9 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Dynamite (23 August - Review)

5. Heated, Effective Contract Signing

The negatives:

Will Ospreay's character work was a bit all over the place. Not too long ago, he was playing a Conor McGregor-adjacent character in New Japan heading into a Wrestle Kingdom main event, the implication of which was that he'd made it as a big time Charlie. He certainly looked the part in an expensive, garish suit. On Dynamite last night, he wore sports clothing associated with the British working class, and, as a heel, mentioned that he has taken an indie date the night before All In because he wants a better life for his four year-old stepson (!). So he's aligned with über-heel Don Callis, is a sneak-attack merchant, but is also a hard-working rags-to-riches guy working with a selfless motivation.

What?

The positives:

Ospreay brought the necessary fire, at least, even if his "bruv"-heavy promo style is a bit much. Jericho was exceptional here. After yet another mazy, indirect Tony Khan storyline, in which Jericho has more of an issue with his opponent's manager than his opponent, Jericho provided a great reason for wishing to battle Ospreay at Wembley. He was defiant, telling the "dipsh*t" trolls that he will blow them away on Sunday, and told Ospreay that he has done more for his career than anybody. Jericho is superb at blending fiction and reality without the dreaded worked shoot element, and what he said was true. He did call Ospreay and tell him to tone it down. He also said that Ospreay is best positioned to replace him at the top of a mountain he's not ready to climb down from, putting over his opponent and the stakes.

Don Callis had a killer line, saying that Jericho nearly died when he was last in England and Ospreay is ready to finish the job, in what was a flawed but super intense and effective promo duel.