6 Ups & 6 Downs From AEW Dynamite (Dec 16)
Downs...
6. Filler Sting Content
Little was accomplished with last night's Sting appearance, which saw 'The Icon' arrive to stave off a Team Taz attack on the isolated Cody Rhodes, wagging his bat at a heel unit that knew better than to leap on the WCW legend.
This came following Rhodes' win over Angelico. Taz and Ricky Starks cut promos on Cody and "old turtle kid" Darby Allin, who was watching from the rafters, with the TNT Champion set to be maimed by Brian Cage and Rhodes heading for early paternity leave. Cue: the lights cutting, Sting's music hitting, and the ratings draw appearing.
Hook and Starks had to hold Powerhouse Hobbs back, but Taz, the wise old head, got the message, withdrawing his killers.
Coming off more like an exercise in giving Sting television time rather than producing any significant developments, this felt like filler. Not that Sting should have been expected to start Scorpion Death Dropping fools, but another staredown with Cody and Darby, tracing over parallels that were drawn more effectively last week? That doesn't make for a great segment.