-That’s it?!? I very much enjoyed everything that the Will Ospreay promo was. For weeks I’ve clamored for a true go-home babyface promo from Ospreay ahead of this big All In world title match and he delivered one to start the show. He wove a lot into it. His journey, British wrestling history, family, and Omega. Each are important to this story and Ospreay was eloquent in speaking about them. The problem with this Ospreay promo was everything that it wasn’t. Sir, you were dropped off the ring apron and through a table by an unhinged Kenny Omega last week. How does that not get mentioned? The angle last week was designed to try and get Omega over as a heel — for this specific match with Ospreay. It was an avenue to make sure fans were fully with Ospreay. By not mentioning it at all, that psychology got totally removed from the narrative on Sunday. Ospreay was strong here and it was a missed opportunity at the same time.
And the champ moves on
-Jon Moxley advanced in the Continental Cup Classic tournament with a win over Claudio Castagnoli this week. Hurray? The match was your standard Moxley match — hard-hitting with some ground based stuff mixed in. It lacked excitement because it lacked drama. There just wasn’t a viable scenario where Castagnoli wins, so all the attempted near falls fell flat. The match wasn’t good enough on the other end to generate true “what if” moments.
-The build for Young Bucks vs. Copeland and Christian Cage is riddled with issues. Those issues start with the fact that the Copeland and Cage nostalgia team aren’t likable at all. Both guys refuse to ditch their singles gimmicks and it’s created a nostalgia team that is void of everything that made them connect with the audience in the first place. Everyone knows Christian Cage is being a d-bag. The world saw The Bucks superkick him on accident. Copeland looks foolish by defending Cage, especially when on a regular basis, it doesn’t seem like the two of them even get along. The little brawl was what it was this week, but it was all rooted in silliness. Why not just go with a straight-forward changing of the guard match? Too cute.
-On the All In media call, Tony Khan admitted that more was planned for a final All In angle between Willow Nightingale and Mercedes Mone this week. Alas, the hand injury that Nightingale suffered limited what they could do. Less was more. The double down of Mone heelishly attacking Nightingale and targeting the injury is heat 101 level stuff. Nothing flashy, but straightforward pro wrestling storytelling that works.
Andrade the psychic
-How did Andrade El Idolo know that MJF was going to stop right in front of where he was hiding in the audience? The dude can see the future, I guess? That ridiculousness aside, the little Andrade and MJF brawl was enough to create more interest in the Casino Gauntlet Match at All In. That’s all this was. It was a two-man show out there. Same thing with the match itself on Sunday. The next time I talk with Tony Khan, I’m asking him about the resurgence of Andrade. What is the biggest reason for his turnaround? Whatever it is, it’s been drastic. Good for him.
-Nigel McGuinness will be the guy standing opposite of Jon Moxley at All In. As soon as Moxley won earlier in the show, the McGuinness win was obvious. Unlike Ospreay at All In, McGuinness won’t be getting a moment. Bottom line is, he didn’t look great in the match this week against Kyle O’Reilly and the same could be said for his other tournament appearances. The action in this across the board was slow and plodding.
-Glad to see Divine Dominion get a little heel shine before All In. They and Persephone defeated their All In challengers, The Brawling Birds, and Hikaru Shida. Not only did they win, but they showed quite a bit of dominance in doing so, while also literally showing The Birds fighting their hearts out against the bigger opponents. Smart booking. If the plan is for The Brawling Birds to win at All In and take the tag titles, it wouldn’t have made sense to put them over on this show first.
Remember AEW Rampage?
-Swerve Strickland vs. Jack Perry was a strong main event from a match perspective, but like, why? If Strickland was already announced for the Trios Roulette deal that Khan announced this week, fine. In that instance, this match makes sense and the rumors of who Strickland’s partners might be gives it reason to go on last. Without that? Remember Rampage? This could’ve been the main event on one of those shows. The Ospreay promo that opened the show would have fit better in this main event match slot.
-I love video packages in wrestling. Love ‘em. They are excellent at quickly painting a picture for an audience on what the story of an upcoming match is. HOWEVER. Video packages shouldn’t run after main events. I liked the Ospreay and Omega piece they did this week, but timing is everything. Middle of the show? Ok. Social media? Great. Go-home Dynamite show-closing segment? Nah, I’m good on that. Where was Kenny Omega?
What grade do you give the Will Ospreay promo from this week’s AEW Dynamite. C+ if you ask me. Let us know in the comments!
Subscribe to the Brass Ring Media Newsletter HERE.
Follow Zack Heydorn on Bluesky @zackheydorn.bsky.social.