-Overall, this week’s Rebel Heart edition of AEW Dynamite was a touching show that was moving to watch. Tony Khan and company did a really nice job capturing the seriousness of ALS, while at the same time showcasing Rebel’s personality and working to raise money for her cause. Just a sweet tone around a very sad situation.
An emotional night
-The tribute to The Butcher by Excalibur was also very emotional and well-done. Just a terrible story. It was important for AEW to give a nod and hat tip to Andy Williams. Looks like they’ll do even more on this week’s episode of AEW Collision.
-Just a wild opening AEW World Trios Championship match. The New Level come across as kids in a candy store with how they’re approaching their newfound in-ring freedom. Not a ton of selling in this one, but the audience ate it up.
-If The New Level and Swerve Strickland are able to have a real feud with Brodido and Adam Page over the trios titles, you’re looking at one of the best trios programs in company history. Not only are Brodido and Page former champions, but there is the added intrigue of Page and Strickland squaring off again. I’m looking forward to seeing where this goes and for the first time, it feels like the trios division in AEW exists for a reason.
-The women’s trios match between Britt Baker, Persephone, and Hikaru Shida against the team of Maya World, Hyan, and Thunder Rosa was a tribute to Rebel. A beautiful one. The finish saw Rebel head out to the ring in order to hand Baker her glove for the Lockjaw Submission. Big audience pop for that and the aftermath was even better. Rebel, Baker, and everyone involved was crying — including various folks in the crowd. Again, a touching moment that falls outside the boundaries of pro wrestling.
-Pay attention to the crowd reaction that Andrade El Idolo gets nowadays. It’s significant. Not the loudest each week, but substantially growing each week. He’s getting more and more over all the time. The weekly AEW National Championship title defenses that he’s promised not only paint him as a fighting champion, but they make sure he’s on television each week. Smart.
It’s Will Ospreay’s world
-Glad to see Will Ospreay not go out to the ring this week and have a “Will Ospreay” match just because he could. Don’t get me wrong, the battle with David Finlay was a fun match, but Ospreay clearly wasn’t going all out a la All In. It’s imperative he begin to find that balance. Ospreay needs to be able to deliver at the highest levels when the lights are brightest and the money is greenest. Those matches need to stand out as special, which means ones like these have to not be.
-Ospreay made his money this week in the backstage promo segment with Jon Moxley. Ospreay framed their upcoming All Out match up like a babyface should — his idea, while owning the fact that Moxley is the toughest challenge because he’s got a win over him this year. The tension between the two guys was palpable and Moxley showing frustration at the end was notable. Moxley’s history with Ospreay and general demeanor of being an edgy guy that can’t be figured out is going to lend itself well to the story. Each time Moxley has a chance to drop Ospreay or be “Moxley” to get ahead of the match, drama will seep into the audience.
-Ok, Steve Borden sounds just like his Dad. It’s crazy. Borden is being brought along slowly, but clearly has value to AEW alongside Darby Allin. Down the road, there is value with them as hated rivals too. Borden still comes across as “Sting’s son.” Finding his own voice, personality, and character is pivotal for him starting right now.
Triple threat incoming
-Annnnnnd now we all know why Thekla wasn’t a straight babyface the last couple times she’s verbally jousted with Mercedes Mone. Triple threat world title match incoming. Thekla vs. Mone vs. Willow Nightingale was unofficially set this week with Nightingale making her return and running Thekla out of the ring. It’s a fine match and all, but leaves Thekla undefined. Against Mone, she’s a babyface. Against Nightingale, a heel. The lines are much too blurred in that regard for a talent that’s a top star in the AEW women’s division.
-An exciting tag team tables match in this week’s main event. How could it not be? The Young Bucks, Kevin Knight, and Kyle Fletcher all in the same match? A recipe for action and both teams brought it. The finish was odd. Allin and Borden running out to make the save for The Bucks when FTR attacked them should have been Adam Copeland and Christian Cage, right? Like, that’s the story to tell with the big triple threat ladder match between Cope/Cage, FTR, and Young Bucks coming up at All Out. Allin and Borden felt like a last second choice and didn’t make sense inside of the story at hand. There is a Don Callis Family connection, but that’s really it.
What did you think of this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite? Let us know in the comments!
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