6 Ups & 4 Downs From AEW Dynamite (13 April)

by Andy H Murray

1. Samoa Joe & Minoru Suzuki: Tough Men Doing Tough Things

Samoa Joe Minoru Suzuki
AEW

There was a special vibe in the air for long periods of Samoa Joe vs. Minoru Suzuki, which played out in a similar fashion to the Pancrase pioneer's recent New Japan Cup battle with Hiromu Takahashi.

Two men with incredibly high pain thresholds chopped the hell out of each other, banking on their opposite number's iron will giving way before their own. Mean, pissy, and stuff, Suzuki and Joe smacked each other red raw, refusing to give an inch, utilising a different kind of selling. Both men were hurting - badly - but neither wanted to show the other how much.

Even after this engaging opening exchange, the ageing duo continued to do a little with a lot. Suzuki's failed attempt at hitting the Gotch Style Piledriver preceded him retaking the middle of the ring, slapping his chest, and roaring "one more time!", pulling Joe into another attritional leathering exchange.

The Muscle Buster came in the end, with Joe avoiding Suzuki's signature rope-hanging armbar spot to put the Ring Of Honor Television Champion away. This is the first time he has held the belt despite his ROH tenure. In his former protege Jay Lethal, the greatest ROH TV Champion in history, he has the perfect first challenger.

And this match was a great example of what two older guys whose physical peaks are long behind them can do when they understand their limitations and roles.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. 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.