10 Ups & 1 Down From AEW Dynamite (Feb 19)

6. Finally, Wardlow

Wardlow AEW
AEW

Six months.

That's how much time had passed between Wardlow's first AEW vignette airing at All Out and the big man finally stepping through the ropes last night. Fans had been waiting patiently for this moment and finally, with the stakes high and emotions through the roof, the big beefy bastard finally got to show us what he could do.

He didn't disappoint. 'Mr. Mayhem' played his role well last night. He proved that he can do the hossy monster stuff superbly, but there was more to his performance than that. There's no value in working like a big, lumbering stiff anymore. Monsters need extra dimensions to their act. The one-note sh*t doesn't cut it in 2020 and in Wardlow, AEW has unearthed a strong, expressive, light-footed bruiser who's not only a good powerhouse, but a good athlete and character as well.

Granted, Wardlow was in there with one of the best storytellers in the company, but this was an encouraging debut. His ridiculous release suplex has already made Pete Dunne's X-Plex redundant.

Advertisement
Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. 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.