9 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Dynamite (5 Oct)
6. Big, Dumb (And Smart) Fun
Brian Cage has always maintained, despite much damning evidence to the contrary, that he actually can cut a promo and that he can operate on the televised stage.
He was right - tonight, at least. His pre-tape, elevated by Prince Nana's wonderful "We in the money!" sing-song - was threatening and assured. His match with Wardlow was such tremendous fun, too. You know what one of the best noises in all of wrestling is?
The earnest, awestruck gasp of a '90s AJPW crowd watching on as one of their Four Pillars heroes takes something ghastly to their head. The Washington crowd sounded something like this when Wardlow rocked Brian Cage with a tijeras. The sound of wonder flooded the Entertainment & Sports Arena.
The rest of the match was a fun, incredulous spectacle - a great contrast to the intricate technical fare of the first two matches, and reminder of the awesome range with which AEW has established itself as a hub world for the entire form. Wardlow busted out his most spectacular aerial yet, and what a worker. He carefully distributes his most eye-catching moves so that his act never feels stale.
The third successive AEW "original" won on an Anniversary special that also played host to a celebration of the ultimate homegrown tag team. This, you suspect, was no accident - and the timing of it was crucial, given recent, creeping narratives. And, on a night on which Tony Khan was determined to bat back the backlash, FTR made the save when Gates of Agony interfered in the post-match. The pop was electrifying.
Really, the whole night was.