5 Ups & 4 Downs From AEW Dynamite (April 17 - Results & Review)

Downs...

4. Women's Match Was Just There

Deonna Purrazzo Mariah May
AEW

Mariah May Vs. Deonna Purrazzo was mostly solid and uninspiring, a backdrop for a heavily signposted storyline development.

Deonna is ether costing Rosa the match against Toni Storm at Dynasty or completing the full turn very shortly afterwards - and, given Deonna's unimpressive showing at Revolution, that programme isn't going to be the centrepiece of the division. This was at least tighter and more snug than some of Deonna's TV matches, since May is well-versed in laying it in and doesn't shy away when it's her turn to take it, and only threatened to fall apart once: when May tried to float over a powerbomb attempt and send Deonna into the corner before falling awkwardly halfway through the attempt. She still got a pop with the resulting Hip Attack before Deonna won suddenly with a flash pin.

She'd only just taken May's closing play, which informed the shock but did little else. There's plenty of time to build Mariah as a featured act in the division. Conversely, is time running out for Purrazzo already?

In her defence, it doesn't seem as though she's being encouraged to work her preferred style. Precious little of her marches are wrestled on the mat. Still, she seems to be following the path of Saraya and Tyra Valkyrie: a name star brought in to much fanfare who hasn't met the in-ring standard.

In the post-match, Thunder Rosa daubed lipstick all over Toni Storm. It was a bad revenge angle. Just beat her up.

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!