10 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Dynamite (Apr 1)

3. Et Tu, Darby?

Darby Allin Cody
AEW

There's a lot tying last night's main-eventers together in AEW, particularly relating to their individual histories with Cody and the still-ongoing Darby Allin vs. Sammy Guevara feud. While ostensibly a preview for the TNT Championship Tournament, make no mistake: this was primarily about the stories and the characters, with multiple call-backs to the individual matches and feuds these people have had in the past.

Guevara kept creeping on Brandi Rhodes by simultaneously vlogging and trying to get a kiss from her early on, leading to Darby smashing him into the barricades. Shawn Spears demanded Cody start the bout with him. Moments like Cody overbearingly taking the lead over Allin, 'The American Nightmare' inadvertently districting the referee leading to a two-on-one beatdown, and the finish, with Darby saving Cody from a chairshot only to get rolled up for the L all sold the story, and all fed the post-match angle.

Allin leathered Cody after the bell, giving him serious food for thought heading into the tournament. They've had their issues in the past and after the aforementioned intricate moments of battle, beef is back on the menu, baby.

Good action, good storytelling, good match.

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.