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

by Andy H Murray

1. Jericho Retains His World Title Shot

Chris Jericho Wheeler Yuta
AEW

Chris Jericho got suckered into putting his upcoming Interim World Title shot on the line against Wheeler Yuta last night, but ultimately came out on top following a fierce back-and-forther than represented the next logical step on Yuta's gradual star-making process.

Making diamonds of unpolished gems is a long, gradual process. Yuta's incredible last match with Jon Moxley and joining the Blackpool Combat Club didn't make him a star in an instant. It's more about how those moments stack and follow one another than anything else, with the up-and-comer's ability to push Jericho to the limit (which was established here) another logical progression.

Yuta was impressive and assertive. His growing character stepping to Jericho showed he wasn't going to be pushed around by the veteran. Indeed, he is inheriting some of Moxley and Bryan Danielson's frothing nastiness, highlighted here by him continually targeting Jericho's broken nose. Beyond that, he ran callbacks to Forbidden Door's tremendous opener with his German Suplexes, showed what he was picking up from William Regal by working towards an STF, and foiled multiple finishers, including a Codebreaker and Lionsault.

Jericho gave Yuta plenty, too, only finishing him off with the rarely-employed Liontamer after it had been established the regular Walls wouldn't be enough. A good, solid television main event with the right result, and Jon Moxley finally drawing the 'Lionheart' out of Chris Jericho after chasing his rival away post-bell.

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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.