7 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Dynamite: Big Business (Results & Review)

3. ...GREAT Post-Match Angle

In the post-match, Jay, who has teased a babyface turn, extended his hand to Darby.

He then cocked it, beat Darby down, and threatened to Pillmanise his ankle. Darby was saved when the Acclaimed rushed the ring. This was an inspired, deft twist. The heat angle overlapped with the well overdue Bang Bang Scissors Gang split, and it was framed, brilliantly, as a real you-can't-do-that transgression. Darby is about to climb Mount Everest. He obviously needs his ankle in order to do that. Jay hit Billy Gunn with a chair. Bullet Club Gold cleared the Acclaimed out of the ring.

Then, just as the injury angle was framed as an unconscionable no-no of an act, White did it - he Pillmanised Darby's ankle with a chair and bat combination. This was powerful if very, very risky. There's a not insignificant chance that Jay can never actually capitalise on this heat - but if he can, Jesus Christ. Jay White Vs. Darby Allin II could be monumental in its heft.

The very best episodic TV shows aren't merely glorified pay-per-views. The idea is to promote great action and enhance the emotion of the bigger destination matches. AEW Big Business achieved the match, angle and promo trifecta in excellent fashion last night.

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!