10 Ups & 1 Down From AEW Dynamite: Road Rager (7 July)

9. Allin & Page Spook JR

Ethan Page
AEW

Jim Ross caught understandable flak for last week's "WWE Dynamite" flub, but the veteran announcer deserves credit for what he did for Darby Allin and Ethan Page last night.

Page and Allin delivered strong promos in their sitdown interview. They shone a bright enough light on their shared history without lingering on it, making it relevant to their current AEW fortunes through Darby's assertion that despite having 12 years more experience than him, Page didn't get the AEW call until after the former TNT Champion. This riled Ethan, who has been money on the microphone these past few weeks.

It was JR who put it over the top. Uncomfortable with the level of violence Page and Allin want to inflict on one another, he came across genuinely shaken up here. He doesn't feel good about what he's going to have to commentate on at all.

This must now be reflected in his performance in the announce booth, but Ross is tremendous at these sitdowns. AEW should continue to use him in this capacity.

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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.