I don't know if I liked this more or less than the cage match. It was certainly different though, and I was interested to see how they'd work a straight singles match at a point where Aja was a little closer to claiming the throne and Bull was a little closer to relinquishing it. Nakano was really good here as 1994 Stan Hansen, where she probably knew deep down that her time on top was limited but she'd be fucked if she was going to accept it on the night. Aja borderline mauled her for about half of this and there were a few close-ups of a bloody Bull looking very "why am I actually doing this again?" Even when Bull makes her comeback there's a sense that Aja can swing momentum again quickly. There's one part where Bull's laying into her and Aja seems to recognise that she's the heir apparent, lashes out with a wild attempt at a backfist, and as Bull steps back to avoid it there's a ripple of shock that runs through the place. The fact Bull has to take a second just to register what happened gives Aja the chance to follow up again and this time she actually connects with it (and about four more after that). The sequence was significant in that it never felt like your typical response from Aja. It didn't come off like a hope spot where she'd try and fire back before being cut off again, which it would have a year earlier. This time it felt sort of dismissive, like that beating Nakano was putting on Aja really didn't have the same mustard behind it that it once had. I thought the finishing run was strong and largely paced well, and if there was one thing they knocked out the park it was THE big kickout and Bull's subsequent reaction. The match as a whole wasn't super tight, but they absolutely nailed the last few minutes and the finish was great.
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