8 Ups & 1 Down From AEW Dynamite (10 May - Review)

5. Four Pillars Storyline Gets Simplified

Darby Allin
AEW

Across the broadcast, AEW inserted four video packages putting over each 'Pillar' and their case to win the title. After a poorly received series of WWE-lite tropes - promo trains, worked shoot invisible wall promo exchanges, can-they-co-exist tag team matches (even if the last one was done really well) - AEW took a simpler and more effective route here.

It wasn't perfect - fighting babyface Jack Perry probably shouldn't have been filmed with a lovely swimming pool in the background, Sammy Guevara's portrayal has created a 3:1 babyface/heel ratio - but it was effective.

The Darby Allin vignette in particular was necessary, after cheering a bye and moaning when given a live microphone. He said that he risks his body in wild stunts in his personal time to prove to himself over and over again that he can do what people say he can't.

Determined, and willing to risk everything: this was so much better than cheering at a shortcut.

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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!