8 Ups & 3 Downs From AEW Dynamite (5 April - Review)

FTR get the pop they probably spent too much time trying to get on a very funny MJF Day.

by Michael Sidgwick
MJF Day
AEW

It would be naive to think that, in the wake of the turmoil and negativity that swept through WWE earlier in the week, its heartbroken fans would migrate over to AEW en masse.

"Thank you for saving wrestling, Tony," the recovering Vincels would say on bended knee.

"Oh, but I didn't save wrestling," Tony would respond. "You did, by believing. Now let's go out there and change the world," Tony would smile, aiming a jocular fist at WWEGareth's chin.

Still, this week's Dynamite represented a great opportunity for good press, a reminder that there is a good alternative product. And maybe the post-WrestleMania Raw, and the return of an evil incompetent man, would compel at least a few disillusioned fans to consider sampling AEW's product. At least when Chris Jericho enjoys his theme being sung back at him, he actually goes on to do something.

The Dynamite line-up looked cracking on paper. MJF is always a riot in Long Island. The meta heat build and Dax Harwood's Twitter activity was exhausting, but as a means to an end, the Gunns Vs. FTR all but guaranteed some incredible near-falls. Jamie Hayter and Riho is a fantastically gruesome dynamic, and Hayter's immense popularity promised the loudest match yet between the two. The Blackpool Combat Club articulating their beef with the Elite was a fascinating prospect also. Why are they targeting them? And was Tony Khan's announcement really amongst the most important in AEW history?

Did it deliver on the night...?

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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 surefire Undisputed WWE Universal 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!