8 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Dynamite (Nov 30 - Review)

2. Belt Willow Nightingale

Willow Nightingale Vs. Anna Jay AS was a fine and, by the finish, dramatic match. It was unpredictable in the closing stretch of finisher reversals, which is some credit to the work. With two heel champions, a Willow win was all but certain. It didn't feel so foregone as it happened, however.

Everything Willow did looked impactful, her manipulation of the crowd was as savvy as ever, and she worked as if in a moment that felt real to her. She's not too dissimilar to Eddie Kingston in that respect; she boasts the amazing skill of losing herself in her performance entirely.

The crowd was really into her, which is very encouraging. They usually die altogether when Khan puts anybody but a select few in the death spot before the main event. Willow graduated to that select few last night, and the fans bit on the idea that Tay Melo's interference might dictate the finish. The discipline elsewhere helped here. No other match was plagued by this over-used trope.

Willow Nightingale Vs. Jamie Hayter II is a cracking prospect, since their Rampage match was a sleeper hit, and look at Tony go: he, with the well-received return of Ruby Soho, is also furthering a programme outside of the title picture!