12 Ups & 0 Downs From AEW Dynamite (Jul 22)

2. Microphone King

Eddie Kingston
AEW

You don't book Eddie Kingston and not let him talk: that'd be like signing Ricochet and not letting him fly, and who in their right mind would do that?

Kingston is an elite talker. He's one of the best in the business and has been for years, so it was great to see AEW giving him a chance to flex on Dynamite. Here, he interrupted Cody's opening preamble, saying the "tough life" 'The American Nightmare' had faced was nothing like his own. The insults were threatening, with Kingston saying he'd knock Arn Anderson's jaw clean off his face, promising to put Cody in the ground and smile, saying Tony Khan had paid him good money to kick his ass.

Putting distance between Cody's wrestling "grit" and Kingston's real grit was the right narrative but Eddie's delivery is what really matters here. The guy is an all-timer in this department. Few wrestling spitters have ever been as believable, rugged, and real as 'King.' There's no line between the performer and the persona. You never get the impression that this is a man playing a role. Eddie Kingston is as real as it gets, partnah, and you'd best listen when he opens his mouth.

Give this man a job. Immediately.

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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.