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AEW DYNAMITE, APRIL 4th, 2024
AEW Dynamite returned to Massachusetts, just a few weeks after Big Business in Boston. This time in Worcester, as they continue the build to Dynasty. Let's look at the main talking points from this week's show.
LET IT GO
Why can’t AEW just move on from CM Punk? Let it go. Forget it. No one cares. Adam Copeland’s ra-ra speech, clearly a direct response to Punk’s interview, was so unnecessary and did nothing but tell people that AEW were completely gotten to by Punk's comments. As well as wasting valuable airtime. Why not just put on a killer show and prove him wrong? Maybe address some of the valid criticisms? Actions speak louder than words. Show you’re above it, instead of fueling it, and keeping it in the new cycle. All this did was add legitimacy to what Punk said, and I’m sure even those that disagreed with Punk, of which there were many, probably came out of this thinking “A lot of what he said was actually right”. This constant need to react to the online bullshit, and the playing to the tiny audience that cares about this rubbish, needs to stop. How many people in that crowd or watching at home even seen or cared about what Punk said? Maybe 10%? This was a major overreaction to a Youtube interview. Punk gave his opinion, on a small platform, when asked to. He didn’t do anything malicious, or anything to warrant an on air response. Copeland got no reaction when he brought it up. Sure, the content of Copeland’s promo was good. He was as passionate as always and it was a nice message. It was delivered with the best of intentions and the infectious enthusiasm we get from Copeland, but it made absolutely no sense within the confines of this show and to the many that do not care about this never ending drama. Then of course, we had two Jack Perry references from The Young Bucks. So when he likely lands back on TV, probably as part of The Elite, we are going to get more of it. Please, just make it stop. Stop making it so difficult for people to root for and enjoy AEW. Everyone please just move on with your lives and focus on putting out a top quality pro wrestling product.
RED CONTRACT
Swerve Strickland has been one of AEW’s major bright sparks over the past 6 months, but in recent weeks had been overshadowed by the company's new additions, which was hard to avoid. It was great to see the focus back on him, and more importantly, the world title segment closing the show. This was simple. Swerve says he's as much of a killer as Samoa Joe, and did his best to prove it by refusing to stay down after a violent beating, and signing the contract in his own blood. An effective angle to close the show and build momentum for the world title match at Dynasty.
NO MORE FRIENDS
Best Friends have been a staple of AEW programming since day one, and in my opinion, the group has long needed a shake up, or something major to sink their teeth into. Here we got it, with Trent turning on his buddies. The running knee as they went for a hug, was a great visual. Trent has long had major potential as a singles star, dating back to a great run he had in PWG many years ago, and a nice run he was beginning in New Japan, just before he signed with AEW, so I hope he is given the opportunity to fulfil that potential. Social media ran a backstage clip hinting that maybe Kris Statlander will soon be joining him, an important development that really should have aired on TV. Good stuff that I am interested in seeing where it goes.
WILLOW
Willow Nightingale has all the ingredients to be a major babyface star for AEW, as proven by her excellent promo this week. She’s likeable, charismatic, bubbly, but knows how to make the switch and be a serious competitor when the bell rings. This was a fun underdog promo as she talked about her history on the local independent scene, which the crowd ate up. There was a lot going on here, and a lot of ways this can all go. We learnt that Mercedes Mone will be challenging for the TBS title at Double or Nothing, in what might be her first match for the company. This will either elevate the status of that championship, or make Mercedes look like less of a star by setting her sights on the division's secondary title. If done correctly, Mercedes name value will hopefully elevate everyone involved and add some much needed depth to the women's division.
WHITE’S DADDY
Looking at this on paper, you would expect Billy Gunn, a week after a home invasion, to aggressively go after White, only for White to turn it around and get a decisive win in impressive fashion. Well that did not happen. Billy Gunn beat White and then beat him some more, then beat him all the way through the break, and we returned from break, to find him getting beat yet some more. Did White sneak out a quick win after this beating? No. He got DQ’d. This is up there with the most poorly constructed matches in the five year history of AEW. This came across like a total burial of Jay White, someone who should be positioned as one of AEWs top stars. And the post match angle wasn’t much better, because even after jumping The Acclaimed backstage and having the advantage, Bullet Club Gold still got run off. This whole angle has been mostly a disaster from the beginning, and the sooner everyone involved moves on, the better.
I can be reached at matthewmacklin90@gmail.com
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