WEDNESDAY NIGHT WAR:
AEW DYNAMITE vs. NXT
FACTOR 1: MATCHES
AEW = AEW featured some very strong matches this week, including the show opener of Matt Hardy and The Young Bucks vs Private Party and Joey Janela. This was a fun and exciting match, with The Young Bucks and Hardy coming out as deserved winners.
The Battle Royale match to determine the first challenger to Cody’s AEW TNT Championship was an extremely thrilling match. It was exciting to see who would win as the number of competitors reduced, with Jungle Boy coming out on top as a surprising yet intriguing winner.
NXT = The Fight Pit match between Matt Riddle and Timothy Thatcher was an extremely hard hitting and entertaining contest, keeping up a frenetic pace throughout. Thatcher winning was a huge surprise, though he feels legitimised for winning. This contest was better than I expected, and hopefully it sets the tone for future Fight Pit matches.
The women’s tag match was quite the fun bout, even with the inclusion of Chelsea Green. Io Shirai was by far the stand out performer, whilst Charlotte Flair and Rhea Ripley continued to prove why they are the highlights of NXT’s women’s division. The match would have been much better without Green, but she was elevated by association with The Queen.
WINNER: NXT
FACTOR 2: PROMOS
AEW = Cody’s interview about what it means to him to be the AEW TNT Champion was well performed, with Cody making a subtle reference towards how WWE wouldn’t welcome him back. Cody came across as strong whilst increasing the prestige of the new title. It was a well performed interview, even if the blue suit jacket was a questionable fashion choice.
NXT = The video segment from Mia Yim and Keith Lee which was aimed at Johnny Gargano and Candice LeRae was hilarious. It was a parody of the the lame videos from The Gargano’s, whilst also underlining the threat they will pose. All in all, this was a credible and entertaining promo.
WINNER: AEW
FACTOR 3: STORYLINES
AEW = Jon Moxley vs Brian Cage was advanced this week, with Taz highlighting how much he respects Moxley, but ultimately, it is about helping Cage win the AEW World Championship. This was a great way to start the feud, as little is more at the beginning of a new feud.
NXT = Drake Maverick’s fairytale run in the Interim Cruiserweight Championship tournament continued as he controversially stole the victory. KUSHIDA gave Maverick his blessing after the match in a show of respect, with Maverick offering KUSHIDA the first shot at the title when he captures it. This has been a solid storyline so far, with real life emotions ensuring the support for Maverick continues and grows stronger each week.
WINNER: NXT
FACTOR 4: SCHEDULING / PACING
AEW = Dynamite was a solid show which followed up Double or Nothing well. There was a strong mix of matches and promos, whilst the debut of FTR was an exciting and memorable moment.
NXT = NXT was a huge improvement over recent episodes, with the show featuring strong matches and purposeful promos. There wasn’t much on the show to dislike, whilst the inclusion of NXT wrestlers around the ring helped the show feel vibrant. Overall, the pacing of this week's show was much better.
WINNER: NXT
EXTRA CREDIT BONUS ROUND!!!
AEW gains points for the debut of FTR, formerly known as The Revival. This was an unexpected development as it was unclear if they had a 90 day no compete clause. It was great to finally see them in AEW, and the respect shown towards The Young Bucks was positive.
AEW loses points for the Mike Tyson and Chris Jericho confrontation. It was extremely embarrassing to see Tyson struggle to tear his t-shirt, whilst the actual pull apart was extremely hokey and childish. It was meant to get more eyes on the product, but it came at the expense of AEW’s credibility.
NXT gains points for putting Timothy Thatcher over in such a strong manner. He now feels like a legitimate threat in NXT.
NXT also gains points for the creative finish of the Interim Cruiserweight Championship tournament match. It ensured no-one lost any credibility, whilst highlighting how much Drake Maverick has had to do in order to win.
NXT loses points for the promo Johnny Gargano gave before his match. Both he and Candice LeRae are repeating the same sentiments each and every week, which ultimately comes across as boring.
POINT ADJUSTMENTS: AEW (+1 / -1) / NXT (+2 / -1)
THIS WEEK'S WINNER = NXT
With a score of 4 to 1, NXT wins this week’s Wednesday Night War. Both shows were incredible to watch, but it was NXT which felt like the more complete show. Both shows were better than anything we have seen from Raw and SmackDown in years, and this is a testament to how strong they are. Wednesday nights truly remain the best night of the week for wrestling!
That's my pick for the better show of the week, but how do YOU stand?
Which was better, Dynamite or NXT?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
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