8 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Dynamite (26 Jan)

2. A Sensational Squash

Wardlow jobber
AEW

What a riot this was.

The lack of Wardlow on last night's card was puzzling coming into the event, given that he's a Cleveland boy. Fortunately, AEW addressed this by having MJF's heavy come out for a big-time squash, drawing a monster pop - particularly when his "hailing from..." was read out.

There were signs and t-shirts supporting Wardlow at ringside - and two doomed punks waiting for him in the ring. Elijah Dean and James Alexander were flattened in the usual fashion, with the fifth and final powerbomb of Wardlow's Symphony saw the duo sandwiched together.

Wardlow's crowd control was impressive too. He gets better and better at conducting audiences every week and, with the hometown advantage, he pulled their strings well between each powerbomb. Talking Shawn Spears out of attacking the felled jobbers with a chair afterwards was a nice touch, too.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.