9 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Dynamite (27 Oct)
Ups...
9. AEW Remains The Premier Storytelling Promotion
The ongoing Blackpool Combat Club Vs. Jericho Appreciation Society programme is a strange one to unpack. It peaked at Double Or Nothing all the way back in May, although Blood & Guts was a worthy if flawed hero's redemption. Now, it is simultaneously dragging on too long and worthy, compelling storytelling.
This was a fantastic advancement of it, one that made a mockery of recent criticisms not necessarily made in bad faith. Tony Khan's booking has fallen across 2022, but the character work here was robust in its logic and made for a scintillating tag team match. Claudio Castagnoli was pissed off because Chris Jericho cheated him out of the ROH World title. Wheeler YUTA was pissed off because he is considered, by his hero, to be inferior to his career rival.
Working under this character motive, both men delivered a complete blast of catharsis in a stupendous babyface showing. YUTA brought the fire and Claudio the superhuman magic in a vengeful, furious performance. Chris Jericho, incidentally, remains the most underrated tag team wrestler ever. Just when you thought the 'systematic cheating" bit was starting to take the piss, the heels eat sh*t in the most entertaining way imaginable.
Maybe the booking hasn't quite fallen off after all.