5 Ups & 5 Downs From AEW Dynamite (25 May)

by Andy H Murray

1. Wardlow Punches His Ticket

Shawn Spears MJF
AEW

Wardlow oozed pure animalistic energy as he stood atop the steel cage following Dynamite's opener, having finally punched his ticket for a Double Or Nothing 2022 match with MJF, ruining the latest of his former master's grand plans in dominant style.

One by one, Wardlow has knocked MJF's hurdles down, with the latest being a seemingly unwinnable cage match with Shawn Spears. That Max was a special guest referee (clad wonderfully in Burberry stripes) should have guaranteed Spears' victory. Indeed, MJF struck early, putting his hands on Wardlow when he knew the big man couldn't retaliate, stacking the deck against the babyface with every trick up his sleeve.

And yet, predictably, he fell.

The predictable outcome is often the right outcome in professional wrestling. Wardlow, when fighting Spears, was in complete control. Only skullduggery put him on the backfoot, so Spears and MJF's shenanigans backfiring to cost them the bout made all the sense in the world. A rogue chairshot to MJF's dome facilitated a powerbomb Symphony too potent for Spears to endure.

MJF scampered up the ramp afterwards, horrified. The stage is now perfectly set for Wardlow to tear him apart at Double Or Nothing

Or for MJF to screw him.

Again.

Either way, this remains the best-built match on the pay-per-view card - and it's no coincidence that it involves MJF.

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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.