7 Ups & 4 Downs From AEW Dynamite (Mar 24)

1. Nightmare Family Drama

Borrowing heavily from the classic Bruno Sammartino vs. Larry Zbyszko storyline is Cody Rhodes vs. QT Marshall, which continued on the stage last night. Unfortunately, the character dynamic is too off-base to be effective, with Rhodes coming off increasingly heelish in his interactions with a subordinate and friend who has been booked in that manner himself through recent walk-outs.

Marshall hit the stage to talk about his current situation with Tony Schiavone. Though he stressed that he and Cody are friends, he wants to be known as more than that. While Cody sleeps happily after the show, he's out there working into the small hours of the morning, and he's tired of fetching his coffee and getting his t-shirts right. He'll take no more meaningless bumps if it means living in the American Nightmare's shadow.

Cody came out with his arm in a sling, giving QT his requested exhibition match while promising not to hurt him. In addition, Arn Anderson will be the special guest referee, ensuring things stay on the straight and narrow.

The Prince of Pro Wrestling is coming off overbearing, but not as a product of effective, satisfying storytelling. This version of Rhodes feels like an egoist. The assertion that he won't hurt Marshall could only have been more condescending if he'd pattered him on the head afterwards.

If this is the start of an intentional heel turn, QT isn't exactly a sympathetic party for Rhodes to play off of, having abandoned The Nightmare Family in recent weeks. There's also the added disconnect of Marshall bringing his wife into this, referencing her for sympathy when he spent a good chunk of 2020 transfixed by The Bunny.

This deal just isn't working.