-Well, what can you say? What a match. MJF and Will Ospreay delivered a classic as many expected them to and MJF is now the AEW International Champion. MJF and Ospreay had chemistry with one another and both were crisp in selling for the other when it mattered most. Part of the match narrative as MJF matching Ospreay’s athleticism and they were smart in the moments they picked to showcase it. This was an all-timer for Dynamite and something that will be remembered by fans for a long time.
Ospreay SHOULD use the Tiger Driver
-I can do without the Will Ospreay “I won’t use the Tiger Driver” story. They’ve worked hard and have been consistent in telling this story to fans, but it doesn’t make much sense. Ospreay doesn’t want to use the Tiger Driver, but he’s ok with breaking necks and knocking opponents unconscious with a just as vicious Hidden Blade move? Ospreay is a competitor and pro wrestling is a fight where the goal is to incapacitate your opponent long enough to get a three count. If the Tiger Driver is that efficient to that end, he should look for it every match. It’s like an MMA fighter not using a powerful right hook because he might seriously injure his opponent. That would never happen.
-MJF won this match with the help from his Dynamite Diamond Ring. That was the key to success and what will lead to their rematch at All In.
Worse team ever?
-Now wait a damn minute, Swerve Strickland is excited to have The Acclaimed as a part of Team AEW for Blood and Guts next week? Really?? The Acclaimed??? There isn’t a foundation of reality in including The Acclaimed in this match. Yes, they have a little feud going with The Young Bucks, but they aren’t on the level of Swerve or The Elite. In fact, Mark Briscoe isn’t either. Why is Strickland assembling the worst possible team on purpose? Moxley is out there. Danielson is out there. FTR is out there. So many options and it’s odd that Briscoe and The Acclaimed got the nod.
-Kazuchika Okada sweating profusely after watching Mercedes Mone do her CEO dance was pretty damn funny. The guy doesn’t have a heel bone in his body at this point.
Comfortable
-Speaking of Mercedes Mone, she had a fine match this week against Nyla Rose. It was a backdrop for an angle with Britt Baker, but fine nonetheless. Mone is so much more comfortable and effective as a clearly defined heel.
-After last week’s tremendous heel turn angle for Mariah May, she had a big responsibility on her shoulders this week to follow that up successfully and she did. May’s cadence was slow and drawn out, but it worked to hook the audience and force their hand at paying attention to what she said. She was dark, twisted, but also believed in everything she said regarding using Toni Storm and then spitting her out. That’s the mark of a good heel. The change in cadence was very impressive and manipulated the audience a certain way — the mark of a confident performer. Also, how much did Mariah May look like Toni Storm while done up in the Timeless get up? That was amazing. Overall, a really good chapter two in this story. Now that they have the reasoning for the turn out there in the open, both women need to get the AEW Women’s World Championship on display and relevant.
A lot left in the tank
-Kazuchika Okada vs. Swerve Strickland in the main event left a lot to be desired, but that was all by design. With Ospreay and MJF going all out like they did, it didn’t make sense for these two to also giveaway the farm with a five star match. They left quite a bit in the tank and surely will cross paths again.
-Really, Okada vs. Swerve was the canvas for hype ahead of Blood and Guts next week. Both The Elite and Team AEW had a really strong brawl and the addition of Darby Allin was a fun surprise. The match is still missing a very big puzzle piece and that is stakes. The match doesn’t have any. In a backstage promo this week, The Young Bucks talked about winning all the power when they win Blood and Guts, but how? Nothing is on the line and that very much hurts the intrigue here.
What did you think of this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite? Let us know in the comments!
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