7 Ups & 4 Downs From AEW Dynamite (Dec 18)

3. Shawn Spears Is Looking For A Tag Team Partner

Shawn Spears AEW
AEW

The first question is: Why?

Why is Shawn Spears looking for a tag team partner? In practical terms, this works; Spears has failed to catch fire as a singles competitor, and Tully Blanchard's genius CV in this specific field adds weight and hope to the pitch, but this doesn't work on a creative, immersive level. Just last week, Joey Janela kidnapped and presumably tortured Spears' manager. If this is all meant to emulate reality, he should be out for Janela's blood - i.e., seeking to end Janela's career, and not rethinking his own.

The promo wasn't very good, either; Blanchard excelled in the pre-filmed Road To series, but hasn't yet readjusted to the live TV setting. He seemed to hesitate over his lines, where Spears failed to react to them naturally.

It feels now like Cody was right: Spears is a good hand, and would prosper more by reverting back to the plucky, sentimental babyface role with which he shined in NXT.

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and surefire Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!