5 Ups & 4 Downs From AEW Dynamite (23 Mar)

Ups...

5. A Fun Main Event, BUT...

Jericho Appreciation Society
AEW

... it shouldn't have been the main event.

This was a good match. John Silver's popping sequence was particularly satisfying thanks to his counter of Jake Hager's powerbomb into a 'Rana, Daniel Garcia was a total pest, and Chris Jericho constructed a finish perfectly calibrated to generate drama. Garcia grabbing Aubrey Edwards to allow Jericho to smack Alex Reynolds with Floyd was straight out of his playbook and Garcia getting the tapout should strengthen his resolve as a newly-minuted sports entertainer.

But the crowd reactions tell a story. Austin sounded like it was having a tougher time getting all the way into this after the excitement of CM Punk vs. Dax Harwood and the tornado tag. This would have resonated better on the midcard, absolutely. And that's fine.

Nonetheless, this was an effective first workout for the Jericho Appreciation Society, teed up by Matt Menard's incredible incredulity at the crowd having the audacity to sing 'Judas'. These guys rule together.

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Channel Manager
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.