The second show in AEW history takes place tonight as the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Florida hosts Fyter Fest.

The Young Bucks & Kenny Omega will team against The Lucha Bros & Laredo Kid in a six-man tag match. The Young Bucks defeated Pentagon Jr. & Fenix at Double or Nothing, but The Lucha Bros then won the AAA Tag Team titles from The Young Bucks at AAA Verano de Escandalo.

After appearing at Double or Nothing, Jon Moxley will make his AEW debut against Joey Janela tonight. AEW has added a “non-sanctioned” stipulation to the match.

Cody Rhodes vs. Darby Allin, Hangman Page vs. MJF vs. Jungle Boy vs. Jimmy Havoc in a four-way match, Nyla Rose vs. Yuka Sakazaki vs. Riho in a triple threat match, and Christopher Daniels vs. CIMA are also set for the main card.

The pre-show will begin at 7:30 p.m. Eastern time and will feature Best Friends (Trent Barreta & Chuck Taylor) vs. SoCal Uncensored (Scorpio Sky & Frankie Kazarian) vs. Private Party (Marq Quen & Isiah Kassidy) in a match where the winning team will advance to All Out for a shot at a first-round bye in AEW’s Tag Team title tournament.

The event is in partnership with CEO Fighting Game Championships, and CEO organizer Alex Jebailey will face AEW’s Michael Nakazawa in a hardcore match on the pre-show.

Fyter Fest will stream for free on B/R Live in the United States and Canada and will be available to purchase via Fite TV elsewhere. The pre-show will also air on AEW’s YouTube channel.

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Best Friends defeated SoCal Uncensored and Private Party in a Triple Threat Match

The winners of this match get an opportunity in All Out to get a Bye in the AEW Tag Team Title Tournament.

Marq Quen of Private Party wore sunglasses throughout the match ala Mr. Hughes. The fans were into SCU the most, but they showed love for all three teams. After three or four minutes of well executed, but “dull” wrestling, Quen and Isaiah Kassidy got the crowd up and going with a series of dives and springboard moves in and out of the ring. The director completely missed what looked like an amazing dive out of the ring by Kassidy. The two more experienced teams teamed up on Private Party. Kassidy took a double suplex on the floor and Quen took a Tornado DDT on the floor, which finally caused his glasses to fall off.

Best Friends cut off Kassidy and got the heat on him. Even though they are babyfaces (I think), Chuck and Trent did a great job doing all those old school heel tag team tactics. Quen had been knocked off the apron, so Kassidy was forced to tag in Kazarian when he needed out. The match broke down into a wild 6-way series of moves. Quen hit the most beautiful Shooting Star Press you’ve ever seen on Trent, but it was only for a 2 count. Kazarian hit a Scorpio Sky-assisted Unprettier for a 2 count. Quen landed on his feet on an attempted Super German Suplex and then Private Party used a double team hurricarana/cutter on Kazarian, but that was broken up.

The finish was Trent pinning Kassidy.

After the match The Dark Order appeared on the video screen and vowed to make Best Friends their first victim. The lights went out and when they came back on there were 6 minions around the ring. The lights went out a second time and this time everyone disappeared.

The biggest pop was for Chuck and Trent hugging mid-match, but the fans were into it from bell to bell.

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The Elite have lost their gear and Kenny Omega told the Young Bucks that he has the seamstresses working on new gear. The problem is Kenny spent half the budget on gear, so they had to fire 2 of the models, who were on the stage and replaced by manequins.

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Leva Bates came out as The Librarian and told everyone to “Shhh”, but Peter Avalon was hiding in the tent on the stage also telling people to “Shhh”. Avalon got upset and threw the tent into a kiddie pool and then broke one of the mannequins.

They encouraged the fans to stop playing video games and start reading books. This led to a mild “We can’t read” chant. This brought Allie out for a bonus match.

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Allie pinned Leva Bates

Leva kept trying to “Shush” Allie, so Allie grabbed her finger and twisted it around before stomping on Leva’s hand. It was pointed out that that is the finger you use to turn the page of a book. Avalon was reading and accidentally-on-purpose tripped Allie as she was running the ropes. He swore innocence as Leva took over.

Leva stretched Allie backwards and put her finger to Allie’s lips as she was grimacing in pain, which was a nice touch. Allie made her comeback, using a series of strikes, including a Sliding Elbow to a seated Leva in the corner. Leva cut her off and hit a Pedigree, but Allie kicked out.

Avalon tried to get involved at the finish, but he accidentally-on-purpose threw his book at Allie, who tossed it back to Leva and laid her out with the Best Superkick Ever for the pin. The match was rough in points, but still good.

The fans chanted “Hooked on Phonics” and “Reading Rainbow” during this one.

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Kenny Omega was walking around with a drum and a bunch of cords, but was informed all the bands that got booked dropped out, including Blink-182. Not sure if Kenny was sadder than me.

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Michael Nakazawa pinned Alex Jebailey in a Hardcore Match

This match was supposed to happen at last year’s CEO show, but Alex injured his Achilles Tendon, and couldn’t wrestle. Before the match, Nakazawa took the mic, calling Alex “Mr. Cripple” and saying CEO sucks.

Nakazawa bumped really well for Jebailey, but Alex’s strikes looked awful. Nakazawa poured babyoil all over himself to get out of a go-behind. Both the referee and Jebailey slipped and fell. Jebailey used a clipboard on Nakazawa when I began having buffering issues, but it began working again in time to see them near the entrance ramp. Jebailey tried drowning Nakazawa in the pool, but Nakazawa fought back with a flamingo. Jebailey slammed Nakazawa in the pool before they got back to the ring.

Jebailey pulled out all kinds of foreign objects, but it came back to bite him in the butt, as Nakazawa choked him with the cord of a Nintendo Gamecube controller. My brother popped for that one. Nakazawa speared Jebailey through the ropes and through a table on the floor. Nakazawa somehow removed his thong and went to shove it down Jebailey’s throat, but Alex is rich and smart, so he ducked it. Next up they pulled out something that were described as buttons and were said to be worse than legos, so Nakazawa got backdropped into them. Nakazawa still had the thong in his hand and somehow wiped it into the referee’s face.

Jebailey used a La Magistral cradle, but Nakazawa shoved his thong in his face, reversed the roll up and got the win. All I’ll say about this match is that if you are someone who would enjoy this type of match, this is the match for you.

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Jim Ross joined the commentary team as the official show began. He joined Excalibur and Goldenboy at the desk.

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Cima pinned Christopher Daniels

Excalibur implied that Chris Daniels and Curry Man are the same person, which is obviously not true. I do think Daniels was Mr. America, though. Cima twisted Daniels up like a pretzel early on, but Daniels was able to just get his toe on the ropes for the break. Daniels used a crossface later on, which Cima just barely got to the ropes during. Cima sold the lower back for most of the match and kicked out of an Angel’s Wings early on. Cima used a step-up inzigri and a sunset flip into a Liger Bomb.

Unfortunately I got horrible buffering issues and didn’t see the finish, but Cima won with the Meteora and they showed respect for each other after the match.

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Riho defeated Nyla Rose and Yuka Sakazaki

Nyla used her size and power at the bell to toss around her tinier foes. Riho and Sakazaki had limited success, but any offense they got was immediately reversed. Rose used a Double Camel Clutch, but Riho was able to get the ropes, which broke the move. Nyla heaved Yuka onto Riho, which actually almost led to a pinfall. Yuka sent Nyla out of the ring with a headscissors and then did a Springboard Tope onto her on the floor.

Riho and Yuka had a rough spot in the ring where they fell to the mat during a spot. Nyla got back into it and the story was that she was being very lackadaisical and not taking her opponents seriously, as she made half hearted covers. Nyla leaped to the top rope and came off with a diving knee to Riho, which led to the first “Holy Shit” chant of the night. She didn’t make the cover and when she went back to the top rope she was momentarily cut off by Yuka. She went for a Swanton Bomb, but Riho rolled out of the way. Nyla did catch both of them, at the same time, after attempted top rope crossbody, but that led to both Riho and Yuka getting a simultaneous two count on Nyla.

The finish saw Nyla got for a Beast Bomb on Riho, but Riho rolled through and got a sudden, surprising three count on the monster. Nyla attempted to attack Riho after the match, but Yuka made the save. Riho shoved down Yuka and walked away.

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Kip Sabian joined the commentary table for the next match. He will face the winner of the next match at Fight For The Fallen.

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Hangman Page defeated MJF, Jungle Boy (w/Luchasaurus) and Jimmy Havoc

MJF cut a really good heel promo before the match, where he succeeded in getting the fans to turn on him. He then said he used to love video games…and then he lost his virginity.

This was a fast paced match with a lot of constant movement. MJF tried to take a walk and avoid fighting, so Page flew over the top rope and took him out. Jungle Boy went for a cannonball moonsault, but his foot got caught on the top rope, but he was somehow able to recover in mid-air and complete the move. Page and Havoc used a Stacked Up Superplex to Jungle Boy, but on the way down, Boy kicked MJF in the head.

Page and MJF squared off mid-ring and MJF got the better of it by chop blocking Page. MJF went for a Sharpshooter, but Page blocked it and put on one of his own. Luchasaurus stopped Jungle Boy from taking a bump on the floor, so Havoc gave him a Death Valley Driver onto Luchasaurus. Havoc tried multiple times to hit an Acid Rainmaker, but couldn’t connect.

Page hit a Buckshot Lariat and then pinned Havoc after a Deadeye.

Jungle Boy looked great and takes an amazing beating. MJF is a tremendous character.

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Cody vs Darby Allin finished in a 20-minute time limit draw

Allin dragged out a bodybag with Cody’s name on it.

Allin looked good here and it helped that he was in the ring with someone as good as Cody. The story was about how much punishment could Allin take and still fight back from. Allin took a tremendous looking bump where he flew out of the ring over the middle rope and crashed and burned on the ground in one fluent move. Cody used a Shock Treatment backbreaker in the ring, looking like he broke Allin in half. Darby’s best move early was when he threw Cody’s hand into the ring post. The rest of the match saw Cody fight through the pain every time he tried using a hold, while Cody withstood all the punishment and stayed in this.

Darby’s comeback started by blocking a vertical suplex by attacking the injured hand. Darby hammerfisted Cody’s hand and used a wristlock while continuing to torture the hand. Allin torpedoed out of the ring with a dive, but got tripped up on the steps. Back in the ring Darby hit a Code Red for a near fall. Cody used a reverse superplex, which hurt his hand almost as much as Allin. Allin went for a Coffin Drop (basically he did a trust fall dive), but Cody rolled out of the ring and Allin loudly crashed onto the ring apron, which is the hardest part of the ring.

With two minutes to go in the time limit, Cody zipped Darby up in the body bag and hit a Beautiful Disaster Kick for a 2 count. The last minute saw Cody take off his belt and whip Darby repeatedly with it. Darby hit an over the top Stunner and Cody hit a Cross Rhodes as the bell rang for the time limit.

Brandi and Cody demanded 5 more minutes. Before it could happen, Shawn Spears ran in and laid Cody out with an unprotected chair shot. Brandi started yelling at Shawn, who looked like he was going to hit Brandi, but Audrey Edwards, the referee, stepped between them. Cody was bleeding from the back of his head. MJF and SCU ran out for support after Shawn left. On replay Cody had just turned his head, which was how the back of his head took it. With that said, he should have put his hands up. (Post-Show Edit: It’s actually Aubrey Edwards with a B and not Audrey. Sorry about that)

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Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks defeated Laredo Kid & Lucha Brothers

It’s being pushed that this is the last “official” match, since the main event is non-sanctioned.

The Young Bucks came out dressed as Ryu and Ken while Omega was dressed as Akuma from Street Fighter. A “fan” ran out and started dancing like Batista, so Omega laid him out. Matt and Kenny both told Justin to announce “Round 1: Fight”. We really needed health bars above everyone’s head, along with a car for one of them to destroy with strikes.

It took…oh….30 seconds for it to go from traditional 6-man tag to a wild 6-way. If I had four hands and two computers I don’t think I could keep track of every spectacular moment. Matt did a series of rolling Northern Lights Suplexes on each man and did one at the same time to both Fenix and Pentagon. Laredo did a top rope crossbody, but Omega countered with a perfectly timed dropkick. Fenix tried doing a flat back bump off the apron, but realized he had to readjust before he slammed his head off the guardrail. Elite used an Asai Moonsault, top rope elbow and Swanton for a 2 count on Loredo Kid. Matt used a running Canadian Destroyer to Pentagon and it was possibly the most fluid version I’ve ever seen.

In case I don’t mention it elsewhere, both Pentagon and Fenix looked amazing here.

Pentagon was going for Something to Omega and threw Nick over the top rope and then backdropped a running Fenix over Omega and the post onto Nick outside the ring. A Superkick Party broke out after another Canadian Destroyer. The Elite used three simultaneous Hadouken’s on their foes. If you have no idea what that is, I don’t know if I could explain it, so YouTube that. Nick did a 450 Splash to Fenix and Laredo Kid, who were being held draping off the ropes. More dives and more cutters led to Fenix doing a Spanish Fly to Nick off the top rope to the floor where Pentagon caught them. Omega hit a Tiger Driver 98 to Laredo Kid for a 2 count. Omega with multiple V-Triggers and finally pinned Laredo Kid with a One Winged Angel.

This was an amazing, spectacular offensive exhibition. This was 20 minutes of pure nonstop athleticism and storytelling. For all the faults you may hear and read about the Young Bucks, this was a perfect match on the perfect night in front of the perfect crowd. I don’t know if this match would suddenly create a million new fans on TNT, but it was different than everything you’ll watch on basic cable and is well worth going out of your way to see it.

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Jon Moxley pinned Joey Janela in an unsanctioned, lights out match

Moxley neither came out with the IWGP United States title belt nor was he acknowledged as champion.

They didn’t even pretend to have a wrestling match, as it immediately became a hardcore weapons match. Janela used someone’s prosthetic leg as a weapon early on, but then took a bodyslam on a chair. Janela sat Moxley on a chair and went for a Swanton Bomb, but Mox moved and Janela dove onto a set up chair. Mox pulled out a Barbed Wire covered chair and stomped it down on Janela. He then took a bow when the fans called him a “Sick F***”. Janela blocked a DVD and Moxley blocked a suplex, both out of the ring, and Mox did what was essentially a Russian Leg Sweep off the apron and through a table. Moxley picked up Janela and ran across the ring with a Spear through a table, which was reminiscent of Rhino in ECW way back when.

Next up was a barbed wire board and Moxley took the brunt of this one as Janela did a running Death Valley Driver that sent him into and through it. After that we got a ladder set up in the ring, which saw Joey dive off the top of the ladder with an elbow through Moxley, who was splayed across a table at ringside. We got a second barbed wire board, this one propped up from ring apron to the guardrail. Because turnabout is fair play, Moxley gave Joey a Death Valley Driver over the top rope and essentially butt-first into and through the board. The thumbtacks were out next, complete with an ovation from the crowd. Moxley ripped the shoes and socks off Joey and sent him flying ass over teakettle into the tacks. A second move saw the tacks go right into Janela’s bare feet. This is getting hard to watch.

We got a second bag of thumbtacks along with an Ambrose Impaler DDT and this one, mercifully, is over.

Scroll up and re-read what I said about the Nakazawa-Jebailey match. This match definitely has its fans. For people who enjoy these types of matches in 2019 will probably love this match. The people who aren’t fans of this type of match will probably hate it.

After the match Kenny Omega ran down and hit Moxley with a running V-Trigger. Omega hit a diving double foot stomp to the floor and then dragged him to the band stand. Kenny grabbed the drumsticks and did a solo on Mox’s back before cracking an electric guitar over Mox.

The referees tried to help Moxley out, but Mox shoved them away. Kenny took a personal afront to this, so he returned with a trash can to continue the beating. Beatings will continue until morale improves! Omega dropped him with a DDT on the trashcan. The show ended with a close-up of Moxley smiling.

Overall Thoughts

This was truly 3 ½ hours of total nonstop action. The show didn’t slow down and built from one match to another. The show truly had a little bit of something for everyone, regardless of your taste.

At the end of the day I don’t believe, for better or worse, that it’s going to change anyone’s opinion about AEW. If you are an AEW fan who feels they can do little wrong, you will love this show and think it’s far superior to Stomping Grounds. If you are a WWE fan who feels WWE is the best no matter what, you probably won’t have your opinion changed and may argue that Stomping Grounds was a better full show.

The next show is Fight For The Fallen on July 13 with Cody & Dustin vs the Young Bucks.