11 Ups & 1 Down From AEW Dynamite (29 Sep)

6. Punching Down

MJF has perfected the art of punching down in AEW. His brand of cheap heat really, really irritates people. He knows this, which is why he leans into it. Those who argue that wrestling has evolved beyond the need for it are as worked as the live crowd when they throw complaints around after the show, proving that no, wrestling has not evolved beyond the need for cheap heat.

And it never will.

MJF picks his targets well. After weeks of bullying Brian Pillman Jr., he moved onto Darby Allin last night. This came after drawing a line between himself, Allin, Sammy Guevara, and Jungle Boy, and the famed Four Pillars of All Japan Pro Wrestling, with the Salt of the Earth himself the clear standout (in his eyes). A Mitsuharu Misawa among Haruka Eigens.

When Darby, the only of those "Pillars" that MJF is yet to defeat, came out, MJF savaged him. He called the former TNT Champion a "school-shooter mime on a skateboard" then tastelessly referred back to the day his uncle died. This has been referenced many times on AEW television, but never so savagely, and while it fired Darby up, he refused to take Maxwell's bait by swinging a punch. The heels left upon being invited to keep talking - and the feud is on.

Allin was able to restrain his emotions last night. Whether or not he'll be able to keep doing so over the coming weeks is the next big question, though that will likely depend on how low MJF goes with his barbs.