8 Ups & 4 Downs From AEW Dynamite (May 20)

by Andy H Murray

1. Welcome Back

Hangman Page clothesline
AEW

The corniness of The Young Bucks just so happening to be hanging out on by the bleachers aside, the show-closing prelude to the Stadium Stampede match hit the spot.

It began with The Inner Circle taunting Matt Hardy after his win over Sammy Guevara. They had Kenny Omega at their mercy and were about to put him out of action before Matt and Nick Jackson intervened, appearing for the first time since the latter's skull was crushed under a garage door. Then came Hangman Page, who charged across the 120-yard football field, delivering potentially the longest clothesline in pro-wrestling history to wipe Jake Hager out, but did he stick around for the celebrations?

Did he !*$%. Hangman went straight down the tunnel as The Elite posed, showing the tension between him and the Bucks hasn't yet dissipated.

Big, dumb fun is the best way to describe this segment. It tapped into a similar feeling achieved by WWE in that wacky Money in the Bank ladder match, albeit in a more condensed format. The Stadium Stampede should be awesome.

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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.