7 Ups & 3 Downs From AEW Dark (Jan 26)

1. The Walk Off

Peter Avalon
AEW

Your mileage is going to vary on this. Wacky comedy segments split opinion like nothing else in the sport, particularly when they undermine wrestling's competitive bedrock. This wasn't the case here, as AEW put Peter Avalon's Walk Off on Dark, not Dynamite. Still, this was a chore.

Brandi Rhodes, Aubrey Edwards, and Jerry Lynn (the king of background acting, perfect in segments like this) judged Avalon and Lee Johnson's catwalk strut. 'Pretty' Peter cut a cringey promo beforehand. Johnson looked tremendous in his suit, it should be said, while Avalon was at least suitably over the top in a patterned silver jacket, and his flip-out post-loss was kinda fun... but then Cezar Bononi laid Johnson out for some reason? And Lynn, retired for eight years, chased two men (one of whom is twice his size) off?

If you like the silly stuff, you'll probably get a kick out of this. Not here, though.

Advertisement
Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.