14 Ups & 5 Downs For AEW In 2021

MJF Vs. Hangman Page is as big a dream bout as anything involving an "ex-WWE guy". That's because...

by Michael Sidgwick
Hangman Page
AEW

Everybody's list will look different, so an attempt has been made here to analyse AEW's 2021 output somewhat objectively.

What drew drew, what was brilliant was echoed in virtually every arena, and what little was actively bad is very much buried by consensus. There are no viral Twitter threads putting over the intricate details of the Matt Hardy Vs. Orange Cassidy programme, are there?

Subjectively, much of the Inner Circle Vs. American Top Team programme was crap. Misogyny and homophobia was volleyed over the dreaded invisible wall, and Chris Jericho's singalong patter was excruciating, but the feud was ridiculously over in arenas, Dan Lambert's meltdowns were funny, and the actual action was improbably entertaining.

Subjectively, Chris Jericho got a bad rap elsewhere. The Labours storyline was a bit uneven, but his matches with Shawn Spears and his singles bouts with MJF were far hotter and more dramatic than their critical reception suggested. MJF's Dynamite win, a pure strain of timeless wrestling drama, might well be the most underrated match of the year.

Certain Dynamite episodes were a mere 7/10, which always felt like a 5 given the euphoria of the 9s. But that's the standard - and almost an 'Up' in itself...

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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!