutes after... making contact during a kick-out? One smaller problem was MJF's face-making. This is usually a strong suit for him, but I am beyond sick of people acting shocked that someone didn't get counted out or were able to kick out. It didn't help that both Adam Cole and MJF both rely on "playing the pauses" more than doing moves, which means there noticeably wasn't that much actual wrestling. All that said, they told a very good story with some pretty creative elements, they timed everything perfectly, and they did not botch anything for half an hour, so this still ended up being borderline great overall. ****"
[9.0] "A very good fight with an ideal result to continue this story, which was giving very good sensations with the promos, and now this fight, which the truth can become one of the best rivalries of the year and I hope so because Adam Cole needs that momentum that he seemed to have when he debuted but that his injury left him very much aside, so nothing, wait to see what comes out of here."
[8.0] "This is one of those match I liked, then I didn't like, then I kind of liked again and so on. The ref bump part might be the perfect microcosm of that. Not quite sure where I ended up on it but I think it was more positive for me than negative. I do wish they made more of the time remaining, though. I was sure it was headed to a draw when they quietly announced ten miutes remaining, but the ending made it feel a little cheap. Also not a fan of MJF going Blood pack Jones, or any wrestler doing that in a match. Bloodied mouths happen fairly often for real in modern pro wrestling. They're one of the very real things which remind you there really is physical contact sometimes. Blood packs for bloody mouths can make you question even the real ones, which is surely not a desired effect. A '7' or an '8' for me, and a match which I think was quite important and beneficial for Cole after his return and the Jericho feud."
[8.0] "Great way to open the show. Mjf might not have a lot of one on one matches, but when he does, he delivers. And this was probably the best Cole has looked in AEW. Awesome stuff all around."
[9.0] "Holy hell this was an insane opener. great story telling, well paced, good spots with even better selling. really would like to see time limits stay consistent and dont just disapear."
[8.0] "Top tier storytelling in a camouflaged Iron Man match, and what a match was! Started kinda slow and safe (which should've been a dead giveaway of the ending) but when it picked up steam it became relentless. While Cole isn't his former self yet, his recovery is coming along nice. There's real chemistry between the two performers, so I'm looking forward to what they can give in the future: there's more to be done and I'm excited for their eventual rematch at All In, if that's the plan. The ending was clever, although were put off by the fact that there wasn't any kind of counter or "Five minutes left" announcement. I get it, but it doesn't really bother me considering the result."
[9.0] "Yeah, that was a beautiful match. 30 minutes of story-driven in-ring drama with spurts of meaningful action. MJF is fast becoming a master at the ring general craft, this match was completely dominated by his character and antics (in a good way). Cole played a good babyface, but without MJF being this entertaining it could have been boring. It wasn't. It was really good from start to finish."
[8.0] "I've seen a lot of people hung up on MJF not wrestling a lot and I don't know why. It's great how every time the champ wrestles you're guaranteed a legit great match. Would you rather he be facing the Skye Blue's of the men's division just to get TV time? Anyways, Cole was great here too and finally got a worthy match since he came back from his concussions."
[9.0] "This match was as close to perfection in a pro wrestling match as you can do. High spots, selling, counters, and near falls galore. FIVE MORE MINUTES!"
[9.0] "That was a 5-star match, one of the best TV matches in AEW, by Adam Cole, this was his best match in the company, redeeming himself from that terrible match with Jericho in DoN, by MJF, not much needs to be said, a generational talent, he may not wrestle often but every time he wrestles, he delivers, I loved how he worked Adam Cole's arm and psychology in the ring, the Time Limit Draw was the best decision to protect the credibility of both, I can't wait for the rematch either in All In or All Out"
[8.0] "Great opener. Curious booking. While Cole did not win the match he did not lose it either so I wonder how they are going to work this out considering Cole had MJF beat. Guess we will have to wait and see."
[10.0] "Maxwell is proving himself more and more as the best in the world, this is Adam Cole's best fight in AEW, I hope he continues like this, because for a while now I was no longer liking the month"
[9.0] "This was phenomenal. They worked at a slow pace nearly the whole time. Despite this, it did not feel even close to 30 minutes long. I dont have any big issues with this match. Yeah they spent a bit outside the ring. Yeah the ref kinda sucked at counting. And yeah Coles selling was just a tad weird to me. But all these issues are now obsolete. These two guys worked their asses off to put on one of the best matches of the year. One of the best factors of this match was that first super kick. It was picture perfect. And the immediate aftermath was also amazing with MJF spitting the blood and having the dazed look on his face. By the way, MJFs facials were great in this. Coles not so much except for that kick out after the first Boom. The elbow drop was beautiful. And as was the drama after. The last stretch was so good. The red bump, the title shot, MJF getting caught with the ring, the final pin attempt. It was all so good. When the bell rang, I was very confused. Then I remembered the whole time-limit thing. I dont think this match couldve been any better. Theres not much else to say than this match ruled. 9/10. ****1/2"
[9.0] "One of the best AEW TV matches in quite some time. This did not feel like 30 minutes at all, and it proved that Adam Cole can still go. I'm sold on their feud and hope it continues. ****1/2"
[9.0] "The body of the match was as good as it gets. I wish they would have hit the time limit prior to starting the 3-count on MJF, but that's a very minor thing. Exquisite match, and makes me hope Cole is the guy to dethrone MJF at Wembley."
[6.0] "It was the right decision to make this match mostly bells and whistles because the parts of this that actually involved physicality were pretty uninspired, Adam Cole is one of the least impactful "top" guys currently wrestling and MJF wrestles like he's thinking the moves through in his head, nothing feels genuine."
[6.0] "Alright let's hold our horses. Both things can be true that this was Adam Cole's best match in AEW but also that it also was just decent. MJF was the driver for most of this match, targeting Cole's shoulder and arm for most of the match... which I felt like didn't really amount to much besides just working a limb. Cole took some pretty big bumps for a man that's had extensive concussion history. I find it pretty difficult to root for Cole as a babyface, he lacks the fire others have on the roster, not to mention his strikes and moves either not looking great or feeling overdone (ie Panama Sunrise and a pretty middling Shining Wizard). Being said, the crowd bought into the Cole comeback as the match went on, and I felt like MJF's mannerisms was some of his better stuff. Aside from that, he can devolve himself to being reliant on References a bit too much. The match starts to fall apart in the final moments, but the road taken there was pretty decent at best."
[8.0] "This was a realy good match that had some overbooked nonsense near the end that I wasn't a fan of which knocked a point off. MFJ is a stud when he actually laces up those boots, and it's good to see Cole still has it after all the injury stuff."
[9.0] "Easily the best thing I've seen from Adam Cole in AEW and a match he desperately needed to have after the Jericho debacle. The pacing was great and flowed really well with the work on Cole's arm. Lots of big moves when needed to bring the intensity up. The crowd loved it and the finish was perfect. This blew away my expectations to say the least."
[10.0] "The perfect start of a long feud, really they couldn't do It better. 30 minutes of black and gold action with Adam Cole selling perfectly his arm. This fight looked the end of the rivalry apart the final, they spammed a made in Japan, a lot of superkicks and two apron spots; going to get something good with this two. *****"
[7.0] "7.5 - Was always headed for a draw. Didn't like how slow it got early on, but once it got into the bigger spots and sequences, it was great. Taz mentioned everything going wrong for MJF, which was a good take on this match. Cole still seems off post-injury."
[9.0] "An absolutely incredible match! One of the best television matches I think I have ever seen. The story was clear, as MJF was determined to prove that the Adam Cole he used to idolize was dead and gone. And following the comments that Cole made about peeing in a cup and seeing which one of them was natural, it seemed like the AEW World Champion was more determined than ever to throw his weight around. He brutalized the arm of Cole, attacking it from beginning to end as he looked to snap it right off of his body. That includes that perfect Double Foot Stomp that was set up to perfection. That sequence was also the epitome of what made this match special, as the story carried throughout and the sequences were equal parts devastating and logical. Cole was ironically in the Johnny Gargano role in this match, as they harkened back to that rivalry while turning the tables. He thrived in it, selling the arm and hitting desperation offense that had me jumping out of my seat. SPOILER AHEAD! They also had one of the most believable finishes to a time limit draw that I have ever seen. No obvious stalling, no immediate regression into strikes that hardly look like the ones they were throwing just seconds beforehand. This was an absolute clinic in the face versus heel dynamic while still focusing on great wrestling that included technique, high-risk maneuvers, and the story of being pushed beyond your limits and subsequently having to turn to maneuvers you typically would never even attempt. 4.5 stars, 9 out of 10. This should be right up there with El Hijo del Vikingo vs. Kenny Omega in AEW TV Match of the Year discussions."
[9.0] "Awesome crowd-pleaser opener right here between Cole and MJF which was everything it was supposed to be with excellent storytelling, well-paced action and really well-run booking from the company. I thought it was going to be complicated to book but not at all, they did it perfectly. Lots of cool storytelling elements and details, I loved it and I think even more that Cole will be the one to dethrone MJF later this year."
[8.0] "Great tv match & storyline advancement, but not without its issues - especially the lame finish being telegraphed by an alien 20 minute call. They couldn't have wished for a better crowd for MJF to play off & he was on top form. Cole, on the other hand, just looks feeble & shouldn't be anywhere near the World title if TK wants his limited fanbase to grow. He also kept using the left arm for big moves after it had supposedly been decimated ***3/4"
[9.0] "The amazing thing about this match is that, as good as it was, it never felt as more than a free sample of an even greater match. However, for the first time I really felt Adam Cole's physique was not sustainable in the long term, not because he looked weak, but because he looked fragile."
[9.0] "Why in the crap was this not the main event? These 2 tore the house down with the slower, methodical wrestling with great story telling with the crowd being white hot for this match. 9 out of 10. ****1/2"
[9.0] "A sublime opening match, good fight both physical and mental, Adam Cole seems to be returning to 100%, MJF is a great storyteller, nothing can be said about this. References to Shawn Michaels, Cole's idol, were a phase of the match that added further tension to the battle. Surprise ending, at least for me, I was expecting an illegal move by MJF but they chose to let them fight until the last seconds, Cole doesn't win for a few seconds and this is already an excuse to resume their story after Forbidden Door. Love it"
[9.0] "MJF's working in the early stages, his selling of the knee through the match, Cole's selling of the arm, Excalibur's pointing out how the elbow drop to the outside nailed that arm to further tease a finish, Cole's selling his concussion history after MJF's piledrivers, the play on the Eddy finish with the belt, and the ending. What a beautiful ending. What a fucking wrestling match."
[9.0] "It was an excellent match thanks to MJF and Coles brilliance and a super hot crowd. MJF has really been on a roll since his return and Cole barely ever misses. This was definitely Coles best singles match in AEW and another feather in MJFs cap. Although it started off a bit slow, it gradually gained momentum and reached its peak in the middle. However, towards the end, I felt that there was an excessive number of chaotic elements involved, which has unfortunately become a recurring theme in AEW's recent booking decisions. It was still an excellent match."
[6.0] "If you told me I'd be watching a 30 minute Adam Cole match, I'd expect something much worse than this, so on that level it was a success. Still, I thought there were issues here. I thought the result was very telegraphed (AEW has done this too many times) and the finish itself was so cliche that it made me roll my eyes. They were really inconsistent about announcing how much time was left, too. I also disliked Cole's selling - his arm and knee injuries were both worthless, went nowhere, and got ignored. I hate the spot he does where he no sells his opponent's offence to hit his brainbuster over the knee as a counter. Additionally, I find the 'big match' tombstone spots that MJF constantly does to be overkill - this one being in the middle of the match for no real purpose and leading to nothing of note felt particularly egregious. Cole never seems to have any fire - his comeback after the tombstone felt so flat. To their credit, I was surprised that I never really felt bored during and I didn't think they did anywhere near as much 'forced epic' stuff as I feared they might. I also thought that that Cole's superkicks looked much better than they usually do. I think there was too much about this that bugged me to go higher with my rating, but I did still think it was at least 'good enough' and definitely one of Cole's better matches in AEW. With some better booking and a better finish I probably would have gone with a 7.0."
[5.0] "The negatives of MJF, Cole, and AEW booking were all rolled together for this mediocrity. As usual, MJF was far too self-indulgent with his 80s-heel tribute act, since every display of arrogance, cowardice, sensitivity, or foolishness were all incredibly overly performative. His arm-targeting was pretty good, and at times he impressed with his variety of creative moves, though he stupidly completely dropped that targeting for the final 1/3rd aside from (as far as I can tell) only a single, ultimately unimportant moment. In response, Cole's arm-selling was indeed consistent, since he kept grabbing the arm after being hit with big moves, especially in the final 1/3rd. That would usually be deserving of high praise... but DAMN is his babyface-selling just completely dead and unsympathetic. There was nothing at all in any of his facial expressions when selling or fighting back that made him look remotely endearing or compelling. At times his way of selling his damaged arm was just to look very introverted and even kind of self-pitying, as if he was lost and didn't know what to do, which also didn't help his attempt to come off as an endearing babyface, and at other times -- like with his struggle to back to the ring to break the ref's count -- his facial expressions more resembled a guy who was somewhat annoyed at breaking a sweat, rather than guy desperate to hang with the world champ and try win to ultimately earn himself a world-title shot. A less important criticism I nonetheless have to mention was how awful MJF's spot-calling was, since he made zero effort to visually conceal it, almost as if he was embodying CM Punk. For the most part, both guys had surprisingly decent offence. Cole's superkick and other kick spam was typically annoying but at least a few looked somewhat more impactful than usual, and they both hit some decent power moves (though a few looked overly safe/weak). That segment of their run-on counters was pretty poor because of how overly cooperative they were (no-one loses all those holds *that* easily, after all), with them clearly just doing it for the sake of being seen as 'creative' as opposed to trying to keep their interactions competitive-looking. That ref-bump spot was awful, and although I ended up liking their twist on the Eddie 'frame your opponent with a weapon' spot, MJF's superman booking in surviving a belt shot PLUS Cole's running knee was absurd. The time running out, when the only time call we got was at the 20-minute mark, was the final insult here. The announcer didn't think it was important when only 5 mins, 1 min, or 30 seconds were left? And Cole's likely successful pin conveniently getting cancelled out by the timer was mega cheesy. In retrospect, I did appreciate MJF's time-wasting strategy which ultimately earned him the consolation draw, but without the time being consistently called out alongside that, it really didn't appear 1/10th as smart as it otherwise would've. Weak match. **1/2"
[10.0] "In an absolute spectacle of a match, Adam Cole and MJF provided an unforgettable 30-minute showdown that thoroughly deserves a perfect 10 out of 10. The energy from the get-go was electrifying, with both performers rising to the occasion. Cole's dynamic athleticism was perfectly contrasted by MJF's methodical, old-school heel tactics, providing a narrative depth rarely seen in the modern landscape of professional wrestling. Both men showcased their respective skill sets brilliantly, their ring psychology was impeccable, and the match flow kept viewers at the edge of their seats. The physical storytelling, selling, and in-ring chemistry surpassed any typical match expectations. Particularly commendable was the balanced pace of the match; it wasn't rushed, nor did it feel dragged out, even at the full 30-minute mark. The Time Limit Draw conclusion was a perfect way to end this bout. Rather than cheapening the performance, it amplified the intensity and value of the AEW World Title, showing the grit and determination of both contenders. This match displayed the best aspects of professional wrestling and AEW's commitment to quality storytelling and high-level athleticism. A perfect 10/10 isn't just given, it's earned. And this match, without a doubt, has earned it. It was not only a display of exceptional wrestling but also an inspiring testament to the capabilities of Cole and MJF. I believe it set a new benchmark for what future AEW World Title Eliminator Matches should aspire to be."
[8.0] "Although Adam Cole has had doubters before this match, he really flexed his baby face muscles in this match. He was fueled by the crowd and created such an amazing atmosphere as the struggling baby face. MJF also has a great performance as he gives one of his best dirtbag heel showings."
[8.0] "Adam Cole gets his groove back. There was alot to like here. MJF's controlled, more methodical style is a good fit for this Adam Cole, who has struggled to find his footing since his return. The crowd was behind Cole, who did a great job selling his arm and garnering sympathy overall, and MJF did a great job feeding into that. All of MJF's heel work gets subverted in this, the belt spot in particular popped me. Cole asking for another five minutes, to which MJF slinks away in refusal, was a fantastic bit of babyface/heel build up. A steadily paced, easily digestible match, nothing spectacular, but a match that does exactly as intended, exactly on cue."
[9.0] "Adam Cole really needed a match of strong quality here because his run in AEW has been kind of wack, along with the injuries. He found the perfect opponent right here with MJF, as MJF is a master of psychology & match structure. It also felt like a big deal to see MJF wrestle at all. This means that his booking as a special attraction has worked. He is the Conor McGregor of pro wrestling from what I am seeing. MJF is often accused of talking on Dynamite for 30 minutes, and now he wrestles on Dynamite for 30 minutes. I love it. Adam Cole's consistent selling of his arm was truly remarkable as well. I look forward to MJF/Adam Cole Round II."
[10.0] "They've done a great job of making this feud seem big money off just one 10 minute promo last week and now this match. Amazing pacing, great sequences, the usual MJF spice (pissing off the audience, shouting at the ref, etc) to make it properly enjoyable. Loved the bit with the belt, which I've never seen before. Picture perfect elbow drop, and a picture perfect finish with the bell ringing just as the hand was up for the three count. Brilliantly booked, Cole's best match in AEW and maybe the best Dynamite match of the year."
[9.0] "The best possible book for the excuse of the second matcIt was a very interesting match, Mjf masterfully performed the heel work, And Adam Cole, who showed a great show with beautiful sells, i gave this match 9, it was very strong Storytelling, from both wrestler, And regarding Mjf, I must say that he has had very great title defenses, and every time he steps inside the ring to defend his title, he has shown an attractive match.I'm really looking forward to him facing Tanahashi, I am sure it will be wonderful."
[10.0] "Cole's run in AEW hasn't hit the heights I'd hoped for due to a lot of different reasons, but MJF is clearly the perfect dancing partner for him right now. It might seem odd to say this about a match that ended in a time limit draw, but this match was legit PPV main event quality and Cole looked like a damn star. Much needed for Cole after that absolute clunker of a match against Jericho at All In, and I can't wait to see where this angle takes both performers next. I don't see anyone taking that belt off MJF right now but this created that little spark of doubt."
[8.0] "I don't like Cole much and he flopped hard at DoN against Jericho but this was different. The crowd was behind him which was only heightened when MJF started with his antics. He went into the crowd, stole one fan's popcorn and flicked the baseball cap off of another. Cole did indulge in his usual nonsensical offence and excessive kick outs but it kept the match going until a smart 30 minute time limit draw finish. Presumably the rematch happens soon, although I'm not sure that All In would be the right time."
[10.0] "Finaly! the match that adam cole has desperately needed to solidfy his mainevent status.mjf continues his agendo of being one of the best wrestler in the world at the age of just 27.the finish had me on edge and .aew remains unbeatable when it come to time limit draw and i think this had the best ending of them all.the eddie guerero spot is overdone these days but these two creative minds were able to add twists on it.mjf facial expressions and paychology were both spot on.a lot of back and forth in this match.the crowd was hot and kept getting louder at the finishing sequence.a ppv match on free tv"
[8.0] "Cole's legacy was on the line during this bout and he most definitely showed out. This match was a great way to open Dynamite and I genuinely forgot about the time limit this making the finish way more surprising and way more enjoyable. Cannot wait for their rematch (most likely at All In or All Out) Also Cole asking for 5 more minutes afterwards makes me think it's a possibility of them booking a 35 minute time limit for the next match but I hope they do either 60 minute or no time limit at all. 8.25/10 // SOTM (Spot of the Match): Couldn't decide between the Tombstone Piledriver on the apron or the elbow drop through a table. Both were excellent."
