10 Ups & 1 Down From AEW Dynamite (Apr 29)

Everybody dies: just look at Dustin Rhodes.

by Andy H Murray
Cody Dustin Rhodes
AEW

The needless handwringing over last week's Kenny Omega vs. Alan Angels match summarises professional wrestling's empty arena era up nicely. There isn't a whole lot to talk about at the moment so people will tie themselves in knots over the smallest things, particularly when it comes to AEW: the most over-analysed wrestling product on the planet.

Yes it was a Down, and perhaps not the squash Omega needed to have, but did it warrant more than a minute's debate? Absolutely not.

Let's hope the discourse on last night's episode of Dynamite revolves around effective storytelling, as these two hours were full of it. A triumphant three-course meal of a show, it served two strong TNT Championship Tournament semi-finals in Cody vs. Darby Allin and Lance Archer vs. Dustin Rhodes, a couple of ripping squashes, plus great stay-at-home promos from the likes of Jon Moxley, MJF, and Dr. Britt Baker.

We're pushing towards Double Or Nothing at full steam now. While not everything is hitting, this was one of the strongest episodes of Dynamite since the ongoing global health crisis robbed the brand of its noise.

Let's light the fuse...

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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.