8 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Dynamite (24 May - Review)

3. A Homicidal, Suicidal, Logic-Defying Segment

Sabu ECW
WWE.com

Adam Cole is massively over as a babyface and did not f*ck around when telling Chris Jericho what he planned to do to him at Double Or Nothing in their contract signing segment. This was good stuff; another strong chapter in what, quietly, is one of AEW's best programmes of the year. Nobody likes the sizeist d*ckhead in 2023, and Cole is great because he wrestles to his physique, but it might have been difficult to take his babyface Jon Moxley-adjacent threats of breaking bones seriously were it not for the fact that he spoke with such conviction. He's a great, great performer who understood his character and motive perfectly. It seems obvious that the nicest man in wrestling is more than capable of playing the righteous, indignant babyface. Jericho was on top form too with his wrong headed insistence that Cole is a coward.

And then, after a good verbal spar, something quite insane happened. My body could barely regsiter it, instead opting to shout "Yeah" LA Knight-style in approval while I copied Sabu's pose.

Why would I copy Sabu's pose?

Because he's good friends with Adam Cole, stupid, everybody knows that! Sabu will serve as the guest Enforcer for the unsanctioned match at DoN (!).

This is basically Khan's way of preventing a plot hole, and not having the JAS interfere too heavily when it makes no sense for them not to do so, but God bless him for going about it in the most surreal way imaginable.

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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!