5 Ups & 5 Downs From AEW Dynamite (18 May)

Downs...

5. Going Off The Rails On A Promo Train

Keith Lee
AEW

A case of interesting people doing uninteresting things enveloped the tag division last night, as Double or Nothing's Tag Team Title match was booked using one of modern wrestling's most tired formats: the promo train.

Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland scored a quick victory over the undervalued WorkHorsemen, who are more than capable of playing a bigger role here. Nonetheless, it was tight and well-executed, with the combination powerbomb/stomp finisher looking particularly great.

The train soon rolled into town. Lee grabbed a microphone, signalling his Tag Title intentions before he was interrupted by Ricky Starks and Powerhouse Hobbs. Jurassic Express and Christian Cage then came out, booking the three-way for the pay-per-view and a singles match between Jungle Boy, Starks, and Strickland for next week. Christian, apparently, is the booker now.

A couple of funny trash talk lines couldn't save this lazily laid-out bit of business. Promo train + wrestlers making matches = must try harder.

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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.