WEDNESDAY NIGHT WAR:
AEW DYNAMITE vs. NXT
FACTOR 1: MATCHES
AEW = Dynamite featured two title matches this week, with Brodie Lee defending his AEW TNT Championship against Orange Cassidy. Both men put on an athletic contest, with Lee once again underlining the pure threat he poses in AEW. It was also positive to see how natural it felt for Cassidy to be a part of a title match.
The main event of the evening had Jon Moxley defending his AEW World Championship against Eddie Kingston, and boy was it a barnstormer. The match was reminiscent of NJPW's strong style, and I was gripped throughout. Kingston looked like he belonged in the main event scene, but it was Moxley who won to tighten his grip on the title. It was simply a fantastic and hard hitting match.
NXT = The women's Battle Royal match to determine the number one contender to Io Shirai's NXT Women's Championship at NXT TakeOver: 31 was a delight to watch. The action was highly exciting, with Candice LeRae winning the match to set up yet another collision with Shirai. Shotzi Blackheart looked strong as the final woman eliminated, but it was all about The Poison Pixie this week.
The Gauntlet match to determine the number one contender to Finn Balor's NXT Championship was a compelling contest from start to finish. KUSHIDA lost nothing in defeat thanks to the interference of Velveteen Dream, whilst Bronson Reed came across as an absolute monster. It was Kyle O'Reilly who came out on top, reminding fans of the fact he is a former ROH and PWG World Champion. Balor vs O'Reilly promises to be unmissable!
WINNER: NXT
FACTOR 2: PROMOS
AEW = Eddie Kingston provided a short but sweet promo against Jon Moxley, insulting him by calling him a sports entertainer. It was interesting to see the passion in Kingston's voice as he described himself as more deserving of the AEW World Championship.
NXT = Fandango dressed up as Sherlock Holmes as he explained the rules to the tag team tournament to determine the number one contenders to Breezango's NXT Tag Team Championship. It was silly and stupid, but it was so much fun.
WINNER: NXT
FACTOR 3: STORYLINES
AEW = The tension between Kenny Omega and Hangman Adam Page is palpable, with Omega and Page slowly working towards their inevitable collision. Omega joined commentary during Page's match with Evil Uno, with both men giving each other an uncomfortable look as the match finished. AEW is booking this angle well, and I cannot wait to see them collide.
NXT = NXT continues to slowly build towards NXT TakeOver: 31, with Candice LeRae vs Io Shirai being highlighted well. It is clear Velveteen Dream has unfinished business with KUSHIDA, so it will be interesting to see who comes out on top in this feud.
WINNER: AEW
FACTOR 4: SCHEDULING / PACING
AEW = Dynamite was a great show, with the match action once again taking precedence over storylines and promos. Whilst not as thrilling as last week's episode, it was still an exciting show nonetheless.
NXT = NXT was a strong show, with a fun mix of matches and promos. There was a bigger focus this week on establishing matches for NXT TakeOver: 31 which was great to see.
WINNER: AEW
EXTRA CREDIT BONUS ROUND!!!
AEW gains points for providing a better main event due to Lance Archer's positive COVID-19 test. Eddie Kingston stepping up to face Jon Moxley was arguably the best replacement for the six man tag team match.
AEW also gains points for the grandiose return of Cody. It actually came across well, and I am digging his updated look.
AEW also gains points for the chaotic end to the show. It was great to see the heels once again end the show on top, especially as it will make the face reply much more impactful.
AEW loses points for the Late Night Dynamite experiment. Although a successful show, there was a lot of backlash about how new and old fans were waiting a while for the show to start. The late timeslot didn't really benefit anybody.
NXT gains points for weaving so many storylines into the women's Battle Royal match.
NXT also gains points for pushing new stars into the main event scene.
NXT loses points for the 10/4/20 vignette. It looked cheesy, with the implication of it relating to a former NXT Champion falling flat.
POINT ADJUSTMENTS: AEW (+3 / -1) / NXT (+2 / -1)
THIS WEEK'S WINNER = AEW
With a score of 4 to 3, AEW wins this week's Wednesday Night War. Both shows were fantastic, however Dynamite was slightly more consistent than NXT. Both shows are delivering in spades each week, therefore it is great to see how competitive the two shows are. Neither side of the Wednesday Night War is prepared to give an inch up 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: