Here’s where we landed with Dynamite this week. Curious how we rank matches? We’ve got a rubric for that.

Show Highlight—

Shocking title match. I was expecting AEWs first outright bait and switch so this was certainly better than that. Your mileage may very on if that met your expectation or not. It worked on the level of an in-ring surprise—and we all know how much our boy loves his surprises—and had captured a sense of authenticity on a plethora of levels. Moxley looks strong. Moxley accomplishes his goal of not being merely an “Interim” champ. Punk has a convincing out for losing by working his foot injury. Punk continues to come up as a lemon in his cursed town of Cleveland. At some point, there had to be a main event title match that doesn’t go 20 minutes, and CM Punk is the most fuck-up free guy to roll the dice and gamble with this finish on.

What Worked—

Daniel Garcia is a pillar. The comparison is easy but Garcia could breakout just like Bryan Danielson did a decade earlier. The crowd vociferously chanted, “You’re a wrestler,” and is ready to make him a star. When we went to Cleveland for Beach Break, I would hardly call it a smart mark crowd, and they were silent for workrate darlings FTR, so that has to be telling that they were this hot for Garcia.
Dax Harwood is the wrestler of the year. I don’t give a shit if he’s in a tag. Dax is the wrestler of the year. You’re deluding yourself if you don’t see it that way. Yet another 4 star match. Unless he embarks on some fucking rough bra and panties or a Judy Bagwell on a pole matches, he should win this.
Audible with the Wardlow/FTR Trios match. It really goes to our head when we think Tony listens to the podcast, even if, we have literally no way to prove that obviously. But thank fuck for the MCMG to replace the deadweight in that. Now this doesn’t feel like a total waste anymore. …Even if it doesn’t really make sense in kayfabe.
Ospreay steals the show. He is OVER. That crowd was eating out of his hand. New Japan is his home, but there’s a fervor for him to be in AEW.

What Didn’t Work—

Cut to Christian. Let it breathe, don’t go to him right away. It took away from his promo and made less of a moment for his program with Jungle Boy. The crowd needed to digest.

Show Cringe—

Thunder Rosa losses her smile. It doesn’t matter how long the show was running. She needed to be in-ring to relinquish the title. Is it a massive fuck you to her, no, but it’s another one of those little things that add up that tell the audience the women’s division doesn’t have the importance of the men’s division. It shouldn’t feel like this belt is so many notches below PAC’s trophy. There’s also enough bullshit and drama brewing about her right now anyways where I wouldn’t be shocked if far too many fans take her quietly announcing this way as a punishment.

AEW Dynamite 8/24/2022 Match Ratings and Commentary

AEW Rampage 8/26/2022 Match Ratings and Commentary