7 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Dynamite (July 12 - Review)

5. MJF & Adam Cole Vs Big Bill & Brian Cage

Adam Cole and MJF's ongoing bond/blow-up may still not be for everybody and there will be questions raised through to the eventual payoff as if it's been too wacky for its own good considering the end goal, but the one-two punch of their latest bonding session and doubles victory made for irresistible television and brought light and loud energy to a darkened and silent crowd.

Ahead of their Blind Eliminator bout with Big Bill and Brian Cage, the two were out drinking together before settling in for a night on Fight Forever, where they of course became Tag Team Champions while inadvertently doing a little bit of bonding too. Cole's shock at MJF having never had a friend to try multiplayer with was as believable as MJF's when Cole wasn't interest in cheating on Britt Baker with women he'd met at the bar, but the fact that they were both making effort rather than simply backing out of their commitments added yet more tension to whatever eventually erupts.

Not that it did here. Matching their energy in the skits when they hit the ring, the two combined quite gracefully in the face of a basic but BIG challenge. MJF got the biggest pop of the night with a bodyslam he'd teased throughout, which was both an ingenious bit of heat-building for the contest, saved the double clothesline for another day, and perhaps a sly dig at a CM Punk more than happy to carry a red bag around to discredit the 'Salt Of The Earth's reign.

A Heatseeker/Boom combo finisher emphasised their effectiveness, which again was crucial - Britt Baker, Roddy Strong and Renee Paquette all cast doubt over Cole's ability to keep this particular train on the tracks. And as they should! But the more it does, the more it seems like MJF won't be the one to derail it! And that's when he strikes! And...that's why this is the good stuff.