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

5. An Intriguing Match All-Round

Adam Copeland Vs. Daniel Garcia was trending towards excellent when Christian Cage, at the ideal time, dispatched the Patriarchy to the ring to put an end to it in a rare no-contest. This was very clever booking.

The fans were deprived of a beautiful slow-burn match just as they were getting into it, siphoning the heat towards Christian Cage. That device can still work, if the results are mostly clean elsewhere. Garcia was protected. He held the advantage over Copeland for much of the match, with his direct strategy of tripping up and attacking the leg of his taller opponent so that, as Taz pointed out, he was the same size on the mat. Also, the ambiguity was notable.

The match was assembled beautifully and gripping as a result. The leg work linked to a subtle and well-crafted spot in which Copeland couldn't support it when attempting the spear, allowing Garcia to instinctively kick him and jam him with a jack knife pin. This was class: a proper "Is he done for here?" moment, expertly timed.

Copeland meanwhile did not win. He heeled it up to funny effect during the commercial break, but that might have been because it wasn't canon, and he felt like having fun at the expense of a crowd who simply didn't like him. Situational stuff, or a hint towards his imminent direction?

He didn't win here, and while it was implied he would have - he had the Grindhouse locked in before the match was called off - it's still notable. He took a Con-chair-to. This could pave Garcia's road to Revolution. That, in turn, could drive a bitterness on the part of Copeland.

The Cedar Park crowd may prove to be an aberration, but a message was sent in Texas at least: people have extended latitude to Copeland's Jack Reacher is happy to be here shtick, but it's not exactly Rated R.