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

5. Sports Entertainers

Jericho Appreciation Society
AEw

There was a lot to love about last night's Jericho Appreciation Society commencement, which was a home-run success on several different levels.

Though Jericho claiming that Matt Lee and Jeff Parker's old ring names were "a stupid idea from bad creative" (referencing Jake Hager's Inner Circle inauguration in 2019) was weird, given they wrestled as Matt Martel and Chase Parker in WWE, it came on the back of typically manic mic work from 2point0. 'Daddy Magic' and 'Cool Hand Ange' are snappy, too.

Shades of "each and every one of you" permeated Jericho's promo, though this was by design. Jericho and his boys are sports entertainers in a promotion full of wrestlers. Leaning towards a stereotypical Stamfordian heel promo (the likes of which each and every one of us is deeply fed up) was almost certainly by design. Jericho is playing on contrasts to generate heat from an audience who paid to see wrestling, not vaguely wrestling-themed content as produced by USA Network and FOX.

Beyond Jericho's explanation of why this specific group of men came together under his wing, Daniel Garcia was the best thing about this. 'Red Death' is a pure wrestling talent. His strengths are perceived to be on the mat, not the microphone, so Garcia calling himself a sports entertainer is wonderfully subserve. Everybody pegged Daniel for a spot under William Regal, Bryan Danielson, and Jon Moxley's learning tree, but while those guys are moulding wrestlers, Jericho is dealing out fed pills.

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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.