8 Ups & 3 Downs From AEW Dynamite (16 Mar)

2. A Fun Trios Opener

A typically hot, popping trios match opened last night's episode of Dynamite, with Adam Cole and reDRagon overcoming Jurassic Express and 'Hangman' Adam Page, setting the show off to a strong start.

This should likely be AEW's blueprint every week. Opening with hot matches immediately gets the crowd energised and sets the tone for a fun, brisk night. Here, in a match devoid of Elite-branded melodrama, six great wrestlers went to work with quick, adrenaline-pumping exchanges, great combination work, and yes, all of the pops.

Great spots like Page's John Silver-esque rampage through everybody and the triple Moonsault from the same corner were sewn together by effective teamwork, like Luchasaurus' early isolation. That the big man didn't do a great job of selling reDRagon's targeted knee work late on is regrettable, though. Such a focused assault should have more of an impact when he's throwing kicks and standing moonsaults in the bout's third act.

Regardless, this was a great time. Cole scoring the victory while staring into a restrained Page's eyes ensures he'll stay in the World Champion's orbit for the time being, though their beef will presumably be wrapped before Double Or Nothing. It'll be hard to sustain that lukewarm feud through May.