3 Issues We Hated And three Issues We Beloved

Arthur Ashe Stadium appears to be like cool as hell, that is only a truth. It is a cool-looking venue and it is made “AEW Grand Slam” a yearly occasion with a definite presence, till now.

This yr’s “Grand Slam” featured darkish lights, a number of screens, and the identical outdated “Dynamite” entrance that we often see on Wednesdays. It felt prefer it may’ve actually been any Wednesday in any venue in any metropolis. It was disheartening to see such a visually hanging constructing lowered to the same old darkness and LED of normal TV reveals.

Commercial

Perhaps it was a security subject. Final yr’s “Grand Slam” noticed Adam Cole leap from the elevated ramp in Arthur Ashe and shatter is ankle in unimaginable methods. Tony Khan wouldn’t be blamed for eager to make a safer set however what I noticed on Wednesday was an overcorrection. This yr’s present had some legitimately nice matches and it was overrated as a significant occasion, which is why seeing the run-of-the-mill setup mildly deflated me over the course of Wednesday’s occasion.

Selection is the spice of life, and just about each wrestling promotion has opted for the tasteless security of LED units and lighting setups that look the identical. It is a woeful state of affairs. Until it is WrestleMania or All In, it looks like there is no such thing as a cash for slightly little bit of aptitude, slightly bit of fashion, slightly little bit of inventive daring.

Commercial

“Grand Slam” is meant to be filet mignon, and AEW served up a Huge Mac.

Written by Ross Berman

In the event you had advised me firstly of the yr that by the point New 12 months’s Eve rolled round that Nigel McGuinness would have wrestled Bryan Danielson yet one more time, I most likely would have advised you to go to mattress since you had been drunk or one thing. But, right here we’re. Arguably the rivalry most intently related to Ring of Honor being revived nearly 15 years to the day that it was final visited in the very same metropolis.

Commercial

For starters, I’ll throw my palms up and say that this wasn’t the epic that some individuals might have thought it could be. In the event you had been coming into this one anticipating the ring submit to have McGuinness’ brow imprinted on it, you is perhaps disillusioned. Nevertheless, in the event you got here into this one realizing that this is able to most certainly be two outdated rivals having one final dance to lastly settle an outdated rating that was by no means absolutely settled, this can be a nice outdated time.

McGuinness rolling again the years along with his heelish antics that, actually, outshines a number of the individuals on the AEW roster in 2024, and it was the easy stuff that did it too. Asking for a rely out when Danielson did not initially arrive, focusing on the forearm and sticking with it realizing that it could hamper the LeBell Lock, in addition to organising The London Dungeon completely. The chain wrestling firstly let everybody know that sure, McGuinness can nonetheless pull out stuff out of his bag of tips regardless of not wrestling for 13 years, and he can nonetheless dangle with the person everybody calls the most effective on this planet.

Commercial

As for the AEW World Champion, he got here into this wanting like he actually did not wish to be there, however in a great way. Giving the vibe of ‘man do I actually have to show this man a lesson once more?’ Just for him to be taught a lesson himself, outdated habits will at all times die exhausting. There are most likely a number of individuals who will not give this match a second viewing as a result of it wasn’t the 14 star basic individuals hyped it as much as be, however for the loyal ROH nerds who at all times wished that remaining chapter to be written on this story, we echo what McGuinness mentioned earlier than he lastly conceded to the truth that Bryan Danielson is a greater wrestler than him, and that’s thanks.

Written by Sam Palmer

As a religious fan of Bryan Danielson’s bodywork, particularly that which befell in ROH in the course of the 2000s, I used to be amongst the followers relishing the chance to see the “American Dragon” tie again up with Nigel McGuinness. Their matches collectively had been depictions of violent savagery within the title of being the most effective, pushing each other past their limits – for higher or for worse – and absolutely setting each onto a path of success and fortune within the ring for years to return. That might be mentioned about Danielson, immortalized along with his WrestleMania 30 WWE Championship victory and fairytale return from retirement in 2018. However sadly that by no means turned out to be the case for McGuinness, retiring to the commentary sales space from 2011 till his personal seemingly unattainable return at All In earlier this yr.

Commercial

That tragic parallel fed into their match. It drove the emotional core of the match even happening exterior of the actual fact it was an undoubted dream match; McGuinness’ returning to the ring appeared by design, a last-ditch effort for him to comprehend the long-awaited rematch along with his nemesis. So, when it was booked for “Dynamite: Grand Slam” for the World title or not it screamed predominant occasion. Taking it one step additional, the concept Danielson may not be prepared for the bout was prolonged till now, why not maintain that anticipation constructing by the present?

To really put it into context: the reigning AEW World Champion presently on his remaining full-time run in wrestling locked up with an outdated nemesis he had final stepped within the ring with nearly 15 years in the past to the day, and it was relegated to open in lieu of a rematch from 2020 for a possibility to problem for Danielson’s title. The match itself was nice, nothing spectacular particularly when in comparison with their earlier matches. However that wasn’t even remotely anticipated to be the case contemplating it was McGuinness’ second match in 13 years, and their earlier work will also be used as a case research for why he needed to dangle up the boots within the first place. The purpose is that, as soon as once more, AEW booked its World Champion as an undercard performer. It’s clear that it was formatted this strategy to shoot the closing angle with Danielson difficult Moxley at WrestleDream, however it’s one other instance of inventive breaking items of the puzzle with a purpose to make them match, reasonably than attempting to suit the best items of their slots.

Commercial

What occurs is a beforehand deemed to be unattainable dream match would not really feel all that a lot of a dream, taking part in second fiddle to an impending match that has occurred twice already. One may have simply had Moxley go over Allin as he did within the opener, closing with McGuinness and Danielson earlier than the ultimate interplay between the WrestleDream opponents. It is merely a case of inverting the format that was went with, however it could have allowed each matches to really stand as their very own narratives earlier than weaving into the Mox-Danielson angle, reasonably than one feeling prefer it was rushed to get to the subsequent bit.

Written by Max Everett

Once I was fascinated by Grand Slam all through the day, I by no means thought of attainable debuts, so MVP rocking up on AEW tv actually took me unexpectedly… and I completely liked that. Typically the most effective, best debuts are ones that you simply by no means see coming, with out attainable teasers or something. I do know from all of the information and headlines we have all seen all through the weeks that this was prone to occur, however nonetheless, with no indication that it could be this week, I actually appreciated the easy shock of all of it.

Commercial

MVP confirmed up when Prince Nana was out on the stage with Tony Schiavone to deal with former AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland’s standing after his grotesque unsanctioned cage match towards “Hangman” Adam Web page. Nana was his standard happy-go-lucky self, with purpose, as he mentioned Strickland is not cleared, however working to get higher and get again to the followers on daily basis. Personally, I completely adore Prince Nana as a personality and a supervisor, so I used to be wanting ahead to his section, as a result of listening to from him and never seeing Strickland so quickly after how darn brutal that match was is smart. However when the brand new music hit and MVP strolled out, the section acquired even higher. MVP confirmed up and like a superb supervisor does, ran down all of Strickland’s accomplishments throughout the final yr. When he launched so shortly into all of it, I could not assist however considering we’re taking a look at a feud, or a minimum of an attention-grabbing storyline, the place MVP makes an attempt to take Nana’s job as Strickland’s supervisor. That is one thing I wish to see, as a fan of each Nana and MVP.

Commercial

After all, the rumors are that MVP is beginning “The Damage Syndicate” steady in AEW, which may additionally characteristic the likes of Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin. I might like to see Strickland be added into that steady, or if not, to feud with Lashley and Benjamin to show the actual fact he is nonetheless acquired it and might go at it alone, with simply Nana as his supervisor by his aspect. Any storyline I can consider with that is simply gold to me and sounds actually pleasant. I do, nevertheless, hope Prince Nana stays concerned with Strickland, even when he is folded into the brand new attainable Damage Syndicate steady together with him. I do not see Strickland staying with a bunch for lengthy, however simply to see him alongside MVP for awhile can be a wonderful change of tempo for him. MVP ended the section by telling Nana to inform Strickland he needs to speak enterprise, and I wish to see that go down sooner reasonably than later.

Written by Daisy Ruth

Two weeks in the past, I mentioned that the Tag Crew On line casino Gauntlet being gained by two singles wrestlers was a foul transfer, and each Will Ospreay and Kyle Fletcher did their easiest to show to me that it was the best alternative towards The Younger Bucks. The match itself was frantically entertaining. It by no means gave anybody an opportunity to take a seat again down as the subsequent excessive spot was proper across the nook, and whereas the Ospreay/Younger Bucks model of match is not to everybody’s style, this was a bout that had everybody in Arthur Ashe Stadium on their toes…till the end.

Commercial

Don Callis’ involvement in matches has usually been the one factor that has blemished in any other case implausible bouts. It occurred in Ospreay’s match with Kenny Omega at Forbidden Door, it occurred in Ospreay’s match with Swerve Strickland, and it occurred right here once more. Ospreay attempting to be the great Samaritan and stopping Fletcher from utilizing the screwdriver to win him one other championship in AEW. To borrow a phrase from Ospreay himself, bruv, what are you taking part in at?

Not solely did Ospreay cease his tag crew associate from profitable the match, however he actually took the screwdriver and confirmed it to Rick Knox. Like significantly, you are going to present the referee, the person who may actually throw the match out if any guidelines are damaged, that the person who accompanied you to the match, broke the foundations? Will, do us a favor would you and keep away from screwdrivers for a billion years?

Commercial

I get it, Ospreay is the noble babyface that wishes to do issues actually, he needs issues performed the best means, he would not need his finest buddy being dishonest. But when we’re all being trustworthy with ourselves right here, he simply appeared like an fool on the finish of this match, and you would actually hear the air being sucked out of the stadium when he confirmed Knox the screwdriver, making the end fall in need of the place it could have fell had the screwdriver not been launched. Had it not been for the end, this is able to have been a lock for some individuals’s match of the evening, however Ospreay doing the wrestling model of ‘I will inform the trainer that you have been naughty’ to his personal tag crew associate makes me want I by no means see one other screwdriver ever once more, in AEW or in actual life.

Written by Sam Palmer

Jon Moxley overcame Darby Allin in dominant style to usurp his place as primary contender to Bryan Danielson’s World title, ascending to develop into the Omega-level risk to the title reign – thus, profession – of the “American Dragon” at WrestleDream subsequent month. It was a second of inevitability seemingly from the second Moxley and his BCC mutineers ejected Danielson from the group at All Out, suffocating him with a plastic bag to shut out the present in Chicago. But it surely was performed in a means that was removed from anticipated, with the usually inhuman Allin showing to be three steps behind his opponent at each flip, leaving it to Moxley to search out new methods of brutalizing him – which he did to most impact. The match ended a lot in that vein, Allin discovering the power in him for one final flurry and taking to the highest rope for an avalanche transfer.

Commercial

Nevertheless, a lot as she had made her presence recognized when the referee had his again turned, Marina Shafir climbed the apron to afford her mentor sufficient time to scout the tried transfer and ship an improvised avalanche DDT to shut issues out. Moxley has had the perspective of a killer since he made his return, however this was a glimpse into how that interprets into the ring, and it was a few of Mox’s finest in-ring storytelling for fairly a while. The whole lot was plausible and had a level of synergy with the overarching storyline. Moxley will now be stepping contained in the ring with one in every of – if not the – finest bell-to-bell performers on this planet in Danielson, and his new edge needed to shine by along with his final in-ring outing a defeat to Tetsuya Naito. So to do it reverse one of the crucial plot-armored characters on AEW’s roster, neutering all the pieces that separates the “Half-Lifeless Daredevil” out of your common 5’6 skater boy, delivered on that concept to nice impact.

Commercial

The one factor that might have feasibly price the “Dying Rider” this week was complacency on his behalf, however he remained true to his aim and decimated his opponent. Whilst Danielson emerged for an ill-advised melee with Mox, turning into swarmed by the BCC earlier than Personal Occasion and Komander made the save, it gave the impression to be a state of affairs the villain was accountable for. It was like he anticipated and wished the ambush, if just for a possibility to manage additional punishment, however he would make do with Danielson’s declaration of struggle; Moxley smirked as he exited by the gang, a considerably composed means of reacting to somebody saying they will kick your f***ing head in. There’s a very robust likelihood now, with the trajectory being Danielson vs. Moxley at WrestleDream, within the Tacoma Dome the place Danielson mentioned he wished to wrestle his final match, that the “American Dragon” finds his remaining vacation spot by the hands of the person he previously known as brother. If this week is something to by, then it actually will not be fairly.

Written by Max Everett