WEDNESDAY NIGHT WAR:
AEW DYNAMITE vs. NXT
FACTOR 1: MATCHES
AEW = Dynamite featured some quality tag team wrestling tonight, with the 12 man tag team match kicking off the show in the best possible manner. Dark Order took the victory in a dominant showing, however the match had a great storyline bubbling within in it due to the injury sustained by Cash Wheeler. Matt Cardona made his debut with Cody against John Silver and Alex Reynolds in an extremely competent match, underlining just why he is competing for AEW. Santana and Ortiz also put on quite a show in their match against Best Friends, with Best Friends scoring a surprising victory. AEW's tag team division is bursting with talent, and it was great to see this on show in such an emphatic fashion.
The main event of Dynamite featured Jon Moxley vs Darby Allin for the AEW World Championship, with both men giving 110% in putting on a great match. The action was physical, whilst a cameo from MJF increased the enjoyment factor of the match. Allin came so close to capturing the title, only for Moxley to successfully retain to move onto a match with MJF. This was a fantastic match to end the show.
NXT = Dakota Kai vs Rhea Ripley was a superb match to open the show. The number contendership to Io Shirai's NXT Championship was on the line, with the winner moving on to face Shirai at NXT TakeOver: XXX. Both wrestlers brought their A game, with Ripley returning to her previous level of dominance. Kai managed to steal the victory, but the match as a whole was a fabulous contest to experience.
Imperium defended their NXT Tag Team Championship against The Undisputed Era, with both teams determined to prove that AEW doesn't have the premier tag team wrestling. The action was intense and of an extremely high quality, with Imperium winning the match to retain the titles. This was a superb way to end the show.
WINNER: AEW
FACTOR 2: PROMOS
AEW = The debate between Chris Jericho and Orange Cassidy was well performed, with Eric Bischoff acting as the special guest moderator. Jericho was the great asshole that he has always been in AEW, whilst Cassidy was allowed to display another side to his character whilst reinforcing just how great his persona is. Bischoff also added to the quality of the segment, therefore this came off really well. The line about sea levels absolutely killed!
NXT = Damien Priest gave a surprisingly competent promo as he explained why he will capture the NXT North American Championship at NXT TakeOver: XXX. He spoke well and came across as a hard worker, which is certainly something to endear him to fans.
WINNER: AEW
FACTOR 3: STORYLINES
AEW = Sammy Guevara destroyed Matt Hardy in a bloody and vicious assault to underline just how dangerous he is. Hardy had been explaining how Guevara should have accepted his advice, only for Guevara to attack Hardy. Despite taking control early on, Hardy was put through a table and hit so hard with a steel chair that he ended up in a bloody mess. This was a highly effective way to resume their feud, with Guevara looking like an absolute monster for leaving Hardy in a pool of his own blood.
NXT = Robert Stone's feud with Rhea Ripley was revisited as Mercedes Martinez cost Ripley a shot at the NXT Women's Championship. Stone said that Ripley may have been done with him, but he is not finished with her. For a non championship feud, this is a great storyline for NXT to feature.
Keith Lee vs Karrion Kross was advanced this week, with Kross continuing to warn Lee that he will destroy people until he gets what he wants. Scarlett continues to support Kross, with the duo coming across as a genuine threat to Lee and his NXT Championship. Overall, NXT had a much greater emphasis on storylines this week.
WINNER: NXT
FACTOR 4: SCHEDULING / PACING
AEW = Dynamite was a fast paced show this week, with numerous high quality matches and promos on offer. The show was well booked, logical and exciting.
NXT = NXT was a great show which focused more on storylines, whilst putting on great matches that helped to build towards NXT TakeOver: XXX. The show was well paced and felt logically booked.
WINNER: NXT
EXTRA CREDIT BONUS ROUND!!!
AEW gains points for putting on a very physical main event on free television.
AEW also gains points for the nuanced nature of Hangman Adam Page taking FTR backstage due to the injury of Dax Harwood. It says a lot that he was prepared to reduce the advantage of the 6 man tag team match and leave The Elite outnumbered.
AEW loses points for not capitalising on MJF's promo from last week. A quick one minute segment was not the follow up I expected, therefore I hope next week there is a bigger development as AEW builds towards MJF vs Jon Moxley for the AEW World Championship.
NXT gains points for Ridge Holland looking strong in his NXT debut. He is definitely one for the future.
NXT also gains points for addressing the issue of Dexter Lumis' injury well. The wrestlers who did not suffer the fall in their qualifying matches will receive a last chance to qualify for the NXT North American Championship ladder match at NXT TakeOver: XXX. This allows fans to eagerly look forward to what promises to be a great match.
NXT also gains points for presenting El Legado del Fantasma as a dominant faction in NXT. By destroying Fandango, they sent a message to the rest of the brand that they mean serious business.
NXT loses points for not giving Dakota Kai a clean victory over Rhea Ripley. If Kai is to be taken seriously as a threat to Io Shirai's NXT Women's Championship, she needs to be presented as a wrestler who can defeat the very best in NXT on her own merit.
POINT ADJUSTMENTS: AEW (+2 / -1) / NXT (+3 / -1)
THIS WEEK'S WINNER = NXT
With a score of 4 to 3, NXT narrowly wins this week's Wednesday Night War. Both shows were fantastic, however NXT felt more complete as there was a bigger emphasis on storyline development. Both shows had incredible matches, squash matches, big promos and smaller promos, but NXT was the show which presented these better overall. Wednesday night wrestling is just incredible at the moment!
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!
0 comments: