Has the Great White North ever looked darker on television?
More's the point, has a loaded Dynamite ever felt more like Dark?
The much-missed (by some) YouTube show didn't always have the best crowds depending on when people decided to turn up for the main show, but never in the flagship's rich history beyond pandemic times has it looked so empty.
This is perhaps because it was, of course. AEW's extended stay in Canada has brought with it a number of positives, but "significantly diminished crowds after the first show" hasn't been one of them. Fans did come up at specific points in the night (more on those later), but a blacked-out building made for a glum televisual experience during large portions of the show and that's not been the first time that's been a complaint this month, let alone this year.
Saskatoon's got some unique wrestling history, but this wasn't going to be a night to make some, and that was one of the only things that was all too clear.
Michael is a writer, editor, podcaster and presenter for WhatCulture Wrestling, and has been with the organisation nearly 8 years. He primarily produces written, audio and video content on WWE and AEW, but also provides knowledge and insights on all aspects of the wrestling industry thanks to a passion for it dating back over 35 years. As one third of "The Dadley Boyz" Michael has contributed to the huge rise in popularity of the WhatCulture Wrestling Podcast and its accompanying YouTube channel, earning it top spot in the UK's wrestling podcast charts with well over 62,000,000 total downloads. He has been featured as a wrestling analyst for the Tampa Bay Times, GRAPPL, GCP, Poisonrana and Sports Guys Talking Wrestling, and has covered milestone events in New York, Dallas, Las Vegas, Philadelphia, London and Cardiff. Michael's background in media stretches beyond wrestling coverage, with a degree in Journalism from the University Of Sunderland (2:1) and a series of published articles in sports, music and culture magazines The Crack, A Love Supreme and Pilot. When not offering his voice up for daily wrestling podcasts, he can be found losing it singing far too loud watching his favourite bands play live. Follow him on X/Twitter - @MichaelHamflett
