Performance Review – AEW Dynamite (11/4/20)

Overall Evaluation and Achieved Goals

Wednesday was the final Dynamite before AEW’s Full Gear pay-per-view, and while I’m not exactly the audience that has to be convinced to order the show, the last impression before it wasn’t good.

AEW’s now standard (and appreciated!) sit-down interviews and video packages for the main event matches reflected how lukewarm and sloppy these feuds have been, just not enough juice for a pair of layups. Young Bucks/FTR is tone deaf and complicated; Omega/Page is a hot match that’s cooled off. Should’ve read our notes, people!

God bless Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston though, Mox just going toe-for-toe with Roman Reigns on nailing dramatic main event programs. Helps that Eddie Kingston is just the best at wrestling right now.

Areas of Excellence Within Performance

AEW signed a few new people this week and the roster continues to be supreme, a strong core of tentpole wrestlers and a TON of wrestlers you’re excited to see maybe be tentpoles one day.

Trent and Miro having a G1 Climax Audition Match together was tremendous, a real “stock raiser” if you weeeeel…

Ricky Starks‘ clothes. Ricky Starks‘ promo. Ricky Starks‘ upside.

“It’s not too late for me, Jon” – Eddie Kingston is the Last Real Promo in wrestling.

I don’t know what PAC’s deal is but HEY! PAC PROMO!!! Love PAC.

Is it good or bad that Orange Cassidy is feuding with both Miro and Dark Order? I’m leaning good for some reason.

I don’t really have a thought on Cody and Darby Allin yet, but I am a fan of both wrestlers.

Suggested Areas of Improvement

Full Gear is a quality card but – COVID-19 aside! – there were too many unnecessary detours to get there, if there was any long-term approach at all. A lot of stuff got announced within the last couple weeks, and tonight’s approach of “well let’s write something to kind of remind people of the thing” stunk – make it so you don’t have to remind them like that!

I don’t know what the Young Bucks are doing. I don’t know what The Elite is doing. I don’t watch Being the Elite, and this really doesn’t make me want to. The angle at the end with Omega and Page saving their douchebag buddies from a chair-based FTR beatdown came off as too little too late, a tidy but lame reminder for these lame but exciting matches.

The MJF/Wardlow vs. Sammy Guevara/Santana opener had some sweet spots and did admirably hitting all the story points it had to, but between the fast pace and so many shots of big wide empty Daily’s Place I don’t think AEW did a good job accentuating the story moments. The heart was in the right place, and I am bullish on all four of these guys.

Uhhh… This Matt Hardy vs. Sammy Guevara feud is still going.

Uncle Dumbass Chris Jericho was an shit commentator and all the Tony Khan mentions were a bit much.

Vickie Guerrero cutting a promo on Brandi Rhodes at ringside was the most TNA that AEW has felt since they were trying to figure their shit out last year. It did the already cold Hikaru Shida/Nyla Rose Full Gear match no favors.

My Favorite Things

3. Nick Jackson’s superkick vs. Private Party
2. Trent’s Half-Nelson Suplex on Miro
1. Eddie Kingston reacting to Jon Moxley talking smack

Official Star Rating

2.75 out of 5 Stars

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