Performance Review – AEW Dynamite #24 (3/18/20)

Overall Evaluation and Achieved Goals

In the midst of COVID-19 chaos, AEW aired a full episode of wrestling from an empty sports arena.

Even without the benefit of a live reaction, they produced a great show with fun wrestling, tight and focused build to future matches, and plenty of newsworthy moments.

While WWE has tried so far to go on like nothing has changed, AEW embraced it – wrestlers making up the crowd and doing heckles, MJF and Shawn Spears casually gambling, ridiculous pyro. They both embraced the silliness and put an effort in like it’d be their last chance to do a big show for a little while.

Areas of Excellence Within Performance

The wrestling didn’t need to be any good, but everyone put on their Wednesday’s Best. Watching Fenix do his thing in an empty arena was more impressive than usual. The Fatal 4-Way women’s match was wild, with Kris Statlander just rocking with Riho and Hikaru Shida. The 6-Man Tag main event was quality too, with everybody having an actual established role and whatnot.

I’m not sure when the Blood & Guts match actually happens, but The Elite trying to get their shit together while The Inner Circle are all best buds is a blast to watch and makes me real old school excited for that match. Cody‘s promo at the start of the show was downright presidential too.

There’s a Parking Lot Street Fight on the way too! At some point.

And a Colt Cabana/Kip Sabian feud, which I wouldn’t be into if it wasn’t for Cabana incredulous reaction when Sabian confronted him: “Do you think I’m not a wrestler? I am ALSO a wrestler!”

Lance Archer wrecking guys in a dilapidated backyard ring is the kind of superstar build-up wrestling needs more of too.

Way to into Brodie Lee being revealed as The Exalted One to care about the execution or gear. That would’ve been enough, but they tagged the show with the debut of Broken Matt Hardy, which is just – MY GOD. That pop would’ve been wild, but my own internal pop was enough.

Suggested Areas of Improvement

Aw c’mon. Skip.

Top Plays of the Week

10. The Best Friends’ Elbow Instead of Hug: Cute.
9. Chris Jericho on Commentary: “That’s a tough move! You know that, Tazz!” What a world.
8. Orange Cassidy on Commentary. X: Brilliant.
7. The Murder Hawk’s Backyard: Lance Archer, who knew?
6. Wrestlers in the Crowd: Felt like a comedy club at 2AM, where it’s just friends heckling each other.
5. Brodie Lee is The Exalted One: WOW.
4. Riho’s Tilt-a-Whirl on Statlander: Rapid fire!
3. MJF and Sammy Guevera Rock Out to Judas: If there is justice, this will be an iconic moment.
2. Cody Opens the Show: Before Kenny Omega started being like “whoa this is weird,” Cody damn near brought this country together.
1. Matt Hardy is The Elite’s 5th Member: WOW.

Official Star Rating

4.5 out of 5 Stars

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