7 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Dynamite (February 14 - Results & Review)

1. More Of The Same

Wardlow Dynamite
AEW

On the rankings system generally, it can never be perfect.

It could only be perfect, were AEW to implement some sort of points-based league system in which every wrestler works the same amount of competitive fixtures, and that is not possible. Injuries are a huge factor, and running what would amount to a year-long G1 Climax would interfere with the need to space out big matches and build grudge programmes to sell pay-per-views.

The unfortunate flawed reality of a system that is best approached as means of maintaining narrative discipline revealed itself when Wardlow won a squash match. It was a decent enough fatality, but will at some point propel Wardlow up the rankings when he didn't exactly beat anybody worth beating. Away from that logic gap, it felt like an obligation, an excuse to get Wardlow on the show - to remind fans that he's still in the mix as a top player.

He doesn't feel like one, though, and that's fundamentally more important than points, data and numbers.

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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!