WWE Just Exposed AEW's Most Embarrassing Flaw
The July 20th 2022 edition of AEW Dynamite felt like the first in a while that would live long in the memory. Once an irresistible destination for lashings of the best professional wrestling in the world, the Wednesday flagship has stuttered and stalled somewhat post-2021. When it's not too unfocussed, it moves too fast to register. When not too fast it's too flabby. When not flabby, it's too zany. And so on.
The curtain hasn't fully fallen on the company's golden era just yet, but the earnestly memorable matches and moments are in shorter supply than ever. This Dynamite was different. Unfortunately, this was for better and worse.
The pulsating opener between Brody King and Darby Allin was an over-delivery on high expectations. Madman vs mere mortal-who-doesn't-know-he's-merely-mortal was the simple story elegantly articulated through grim violence. King monstered his smaller adversary in a fashion that frankly would be visually pleasing if he wasn't such a good heel. Allin's comebacks weren't pantomime fire-ups, but desperate survival attempts. That they ultimately failed and he was defeated further enhanced everything. Goth-adjacent set dressing be damned, this was story of the kid trying to save himself falling short. He's got to find the self-belief to come back stronger next time, and it appears as though Sting and Miro will be there to help.
Bookends come in pairs so everything doesn't fall over. That perhaps explains why many came away feeling like this Dynamite had careered off a cliff by the time Eddie Kingston's dejected post-match expression faded to black.
CONT'D...