6 Ups & 3 Downs From AEW Dynamite (19 Apr - Review)
3. Battle For Mark Briscoe
Friday’s edition of AEW Rampage peaked with the formal introduction of an idea that could have been too dark for its own good had the key players not pitched their performances so spectacularly. Days later on Dynamite and it became clear why.Triple J’s manipulation of Mark Briscoe is the sort of inspired wrestling silliness that works because of dramatic irony. Using and abusing Jay Lethal’s bond with Briscoe, the group have glommed on to him in a tactical attempt to monetise his talent and potential vulnerability. We as fans know deep down that Briscoe will outsmart these clowns, but the former ROH Tag Team Champion being centre to a tug of love as a result has cast doubt upon that and potentially set up a tremendous Double Or Nothing tag team affair in the process.
When FTR were alerted to Briscoe being attacked by The Varsity Athletes backstage, they raced to the medical office only to find Jarrett et al already there. Briscoe forced a truce between the warring sides, but - and take a seat if you need to - they can’t really co-exist.
Fun for now with rich emotions and high stakes lurking dangerously in the background, this was truly inspired.