11 Ups & 0 Downs From AEW Dynamite (Mar 31)

Ups...

11. Christian Cage Does, In Fact, Still Have It

Christian AEW
AEW

That apron bump was worse than most.

Early into Christian Cage Vs. Frankie Kazarian's wonderfully crafted slow-burn opener, Kazarian launched Cage to the floor, via the apron, knocking him on his arse upside down. It looked bad in a controlled way - as sickening as it was painful to take. A dispassionate Kazarian sold the attack with something approaching his fabulous Being The Elite deadpan.

"I want to go out on my own terms."

"Do ya?"

Kazarian's body language was sublime in how remorseless he was. That's what wrestling is now, he seemed to convey with a shrug. You just left for seven years.

This was a damn, damn good match - a hybrid of consummate counter wrestling and a real unvarnished scrap, the physicality of which Cage sold brilliantly with a shocked, catatonic stare. He measured his comeback perfectly, to spike moments of drama near the finishing sequence in "vintage" Cage fashion, but the real brilliance was in the sell. He wasn't just selling Kazarian's super-aggressive offence. He wasn't just selling a bit of rust.

He was selling the shock of a new game, putting it over before he went over, in a match of exquisite pacing the likes of which will somehow contrive to make this white-hot TV show even better.

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!