Rate the AEW Dynamite!: 1/1/2020

[Cieto]

8.

Decent show, it did what it needed to overall.

[Ecks Ecks Ringout Ecks Ecks]

Another easy 8 for me.

Dynamite continues to remind me of prime-era WCW, with so much stuff I enjoy that it's easy to overlook the few bits I dislike. I've mentioned it before, but the company is really striking a perfect balance between sticking to their guns on long-term builds, and adjusting course based on fan feedback. So far I've looked forward to the show every week and it never feels like it drags.

[Super Duper Dragunov]

7.

The main event was fire, but I think the "will Mox join The Inner Circle?" is just poor writing b/c there's no one that actually believes he will so it's just no-drama-filler until the next PPV.

I was sad to see Darby lose.

Mox needed to have a more dominant win over Trent.

I hate the way they're building the Cody/MJF story. There's no interaction, Cody should be on the warpath for revenge, not coming out at the end smiling with the rest of The Elite. But it's been like this for weeks. This should be the hottest angle in the company, and it's not. More proof for me that they pulled the trigger on the turn way too soon instead of saving it for the build to All Out 2.

As one of the minority that just doesn't like her, Riho NEEDS to lose next week, and I'm glad Britt called her out on being a crappy champion with her awkward promo.
Not saying it's Riho's fault, but the belt feels even more stagnant than the tag titles.
I would rather have had Nyla win it, and then just destroy Statlander next week to assert herself as the dominant female.
Then build up Kong to an eventual match also at All Out 2.

But I got to see Sammy's fine ass (literally) so it wasn't as rough as the more recent shows have been. Plus no NXT to compare it to.

There was more that I liked than didn't, but there's still a ways to go for me.

[Mozenrath]

I voted 9. Darby/Cody was real damn good, I was really feeling the women's 4-way, especially near the end, Dustin did an apron Canadian Destroyer, and Mox/Trent was a real good time, especially with the pockets versus pockets spot.

I had food poisoning, and it took my mind off of my pain for a while, so it was doing something right.

[The Dark Order Inferno]

Is it just me or did JR have one if his better outings last night?

[eJm]

Jan 4, 2020 5:27:30 GMT -5 The Dark Order Inferno said:

Is it just me or did JR have one if his better outings last night?

The last 2-3 shows have been really good for him IMO.

[Dr. Bolty, Disaster Enby]

Jan 4, 2020 6:01:22 GMT -5 eJm said:

Jan 4, 2020 5:27:30 GMT -5 The Dark Order Inferno said:

Is it just me or did JR have one if his better outings last night?

The last 2-3 shows have been really good for him IMO.

I have this weird theory that Excalibur botching the Butcher & Blade debut helped them bond. Once Excalibur had made a mistake that was as clear as JR's early missteps, the two sounded much more comfortable together - like they were working together instead of at cross purposes.

[Rave]

Imma give it an 8. Worked for what it needed to.

Don't think I would've had Mox give his answer "next week", though. That crowd deflated when he said that.

[eJm]

Jan 4, 2020 12:29:26 GMT -5 Dr. Bolty, Disaster Enby said:

Jan 4, 2020 6:01:22 GMT -5 eJm said:

The last 2-3 shows have been really good for him IMO.

I have this weird theory that Excalibur botching the Butcher & Blade debut helped them bond. Once Excalibur had made a mistake that was as clear as JR's early missteps, the two sounded much more comfortable together - like they were working together instead of at cross purposes.

That kind of makes sense considering the weeks afterwards. JR hasn’t had any real slip ups since and Excalibur sounds less nervous so it feels like they both sort of stepped their game up a bit.

[toodarkmark]

Gave it a 10. Loved every minute of it.