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AEW Dynamite this week was an alright show, but I guess it was one of those 'calm before the storm' episodes eventually leading up to Fyter Fest. I'm not implying that this week's episode of AEW Dynamite wasn't worth watching because it certainly was, but it wouldn't be the end of the world if you missed it.
So, let's look at this week's episode and check out what worked and what did not, then. Be sure to let me know your thoughts and views in the comments section below.
So, without further ado, I present the best and worst of AEW Dynamite, for your reading pleasure.
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#1 Best: Ricky Starks arrives in AEW from the NWA
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We had Ricky Starks on Sportskeeda's Instagram not long ago, fielding questions from wrestling fans across the world (the entire session has been embedded at the end of the article), when he told us that he would be parting ways with the NWA. Little did we know back then that he would not only show up in AEW but take on Cody Rhodes for the AEW TNT Championship, the modern version of the television title.
And now, we have learned that Ricky Starks has signed with AEW in what has to be one of the best feel-good stories in a while.
As for Cody Rhodes, the man has been creating new stars on a regular basis and one can't take away the fact that he is leading from the front, much like John Cena did when he had the WWE United States Championship and held an Open Challenge every week.
I look forward to Cody Rhodes and his challenges every week on AEW Dynamite and I'd say they are even more exciting than the upcoming match with Jake Hager, even though I have no doubt that it'll be great too.
#1 Worst: Jericho vs. Orange Cassidy at AEW Fyter Fest
I would have no issues at all with Orange Cassidy vs. Chris Jericho as a standalone AEW match if it was not leading up to Chris Jericho vs. Mike Tyson. The only issue with the whole thing is that even though he showcased a serious aspect to his personality on AEW Dynamite this week, a match against Orange Cassidy, who is essentially a comedy character, will diminish the seriousness of Jericho's character.
I enjoy both Chris Jericho and Orange Cassidy and I would have been thrilled at a match between the two, had the contest not happened at Fyter Fest ahead of the inevitable AEW showdown between Mike Tyson and Chris Jericho. I am also not sure about Orange Cassidy showing such a serious side to his persona, from a long-term perspective, but hey, one is bound to change after a brutal attack, right?
That said, I am sure that when the match eventually happens between Jericho and Cassidy, it will be a really entertaining contest.
#2 Best: The Young Bucks prove why they are the best tag team in AEW (or are they?)
Whether or not you like The Young Bucks' style of wrestling (I like it a lot), it is impossible to deny that when they are on fire, they are not just the most well-oiled machine in AEW but maybe in the entire pro wrestling world. I thought that Kip Sabian and Jimmy Havoc had a great showing against them and this match (as well as what FTR did on last week's show) elevated the AEW tag team division to the next level.
If you include the tag team Champions- Kenny Omega and Hangman Page, who are somehow getting along very well these days, The Butcher and The Blade, as well as The Best Friends in addition to Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara, it is impossible to deny that the AEW tag team division is absolutely stacked.
Even though this week's episode may not have been very noteworthy, it certainly did wonders for AEW the tag team division.
#2 Worst: Anna Jay returns to AEW and joins the Dark Order almost immediately
Anna Jay is obviously a very attractive woman and from the way that the announcers had built her up, it was clear that she was going to be presented as a star in the AEW roster. And then she lost to Abadon, who is AEW's latest signing and has a unique look. While I was not necessarily sold with the decision, I was okay with it, to a degree.
But for Anna Jay to join The Dark Order so very soon is a very weird call, in my personal opinion at least, because the audience needed to care for her in the right manner before she went over to the dark side. The whole storyline between Cody Rhodes and MJF worked so well because they showed that they were the best of friends on AEW television before MJF turned on his mentor.
Listen, I am not a booker by any stretch of the imagination but I have watched AEW from the time the company became a reality, and I was especially impressed because they didn't rush anything.
#3 Best/Worst: Dr. Britt Baker gets tossed into the dumpster live on AEW television
As much as AEW says that their presentation is different from WWE, I can't help but feel that as the weeks go by, their presentation becomes more and more WWE-like. The dumpster segment with Britt Baker and Big Swole seemed like it was something that could have belonged on either RAW or SmackDown, but that is not necessarily the worst thing.
I have to admit that it was a great way to use Britt Baker, who is currently on the shelf in a very good way while she recovers from her injury. It showed us just how far she has come as a performer since her arrival to the AEW roster considering that she cut a fantastic heel promo after being dumped in the garbage, long very long ago.
Also, if you have a moment, do check out Sportskeeda's interview with the man who took AEW by storm this week, Ricky Starks as part of a live Instagram session that we had conducted.
