7 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Dynamite (July 12 - Review)
1. The Blood & Guts Reveals
AEW were playing with fire in regards to exactly how Kota Ibushi was teased as The Elite's fifth and final member going into Blood & Guts.
Kenny Omega's words hit home with everybody, and the knowledge that he'd been off in Japan weeks earlier had planted the seed that the 'Golden Star' was at long last going to debut in the company he'd played no small part in helping come to life. But building a surprise meant that it could have been somebody else, which then would have drawn derision from those believing they were promised the IWGP World Heavyweight Champion.In the end, it was less about that reveal and more about the BCC's star man.
PAC's shocking return and attack on the 'Best Bout Machine' immediately made sense despite being speculated upon by absolutely nobody in the build-up. Omega used the Ibushi news to save himself from a potential Black Arrow neckbreaker, but the 'BASTARD' would have done it given the chance. A captivating figure for the 5-on-5 war, the stakes and sides were well set in a segment that shone even if it didn't quite sizzle. The feud itself might be done, but the last match at least has some very new life.