9 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Dynamite (May 19)

7. The Inner Circle Say "Yes"

The Inner Circle said "yes" to The Pinnacle's Stadium Stampede challenge last night, but that was always going to be the case.

The most important thing here is that it looks like we aren't getting a wacky comedy match. Dax Harwood promised as much as The Pinnacle sat around the dinner table, ripping the last match for "making a mockery of wrestling," promising his group wasn't going to do the same "dog and pony show." MJF was ablaze, too, popping off at Chris Jericho's comedy leanings, promising to end the original AEW power stable.

And lo! The Inner Circle kept things serious too. There were no bubbly bashes this week, only a burning desire to put The Pinnacle down from Jake Hager, Ortiz, Sammy Guevara, and Jericho, who was particularly good here. Him mentioning the "toll" of Blood & Guts meant little when it was almost completely no-sold last week (save for the cast around his arm), but it was relieving to see the feud recalibrated.

Going down the comedic route would have represented a huge step backwards for a literal blood feud. Yes, the first Stadium Stampede was a riot, a hoot, and a blast, but that kind of match is exactly what this story doesn't need. You cannot de-escalate from something like Blood & Guts without eroding fan faith.