7 Ups & 3 Downs From AEW Dynamite (1 Sep)

4. Santana & Ortiz Settle The Score

FTR vs. Santana and Ortiz II was much improved on their first outing. This is largely down to the simple fact that Cash Wheeler didn't slice his arm open this time around, of course, but the bout had more intensity and cohesion from the first bell too.

Cash and Dax hit the ring in Midnight Express tribute attire as a nod to the dearly departed Bobby Eaton. they gave up the notion of tying up and working for parity early on, with the bout devolving into a brawl after a few minutes - which you knew was going to happen from the moment the Inner Circle men came out in Dead Presidents face paint. This opened things up for Proud and Powerful to take flight with dives, springboards, and sentons, before settling down for FTR's control segment.

The match cooled off significantly during this portion but riled back up for the finish. With Harwood isolated outside, the injured Wheeler was left to the wolves, eating the pin after a combination suplex.

Wheeler sold and protected his injured arm well from bell to bell, doing everything he could to prevent further damage. FTR were clever, too, in going for revenge on Santana and Ortiz, trying to destroy their limbs at various points. Both of these could end up feeding into the feud continuing beyond last night.