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

5. Awesome Rematch: Set

Blade Cody
FITE TV

Somebody is going to bring this up, and so it needs an answer: the Butcher and the Blade now hold a 1-1 - 50/50 - win/loss record. Yes, iF WWe DiD IT isn't unreasonable, but look who just defeated them: one of if not the biggest stars in the company in a competitive and very well-structured match.

This was Cody's second successive storytelling masterclass in as many weeks. This didn't harm the Butcher and the Blade, who are established now as a credible midcard tag act capable of winning without suspicion and losing with meaning, and Darby Allin looked typically excellent in his blitzkrieg cameo. Two very astute, subtle decisions were made over the course of this good TV match: firstly, Darby Allin at last landed his Coffin Drop finisher, which will add more drama to his upcoming rematch with Cody at Homecoming. Previously, it had only been built as a means to get over the act as an unhinged daredevil. Overnight, AEW has weaponised it.

Moreover, Cody scored the win, using his new Cutter variation, to set up the awesome proposition of Cody Vs. Darby Allin II. This followed a successful win via figure-four leg lock a few weeks back, as Cody, in plain sight, continues to hide several awesome near-falls in his grudge match with MJF.

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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 current Undisputed WWE 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!