5 Ups & 3 Downs From AEW Dynamite (May 15 - Results & Review)
2. Formatting Error Maintains Iffy Trend
The issue expressed in the intro was not improved upon.
Two segments should have been switched over. Adam Copeland called out Malakai Black in a live segment that died on its arse. The House of Black attacked Copeland as he made his entrance. They dragged him to the ring. Malakai started to drone on. He knew that Cope was a bad guy deep down and didn't understand why he presented a facade. What is it with these spooky lore guys and the joy they extract from other people "embracing the hate"? Why is 2012 Kane the Velvet Underground of pro wrestling, Christ.
The fans didn't respond well at all to the usual "corruption" chat and asked Malakai to "shut the f*ck up". They were otherwise deathly silent throughout a bad heat angle. Copeland sold as if dead for a frankly hilarious amount of time. Black removed Cope's wedding ring. Kyle O'Reilly tried to help, but was useless.
Later, in a segment that should have happened in the ring instead, Will Ospreay and Roderick Strong met face-to-face backstage.
Will said he holds no respect for Roddy, who treated him like dirt when he first broke on the scene. Roddy shrugged, offered that Will was a moron, and told him that he still is despite insisting that having a "missus" and a kid has forced him to grow up. This felt like two guys who don't get on at all trying not to punch each other ahead of the match. This felt like pro wrestling.
Both performed their roles well, but Ospreay in particular navigated a great deal of exposition and made it feel somewhat natural.
Ospreay needed to be in the ring. It is vital that he doesn't become just another guy on the roster for whom there's too little time.
Make time for him. Present him as a star.
It's not difficult.