-I’m just not getting the MJF American gimmick at this point. At best it’s counterproductive. Every single time MJF evokes “America,” he gets cheered. Clearly, he’s not going for that response, so it’s strange that they chose this path to go down with him and Ospreay. I don’t think it will hinder the match much at all, but it makes the storyline between the two less fun and less personal.
No fooling us
-Ospreay was passionate and full of fire during his promo response to MJF, but I don’t know that anybody buys his verbiage on the International Championship. It’s essentially been a meaningless title since it was created and talking about it like it’s the company’s most important belt 1) undercuts the world title — the actual most important belt — and 2) it forces the fans to play along with and acknowledge something they know isn’t true.
-Ospreay vs. Lance Archer was a fine match. Ospreay gave Archer too much, but that’s how it goes in AEW. Still, a fun television match without questions.
-Welcome to the party, Kyle Fletcher! Fletcher was good on the microphone in calling out MJF and even though he totally eviscerated the Don Callis Family to get it to it, the match with MJF makes sense as a logical chapter in the Ospreay vs. MJF story. Thumbs up. Will we see more of that Kyle Fletcher? I sure hope so.
Still????
-I can’t believe the Willow Nightingale vs. Kris Statlander feud is continuing on. Don’t get me wrong, they had a good match this week, but c’mon already. Willow has a huge upside in AEW. She needs more than a low card feud, so she can sustain momentum. Another match with Statlander for a championship that nobody knows or cares about in the CMLL Women’s World Championship isn’t doing to do that successfully.
-Bryan Danielson needed to hit a home run with his in-ring promo this week and he got a double. Still good and he knocked some runs in, but runners left on base too. The best part of the promo was Danielson’s pivot away from last week’s lackadaisical approach to his All In main event title shot. That was silly and the quick pivot proves they knew it. Danielson was clear about his mission and declared he’d get there. Sometimes it’s as simple as that and in this case it was. He was believable and likable, both traits that he’s utilized throughout his career. As for Danielson putting his career on the line, well, it makes things more dramatic that’s for sure. If they build the match right, the near falls will matter more and his title win will matter more too. In this instance, the meta knowledge out there regarding Danielson’s contract situation helps this stipulation.
Walking a fine line successfully
-Swerve Strickland was tremendous out there with Danielson. Somehow he came across as likable AND menacing at the same time. He’s going to need to walk a fine line to maintain that, but if this week is any indication he’s going to be able to. Swerve needed the time in the ring with Danielson to hype of the match and this did that. He may lose at All In, but Swerve will be forever elevated because of his spot in this match.
-Another week, another solid outing for the Mariah May vs. Toni Storm program. May was uber heelish in her sit down with Renee Paquette and Storm was unhinged, hurt, but likable in her response. One of the best built matches on the All In card continues to shine.
-Mortos pinned Mark Briscoe in the trios tag match this week, so you know what that means. Mortos is getting an ROH World Championship match. The match was fine — tons of action — but, it lacked any kind of consequence. Also, The Congregation may be the worst name for a faction in the history of pro wrestling. Just sayin …
-Hold up … Max Caster is saying he’s the best wrestler in the world? Max Caster???? They’re just giving the title away now. This definition isn’t going to do Caster any favors with the fans. Nobody sees him that way, so it’s silly to try and pull that wool over the audience’s eyes.
-Very smart to showcase Kamille and have her squash an opponent right after her debut. She looked great and Mercedes Mone was great gloating beside her. Mone is infinitely better as a heel. We knew that, but she is showing it now. She’s more comfortable and delivers stronger for the show each time she’s out there.
Smart main event
-Adam Page vs. Darby Allin was a smart main event. Yes, Darby took some sick bumps and was destroyed for most of the bout, but the match needed that. They accomplished what they wanted. Darby got a big win, but Page was the one who looked maniacal, unhinged, and dominant. A win-win.
What did you think of this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite? Let us know in the comments!
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