8 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Dynamite: Winter Is Coming (15 Dec)

Downs...

2. Blighted By Placement

Wardlow Shawn Spears
AEW

Wardlow's one-sided pounding of Matt Sydal served as a buffer after 'Hangman' Adam Page vs. Bryan Danielson, seemingly designed to let the crowd cool off and regain their energy after the 60-minute World Title match.

Understandable, given how gruelling the opener was, but inopportune for Wardlow, whose current powerbomb bit is entirely reliant on crowd investment. The idea of the big man repeatedly bombing his opponents into the mat comes from audience members shouting for more. It's a call and response bit - and call and response bits require calls to respond to.

Garland was dead for Wardlow as he ran through Sydal with complete ease. This, coupled with Shawn Spears annihilating the squash's flow by getting on the microphone before the bout was finished, cements the Down.

It's a shame, as Wardlow and Spears are putting in good work at the moment, and MJF ordering his beefer to head out and buy him champagne afterwards is a great piece of negging, furthering their ongoing story. Regardless, this thing died when it didn't need to.

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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.