-Orange Cassidy needed a big hit with his promo this week and he got one. Maybe not a home run, but pretty darn close. Cassidy was fully serious in delivery — important for a character like his — but he also seemed really genuine about not only wanting to beat Jon Moxley and thinking he can, but in the danger that Moxley poses. He sold well for the new Mox gimmick and group. Those two will wrestle at Full Gear for the AEW World Championship. It’s a match that makes perfect sense to do at this point and one that Cassidy will have the crowd on his side for. Thumbs up.
Good for Cole
-A solid outing for Adam Cole this week against Buddy Matthews. Cole needed to show that he hasn’t lost a step because of all the injuries and he seemed to do that. The match got a little too cute with all the ringside doctor stuff, but it never hurt the match. Cole obviously needed that win, so he can get to MJF at Full Gear.
-As for Cole’s promo, good stuff overall, but can we stop having talent on this show talk about “fighting for AEW?” Cole did it, Cassidy did it, and even Penelope Ford did it. It’s a lazy narrative and not unique if everyone uses it.
-I really liked the time AEW put into the backstage interview with Private Party ahead of their tag team title match against The Young Bucks. AEW rarely talks about their big matches during the show where they take place, but that has been a miss for them. Setting up those bouts makes them feel important and can’t miss. Here, Private Party very much created anticipation for a title win and got to address past AEW history of teams losing one another because of similar stakes to matches. This reminded people that the match was coming up and put some strong storyline roots for the match behind it.
-Kyle Fletcher with a shaved head is a great look. He came across as an up and coming heel star for the company. Working with Mark Davis made sense and there was some nice heat for it. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Davis join Callis at some point as a classic AEW swerve.
A believable heel
-Jon Moxley’s response to Orange Cassidy’s challenge was near perfect. The delivery obviously was great, but in it he put over Cassidy as a worthy opponent, ran him down, and almost seemed right to do so. He’s going for a heel character that walks up to the line of reasonable and then crosses it. Mox has the audience nodding their head, until he crosses that line and it makes for compelling television. How long can he keep it up and still get heat? That’s the question.
-Private Party winning the AEW World Tag Team Championships was a surprise, but it seems like The Young Bucks have been written off television, which explains the move. The Bucks have to regroup and figure out how they can bring value to the show week in and week out. They don’t have that anymore. The angle of them leaving was sloppy. Why, after everything they did to Christopher Daniels, would Daniels NEED them to stick around?
-Chris Jericho is firmly planted at the bottom of the card at this point. The “hey guys” thing is catching on, which isn’t something he wants. I maintain that this Jericho Learning Tree gimmick isn’t terrible, but it’s an act with a ceiling. Been awhile since we’ve seen Jericho willingly take one of those on.
A light heavy
-Huh. Kamille had to lose there, so that Kris Statlander could get to the match with Mercedes Mone. In doing so, though, she very much loses luster as Mone’s heavy. Same thing with Mone running her down after. Strange booking choice, albeit, a storyline without a lot of options either.
-Swerve Strickland gave Shelton Benjamin an awful lot of offense. I don’t think fans view Benjamin as a guy that should be going toe to toe with the top AEW star so successfully. Strickland got the win in the end, which was the only way to go. Remember, this is Shelton Benjamin we’re talking about? He’s not the second coming of The Rock.
-Bobby Lashley in AEW is … fine. On the positive side of things, Lashley will freshen up the style of the roster. He’s a different worker than almost everyone on the show and that will stand out nicely. The new Hurt Business faction should be able to get over too. On the negative side, he’s another WWE retread and an old one at that. Lashley getting television time means that someone else on the show isn’t.
Bobby Lashley is All Elite
-Now, all that said, Swerve vs. Lashley is a tremendous first feud for him. That’s top level stuff and I’m excited to see what level Swerve can bring Lashley to.
What did you think of this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite? Let us know in the comments!
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