6 Ups & 3 Downs From AEW Dynamite (21 June - Review)

2. Forbidden Door AEW Title Match Undermined

MJF Adam Cole
AEW

This was entertaining but flawed.

Adam Cole entered the ring to challenge MJF to another match. MJF, after putting himself over for bringing out the best in Cole, a line great for its economy, declined. After more squabbling, Tony Schiavone alerted both men that they had been drawn together in the upcoming Blind Eliminator tournament. In a very cute detail, they displayed their chemistry before the announcement by each telling Schiavone to shut up at the exact same time. Aspects of this are good. Allowing Cole to channel the smug heel of old, only slightly, is a good idea. Nobody bought him as the badass vengeful babyface. This story is much better use of him. The timing of this angle was shoddy. AEW does this much too often. Couldn't this have waited a week?

Hiroshi Tanahashi is a genius who will convince everybody that he can win on the night, but continuing the Cole angle before Sunday renders the Forbidden Door title match a formality. Also, Cole wants the AEW World title, and he wants to win it from MJF, now that a grudge has been established. So why is he encouraging Max to take a match with Tana, and why was the graphic shown last week after MJF had refused to accept it before taking Cole's bait tonight? Couldn't that have waited, too?

This segment, while fun, was very over-thought.

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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!