10 Ups & 4 Downs From AEW Dynamite (Jun 10)

1. Again, Jake?

Jake Hager
AEW

So Jake Hager is Cody's TNT Championship opponent at Fyter Fest. It's hard to get excited about that, given the wet fart that was Hager's World Title match with Jon Moxley earlier this year, though there were other problems with the development as well.

'The Big Hurt' emerged as a contender by creating his own challenge in a generic show-closing brawl. He was out first, going after Arn Anderson prior to attacking Cody. Private Party and Matt Hardy ran out with chairs before Proud and Powerful and Sammy Guevara joined the fun, getting ran off to the stage. Cody then grabbed the microphone, saying he knew what Jake wanted, granting him the shot.

What's particularly weird about this is that Cody has several Dynamite open challenges to get through before Fyter Fest, but this wasn't acknowledged at all. There's a chance he might not even have the belt by 1/8 July. The difference between this and the Best Friends situation is that Chuck Taylor and Trent's contendership was advertised as a Fyter Fest title shot, regardless of the champion. Here, the beef is between Cody and Jake specifically, so the bookers have dropped a bollock either way.

Advertisement
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.