8 Ups & 3 Downs From AEW Dynamite (Nov 18)

by Andy H Murray

1. New Found Power

Team Taz
AEW

A perfect sequence of events in the headlining spot led to Will Hobbs turning heel on Cody Rhodes and Darby Allin, joining Team Taz in the process.

Everything about this was done well. Rhodes, Allin, Brian Cage, and Ricky Starks worked a great tag bout heading into the angle, with Cage able to showcase the full breadth of his hyper-athletic abilities, Cody playing the face-in-peril, and Allin bursting out of the gates with a propulsive hot tag. Cage scored the match-ending pinfall with an avalanche Drill Claw on Allin, taking one of the most protected finishers in the company to a whole new level.

This also sets up a potential TNT Championship match without making Allin look weak, as he was only felled by an upgraded version of an already-devastating move.

Hobbs' turn was enhanced by the fact that despite saving Cody and Allin from numerous beatdowns from Taz's mob in recent weeks, Will had never put hands on any member of Team Taz. The little things matter - and AEW gives you more than any other American promotion.

Team Taz now feels like AEW's alpha stable. Dynamite closed with the leader screaming dominance down the microphone, setting the tone for the coming weeks.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. 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.