8 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Dynamite (9 Feb)

Ups...

8. An Incredible Pinnacle Segment

Shawn Spears
AEW

The level of loving detail applied to the Pinnacle's show-opening promo was wonderful. No other promotion is as resourceful and expressive as AEW when it's this fascinating.

Wardlow's subtle acting was tremendous once again. He conveys so much with zero exposition. When he brought out those cardboard cut-outs, he looked quietly embarrassed. Cash Wheeler was great value playing the role of a man happier than a pig in sh*t. Justin Roberts - and contrast this with his introduction of Jon Moxley later in the night - measured his reluctance with such a deft touch, just barely feigning his professionalism. And the look on the face of Shawn Spears was just magic; the man didn't blink in his bid to intimidate Roberts into completing MJF's pompous, convoluted roll call of braggadocio.

MJF was on stunning form. He resonated as nothing less than the biggest heel star in all of wrestling in a promo that made the crowd beg for the CM Punk rematch and, at the same time, further built the Wardlow turn when he credited Spears for the assist.

Impromptu matches are bad, but Punk at least made Dynamite feel like a broadcast and not a show with his take on the interruption.

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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!