5 Ups & 4 Downs From AEW Dynamite (20 April)

Ups...

5. "Oink Oink, Bitch"

Wardlow and The Butcher could have worked a more engaging physical contest if allotted more time than the scant few minutes they were given here, but this wasn't the intention. AEW's goal was the continue the Wardlow character arc by making MJF's bodyguard look like as much of a badass as possible. To that end, his night was a total success, continuing his surge to becoming one of AEW's top stars.

It started with Mark Sterling dictating the terms of Wardlow's presence in the building, forcing him into handcuffs when not being escorted by the security crew he has spent the past few weeks decimating. Uncuffed to fight The Butcher (having seemingly completed the remarkable feat of changing from his suit to his ring attire while still bound), Wardlow walked down to no entrance music, then endured short bursts of stiff, clubbing offence before finally conducting the Symphony. Four powerbombs were what it took to put his burly opponent away.

Wardlow looked like the baddest man on the planet as he was cuffed back up, then led up the ramp while the crowd chanted his name, having just floored one of AEW's most ruthless mercenaries. MJF, meanwhile, was fuming, resorting to paying Jake Roberts an extortionate amount of money for Lance Archer's services later on.