9 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Dynamite (5 Oct)

4. This Is What AEW Is

Max Caster
AEW

Fundamentally, National Scissoring Day was silly. Some of the content was, too.

Swerve Strickland carrying a rock bordered on dismal prop comedy - "Ken...do stick" - but the difference here is the acknowledged absurdity of the joke and the willingness and belief to force it over the line with a gag that was simply too dumb and yet too inspired not to smile at.

The rock/paper/scissors thing was the sort of joke that you couldn't not admire. When Smart Mark Sterling walked down to the ring, legal papers in hand en route to his doom, it was impossible not to grin wryly at the composition of the joke, even if the joke itself was naff. The sheer graft that went into it was too impressive. Comedy can be nice like that sometimes.

The visual of a literal flying leg scissors was a joy. A stupid, only-in-wrestling joy. The segment advanced the Acclaimed Vs. Swerve In Our Glory programme, but it was more than a mere angle.

Within the most daft package, this was an entertaining and goddammit, perhaps even profound segment of wrestling television. Watching a room full of strangers become a collective, adjoined by the irresistible slice of wrestling b*llocks that is the scissor hand gesture, was as much why we all watch wrestling and why it is worthwhile as a five star match or a PPV-selling promo. It's a fun and vital escape from the drudgery of life.

Max Caster for president.

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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!