4 Ups & 4 Downs From AEW Dynamite (12 April - Review)

3. A Verbal Show-Down That Was Almost Too Good

After the match, MJF interrupted Darby to cut a promo building his third challenger ahead of the Four Pillars Four-Way match at Double Or Nothing.

MJF was his typically great heel self, deftly pulling off the the necessary contrivance that is a pro wrestler putting over their rival in one breath. He put over their stunning Full Gear 2021 opener but claimed that Darby lacks the remorseless instinct to win the big one. This four-way feud is only possible as a result of AEW's disciplined approach and strict focus on continuity.

If Allin had turned when he felt marginalised last year, his candid and impassioned promo simply wouldn't have registered in the same way. This Pillars feud is unique and interesting, a very creative and organic means of building a multi-man match, but the plotting is more organic than the story itself, which is more noble than a true big-time attraction. There's a bit more tell-don't-show to this than is ideal. AEW is telling you that the Pillars are on equal footing, but it really isn't the case. They are telling you that if you invest in AEW for years and years, you will be rewarded. It's a very clever and rewarding approach, but it isn't a guarantee of success.

This verbal duel brought that into focus.

The Four-Way exists because AEW wants you to think that Jack Perry and Sammy Guevara are PPV headliners without actually being on that level just yet. It's a bit cheeky, because it's all too accurate. Allin however is.

The match exists because MJF Vs. Jack Perry and MJF Vs. Sammy Guevara are not headline attractions - the Four-Way is a neat, cute workaround - but MJF Vs. Darby Allin could stand on its own two feet. Darby, bluntly, felt significantly more ready for the spot than Sammy did last week. His conviction last night was excellent babyface work.

When MJF called Darby "Sting's bitch", this summoned the Icon - who was a riot doing prop comedy. As funny as he was, and as well as he did to put over Allin as the New Sting in what is legitimately a pro wrestling first, he - inadvertently - did no favours for Jack Perry. In last week's review, it was pointed out that Perry lacks the comedic chops to pull off the mischievous secret attack gimmick. Sting reducing himself to Darby's cheerleader, complete with pom-poms, was the sort of piss funny visual comedy that only a select few can get away with.

Without meaning to, he made Perry look a bit try-hard in comparison.