How The Wednesday Night War Was Won On The Very First Night

Jake Hager II
Scott Lesh

Over on TNT, AEW was one plot hole away from booking the perfect angle.

In the main event, Chris Jericho and hired guns Santana and Ortiz defeated the Elite stable of Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks. In one chaotic and thrilling and amazingly productive segment, AEW mapped out the short, medium and long-term future of its Dynamite flagship and the next pay-per-view on the calendar. Midway through a match that really should have been fought under a No Disqualification stipulation, to allow AEW to eat the cake, Jon Moxley lurked behind Kenny Omega in an iconic visual. He drew away him from the action, the memory of the Fyter Fest assault informing this gruesome receipt, and smashed him head-first through a glass table to set up their Lights Out match at Full Gear. Jericho's team used the numbers advantage to win, and they beat down the Bucks in the post-match. Cody made the save. In a shocking development, the good dude helped out his friends.

This drew out Sammy Guevara, who had earlier refused Cody's handshake after losing their opener. He kicked Cody in the balls. This was all sequenced so brilliantly, particularly since it built both a faction war and two pay-per-view main events in parallel. In removing Omega from the fray, the heels always held the advantage. Dustin Rhodes came out to help his brother, before, in the big shocking headline moment, the debuting Jake Hager decked him. He looked so shredded, and the beat-down looked so good, that any TNA comparisons made in the aftermath felt contrarian.

If it was a move from the Dixie Carter playbook, it was executed brilliantly.

CONT'D...(3 of 6)

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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!