8 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Dynamite (18 Oct)

2. William Regal Pulls Fire From MJF

William Regal and MJF's in-ring segment was one of the best pieces of pro wrestling theatre all year. That it is listed second amongst our Ups is purely cosmetic, as the next entry came directly from this - and it's impossible to discuss how the show ended without first mentioning the seeds sown here.

MJF interrupted Regal's planned in-ring segment with Tony Schiavone. He spun a lengthy, passionate yarn about attending a WWE tryout at 19, being told to keep in touch with Regal when he was decreed too young to land a contract, only to be cut off by the Englishman. Having held onto the very email sent by Regal and used it as fuel ever since, Max delivered a rich, detailed story of beef with that veteran that, whether real or manufactured, was entirely believable. This is what it's all about.

Regal separated himself from MJF. His early wrestling start was one of blood and thunder, fighting for his life as a teenager against grown men, landing his position not by knocking people like Schiavone down, but by earning it. MJF, he claimed, had shortcutted his way to the top. He implored the prodigy to become 'The Devil' not by looking for easy routes, but by beating everyone that stands in front of him, no matter the liberties he had to take.

When MJF couldn't knock Regal down after the Brit's open invitation to do so, William took the hesitation as a sign that Max isn't there yet. In his eyes, he still has a lot to prove.