Performance Review – AEW Dynamite (5/6/20)

Overall Evaluation and Achieved Goals

I can’t deny how worthwhile all this felt, even if it remains morally dubious.

Also, is it morally dubious? Or is it a lack of cohesive leadership causing everyone to do their best in the midst of uncharted territory?

Welcome to Week 31 of AEW Dynamite.

Areas of Excellence Within Performance

Can’t tell if I was in a good mood or everybody was motivated, but the wrestling seemed especially good this week. There were matches involving Joey Janela and Frankie Kazarian I genuinely enjoyed from bell to bell. It was nice to have fresh wrestling content, but it was also nice to see guys go against type: Janela going counter-for-counter with Cody, Mox and Kaz killing time with headlocks, Chris Jericho getting hit by a car.

Cody vs. Joey Janela was a great wrestling match from two guys I appreciate but don’t always associate with great wrestling matches. They took a couple bumps into the rope cables early that freaked me out, then went all dream match at the end with unique counters, good near falls, and big physicality.

Jon Moxley vs. Frankie Kazarian was the weirdest good match. Mox reminds you like twice a year what a classically trained pro wrestler he is, and him doing it against Kazarian wasn’t what I expected. Kaz kept working a headlock early, they got some serious time, and by the end I found myself caught up in all the competition.

Kenny Omega & Matt Hardy vs. LE SEX GODS was a delightful Street Fight, total chaos all over the backstage area with trash cans and blue jeans and people getting run over by golf carts. It felt like when a new open world video game allows you to interact with more objects – the dudes were using everything.

Featuring Shawn Spears isn’t quite excellent, but a wrestling organization in 2020 that’ll try something with a guy like him is.

Jake Roberts opposite Brandi Rhodes is the feud I never knew I wanted, or even needed. Old man Jake dropping his snake on Brandi read more off-putting creepy than compelling evil, but I liked the attempt. I also liked this line by Brandi: “You slap me in my face? I’m gonna hit you back.”

Suggested Areas of Improvement

Be more responsible, damnit. This is a fraught time.

Top Plays of the Week

3. Nyla’s Three Powerbombs: Hope Chris Jericho taught her the trick, if there is one.
2. The Closing Shot of The Inner Circle All Giving the Middle Finger: Absolute rudos.
1. Sammy Guevera Gets Hit by a Car: AEW gets their meme, and no Young Buck was involved.

Official Star Rating

3.5 out of 5 Stars

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