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AEW Dynamite didn't disappoint tonight, especially after the highly-anticipated debut match of Brian Kendrick was nixed a mere half an hour before the show.
Tony Khan made full use of the stacked roster and found a suitable replacement for the former WWE Superstar to face Jon Moxley on Wednesday night.
Despite notable names missing from the flagship program this week, the company managed to enthrall its audience by pulling off some beef-settling feuds.
Now, without further ado, let's quickly dive into the positive and negative takeaways from the episode. If you disagree with the reviewer's opinion below, feel free to share your thoughts in the comments section.
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#5 Best: Bryan Danielson proposing an offer to ally with Jon Moxley on AEW Dynamite
After Jon Moxley defeated Wheeler Yuta in a hard-hitting opening match this week, Bryan Danielson stepped in the ring with the former Shield member.
However, Danielson didn't lay out a challenge that we all anticipated, but instead, he proposed an offer to form an alliance with Moxley.
The American Dragon cut a passionate promo in which he dreamt about potentially winning all championships alongside The Death Rider.
He also expressed a desire to recruit rising stars to form a formidable faction. Considering the two men's current character portrayal, one would be surprised if Mox joins forces with Danielson.
Regardless, the prospect of seeing two men wrestling side by side isn't a bad idea either. Having long-term storytelling between Mox and Danielson could prompt both men to stay friends before becoming each other's biggest enemies. There are endless possibilities with this pairing.
Tony Khan appears to have made the right call by not making this feud predictable. It has now left fans wondering how the storyline between Mox and Bryan will shape up ahead of the AEW Revolution pay-per-view.
#4 Worst: AEW star Adam Cole issuing a challenge to an underwhelming opponent
Adam Cole's booking in AEW programming continues to be questionable. After suffering a crushing loss at the hands of Orange Cassidy last week, he chose an underutilized opponent in Evil Uno to prove that he is still the best professional wrestler in the company.
The former NXT Champion undoubtedly tends to bring out the best in everyone, but he has nothing to gain from Uno except a cheap victory. Even though he is undefeated in the singles competition, the unsanctioned Lights Out loss appears to have halted his momentum.
The company should have taken him off television instead of having him wrestle in a predictable match on Rampage this week. If Hangman Page survives against Lance Archer next week, Adam Cole should be the one to challenge The Cowboy at Revolution.
#3 Best: MJF ended CM Punk's undefeated streak on AEW Dynamite
In a surprising turn of events tonight, MJF defeated CM Punk in his hometown of Chicago, thus ending The Straight Edge Superstar's 10-match winning streak.
As expected, Friedman used unfair means to pick up the victory. He earlier won the match after choking Punk out with wrist tape, but the referee restarted the bout after realizing The Pinnacle leader had used a weapon.
In the closing moments, Wardlow came out to hand over MJF his diamond ring, which the latter used on the former WWE Superstar while the referee was distracted. Either way, the 25-year-old star has picked up arguably the biggest win of his career thus far.
Although most fans wanted CM Punk to emerge victorious in front of his home crowd, the veteran wouldn't have benefited as much from this victory as MJF. Even in defeat, Punk looked like a million bucks as he performed exceptionally well, taking this clash to close to 45 minutes.
Moreover, it is unlikely that the feud between the two men is far from being over. Given their screwy finish, the company may book chapter II between the two men at Revolution this year.
#2 Worst: PAC suffering a loss in his return match on AEW Dynamite
Malakai Black and Brody King defeated the duo of PAC and Penta in an action-filled tag team contest on AEW Dynamite. It wasn't just the outcome that disappointed, but also PAC's return to his same old persona.
For weeks, the former WWE Superstar was selling off the black mist effect in his eyes. He even teased a change in character via a video package that aired a few weeks ago.
But that angle seems to have been wasted after what happened tonight. Even if the House of Black was slated to win, PAC turning heel on Penta could have made fans pop out of their seats. The House of Black might have become an even more intimidating faction after recruiting someone like PAC.
#1 Best/Worst: Paige VanZant possibly kickstarting a rivalry with Brandi Rhodes in AEW
Brandi Rhodes and Dan Lambert continued their war of words this week, but the decision to put a heel vs. heel in the ring backfired again. The entire segment felt absurd and pointless.
On top of that, Paige VanZant surprisingly returned tonight and initiated a brawl with the Chief Brand Officer, only to be separated by the women's locker room.
If VanZant is set to make her pro wrestling debut soon, it shouldn't be against Brandi, who seems to be portraying a similar role as WWE's Stephanie McMahon from The Authority days. Not many people would be interested to see Rhodes step inside the ring.
The MMA star could pick a fight with legitimate opponents like Thunder Rosa, who holds the same skills as VanZant. Regardless, the latter's return appears to have drawn massive eyeballs to the product. It will be interesting to see how the company utilizes her moving forward.
