9 Ups & 1 Down From AEW Dynamite (17 Nov)

4. Beef For The Beef God

Orange Cassidy Tomohiro Ishii
AEW

Tomohiro Ishii and Orange Cassidy vs. The Butcher and The Blade was exactly what it needed to be and exactly what you'd expect.

Built from CHAOS and Best Friends' recent struggles with the Hardy Family Office, it played on Ishii and Cassidy's dissonant characters (Big Tom gruffly instruction OC to hit the ropes and Cassidy responding in the most laconic fashion possible), had the most natural underdog in the match take the heat during the heels' control segment, and built to Ishii's signature comeback spots.

Watching the Stone Pitbull tighten his facial expression and willingly walk into The Butcher's forearm shots to chants of "you f*cked up!" on national television was a joy. Tom and Butcher's big beefy exchanges had satisfying heft. On the outside, Matt Hardy and The Bunny's interventions were the right kind of irritating, with the duo's comeuppance arriving when they were taken out of the equation prior to Ishii nailing the match-ending lariat and brainbuster.

No Kazuchika Okada yet, unfortunately, but there's time for that. CHAOS' presence on AEW television shall hopefully continue beyond last night.

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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.