7 Ups & 4 Downs From AEW Dynamite (9 Mar)

Downs...

4. A Cool Idea, But...

A supplemental Up for how Wheeler Yuta vs. PAC came together. In kayfabe, the World Title match went shorter than expected, so Tony Khan stepped in and booked another to occupy the vacant minutes. That's the kind of small, realistic move that makes your product more believable, showing AEW remains committed to the "sport" part of "sports entertainment."

The match itself did little for either competitor, though. Cannibalised by a picture-in-picture break that commenced almost as soon as the bell rang, this sat somewhere between an extended squash and a regular midcard match with a couple of near-falls. Neither generated sufficient drama ahead of PAC's inevitable victory, which came via Brutalizer.

Accompanied by Penta Oscura and this awful incarnation of Alex Abrahantes, who looks like he's on his way to a kids' Halloween disco, PAC's wheels are spinning at the moment. His Buddy Matthews exchanges were a reminder that on his day, he's one of the best wrestlers in the world. It's time for AEW to start putting him in more positions where he can show it.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. 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.