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

7. Middling Storyline Improves

The Gunns
AEW

Their feud with the Gunns had threatened to lower the Acclaimed's stock.

Last week's 'Family Therapy' session was strange, tonally. Nobody is taking this fun TV distraction feud seriously, but AEW asked the viewers to do that when the Gunns accused their father of not being around in their formative years. It was heavy material for what should be light entertainment.

After the Acclaimed's nothing squash win over Truth Magnum and Turbo Floyd, which only acted as pretext for the angle - a bit transparent - the Gunns and the Acclaimed were involved in a war of words. Billy Gunn couldn't be arsed. He just wanted them to fight and get it over with. Austin Gunn told him to walk out again, just like he did all those years ago when he was staring at the bottom of a bottle of pills. The ruse was complete.

Billy accepted the challenge for a World Tag Team title match - which Tony Schiavone was savvy enough to point out needs to be sanctioned by Tony Khan - after which Austin smirked. This was great heel work and equally impressive let-it-play-out booking; Like a true d*ckhead of a heel, Austin cares far more about the title than his relationship with his dad.

This story beat could have been sold better on commentary, but still: the threat of melodrama was extinguished.

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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!