7 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Dynamite (23 Feb)

3. Stamford Shooting

Chris Jericho calling Cody Rhodes "whatshisname" was certainly a choice. It likely isn't worth reading into, as it's unlikely that AEW would remove a cornerstone from history, but it felt like an unnecessary line in an otherwise fantastic segment. Just say the man's name. It's fine.

Inter-promotional jabs will always upset somebody, but they fit the segment to a tee here. This was a sports entertainment-style setup. Jericho has produced several of these through his AEW run, from Town Hall Meetings to Summits and everything in between. This time, he dragged the least sports entertainment guy in the company into one. Eddie Kingston should rip Jericho for this, and should assert that AEW is a wrestling promotion first and foremost, because that's who he is. He should never come off as a willing participant in a dressed-up pantomime segment.

The core idea that Chris sees Eddie as somebody who needs the rub of earning his respect is spot on, too. This is a very WWE way of thinking. The idea that wrestlers magically benefit from sharing airtime with those possessing stronger résumés is a long-held Stamfordian myth. Ultimately, Kingston earning Jericho's respect won't do a thing for Eddie, who doesn't need the rub. One of the most over guys in the entire company, he's already there. Unfortunately, the Jericho character's colossal ego prevents him from seeing that. This man of impossible vanity, who needs an entire building of people signing "Judas" at him to fluff him up before he speaks, is still afflicted with the Stamford-brained nonsense he claims to despise.

Eddie Kingston beating Chris Jericho, then swatting his extended hand away because he knows all of this, is going to be a Revolution highlight.