WEDNESDAY NIGHT WAR:
AEW DYNAMITE vs. NXT
FACTOR 1: MATCHES
AEW = Dynamite featured a number of strong matches this week, with the Bunkhouse Brawl between The Natural Nightmares and the team of The Butcher and The Blade far exceeding my expectations. It was a bloody mess of a match, but it certainly kept me gripped throughout.
The main event showcased The Lucha Bros against each other in a violent and ill tempered rematch. The hatred was off the charts here as they both resorted to destroying their sacred masks, with Penta El Zero Miedo showing how dark and brutal he can be. It was just as exhilarating as their previous match, if not better. Please AEW, give me a third match!
NXT = NXT showcased a number of entertaining matches this week. Santos Escobar vs Jake Atlas was a fantastic bout, with Atlas displaying a more vicious side to his character. Escobar once again underpinned how talented he is, which not only increased his own reputation, but the reputation of the NXT Cruiserweight Championship.
Johnny Gargano vs Leon Ruff was ok for what it achieved, but Candice LeRae vs Toni Storm was a better offering. LeRae has slowly become one of the most consistent NXT performers, and this week she elevated Storm to her level. Both women put on a great performance, with LeRae coming out on top to continue her momentum.
WINNER: AEW
FACTOR 2: PROMOS
AEW = Promos felt lacklustre this week, with a combination of bad audio and boring segments disappointing me. Kenny Omega's promo wasn't ground breaking, whilst the induction of MJF to Inner Circle was mediocre. Overall, it was not a good week for AEW in terms of promo quality.
NXT = Pat McAfee gave another superb promo this week, noting how his stable are the most dominant in NXT. I absolutely love everything that he is saying at the moment, which is clearly benefitting NXT as a whole.
WINNER: NXT
FACTOR 3: STORYLINES
AEW = PAC returned at the climax of the show to set his sights on Eddie Kingston. Prior to his COVID-19 related hiatus, he was aligned with The Lucha Bros as Death Triangle, therefore it makes perfect sense for him to go after Kingston. After all, it is so great to have The Bastard back on AEW programming.
I do have to note, however, that the new storyline with Cody Rhodes is insipid at best, and frankly insulting at worst.
NXT = The Boa segment was strange, although it did at least make Raquel Gonzalez look strong. I'm curious about the direction this will go in, although I still feel ambivalent towards Xia Li.
WINNER: AEW
FACTOR 4: SCHEDULING / PACING
AEW = Dynamite was a fun show, however the pacing and overall quality was negatively impacted by promos and storylines that just did not hit home.
NXT = NXT was a strong show overall, with a good mixture of promos and matches. The pacing was great, therefore the show felt easier to watch than Dynamite.
WINNER: NXT
EXTRA CREDIT BONUS ROUND!!!
AEW gains points for the level of intensity on display in the main event.
AEW also gains points for putting emphasis on the AEW rankings. It feels as though standards had slipped in regards to this, but thankfully Taz highlighted the importance of the rankings.
AEW loses points for Tony Khan setting up the show for an earth shattering change, only for the reveal to be Shaq's potential involvement in a storyline. Nope. That is just plain disappointing.
AEW also loses points for continuing to have audio issues during promos. I could barely make out what Jon Moxley said during his promo. Sort it out guys!
NXT gains points for the surprise victory for Leon Ruff. Sometimes it is great to completely flip the script.
NXT also gains points for making Pat McAfee's Punt Kick look deadly.
NXT loses points for Johnny Gargano complaining about his loss, as this makes him veer back into unbearable heel territory.
POINT ADJUSTMENTS: AEW (+2 / -2) / NXT (+2 / -1)
THIS WEEK'S WINNER = NXT
With a score of 3 to 2, NXT wins this week's Wednesday Night War. Both shows were great, however NXT was the better show overall. Dynamite's quality has slipped recently, which has allowed NXT's more consistent offerings to stand out.
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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