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

5. Misjudged Opener Gets There In The End

Jon Moxley Orange Cassidy
AEW

In the opener, Jon Moxley and Wheeler YUTA went over Orange Cassidy and HOOK. This was weird.

The middle portion dragged; everything between the hot start and clever finish felt long. Very long. The finish, the key detail that informed the story of the International title match at Full Gear, was an out of nowhere development 11 minutes into sub-12 minute match.

Lacking that effervescent quality of the classic Dynamite opener, a strange early decision dampened the enthusiasm of the crowd. HOOK and Orange jumped the Blackpool Combat Club as they made their entrance, which was a false promise. Back in the ring, HOOK endured the heat for what felt like ages as Orange sold his arm on the outside. HOOK did exchange some nice throws with YUTA, but the crowd was deathly quiet and needed something more dynamic to lift them up. This wasn't an opener for a California crowd.

This just warrants an 'Up', however, through the finish. It ruled. Cassidy tried to blast Mox with an Orange Punch. Mox, to Cassidy's astonishment, just ate it. Cassidy is still feeling the effects of that epic, painstaking reign, and Mox being Mox - a big mean hard as nails bastard - has dented OC's confidence.

How they build on that plot point on Saturday is an intriguing prospect, one that has added real juice to a sequel that felt like a reset and obligation before Dynamite.

OC rocking Mox in LA will bring the house down, now they've established doubt over his ability to do it.

Advertisement
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!