10 Ups & 1 Down From AEW Dynamite (18 Aug)

9. Cult Of Paulsonality

Paul Wight
AEW

Paul Wight fatigue is real. It's evident in the reaction his recent Dynamite appearances have drawn, and it's understandable. Big Show was on WWE television for a long, long time with minimal evolution beyond his meme-able face/heel turn record. It's therefore tough to argue with anyone who doesn't want to see him working programs on TNT, even if the content is good.

And the content was good last night.

Wight followed up on last week's confrontation with The Factory by cheesing on how good it felt to be back in the ring. When QT Marshall and co. interrupted, showing Wight's surgery photos and X-rays to suggest he isn't fit for this line of work anymore, Wight claimed he wasn't embarrassed by having his "big beautiful *ss on national television." Then, he pulled his trump card, revealing Tony Khan had booked him versus Marshall for All Out 2021.

This was well-performed - and the pieces fit. Marshall is a good stooge heel to eat a two-minute loss to Wight. It won't overstay its welcome and will serve as an effective buffer between two bigger pay-per-view matches, which is something AEW's overlong and inconsistent supercards definitely need.

It'll be fine. Don't worry about it.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.