14 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Dynamite (Oct 29)

2. Subverting The Cliché

Chris Jericho
AEW

WWE didn't invent the pro-wrestling contract signing segment, but they're definitely responsible for turning into a cliché, with the majority concluding with somebody flipping the table, a brawl, and one wrestling signing the papers over another's broken body.

It's one of the most boring and overdone segments in wrestling, so good on AEW for working around the usual tropes and coming out with something memorable.

Chris Jericho sauntered out in a Halloween-themed jacket and with wonderfull straightened hair. He wasn't best pleased that Cody had kept him waiting, but stayed relatively civil by his standards. With his opponent signing the contract immediately, Jericho spooked Rhodes by leaping to his feet, pulling the "gotcha." When fans chanted "you suck" at 'Le Champion,' he brilliantly revived his old WCW gimmick: "I don't suck! See-a-vone sucks," he said, focused on Tony.

Both men got to their feet with their signatures drying. Cody pulled Jericho back after a handshake, teasing the scrap, but Jericho claimed he wouldn't disrespect the match by getting fighty. Instead, he did something worse. Much worse.

Sammy Guevara's smug mug appeared on the screen behind the duo as Jake Hager obliterated Dustin Rhodes in the background, slamming the veteran's arm in a car door. It was a brutal, bludgeonous beatdown that pulled Cody from the stage and once again, the Inner Circle and Jericho had won. A great pro-wrestling set piece, here.

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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.