8 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Dynamite (1 Feb - Review)

Downs...

2. Bad Storyline Takes Clichéd Turn

Chris Jericho
AEW

This Jericho Appreciation Society Vs. Ricky Starks and Action Andretti programme is a boring cliche. It is also actively bad.

Starks looks exponentially less cool stood alongside a blue chip up-and-comer type. Starks has already beaten Chris Jericho cleanly; there's no big bad for him to overcome. Their match on the January 4 Dynamite was white-hot. There's nothing left here beyond a quieter and longer sequel. The route to that sequel descended into numbing obligation last night.

Starks, per a backstage challenge issued by the JAS, must defeat three members of the stable to get to his rival (whom he has already beaten decisively). It's a booking cliche in 2023, and only an inspired tweak on the trope is working in MJF's favour elsewhere on the show.

This is total procrastination, regulation booking, which Jericho is trying to make exciting with alliteration.

This storyline is so flat that Starks might have been better off had he been shunted to Dark: Elevation for six weeks after all.

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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!