9 Ups & 1 Down From AEW Dynamite (30 Mar)

5. Lethal & Competitive

Jay lethal Jon Moxley
AEW

It took a while to get going, Jon Moxley vs. Jay Lethal. While fundamentally sound, the competitive early stages struggled to burst into life, though Mox aggressively goading Lethal into a striking exchange and Lethal's focused work on his opponent's leg helped lift things up.

A mid-match lariat saw Jay take a tremendous bump after wearing the former AEW World Champion's leg down to the extent that it gave way when Jon attempted his first Paradigm Shift. From there, the match was brisk and explosive. A couple of great near-falls from a cradle and top-rope elbow drop were like caesium to water, before Moxley eventually put the former ROH World Champion to bed with the Paradigm Shift, having avoided a Figure Four that would've likely forced him and his busted limb to tap out.

Though his ego was bruised, Lethal eventually accepted Moxley's post-match handshake. Respect had been earned. Jay came within a hair of beating the bigger man via Figure Four and is now on the Blackpool Combat Club's radar as a worthy adversary.

Advertisement
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.