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

2. United Empire Stumble In Debut

United Empire Great-O-Khan Jeff Cobb
AEW

NJPW stars Jeff Cobb and Great-O-Khan attacked FTR during their match with Roppongi Vice, triggering a disqualification before continuing the beating after the bell. This looks like the first big step towards an inter-promotional match for Forbidden Door. Holding the ROH Tag Team Title belts aloft, the United Empire tandem certainly staked their claim.

But like much of this Dynamite, the angle fell flat.

Received with a murmur rather than a roar, suggesting unfamiliarity from the audience, O-Khan (one of the most improved wrestlers in Japan throughout the pandemic era) and Cobb stumbled through a couple of moves. Such botches aren't always the end of the world if they don't have a detrimental impact on the viewing experience. Here, they did, presenting O-Khan in particular as clumsy, not crushing.

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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.