8 Ups & 3 Downs From AEW Dynamite: New Year's Smash (Jan 6)

Ups...

8. Wardlow Brings The Beef

Wardlow Jake Hager
AEW

There was just enough about Wardlow's performance for the Jake Hager match to finish on the positive side of the ledger.

MJF's heavy was excellent, here, shaking a sleepy match to life by leaping and rolling his way out of the corner, Lucha style, from the rushing Jake, before launching him around the ring with release suplexes. The ease with which 'Mr. Mayhem' controlled a 275lb man as if he was weightless was impressive and Wardlow's big comeback signalled an upturn in explosiveness and intensity. In the end, he scored a clean, decisive win via F10 - the right move.

Hager, unfortunately, entered the kind of performance his critics lap up. Slow, ponderous, and largely devoid of fire, this was a lame, second-gear effort from a decorated collegiate wrestler whose other job involves throwing his fists at peoples' faces for real. It shouldn't be this way.

MJF checked in on an angry Hager after the match, pouring cold water on his rage. "You're still undefeated in the Octagon!", MJF said, slipping in a glorious dig at Jake's failure on the night, though 'The Big Hurt' thanked him for coming in.

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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.