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

Downs...

1. Overbooked Fluff

Arn Anderson Bryce
AEW

AEW fans have been waiting for Kip Sabian to show something more for a while now. He's a decent wrestler with a solid grasp of textbook heel work and the act with Penelope Ford has potential, but it's basic stuff with little sizzle. Last night, against the best in-ring storyteller in the company, 'Superbad' had a golden opportunity to spread his wings.

It didn't work out. Sabian vs. Cody was way too contrived and overbooked to help Kip out of his shell. With all due respect to the wrestlers and their efforts (they worked hard around the bullsh*t), this was nonstop distractions, interferences, and other silly b*llocks, with Arn Anderson and Ford involving themselves to the detriment of the bout and Joey Janela popping up for a dopy kiss spot, creating a stodgy, ineffective pantomime that concluded with Cody nailing three consecutive Crossrhodes for the win.

There should absolutely be room for sprinklings of Sports Entertainment in AEW's product, but it has to enhance the action, not detract from it. Cody vs. Sabian was just too much and not what AEW fans buy their tickets to see.

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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.