6 Ups & 3 Downs From AEW Dynamite (November 15 - Results & Review)

2. Timeless Toni Storm Descends Further Into Parody

Toni Storm Mariah May
AEW

Mariah May was introduced to a less than enthused Toni Storm, and before she was ran out of the dressing room, managed to tell her idol that she is willing to do anything for her. How could something so perfunctory be so annoying?

The cutesy quick cuts between colour and the black and white that Storm insists upon being shot in didn't help. The idea, when it was good, is that Storm drew on the imagery of that era of Hollywood to reflect her mental state. Now she is virtual time traveller and Dynamite looks wacky whenever she's onscreen. AEW once struck a sweet spot between exaggerated characters/realistic world.

Dinosaurs yes, invisible camera no. It worked. Now, the sports-oriented presentation just feels woefully contrived whenever Storm is onscreen.

Is the implied joke of a production staffer hurriedly poking buttons to make sure Storm's demands are met funny enough to justify this?

Not at all.

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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!