9 Ups & 3 Downs From AEW Dynamite (Apr 15)

Downs...

3. Midcard Scrap Fails To Ignite

A fundamentally sound midcard scrap saw Kip Sabian defeat Chuck Taylor via multiple interferences. First it was Jimmy Havoc, who hopped the barricade to drill Orange Cassidy with a Fisherman Buster on the outside. This allowed Penelope Ford to scale the turnbuckles, nail Chuck with a flying Rana while the referee's back was turned, facilitating Kip's cheap victory.

The finish itself isn't a problem, but the action and the abruptness of the story were. This was an okay wrestling match. Splash of personality peppered its basic, solid work. The problem is that basic, solid work doesn't make for engaging viewing in this setting so at over 10 minutes, this thing was a drag.

Throw the hot-shotted Havoc/Sabian alliance into the mix and it's hard not to feel like more could be done here, despite the announcers' explanation that these people live together. It felt shotgunned.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.