7 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Dynamite (19 Jan)
Downs...
2. A Slow Start For The World Title Feud
It's unfortunate that AEW's latest World Title program has made such a slow start, given the audience's investment in 'Hangman' Adam Page and his recent peaks opposite Bryan Danielson, but last night wasn't particularly encouraging for a feud that will presumably headline a big Dynamite prior to Revolution.
Lance Archer vs. Frankie Kazarian got long in the tooth. He's one of the most explosive monsters in the game and stands as a pantheon tier squash artist, but Lance struggled to generate heat here. The bout's long control periods felt plodding rather than threatening. Kaz showed fire in his comebacks, as he always does, but a shorter, more emphatic hammering would've worked better here - and if AEW didn't want to use Frankie in that role, give Fuego Del Sol a call. They've already got the perfect babyface jobber to the stars on the roster.
The crowd perked up when Page emerged to save Kazarian from further damage after the bell. The World Champion ended the brawl on top, though Lance countering the Buckshot Lariat was a nice touch that will hopefully play into their match. The big man now has a clear-cut way to block Page's biggest weapon.