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

Bryan Danielson def. Matt Menard: ★★
Jon Moxley def. Juice Robinson: ★★
Toni Storm def. Serena Deeb to retain the AEW Interim Women’s World Championship: ★★★
Ricky Starks def. Eli Isom: ★
Chris Jericho def. Bandido to retain the ROH World Championship: ★★★★

Show Highlight—

Jericho vs. Bandido. This was pure gold right from the start with Jericho pissing over the code of honor in the douchiest way possible. Bandido was one of the brightest stars on the independent scene during WrestleMania week this year and he seemed primed for a WWE or AEW roster spot. Glad that he’s getting his due now. And also glad that Jericho made a point to make him and give Bandido all his spots that make Bandido look like the burgeoning star that he is. And even more glad that Aubrey didn’t draw too much attention to herself during Bandido’s delayed suplex spot!
Who knows how long they can stretch out Jericho vs Ring of Honor’s past champions and where this will go, but it’s an enjoyable career renaissance for a man who’s ironically proving he’s the best sports entertainer by being the best professional wrestler.

What Worked—

MJF was a heel, Yuta was a babyface. I’d like to see MJF as a babyface, especially as we enter a possible Punk and Elite-less existence, but he seems to be entrenched as a heel again without going against the grain. Because nothing says one-percenter like wearing a jersey frumpily atop of a button-down. Nice that Yuta got to get his heat back later in the show, as if a suite is an impenetrable fortress that doesn’t make you a target.
William Regal wants to fuck Excalibur. When Regal retires, his character needs to run off and marry Excalibur ala Stefon’s farewell with Seth Meyers.
Programs have direction. We have a ways to go to Full Gear but at least we’re not drifting aimlessly Rampage-style week to week. Mox and Hangman will be a fantastic match and program, MJF has teeth paired with Yuta (even though it’s an inevitability), and Britt and Saraya are at least ….something.
2 Words For Ya. I still can’t believe Billy Gunn is damn near as over as he was in 1998.

What Didn’t Work—

Anna Neigh. Well holy shit. Never thought I’d write this. But Anna Jay’s heel “acting” makes me yearn for Stephanie McMahon’s screeching from the year 2000.
Danny Garcia. That whole JAS opening segment was butt, but perhaps the worst of it was watching Garcia still portray the sullen teenager torn from a custody battle. Garcia got over because he’s a great wrestler. This dead horse has beaten beyond oblivion. Although, part of me kinda does wish they took a nod from the “Raisins” episode of South Park and have Garcia join the goth kids, in this case House of Black.

Show Cringe—

Women’s Issues. Saraya was noticeably thrown by the “revolution” line, and the segment went to shit from there. This was one of the more skin-crawling segments AEW has devoted this much time to since, oh, maybe when Brandi and Dan Lambert dared each other to see how fast you could change the channel. Hearing Saraya say she was nervous was akin to a comedian bombing and awkwardly drawing attention to their fumbling.
I have nothing to add to the chorus of frustrated fans of the women’s division who simultaneously appreciate Tony for trying, but being unhappy with the results of it continuously falling flat and delivering unwanted inferiority. Lumping Toni Storm as champion in with everyone was weird, as was the fart-in-church crowd reaction to her. Athena is just another girl now (which should have never fucking happened). Jamie Hayter is the wrestler that’s the one and retconning her to be Britt’s lackey could kill the Becky Lynch-ish rise she ought to be having.
Thankfully, Deeb and Storm can deliver in the ring and had a very strong match. Too bad a finish featuring a piledriver off the ropes (!) is going to be forgotten.

AEW Dynamite 9/28/2022 Match Ratings and Commentary

AEW Rampage 9/30/2022 Match Ratings and Commentary