Performance Review – AEW Dynamite (10/28/20)

Overall Evaluation and Achieved Goals

AEW’s approach to stories and character development has usually been more consistent than their in-ring wrestling, but this week was the reverse: great wrestling, iffy sports entertainment.

It’s about time Full Gear came together with a week and a half to go, though I’m conflicted on matches being announced last minute: history says don’t do it; current world says yeah that makes sense. Jericho/MJF and Omega/Page is a CARD.

Areas of Excellence Within Performance

The show kicked off with MJF burying Sammy Guevera‘s trash promo last week. ARE YOU READING, MAX!?

Hangman Page vs. Wardlow in the first World Title Eliminator Semi Final ruled. Ruled, ruled, ruled: short run time, to the point, major spots spaced out well, and a pair of STIFF Buckshot Lariats to kill the giant. Good simple wrestling that advanced like 10 dynamics – so excellent.

Cody vs. Orange Cassidy for the TNT Title was good wrestling, good development, and an actually good use of the Lumberjack gimmick with the Best Friends hug spot and Dark Order collusion.

Kenny Omega (with The Sweepers!) vs. Penta El Zero M in the first World Title Eliminator Semi Final ruled too, a more traditional main event match with all the Big Stuff though I think I liked Page/Wardlow better.

I was kind of digging AEW pushing Eddie Kingston relying not on squashes but his assumed dominant history, but an IWA-MS Reunion Match with Matt Sydal on the day Tracy Smothers died is very cool.

The AEW Women’s Division has been lacking since the start, but I like the approach of using other regional championships to build out a division – in this case, the NWA Women’s World Title. It’s like the UWF TV Title but way better.

The Inner Circle turning on Chris Jericho to align with MJF would be a cool deal, but maybe that’s just what AEW wants me to think. In that case, I appreciate that they want me to think something.

Suggested Areas of Improvement

Think The Young Bucks peaked with the AEW contract. Give them a manager. Enough.

The bad Bucks/FTR promo followed by the Jericho/MJF Town Hall was a little much. There were good bits in the latter but the open air stadium vibe really kills a segment like that.

Wait – what are they going to do in the winter?

My Favorite Things

3. “Don’t step in my world, huh – don’t step in my world – you didn’t train to be here.” – Eddie Kingston to a Cameraman
2. “He’s fast as hell, he’s big as hell, and he’s mean as hell.” – Taz on Will Hobbs
3. “Star Wars… the Phantom MENACE, is coming up next.” – Jim Ross

Official Star Rating

3.75 out of 5 Stars

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