Rate the AEW Dynamite!: 3/6/2024

[bearned]

I think 9 is fair.

Really good show. Highlight for me was Christian escaping via stealing some dudes car. Then hanging his belt out the window triumphantly as he drove off.

[KME]

At times early on I wasn't entirely feeling it but I really don't think I can go lower than 10 for a show that debuted Okada in exactly the way I wanted, had an awesome Stat/Riho match, a really fun FTW Title Match and then that f***ing main event and THEN the tease of Danielson/Ospreay. The highs were SO high on this show.

Ospreay is going to be huge for AEW, the level of matches he puts on are unlike anyone in the world right now. Shoutout to Fletcher too who could end up being almost anything in ring, frightening he's only 25.

Set looked awesome and initial impression was that I liked the new intro too, it was still stuck in my head by the end of the show which is a good sign.

[grunt]

The first 45 mins or so did nothing for me - Cole/Undisputed grafting themselves to Swerve/Joe just killed it for me, Jericho hitching a ride on the Hook train just made me roll my eyes, the FTW match was so-so - but then it got better, and the main event was, obviously, great. That said, as much as I like OSpreay's work, I hope Tony doesn't have him work matches every single week, just like he tends to do with acts that are popular and proven commodities (OC, Mox) ; there's such a thing as overexposure, after all.

[daaave]

Weird Dynamite to rate really. I usually reserve my 10s for the packed shows with banger matches throughout and this wasn't that. But hard to rate it low because despite a few average matches, the storyline progressions and suprise debuts have all created a tremendous amount of buzz. In many ways it was an all timer of an episode but just not from in ring pov.

But then saying that Fletcher and Ospreay was probably one of the best matches ever in Dynamite history. So that more then made up for rest of the card.

[The Prince That Was Promised]

Man what a f***in show. AEW is hitting on all cylinders right now.

[Cyno]

Going with a 9. Some really fun segments, solid matches, and an incredible main event. On top of that you have the Okada debut and the tease of Danielson vs Ospreay.

[Denny Zen]

It was an awesome show and the perfect "first episode" of the "new season" of Dynamite. Everyone has already heaped the praise on the show that I would, but I also have to give a shoutout to Brian Cage's sweet King from Tekken gear. The lug is on the verge of getting me to root for him with all of his gear inspired by my favorite video games.

[polarbearpete]

That’s definitely the presentation/format they should strive to achieve every week. We went in not knowing what every single match and segment would be and it didn’t feature a ton of long matches for the sake of “good wrestling”, instead featuring a lot of in-ring promos and confrontations with shorter matches, and it seemed to flow much better than usual.

[Bo Rida]

Mar 7, 2024 14:06:31 GMT -5 polarbearpete said:

That’s definitely the presentation/format they should strive to achieve every week. We went in not knowing what every single match and segment would be and it didn’t feature a ton of long matches for the sake of “good wrestling”, instead featuring a lot of in-ring promos and confrontations with shorter matches, and it seemed to flow much better than usual.

I wasn't a fan. Swerve on his own was fine. The opening promo into impromptu match trope is stupid wwe and Punk era Collision nonsense.

In kayfabe something like Ethan Page vs John Silver must have been ready to go but got bumped for that. You know it was suspect when Joe didn't have his suit on like he normally would. How did he know?
It has to be a match good enough to justify TK agreeing immediately and UK ain't it.

Although I agree Bucks and Okada was great. Actual content in the promo, Eddie reminding us of the dress code thing and of course the surprises. Broke up the old elite, set-up the new one, led to some action and teased a tile match. Perfect, exactly what in-ring promos should be.

Darby speaking made sense so I was unusually charitable to a third in-ring promo and it was good. Then Jay White ruined it again, not even a tweener really, just a rambling heel promo not really going anywhere from a guy in a face stable. Weird.

Acceptable for one week after a ppv but would hate it every week even if done well. However one lengthy in-ring promo is usually more than enough.

[polarbearpete]

Mar 7, 2024 18:05:14 GMT -5 Bo Rida said:

Mar 7, 2024 14:06:31 GMT -5 polarbearpete said:

That’s definitely the presentation/format they should strive to achieve every week. We went in not knowing what every single match and segment would be and it didn’t feature a ton of long matches for the sake of “good wrestling”, instead featuring a lot of in-ring promos and confrontations with shorter matches, and it seemed to flow much better than usual.

I wasn't a fan. Swerve on his own was fine. The opening promo into impromptu match trope is stupid wwe and Punk era Collision nonsense.

In kayfabe something like Ethan Page vs John Silver must have been ready to go but got bumped for that. You know it was suspect when Joe didn't have his suit on like he normally would. How did he know?
It has to be a match good enough to justify TK agreeing immediately and UK ain't it.

Although I agree Bucks and Okada was great. Actual content in the promo, Eddie reminding us of the dress code thing and of course the surprises. Broke up the old elite, set-up the new one, led to some action and teased a tile match. Perfect, exactly what in-ring promos should be.

Darby speaking made sense so I was unusually charitable to a third in-ring promo and it was good. Then Jay White ruined it again, not even a tweener really, just a rambling heel promo not really going anywhere from a guy in a face stable. Weird.

Acceptable for one week after a ppv but would hate it every week even if done well. However one lengthy in-ring promo is usually more than enough.

Yeah definitely a “different strokes” type deal but this was a format I’d be more into week to week (with occasional PPV-like episodes with wall to wall great matches).