9 Ups & 1 Down From AEW Dynamite: Holiday Bash

7. Complaints: Answered

For the first time in what feels like all year, ostensibly, not a single backstage promo was interrupted. Bryan Danielson interrupted Hangman Page in the ring, yes, but once-per-show is acceptable, especially when the resulting exchange is so blinding. The sheer, contrived frequency is the issue.

AEW addressed it last night.

Moreover, in an uninterrupted backstage promo, the Pinnacle built the main event (and the subtle tension between MJF and Wardlow) to answer another frequent criticism. AEW isn't a soapy show; it's an emulation of a sports broadcast that presents the illusion of "fixtures," and thus doesn't dabble in the show-long hook. The main event is usually only mentioned in passing on the night, having been well-built in advance. This typically excellent, scathing MJF rant was the perfect compromise.

No basic, convenient squabbles set up the next round of fixtures. Nobody needed to see Jungle Boy get attacked in a wacky angle by Isiah Kassidy. Jungle Boy just cut some funny threats at his expense.

Dan Lambert cut a promo with one tremendous line in it - "Cody's an even bigger d*ck than I am!" - which went uninterrupted.

The departure was a significant (and hopefully lasting) improvement.