8 Ups & 3 Downs From AEW Dynamite (11 Aug)

6. Thumbs Up

Orange Cassidy Kris Statlander
AEW

Nyla Rose and Kris Statlander worked a poorly-received Women's World Title match at Revolution 2020. It admittedly suffered for its positioning, going on immediately after the lightning Hangman Page/Kenny Omega vs. The Young Bucks match, but had its own flaws as well, with the wrestlers struggling for chemistry on the biggest stage.

So while this made it moderately surprising to see AEW run it back on television, Rose and Statlander did a good job here. They struggled for heat early on, with the audience's interest seemingly elsewhere, but won Pittsburgh back through a well-laid-out five-minuter replete with big bombs. Statlander and Rose got over on the strength of their work. While there was little noise when Vickie Guerrero was getting involved early on and Rose choked her opponent on the bottom rope, the crowd fired up through the babyface's biggest spots, like hand-walking out of the draping knee drop only to eat a spear.

A monstrous powerbomb off the top rope put Statlander in the driver's seat, letting her hit Area 451 for an almost shockingly quick pinfall. This was a strong, decisive victory over a former champion in which Kris looked great, setting her up as a potential Britt Baker opponent.

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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.