6 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Dynamite (17 Aug)
1. King Kenny
Kenny Omega is back in All Elite Wrestling - and the comeback was fantastic.
The Elite defeated La Faccion Ingobernable in a strong trios match that didn't quite hit the format's ceiling. It had spectacular moments in spades, including Dragon Lee wiping Omega out in one of his fantastic, propulsive dives after Kenny faltered when attempting his Terminator, sharp interplay from the reunited Elite, and Lee playing a deliberate babyface foil to heel rogues Andrade El Idolo and Rush. The purpose of this was later revealed in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it post-match turn, which was too swift to land. Nonetheless, a thrilling reintroduction to Omega was capped by Kenny pinning Lee with the One Winged Angel.
But this was ultimately more of an angle than a match. For all its quality between the ropes, the occasion was greater than the mechanics.
Omega was reintroduced through a lengthy Justin Roberts introduction, as he had been pre-hiatus. He walked out wearing a black rashguard and shoulder brace that stayed on throughout the match. Moments later, Don Callis was quipping that even at 30%, Omega is still the greatest wrestler of all time. The Canadian couldn't get going for the Terminator dive. When he tried to dash, his knee collapsed. He worked a near-botch on a kip-up spot.
Kenny Omega is working the universe.
Cognizant that his physical condition was the watching world's biggest concern heading into last night, the former AEW World Champion spun the audience like a master politician. That social media was flooded with real concern for his status after the show demonstrates how effective he was. Rather than blowing away the cobwebs in night one, Kenny is using real concern to manufacture an almighty work, ensuring that when he finally rips the rashguard away and nails the Terminator, the pop is going to be colossal.
It is becoming increasingly difficult to work a fanbase that thinks it knows everything. Omega therefore deserves special praise for leveraging a delicate, real-life situation into immense pro wrestling drama.