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

6. Inspired Matchmaking

Samoa Joe
AEW

Being a great wrestling booker isn't just limited to telling absorbing long-term storylines. A great booker is also an astute matchmaker with the ability to select the best opponents for a featured star.

While this wasn't quite as inspired as Keith Lee Vs. Isiah Kassidy or Darby Allin Vs. Satnam Singh, Samoa Joe Vs. AR Fox was an intelligent match choice. Joe isn't the monster he once was, and this is all too often brought into focus when paired against the next generation of monsters. His excellent showing therefore is no guarantee that the upcoming singles match against Wardlow will be a great bit of business, but he raised the level of expectation here.

He noped a typically brilliant AR Fox aerial move after the first attempt bit him on the ar*e in what was a neat transition into a hope spot, and in general, Fox's arsenal worked so well here. His short cutter meant that Joe didn't have to take the sort of punishing bump that often leaves him gassed, and Fox's own tremendous bumping ability got Joe's pounce over big.

Wardlow's post-match challenge wasn't actually all that strong, in another worrying marker of his waning star power, but Joe's aura went some way to being restored here after a middling effort at Full Gear.

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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!