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

2. Cody, Redux

MJF Wardlow signing
AEW

A fantastic piece of pro wrestling cinema played out as MJF, luxuriating in his hometown, outlined the terms of engagement for Wardlow at Double Or Nothing 2022, calling back to his star-making Cody Rhodes feud.

Name-dropping the new WWE megastar, MJF proceeded to lay down a near-identical roadmap for Wardlow. Like Cody ahead of Revolution 2020, the big man must not only endure 10 lashes of the belt, but get through a cage match (against Shawn Spears), with his kayfabe employer as the special guest referee. That last stipulation opens the possibility of greater shenanigans here, though the layout is entirely fitting for a man who was once on the opposite side of these same terms.

Wardlow's extra-hard whip of Rhodes in that now-iconic 2020 segment will definitely come into play here.

AEW was smart in restricting Wardlow to a non-speaking role here, lest they risk him getting jeered in MJF's hometown. MJF, meanwhile, did as he always does in Long Island, conducting the crowd like a master politician in his hockey jersey while still negging the "poors" in the cheap seats. There's a compelling argument to be made that he is the best television wrestler in America today. If anybody is better than him, it's by a slim margin.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

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.