Fatal 4 Way International Title appreciation

[4real]

This was probably my 2nd favourite match of the night just ahead of the 10 man tag. Phenomenal job by 4 of the best going such a fun watch.

OC has a legitimate claim to be the best champion in wrestling right now he is hitting this title run out of the park. Shibata was such an intimidating presence in this match. This match also hits home that I need to watch more NJPW & ROH to watch more ZSJ matches.

I wouldn’t mind Garcia dethroning OC honestly. His cheesy dance is really getting over. Such a great young talent.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Loved it, and Daniel Garcia really was a highlight for it. He's really found character work that is sticking and clicking with fans that he didn't have before and I appreciate it

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

This is why I think they made the right decision in keeping Garcia a heel with the JAS. He's found himself with this character as opposed to just leaning into his wrestling skills and his turn will ultimately mean that much more when it comes.

[Doo Doo Dickhead]

Hard to believe OC once had the reputation of never winning the big one on here, lol.

[Kalmia]

I absolutely loved this match. On any other card it would have been my match of the night. It was just so much fun and well-structured. It had comedy spots, hard-hitting strikes, high-flying, and Daniel Garcia dancing. I was smiling from ear to ear throughout the whole thing. ZSJ and Shibata continuing to smack each other in the middle of dueling submissions was amazing.

[UN PLOMBIER NIGHTMARE #blm]

10/10 match, Omega/Ospreay just happened to be a 15/10.

Garcia's dance is so f***ing funny, I hope he never stops doing it.

[4real]

Jun 26, 2023 15:20:52 GMT -5 Doo Doo Dickhead said:

Hard to believe OC once had the reputation of never winning the big one on here, lol.

Can’t believe he’s held this title for 8 months now. It hasn’t felt that long honestly.

[eJm]

An absolute blast of a match. Didn’t outstay it’s welcome and felt like the quirky brother to the Pillars four way’s epic showdown.

And it’s also not like you’ve taken away from the matches we’ll potentially get in the future. Garcia/Shibata, Cassidy/ZSJ, Garcia/ZSJ, Cassidy/Shibata 2 etc all can be done across various weeks.

[Bang Bang Bart]

Jun 26, 2023 15:29:08 GMT -5 UN PLOMBIER NIGHTMARE #blm said:

10/10 match, Omega/Ospreay just happened to be a 15/10.

Garcia's dance is so f***ing funny, I hope he never stops doing it.

If he’s added to Fight Forever, he must have the dance as a taunt.

[CeilingFan]

Jun 26, 2023 13:47:29 GMT -5 4real said:

This was probably my 2nd favourite match of the night just ahead of the 10 man tag. Phenomenal job by 4 of the best going such a fun watch.

OC has a legitimate claim to be the best champion in wrestling right now he is hitting this title run out of the park. Shibata was such an intimidating presence in this match. This match also hits home that I need to watch more NJPW & ROH to watch more ZSJ matches.

I wouldn’t mind Garcia dethroning OC honestly. His cheesy dance is really getting over. Such a great young talent.

Sorry, but it's the International Title.

[Denny Zen is Cooking™]

OC is having the best championship run in the history of AEW, and approaching one of the best championship runs of all time in my opinion.

It's insane how much he's done to increase the prestige of the International Championship. Starting out, most people viewed it as an unncessary lower midcard title, and a step behind the TNT Championship. Now, I think the International Championship is very clearly the more prestigious of the two titles, and analogous to the Intercontinental Championship (pre brand split) while the TNT is more of a TV Title at this point.

This match was awesome, as has every match been for pretty much this entire run. The ending was really clever, too.

[HIM]

Orange Cassidy is amazing in his current role. I wondered if he'd be able to break out of that comedy gimmick and not only he done that, he's one of the premiere acts in the company. He's killing it.

[Bo Rida]

Jun 26, 2023 16:23:54 GMT -5 Denny Zen is Cooking™ said:

OC is having the best championship run in the history of AEW, and approaching one of the best championship runs of all time in my opinion.

It's insane how much he's done to increase the prestige of the International Championship. Starting out, most people viewed it as an unncessary lower midcard title, and a step behind the TNT Championship. Now, I think the International Championship is very clearly the more prestigious of the two titles, and analogous to the Intercontinental Championship (pre brand split) while the TNT is more of a TV Title at this point.

This match was awesome, as has every match been for pretty much this entire run. The ending was really clever, too.

It was getting way too accepted that face title wins are just there to break up lengthy heel reigns, the money is in the chase etc. There's nothing to stop a face having a great lengthy run if booked competently and I'm glad we can now all point to OC as a good example.

That said it feels like it's coming to an end and I really hope he goes out in style.

[SneakMan]

Holy shit this match ruled.

[Convoy]

Right alongside the 10-Man as my favorite matches of the night. Great mix of wrestling, energy and personalities playing off of each other, which I think make an event like Forbidden Door stand out from the rest of the PPV calendar.

For those looking to find more ZSJ matches, all of his NJPW World TV title bouts are uploaded in two commentary languages across New Japan's YouTube channels, as that's part of the belt's gimmick. He's had ten defenses plus his initial title victory and the tournament matches that got him to the belt, so you have a great selection of sub-15-minute bouts to check out.

[Germansuplex]

Jun 26, 2023 16:23:54 GMT -5 Denny Zen is Cooking™ said:

OC is having the best championship run in the history of AEW, and approaching one of the best championship runs of all time in my opinion.

It's insane how much he's done to increase the prestige of the International Championship. Starting out, most people viewed it as an unncessary lower midcard title, and a step behind the TNT Championship. Now, I think the International Championship is very clearly the more prestigious of the two titles, and analogous to the Intercontinental Championship (pre brand split) while the TNT is more of a TV Title at this point.

This match was awesome, as has every match been for pretty much this entire run. The ending was really clever, too.

No joke, OC having a god-tier championship run with four-star bangers almost every week is something else.

[Mozenrath]

I loved it. Also, I am loving Orange in general as the champion that he is, but part of me also really wants to see how they follow it up, who will get that kind of opportunity. Eddie Kingston in some ways would feel like the guy, but maybe something less obvious like a Miro or freelancer/on-loan guy?

[Super Duper Dragunov]

In addition to having an amazing championship run, and putting on continuous bangers, AEW is also doing a great job of showing just how much all of it is taking out of OC.

Best face title run in ages. Well executed in every facet from matches to character work to the slow wear and tear on his body giving way to juuuuust squeaking by on wins to retain.

If I can dole out the criticisms, I can also dole out the praise, and TK has absolutely nailed this run in every way as a booker.

I do wonder how much input is from OC, since in an interview he likened this title run to one he had before in another company where he was a fighting champion, and it got over, and Tony likes when talent has ideas for their booking.

Whatever it is, it's working.

[Kalmia]

I just love that they've made the slacker/lazy character into a fighting champ and it's completely consistent with who he is. "You want a match? Sure. Whatever."

[Bang Bang Bart]

Jun 27, 2023 0:13:47 GMT -5 Mozenrath said:

I loved it. Also, I am loving Orange in general as the champion that he is, but part of me also really wants to see how they follow it up, who will get that kind of opportunity. Eddie Kingston in some ways would feel like the guy, but maybe something less obvious like a Miro or freelancer/on-loan guy?

Could be a good time to strap up a New Japan regular.