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AEW Dynamite was a pretty fun show this week and I genuinely thought that there were a lot more 'bests' than 'worsts' to write about. If you were to ask me, in person, if you should go ahead and watch this show or not, the answer would be a resounding yes, from me, at least.
AEW went up against what seems like a loaded NXT episode and I have to say that Wednesday nights have just become the most happening evening of action for fans. I think I can speak for my colleagues when I say that on a weekly basis this is the shift we look forward to the most, irrespective of whether we are on AEW or NXT duty really.
Let's cut right to the chase and talk about what I liked and disliked about AEW Dynamite this week, readers!
#1 Best: FTR and The Young Bucks to clash down the line in AEW someday! (or so it seems)
I loved every minute of the sit-down interview between Tony Schiavone and FTR, where the former WWE stars cut a fantastic promo. Not only did they introduce the AEW roster to what they were all about but they also teased a match with The Young Bucks down the line in a conversation sure to make headlines, precisely because of the lack of interest that they displayed.
I personally thought that the most interesting thing about this interview is the fact that FTR revealed the full-form of their name and what it stands for but we cannot repeat the words here for obvious reasons. And also that noted wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer was mentioned out of the blue on an episode of AEW Dynamite.
Maybe, in a sense, this is a promise to the man known for the 'star' system that the two best teams in AEW were going to put a match that would score high on his renowned scale.
#1 Worst: Former AEW Champion Chris Jericho takes too long to defeat Colt Cabana
Maybe the hottest angle that AEW has done thus far happened on last week's show with Chris Jericho and Mike Tyson clashing in the middle of the ring in an encounter that made news worldwide. I have seen news outlets that wanted nothing to do with pro wrestling of any kind write up a report about what happened in the AEW main event segment since.
For Chris Jericho, who was involved in a comedy match not long ago to segue into something this serious would have just required him to come to the middle of the ring and make mincemeat of Colt Cabana, who, let's face it, isn't really setting the AEW roster on fire. He needed to have the same kind of match that Brian Cage had earlier on, on AEW Dynamite this week.
What I did love about the whole segment was the sight of Sammy Guevara accompanying Chris Jericho to the ring and singing Judas completely out of time, out of key, and out of sync.
#2 Best: A new star is born in the AEW Dynamite main event match
If the point of the AEW TNT Championship is to create brand new stars every week, then I have to admit that they are on the right path. This week, Jungle Boy and Cody Rhodes put on a fantastic match during which AEW TNT Champion Cody Rhodes was busted open in what looked like a very nasty blade job. Listen, we all knew that Jungle Boy was the standout performer in the AEW roster but it takes a star of Cody Rhodes' caliber to truly put him on the map.
Cody Rhodes is using his Championship to put the spotlight on young and hungry superstars who may not be as well-known as him because they've not had the same level of exposure that anyone who comes from WWE had had, traditionally.
The show of respect from Cody Rhodes at the end of the night as Jungle Boy lay defeated at the end of the AEW main event was a sight to behold and it created a new star, in my opinion.
#2 Worst: Lack of consistency in AEW storylines
The fact that there was an angle last week in the AEW Battle Royale to determine who Cody Rhodes' next opponent will be that teased dissension between MJF and Wardlow was very surprising. Because AEW has been so spot-on with regard to the decisions they've made while booking, I was content to give them the benefit of the doubt. However, during the AEW TNT Championship match between Cody Rhodes and Jungle Boy, the latter got into an altercation where the two of them seemed to be back on the same page once again.
I also thought that it was convenient that AEW forgot that not long ago Kenny Omega and Hangman Page didn't get along but they fought like a well-oiled machine in the opening contest of Dynamite. I would be very disappointed if the payoff to the whole angle was that Hangman Page showed up to the AEW Stadium Stampede match late.
I can't be the only person to notice these things, am I AEW fans? Sound off in the comments.
#3 Best: Moxley vs. Cage for the AEW Championship
Back when Jon Moxley was Dean Ambrose in The Shield and Brian Cage was tearing it up in Impact Wrestling, I never imagined that I would be thrilled to see the two of them potentially clash in AEW. But it just seems like a match made in hell because of just how much of a threat Cage seems to the title Moxley holds. There is no element of comedy that seems to ruin a lot of AEW angles by severely undermining the seriousness of the said program, but this is just a battle of two legitimate beasts.
And yes, I love the fact that Brian Cage tore down his opponent in a matter of no time at all. In fact, if there is one thing that AEW can learn from WWE, it is that not every match needs to be competitive.
And before you sign out, please check out our interview with AEW's own Hugo Savinovich when you have the time. Please subscribe to our channel so we can keep bringing you interesting content of this nature!
