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

5. Cage & Sydal's Slick Opener

Christian Cage vs. Matt Sydal was a flip on Cage's first two AEW singles matches with Frankie Kazarian and Powerhouse Hobbs, in which the veteran bumped and sold for most of his time in the ring, showcasing the strengths in his defensive performances.

Here, Cage was more aggressive. A match that started with the duo working holds and jostling for positioning unfolded as Christian found ways to cut Sydal off while pressurising his lower back, forcing the flyer to work from beneath. He fought like a ring general, Christian: smart and assertive, skirting the line without breaking the rules or coming off overly heelish.

Sydal was great, too, adding to an impressive 2021 resume that makes him one of the most consistent television wrestlers in the world right now. While he hasn't yet had a spotlighted singles match on Dynamite or pay-per-view, AEW can always rely on him to deliver.

Cage's victory came via Killswitch. It was onto bigger things after the bell, as a multi-story brawl brought Team Taz and Hangman Page out to the ring, with Ricky Starks, Brian Cage, and Hook standing tall, the injured 'Absolute' sipping the whiskey Page had told him to hold a one minute prior. Deft dovetailing