Best and Worst of AEW Dynamite: Squash match; eight-time world champion returns; another shot taken at WWE

Tonight's AEW Dynamite picked up from where it left off last week, with massive returns and exciting in-ring action. The company also announced a pay-per-view-worthy match card for the upcoming Beach Break special.

While the overall show looked solid on paper, the slow-paced storyline's progress to some of the feuds has become problematic. With Revolution 2022 still more than a month away, a few storylines are becoming stale in weekly programming, which once generated ample hype.

We have plenty to discuss today, so let's quickly get down to the positive and negative takeaways from this week's episode. If you disagree with any opinion below, make sure to pen down your thoughts in the comments section.

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#5 Worst: CM Punk squashing Shawn Spears on AEW Dynamite

CM Punk squashed Shawn Spears tonight in what could have been a gruesome encounter between the two former WWE Superstars. Understandably, AEW wanted to make Punk look indomitable after the beatdown he suffered at the hands of Wardlow last week.

But what was the point of building Spears as a formidable opponent? While The Chairman may not be a prominent part of this storyline, he could have pushed The Straight Edge Superstar to his limits.

After all, the latter has elevated rising stars in AEW, and what damage could have been done possibly to his character had he made Spears a star performer of the night.

On top of that, the company could be saving Punk vs. Friedman for Revolution. Management is already killing the buzz by prolonging the inevitable clash between the two men.

Meanwhile, Wardlow's ongoing saga with The Pinnacle leader is becoming the same old story with each week passing by.

In an attempt to build on MJF's feuds against Punk and Mr. Mayhem simultaneously, All Elite Wrestling may end up potentially making both the storylines lackluster.

#4 Best: Jon Moxley's much-awaited return on AEW Dynamite

Jon Moxley's return to AEW programming was undoubtedly the highlight of Dynamite this week.

The company made the right call by kicking off the show with The Death Rider, as it would have drawn the most eyeballs and set the bar for the rest of the episode.

Moxley appeared leaner and, most importantly, rejuvenated the last time we saw him on our television screens. He cut a top-notch promo, where he talked about his battle with the demons in his dreams and how nobody is perfect in the world.

The fact that Jon Moxley openly embraced reality and his laser-focused approach made the entire place rally behind him once again. The former WWE Superstar then laid out an open challenge, which was accepted by Ethan Page later on in the show.

The two men will square off against each other later this week on Rampage in what promises to be a hard-hitting contest.

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#3 Worst: Cody Rhodes' promo on AEW Dynamite

Cody Rhodes' return was another big takeaway from Dynamite tonight. However, his promo segment felt questionable and unnecessary. He did mention some noteworthy points, like him laying the foundation for the 'forbidden' door. But his direct reference to WWE and talking about a heel turn was absurd.

Every time Cody or anyone else takes a shot at Vince McMahon, it puts them in dire need of viewership. He mocked rival promotion for changing the name of WALTER. Moreover, the 36-year old star seems to be exposing the wrestling business by openly talking about his potential heel turn.

Speaking of which, there's no doubt that The American Nightmare would work so much better with a villainous persona, given his polarizing status now.

Regardless, we hope Cody eventually embraces the dark side if he fails to defeat Sammy Guevara in a title unification match at Beach Break.

#2 Best: Sting's yet another spine-chilling performance on AEW Dynamite

AEW stars Sting and Darby Allin defeated The Acclaimed in the main event tonight. The bout exceeded everybody's expectations and prompted fans to pop out of their seats. The WCW Icon was arguably the star of the match and the night.

He wrestled the majority of the match himself after Anthony Bowens and Max Caster took out Allin before the bell even rang. Sting delivered some breath-taking maneuvers, especially his dive off the stage that caused him to crash down to the table. It gave goosebumps to anyone watching.

Even The Acclaimed played their character well by using unfair means to keep The Vigilante down. But the entire complexion of the match changed once Darby Allin returned to the ring. The former TNT Champion delivered a Coffin Drop on Bowens to pick up the win for his team.

As things stand, the face-painted stars are undefeated in the AEW tag team division, and it's only a matter of time before they challenge for gold.

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#1 Best/Worst: The Inner Circle possibly splitting up?

Proud & Powerful (Santana and Ortiz) teased breaking up with The Inner Circle and Chris Jericho during a backstage segment on AEW Dynamite this week.

While addressing the group's upcoming match against Daniel Garcia and 2point0, Jericho showed an uncompassionate attitude towards Kingston's injury. The said words provoked Santana and Ortiz, who laid out the reality-check to the former WWE Superstar. The duo held Chris Jericho responsible for not having gold around their waists.

Given what transpired this week, it is likely that The Inner Circle members will go their separate ways sooner rather than later. However, one shouldn't deny that if it weren't for Jericho, Proud & Powerful wouldn't have gained the spotlight in the company.

Santana and Ortiz splitting up with Chris Jericho may not be the best move, yet it will be interesting to see how this storyline unfolds in the weeks to come.