9 Ups & 0 Downs From AEW Dynamite: Grand Slam

5. The Right Man Goes Over

Cody Rhodes has an ego, but he hasn't descended into the hubris projected onto him by dimwitted bad faith actors. Amazingly enough, the man largely responsible for creating the only major league competitor to WWE this century knows what is best for business.

The atmosphere for his rematch against Malakai Black was gloriously discordant. They generated as much of an atmosphere as the atmosphere that was imposed upon them. The work at various points was really strong - Cody's limb-targeting strategy was so creative that he bandaged his haemorrhaging babyface appeal - but the crowd were so into Black that the next chorus of jeers always followed the verse. In another moment that distilled this alive feeling, Brandi Rhodes was roundly booed as she met Black in the middle of the ring and mirrored his iconic pose. Then she flipped him off, and the crowd went ballistic.

Thrillingly, both men knew what to expect and folded the undeniable sentiment into their performances. As the crowd taunted Cody, Malakai stared straight through him and mouthed "House of Black". And then, in a great spot, as Cody dragged Black into the corner to avoid the awesome leg sweeps that sent him to the canvas over and again, he shoved Paul Turner to foreshadow the inevitable heel turn.