5 Ups & 3 Downs From AEW Dynamite (3 Aug)

2. ThunderStorm Fall To Baker & Hayter

Thunder Rosa Britt Baker
AEW

This absolutely ruled.

While not what most would determine a workrate classic, ThunderStorm vs. Britt Baker and Jamie Hayter's lack of sheen and polish was more than compensated for by its intensity. The wrestlers worked hard with urgency and genuine nastiness, creating a palpable sense of dislike as they landed bombs on one another, with Thunder Rosa in a particularly fired-up mood (when is Thunder Rosa not fired up?).

A hoot of a television match started with Baker and Rosa getting petty with one another, then big brawl, with Britt looking for an early-match Lockjaw. Jamie Hayter came in and was taken out by the babyfaces through the break. Quickfire tags were used to neutralise the powerhouse's threat leading into the bombfest, which was one of the most satisfying things on the show. From starchy clotheslines and ripcord forearms to avalanche Air Raid Crashes and Hayter's double-suplex, these exchanges were deliciously stiff - and Toni Storm's hip attacks still look absolutely brutal.

Superior teamwork landed the heels their victory, with Baker pulling Rosa in front of her to eat one of the hip attacks. A short-arm lariat later and Hayter had scored the pin, earning a title shot in the process.

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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.