8 Ups & 3 Downs From AEW Dynamite (May 27)

2. Fighting Champion

Cody TNT Title
AEW

Cody's post-TNT Championship victory promo was a very Cody promo, but an excellent example of one, as 'The American Nightmare' put his ugly little strap over huge.

AEW's de facto ace presented himself as a workhorse here. In his words, he was first called onto television as a green 21-year-old who barely knew how to run the ropes. His brother Dustin got all the Dusty, he said, and talked about his mother instilling hard work and grit in him, adding that when Tony Khan wanted to create a merit-based wrestling company with the best wrestlers in the world, he didn't get the first, second, or third call.

A promise to stand and defend the TNT Championship every single week followed. Cody presented it as an "open challenge," saying that the fans' dedication to AEW created an obligation for him to give his very best every single week, and so, the TNT Title becomes AEW's workrate belt.

If nothing else, this gives us a potentially fun midcard scrap to look forward to every week. Strong performances will further justify a spot earned by virtue of being the most popular babyface in the company. This won't stop the trollbase's worst elements screaming "burial!", of course, but you can't please bad-faith actors.

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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.