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

1. This Feud Is Perfect

The best storyline in AEW at the moment brought its best and most heated segment to date last night. Here, CM Punk and MJF were on another level. Considering that they were already amongst the best and most believable people in the company, that says something.

It'd be impossible to do the segment's content justice in even a condensed beat-by-beat format, so let's dispense with that. Just know that Punk hit the ring looking for a fight, MJF built it up before knocking it down, then cut a red-hot, searing promo that blurred the lines between fantasy and reality, pitching Punk as the whiny quitter those lacking empathy and an understanding of the man's personal situation would have you believe he became when he left the business in 2014.

Reluctant to get involved in the Pinnacle's post-promo beatdown was Wardlow, who nonetheless did what was asked by powerbombing Punk in the end, albeit with none of his stablemates' gusto. The huge contrast between his demeanour and MJF's (as he sat cross-legged on Punk's chest and delivered his verbal deathblow) kept that subplot going without words.

MJF cut deep, here, to the extent that it was impossible to tell if Punk was generally rattled by what he was saying or if it was part of the act. It takes something special to strike that specific chord in 2022, when kayfabe is long dead and every consumer of pro wrestling thinks they're as smart as the workers. They aren't, though. Guys like Punk and MJF are proof of that. Watching them weave their magic, it is indisputable that while the craft is certainly different these days, it is alive and well.

Can't wait for Chicago next week.