4 Ups & 6 Downs From AEW Dynamite (12 Jan)

Ups...

4. A Similar Finish, But...

Ricky Starks Dante Martin
AEW

Though Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Dante Martin suffered from having a similar finish to CM Punk vs. Wardlow, as Hobbs was cost the match by kerfuffle outside the ring, the up-and-coming duo still had an effective power vs. speed match on the Dynamite undercard.

A couple of ever-so-slightly sloppy moments aside, this was well done. Hobbs stifled Martin early on, plucking him out of the sky and throwing him around effortlessly, nailing a particularly gnarly spinebuster on the outside. Martin, meanwhile, had to use his signature agility and explosiveness to craft windows, countering out of the Torture Rack and other big moves several times, before ultimately profiting when Jay Lethal, of all people, pulled Ricky Starks down from the apron.

It appears we're going for Jay and Dante as an alliance while Lio Rush is off television. This will hopefully be fleshed out over the coming weeks. Regardless, styles make fights, and the contrast here was played up nicely.

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Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. 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.