-Ok, so about the new AEW Dynamite show music … I like it, but yikes, it doesn’t fit. With that song in the background as the show opens, things felt old and stale, rather than exciting, action-packed, and new. Same thing with Elton John song for Collision. Music can work wonders when designing a product presentation and this one missed. It just doesn’t convey what AEW is.
Moxley Moxley Moxley
-Once again, I liked the talent promos to start off the show. They were all well done and do a nice job of attempting to set a hook for the episode. The Moxley promo stood out in a strong way. The delivery is always there with Moxley, but this promo also had some good context and content on why Mox is acting the way he is regarding the AEW World Championship. He’s long needed to explain that and while this didn’t complete the picture, it started one.
-A good match between Adam Page and Orange Cassidy this week. No surprise there and it seems like Page is fully back to being a deranged heel again. Yes, this makes the feuding with Moxley curious, but long-term it’s where Page is most useful for the company.
-The Hurt Syndicate looked great decimating The Acclaimed. A proper use of a squash match and one that not only helped Hurt Syndicate, but the developing demise of The Acclaimed as well. That’s what you want to get out of these types of matches.
-Anthony Bowens on the edge of losing his mind because of annoying Max Caster is a treat. Both Bowens and Caster are playing it well and it’s smart to have Bowens be the guy calling out Caster for thinking he’s the best wrestler in the world.
Hating the Hayter jobber
-Good to see Julia Hart back in the ring. She’s a different and effective character to have on the roster. That said, seeing Jaime Hayter job out to her like that, even if it was caused by the Mist. Hayter left AEW on such a strong run and she’s hasn’t come close to finding that momentum again. In fact, she’s so far from finding that it seems like a self-inflicted move on the part of AEW. Not sure why you’d want to use her in that way, when she’s one of the most talent women on the roster.
-Glad to see AEW pushing the Kazuchika Okada vs. Kenny Omega narrative forward after their encounter at Worlds End. That’s the big match that AEW has in their pocket, so it giving it a long build is the way to go. Good stuff.
-For as good as the Mercedes Mone vs. Kris Statlander match was at Worlds End, the Mercedes promo this week was awful. Didn’t need to be on the show. Mone needs to find a way for her character to line up with and be as good as her in-ring work is.
Troll job
-Oh …. good … Undisputed … Kingdom … is … back. Yay ……
-The moment of the show this week was Ricochet destroying Swerve Strickland with a pair of scissors. That’s how you make a feud intense and personal. Nothing meta involved, it was just a straight-up pro wrestling angle that made you want to see Swerve get Ricochet back. Really well done — especially on the part of Ricochet. He hasn’t had to show much of an edge in years, but properly articulated one during this attack. Thumbs way up.
-Look, Jeff Jarrett doesn’t need to be and shouldn’t be a focus on television in any way for AEW in 2025. The promo was what it was and Jarrett can drop a line or two on the mic when he needs to, but the bottom line is, no.
-Phew. Good to see MJF pretty much drop the Adam Cole story entirely with his promo this week. He’s going after the world title now and that’s exactly where is focus should be.
Cope?
-A fun little main event this week. Obviously, it’s nice to see Adam Copeland back. What’s with the “Cope” thing, though? Regardless, this was smartly booked in order to give Copeland and FTR and edge over Moxley and The Death Riders. With Copeland at the helm, AEW has a truly credible cohort of babyfaces ready to take on Moxley and Co.
What did you think of this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite? Let us know in the comments!
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