5 Ups & 4 Downs From AEW Dynamite (4 May)

Wardlow owns, 'Hangman' Adam Page spits, Mercedes Martinez and Deonna Purrazzo battle.

Wardlow AEW
AEW

A middling episode of Dynamite played out before one of the best All Elite Wrestling crowds of the year last night, with Baltimore, Maryland in fine song for another crammed line-up that hit just more than it missed.

This was to be expected from such a lineup. Although Dynamite was unquestionably set up to deliver significant developments, it lacked big names and a blockbuster match, despite the quality promised by a pairing as exciting as Dante Martin and Rey Fenix. Perhaps this is a consequence of the current, increased NBA competition, which has throttled all wrestling ratings recently, potentially compelling promoters not to burn big things on smaller audiences. Whatever the case, Dynamite has dipped.

Wardlow faced another gigantic opponent in MJF's latest Monster of the Week challenge, remaining one of the most over people in American wrestling in doing so. Jeff Hardy and Bobby Fish fought for a spot in the Owen Hart Foundation Tournament, Martin and Fenix did the same, and Mercedes Martinez and Deonna Purrazzo scrapped to unify the ROH World and Interim Women's Championships.

Oh, and 'Hangman' Adam Page did not turn heel. More on that in a bit.

Let's light the fuse...

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

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.