10 Things You Learn Re-Watching AEW Dynamite’s First Episode
Was AEW's first flagship really that good, or was WWE just totally crap in 2019?
AEW Dynamite burst into life on 2 October 2019 and handed hungry wrestling fans a nourishing alternative to Vince McMahon's fading WWE weeklies. It felt different, it felt revolutionary, and it honestly felt like Tony Khan had a real shot at chomping into national/global business that had been dominated by one family since 2001.
Revisiting the first ever Dynamite is a rewarding experience. There was a vibrance to the product that proved intoxicating, but not everything was as flawless as some like to pretend it was. Today, you'll often hear lapsed AEW fans bash the product by puffing out their chests and proudly proclaiming that Dynamite used to be way better.
In some ways, yes. In others? No.
Teething problems and niggling issues (ones that'd be annoyingly persistent) aside, AEW's first episode was considered a rip-roaring success once cameras faded to black in 2019. New champions had been crowned, some killer matches scratched an in-ring itch, and the show ended with serious buzz as a new stable was formed.
Here's every positive and negative observation gleaned from zooming back to a time when Tony Khan could do no wrong.
10. The Atmosphere Is Immediate
Once the familiar intro ends, you're met with something beautiful: A jam-packed Capital One Arena in Washington, and some 14,129 eager fans waiting to see what AEW on weekly TV would look like. On commentary, an impassioned Jim Ross said tickets sold out in around 30 minutes, and it's believable hype.
There was such a cool buzz around AEW back then. People wanted to invest, attend and make plenty of noise. That zings off your screen immediately when re-watching the first Dynamite. Also, as a side note, there's no doubt the show benefitted from being All Elite's only TV outlet - that'd change with Rampage then Collision diluting things.
Honestly, the difference between how AEW's producers presented wide shots on-camera in 2019 is startling compared to now. In October 2019, Tony Khan could flash a proud smile as cameras showed the entire arena lit up. There were fans on that hard cam side, and plenty of them.
It's kinda sad to see how far attendances (other than specials like at Wembley Stadium) have dropped off.