8 Ups & 0 Downs From AEW Dynamite: Blood & Guts (29 Jun)

by Andy H Murray

1. Conceptually, A Brilliant Finish

Eddie Kingston Claudio Castagnoli
AEW

... the idea was brilliant.

Eddie Kingston technically scored a colossal victory here, outdoing Chris Jericho and his Appreciation Society in one of the year's grandest, bloodiest, and most personal matches. He did exactly what he said he was going to. After the fireball, Anarchy in the Arena, and everything else, the team captained by Chris Jericho lost to the one with Kingston's burning spirit coursing through it.

But Kingston's victory wasn't Kingston's. It was Claudio Castagnoli's Sharpshooter on Matt Menard, not Eddie's Stretch Plum on Jericho, that secured the tapout. The moment, the match, and the payback belonged to one of the men Kingston hates most.

The duo's issues are well-documented, particularly from Kingston, who it often seems can barely go an interview without calling Castagnoli a coward (or worse). Now, he must live with knowing that Claudio took this moment away from him, even if it was ultimately to his benefit.

"Bittersweet" doesn't cover it.

There are plenty of interesting directions to take this. Smug Claudio taking immense pleasure in outdoing Eddie, thus winding Kingston up even tighter, is as compelling as 'The Mad King' eventually being talked into seeing the bigger picture by Jon Moxley, who'd made the perfect mediator.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. 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.