11 Ups & 1 Down From AEW Fyter Fest 2021 Night 1

9. Why AEW Dynamite Is The Best Episodic Weekly TV Show

Cody Rhodes
AEW

This might be a specific pet hate, but perhaps not: WWE's vision for sports entertainment is rotten, increasingly unpopular, and what AEW subverted at Fyter Fest brought that into focus.

WWE's format has been normalised for so long that some people just think this is wrestling now, but it isn't: there is nothing worse than an impromptu match because the fact that one can happen exposes the show as a scripted nonsense.

What the f*ck did the promoter have planned for the main event?

This trope renders RAW and SmackDown comfortably the most poorly-written TV shows - really, of all-time - on a fundamental level. At Fyter Fest, in a bid to make the Cody Rhodes Vs. Malakai Black programme feel hot and transgressive, Cody interrupted the show in what was a thrilling reminder that this is broadcast television. Cody, rediscovering the fire of 2019, apologised for interrupting the broadcast of a sporting event and demanded Black meet him in the ring.

Black instead spoke to him via the screen, and while his promo wasn't the best you'll hear on this show, the transition - from his "I was hoping you'd say that" line to the lights off gimmick - was a strong indication that AEW will nail the theatre surrounding the character.

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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 current Undisputed WWE 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!