9 Ups & 1 Down From AEW Dynamite (5 Jan - Review)

6. The Acclaimed vs. Jeff Jarrett & Jay Lethal

Anything can get over in professional wrestling if you do it right and exercise restraint. The Acclaimed's successful World Tag Team Title defence over Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal proved that on Dynamite.

If this was the kind of thing AEW booked every week, the finish would have registered as tired and contrived. The heels cheated their way to the titles, with Lethal scoring the pinfall on Bowens, who had his boot thrown off the ropes by referee Stephon Smith. Fortunately, a horde of other officials was already ringside to restrain Satnam Singh. Aubrey Edwards saw the tomfoolery, told Smith, and the bout was restarted, with The Acclaimed winning moments later.

Jarrett and Lethal had the belts in their hands at one point, only for their ill-gotten gains to the snatched away again. That they might have won through such nefarious means inspired anger at the way it had been handled - and the way The Acclaimed's fun reign may have come to an end. Ultimately, AEW subverted the match.

It helped that the match was a lot of fun, too, with the babyfaces largely in control under the heels were successful in their attempts at isolating Bowens. A Max Caster rap on Karen Jarrett, Andrew Tate (the Pied Piper for incels), and Dixie Cater was the cherry on top.