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

3. How To Sell A Pay-Per-View Match

Christian Cage
AEW

Sometimes it is as simple as marching out a wrestler to talk trash - especially when that wrestler is operating on the level of Christian Cage.

Christian Cage is a master: an enormously effective heel who knows precisely where the intersection between heat and entertainment value is. One cannot spill over into the other; a heel can't be too boring and loathsome and "You're supposed to hate me!", but they can't be too much of a riot with their act, either. Cage accomplishes this with his blackly funny and very intelligent gags.

When laying down the challenge to Wardlow, his eyes lit up when recalling that Wardlow's dad has passed away. Memes were created about the prospect of Cage licking his lips, but he's cleverer than that. He simply said Wardlow's dad was too much of a nonentity to even bury.

Outstanding heel work.

Cage also threatened to say the worst thing anybody has ever said on AEW TV before diverting (mercifully) to a tirade about failson Brock Anderson. You could barely hear him, the heat was that deafening. What an electrifying scene this was. This continues to be excellent midcard business.

Cage is the absolute best choice to lead Wardlow into the realm of lengthy back-and-forth matches, and now, he's making it as easy to root for Wardlow as it was when the man was at his peak.

Cheap heat, yes, but inspired booking.

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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!