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

4. World Title Scene Is Good, Not Great (Again)

Swerve Strickland Samoa Joe
AEW

The World title scene continued its flat trajectory: it was good, not great, and unless an in-ring masterpiece is imminent, Swerve Strickland Vs. Samoa Joe will not be remembered as a classic programme. They are two cool wrestlers, working what ultimately is a basic plot, saying the same things to one another over and over and over again. Joe doesn't think Swerve is capable of winning the World title. Swerve on the contrary believes it to be his destiny. This thing is on a loop, and they're both tweeners, more or less. There is little in the way of emotional thrust, and it's dragging.

As unengaging as the content is at this point, Swerve and Joe are still cool, which is an all too rare quality in wrestling. They are carrying this C+/B- tier stuff through their snarls, threats and demeanour. After a pair of familiar-sounding sit-down interviews, Swerve offered to meet Joe in the middle of the ring.

Joe accepted the request in the main event overrun segment, but a fleet of security guards held him back. In a moment that was brilliant and silly at the same time - or brilliant because it was silly - Swerve hit two of them with an avalanche stomp and all of them went flying. Despite the presence of Prince Nana as a distraction - Swerve is the babyface here in yet another messy and flawed character alignment - Joe got the better of him and held the World title aloft to close the show.

That title needs to change hands on Sunday - but, with Will Ospreay waiting, is Khan about to strap up his second consecutive transitional champion?

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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!