7 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Dynamite (11 May)

1. Weak Finish, Weak Angle

Keith Lee Swerve Strickland
AEW

More on Ricky Starks vs. Jungle Boy later, but its finish was disappointing and repetitive in a feud that has already seen multiple matches end muddily.

Swerve Strickland's arrival at ringside compelled the official to try and get him out of there while Jungle Boy scored a visual pin on Starks. Ricky took advantage of this by taking the Jurassic Express man out, hitting the Roshambeaux, and getting the pinfall. During this, Strickland was made to look stupid by standing around at ringside, disappointing and disbelieving of what had just happened, having inadvertently screwed the babyface.

Christian Cage, Luchasaurus, and Keith Lee then hit the arena floor for a staredom a la NXT circa 2019. Lee/Strickland vs. Jurassic Express vs. Team Taz for the Tag Team Championships at Double Or Nothing 2022 appears to be the direction. A potentially exciting match, but a weak, low-energy angle that did little to build hype for it.

Cage's apparent support of Jungle Boy adds an interesting new wrinkle in the wake of JB's latest failure, though. A supplemental Up.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. 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.