With the apuesta stipulation and swapping out Hallowicked for Jigsaw, just a general improvement on the March trios match. All the things that worked in that first bout get cranked up here–the rudos, and Eddie in particular, work a much meaner style. It’s a lot of stiff kicks and chops from Eddie and Jigsaw as opposed to them just playing the tecnicos’ game. Meanwhile, the combinations and comebacks from the tecnicos are just a whole lot more fun. The execution still isn’t quite up to snuff, but the ideas work just often enough to keep this a pretty funny and lighthearted bout.
In just a few months, Eddie’s already upped his meanness though. His interactions with Akuma are filled with a lot of petty violence. Clubbing forearms to the face, biting, ripping at the mask. It’s a violence that rubs off on his teammates and makes for some really decent rudo heat segments throughout the match. Loudmouth Eddie being the one to lose and cost both him and Blackjack their hair is a nice cherry on top of it all too.
Shoutout too to Blackjack being absolutely hilarious while getting shaved by the tecnicos. Perfect stooge stuff there.
Rating: ***¼
