AEW Fyter Fest took place on June 29. Hot off the wheels of the mega successful Double or Nothing event, Fyter Fest had a lot to live up to, and so it's no surprise that the promoters made sure that the card was stacked with top talent. However, with Fyter Fest being a smaller show compared to Double or Nothing, some worried that it would just be filler.

There were some aspects of Fyter Fest that definitely didn't hit the mark. For example, the commentators in the pre-show relied on outdated "nerd" jokes that made them come across as out of touch in today's world where traditionally "nerd" things, like video games, are now mainstream. There were also backstage WWE-style skits that were meant to be funny, but were really just cringey and added nothing to the show.

Those criticisms aside, the rest of the AEW Fyter Fest card was quite remarkable, and since Fyter Fest was free, there was no reason for wrestling fans not to tune in.

1. Best Friends defeated Private Party and SoCal Uncensored

Kicking off the "Buy In" pre-show was a three way tag team match where the winning team would get the chance to fight for a bye in the upcoming AEW tag team title tournament. A fast-paced spotfest, this match was a fun way to kick off the show, with the debuting Private Party easily getting over with the crowd. Private Party was noticeably lacking in experience compared to the other competitors in the ring, and it sometimes looked like they were just getting ready for spots instead of naturally transitioning from one thing to the next. However, they were still impressive, and it will be exciting to see what the future holds for them.

2. Allie defeated Leva Bates w/ Peter Avalon

The "librarian" gimmick Leva Bates and Peter Avalon have is just annoying. They succeeded at generating "go away" heat, with one fan in the crowd audibly yelling "This gimmick sucks!" during Bates' promo. The actual match was nothing noteworthy and generally lacking in excitement, though perhaps it would have been more tolerable had the preceding skit and promos not sucked the life out of the arena.

3. Michael Nakazawa defeated Alex Jebailey in a Hardcore Match

This match was absurd and sloppy, but it wasn't boring. Alex Jebailey, who runs the CEO fighting game tournament that partnered with AEW for this show, was strangled with a GameCube controller at one point, and he also used a fight stick as a weapon. Some wrestling purists will likely turn their noses up at this match, but it could have been worse.

4. Cima defeated Christopher Daniels

This battle between veterans was the first truly solid match on the card. It delivered hard-hitting, technically-sound action, and it did so without having to resort to being a spotfest. Cima's victory was somewhat surprising as well, though it makes more sense when one considers that he will be fighting Kenny Omega at the upcoming AEW Fight for the Fallen event on July 13.

5. Riho defeated Nyla Rose and Yuka Sakazaki in a Three Way Match

Sakazaki's strikes lacked impact and the performers stumbled a bit in the first half, but this match really picked up at about the midway point. Despite the drama after the match between Riho and Sakazaki, Nyla Rose came away as the real star of the match, thanks to her impressive feats of strength and an absolutely brutal guillotine knee drop to the back of Riho's head. Considering how impressive Nyla Rose was in this match, it was a little disappointing that she didn't get the victory, especially since she also lost at Double or Nothing, when she could easily be at the top of the AEW women's division.

6. Hangman Page defeated Jimmy Havoc, Jungle Boy w/ Luchasaurus, and MJF

MJF's mic work was funny enough, but he relied a little too much on outdated nerd jokes. In a day and age where at least half of the population plays video games, making fun of people for playing them just seems out of place. His comments weren't as bad as some of the commentators' during the pre-show, though, who were making Jamie Kennedy at E3-level of bad jokes. As for the match, everyone got their spots in, and it was fairly fast-paced from start to finish. It was far from the best match on the AEW Fyter Fest card, but it successfully showcased all the talent involved.

7. Cody w/ Brandi Rhodes and Darby Allin fought to a time limit draw

This match is sure to be polarizing. Some will no doubt find it excessive that it went to a time limit draw, but others will enjoy the old-school storytelling at play. The match told a great story, with Cody using his significant size advantage over Allin to dominate him most of the match, and Allin focusing on Cody's hand to try to get an advantage. Allin's coffin drop onto the apron was one of the standout spots of the night, and the aftermath where Shawn Spears smashed a chair on Cody's head kept the drama going. Maybe this match was a little too long for some tastes, but Cody and Allin still told a great story that was engaging from start to finish.

8. The Elite defeated Laredo Kid and The Lucha Bros.

Since Fyter Fest took place at the CEO fighting game tournament, Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks honored fighting games by dressing as Street Fighter characters. Matt and Nick Jackson of The Young Bucks cosplayed as Ryu and Ken respectively, whereas Omega was representing Akuma. The match was a non-stop thrill ride from start to finish, with some impossibly smooth lucha libre action on the part of Laredo Kid and The Lucha Bros. Throw in some signature Young Bucks spots and a string of hard-hitting strikes and this match wound up being arguably the best match of the night.

9. Jon Moxley defeated Joey Janela in a Non-Sanctioned Match

Jon Moxley is out to prove himself after his sterile WWE run, and he went a long way in accomplishing that goal with his Non-Sanctioned Match against Joey Janela. The match included a creative use of thumbtacks, with Janela getting them smashed into the soles of his feet, not to mention multiple table spots and plenty of barbed wire. Both competitors were battered and bleeding by the end of the match, with Moxley also having to endure a V-Trigger, piledriver through a table, and more from Kenny Omega, building their feud heading into All Out on August 31.

Overall, AEW Fyter Fest was another mostly-great show on the part of AEW. None of the matches on the main card were bad, and the last three were especially fantastic. The pre-show matches were definitely the weakest part of the lineup and we could have done with less WWE-style comedy skits, but otherwise AEW Fyter Fest delivered an exciting night of professional wrestling action.