9 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Dynamite (27 Oct)

6. Pulsating Drama

Dax Harwood Swerve Strickland
AEW

Three probable outcomes hung over FTR Vs. Swerve In Our Glory:

1) The Gunn Club make their presence felt, and interfere.

2) The Kingdom make their presence felt, and interfere.

3) Swerve and Keith split, definitively, after one last crucial miscommunication.

The overlapping plotting of a stronger tag team division than Tony Khan has booked all year created a super-dramatic backdrop for what was a tremendous match in and of itself. Even with a clean result not amongst the most likely finishes, the action was so well plotted and timed that the fans bought the hailstorm of near-falls late.

Treating Keith Lee like a big man in a manner of which New Generation Bret Hart would be proud, it took FTR several failed attempts to hoist him up for the Big Rig - and when they finally did, the crowd bought it as the finish. The sheer endeavour had to be rewarded, but it wasn't: with expert timing, Swerve, on great form throughout beyond one awkward misstep, pulled Dax Harwood out of the ring at the last second. The drama was pulsating by the finish, but the work throughout was glorious.

Keith Lee's double leapfrog was one of those only-in-wrestling moments so good that you all probably went a bit apesh*t in your living room.

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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!