2021 Ongoing MOTY List: Dustin vs. Comoroto

19. Dustin Rhodes vs. Nick Comoroto AEW Dynamite 6/4

PAS: This was a bullrope match, and really delivered what you want a Dustin Rhodes bull rope match to deliver. Comoroto has a great look, kind of like Missing Link, and delivers some big moments while working within the Dustin structure. I loved his spear on the floor, and chucking Fuego Del Sol into the rest of the wrestlers in the crowd was a fun crazy beast spot. The dribble of blood on his forehead looked great too, he looked like a caveman who had just bit into a juicy bloody mammoth leg. I loved the story of Dustin being the bullrope match expert and knowing all the different ways to leverage the rope into advantages. Short, violent, some big bumps, really enjoyable TV main event. 

ER: This match had a few things going for it before it even started: 1. It was a bullrope in the main event of a wrestling show, 2. Dustin Rhodes was one of the guys in the bullrope match, 3. His opponent was our best chance at getting a modern 1987 Hercules. We've gotten a lot of fake Brodys, I want a fake 1987 Hercules. Comoroto doesn't have the same crowd connection Hercules did, and we're never going to see him gassed to those levels, but he's still got a lot of time and potential. He's a great opponent for Dustin now, and that's what matters. There's a bunch of cool awkwardness with them both getting tangled in the bullrope, the kind of realness that adds to a match like this. Two guys throwing punches and hitting each other in the head and stomach with a cowbell is going to be great, add in a bunch of excellent Dustin rope choking and obviously this is great. 

Both guys take great bumps to the floor, Comoroto took a hard bump on the apron, and I liked all their brawling on the floor. They did a good job of integrating wrestlers as props, like Dustin hitting Aaron Solow with a powerslam on the floor or Comoroto pie facing Fuego del Sol and tossing him to the peanut gallery. Comoroto gets cool blood after getting yanked into the ringpost, and all the beats they hit back in the ring were good. Comoroto's 1 count kickout after the spinning suplex was well done, loved Dustin kicking him low and Comoroto slowly powering up out of it. Dustin's doing a quick hog tie to pin Comoroto honestly might have been my favorite part of the match. Dustin pulled off the tie and pin really quick, and it was a cool wrinkle in the story of Dustin being unable to keep Comoroto down with his actual big moves. Dustin couldn't overpower him, but he could outsmart him. 

2021 MOTY MASTER LIST