9 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Dynamite (15 Sep)

Downs...

2. Malakai Misfires

Cody Rhodes
AEW

Cody Rhodes' comeback segment was over. The fans were into him coming through the audience and brawling with Malakai Black up the bleachers, even if his reactions are a lot more mixed than usual. New York City will blow up for everything they do next week as well. People are going to be into it, though this segment's early construction wasn't particularly convincing.

Black was so annoyed by Rosario Dawson's ringside presence that he ran through his full ring entrance and walked out in a daft-looking cloak to instigate a fight with the actress and Go-Big Show judge. When Cody started storming down, Dawson jumped on Black's back, neutralising the Dutchman while the former TNT Champion arrived.

A harmful start in that it undermined Malakai's imposing power rather than boosting it, it also made Black feel like a secondary figure in his own storyline. Dawson's appearance was a tacked-on piece of co-promotion to facilitate a comeback that would have resonated more powerfully with a simpler setup too. "Hey, look, a celebrity!" can work, but they have to be weaved in naturally.

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Andy has been with WhatCulture for six years and is currently WhatCulture's Senior Wrestling Reporter. 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.