This week's episode of AEW Dynamite was packed from top to bottom, as the company looked to build up the AEW Double or Nothing pay-per-view set to take place this Sunday.
The episode had a lot of work to do, and overall, it managed to deliver. Almost every segment was booked perfectly, as the company hyped up one of their biggest events of the year.
However, there were a few segments that were a let-down at the end of the night and a few issues with the way AEW presented its product. The following are the best and worst moments from AEW Dynamite.
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#1 Best: Orange Cassidy looks like a viable championship contender on AEW Dynamite
Orange Cassidy looked convincing as an AEW Championship contender. Heading into the Triple Threat Match at Double or Nothing, there was a lack of build-up.
This week's AEW Dynamite saw a better build-up to the AEW title match. Kenny Omega tried to attack PAC by blindsiding him early on, but the latter managed to hold him off until Gallows and Anderson attacked him. After the assault, Omega managed to gain the upper hand.
However, he would not be able to hit the finishing move on PAC, as Orange Cassidy interrupted them. He made his way out during AEW Dynamite and handed Omega his shredded contract. Cassidy took Omega by surprise, as he seemed to have been hoping that the former would be giving up his title shot.
Instead, Orange Cassidy's refusal shocked him, and Cassidy followed up by hitting him with the Orange Punch. He was then confronted by PAC and after some quick moves from the Death Triangle member, Cassidy reversed PAC to hit him with the Orange Punch too.
He posed with the title after the segment, and for the first time, it seemed like it was not altogether impossible that Orange Cassidy could win the title. AEW has done a credible job of building him to be a title contender.
#1 Worst: Production issues on AEW Dynamite
Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston were in the middle of a video promo on AEW Dynamite this week when the show suddenly stopped airing what they had to say. The feed went black and the international audience was left confused as to what happened at the time. Soon after they went into the ad break.
AEW has had a history with production issues in the past as they have often had issues with the volume of their audio. Now, two years into their existence broadcasting shows, having production issues on AEW Dynamite made them look very unprofessional.
The ad-break seemingly survived the production team, and so when the show came back from the break, they finally showed the promo, but it was hard to overlook what had happened moments ago.
Those were not the only issues during the night. During Miro's match with Dante Martin, a random theme song went off for a second. After his match, when facing Lance Archer, Miro's mic was turned off, and it led to a few awkward moments where the audience could not hear what he was saying. Thankfully, the issues were fixed before too long.
Be it past audio issues, the apparent lack of coordination among production, or the issues with the disastrous explosion that was replaced by sprinklers in Jon Moxley's match against Kenny Omega, AEW Dynamite has some things to address.
#2 Best: Newly designed women's title introduced on AEW Dynamite
A newly designed women's title was introduced on AEW Dynamite this week.
Hikaru Shida has now held the AEW Women's Championship for over a year. Her title reign has not been the easiest, and the time during which she has held the championship was extremely difficult due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
When she began her reign with the title, the women's division was the most criticized division in AEW, and she is now a year-long title holder when the division is finally being recognized for the work the women have put in.
At AEW Double or Nothing, she will face Britt Baker in a title match, but on AEW Dynamite she was presented with a new title. The gold and diamond encrusted title looked more regal than the old AEW Women's Championship.
It was a moment that Shida deserved, and while it's expected that she will lose the title at the upcoming pay-per-view, her achievement was recognized by the company, as she carried them at a time when their women's roster was seriously lacking.
#2 Worst: Odd weigh-in segment on AEW Dynamite
This week's episode of AEW Dynamite had one of the most awkward segments in the history of the promotion. Cody Rhodes and Anthony Ogogo are set to face each other at AEW Double or Nothing, but before their match, they had a weigh-in this week on Dynamite.
For some reason, AEW decided that Paul Wight FKA The Big Show would host the segment. While it made the segment more exciting to see the superstar on AEW Dynamite, it didn't last.
While Wight was good on the mic and shut down any chance of violence between the two groups, he was not really qualified to observe the weigh-ins. He fumbled with the scale weight measure for much longer than anyone expected as it became awkward really fast. It was clear he didn't really know what to do, and both weigh-ins took longer than expected.
Even after the weigh-ins were done, the segment didn't improve. QT Marshall harped on how Anthony Ogogo was a pound heavier than Cody, which meant he would win. Both stars tried to get cheers from the crowd but the segment went on for too long, with seemingly no one sure of what to do next before it finally seemed to fade away.
#3 Best/Worst: The Inner Circle's celebration on AEW Dynamite
The Inner Circle might have participated in their final segment together on AEW Dynamite. At Double or Nothing, the group will be heading into the Stadium Stampede Match against The Pinnacle with their very existence on the line.
If they lose at Double or Nothing, then the faction will have to disband forever. During this week's episode of AEW Dynamite, in a segment hosted by former WWE RAW General Manager Eric Bischoff, they celebrated their time together.
With a video promo showing their best moments, destroying the various opponents that they faced over the years, The Inner Circle then showed their vulnerable side. Each member of the faction cut a promo about what the group meant to them and how their time in the faction was extremely valuable to them.
Chris Jericho promised to leave in a blaze of glory if they do lose.
The entire segment was emotional, and then, The Pinnacle brought them back to reality. MJF lured the faction out to the stadium where Dean Malenko was lying battered. On their way there, The Inner Circle was ambushed as each superstar was destroyed by The Pinnacle, ending with MJF's faction standing tall.
The segment was heartwrenching and made the fans feel for The Inner Circle, a group they had despised for a long time. It was perfect in every sense, as the heat going into the Stadium Stampede Match is more than ever before.
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