12 Ups & 4 Downs From AEW Dynamite: Bash At The Beach (Jan 15)

3. Cody Calls MJF's Bluff

Shout-outs to Cody dressing like a member of the Miami Vice cast for his in-ring promo. Don Johnson, eat your heart out.

'The American Nightmare' drew a great response as he came out to respond to MJF's stipulations. He said that when he asked for his rival's rather expensive price, it was an act of indignance and self-righteousness, then ran through the stipulations one by one. The Wardlow match was, he noted, an attempt at softening up, but twisted it by claiming MJF was worried the audience would realise he was the one who should be carrying Wardlow's bags when they see the beefcake in the action - not the other way around.

As for those 10 lashings? No problem, apparently, because MJF is doolally if he thinks that's the worst thing that'll happen during their feud, and Cody has no problem with the "no contact" clause either - because he knows Friedman is stalling.

Tremendous delivery, great lines ("you go for less because you're incapable of more"), and logical, this was a home run. Deep down, MJF doesn't really want to wrestle Cody. He threw these absurd stipulations down in the belief that 'The American Nightmare' would never accept them, but Cody called his bluff by doing just that, putting himself back in the driving seat in the process. MJF must now react to that. Having Wardlow Chokeslam Cody off the side of Chris Jericho's big silly boat would be a great start...

Obviously don't do that, Cody might die. But still.