WEDNESDAY NIGHT WAR:
AEW DYNAMITE vs. NXT
FACTOR 1: MATCHES
AEW = Match quality was just as high this week, with The Young Bucks elevating Top Flight with a fantastic match to open the show. Top Flight looked like true stars, which speaks so much to the value of having The Young Bucks as AEW Tag Team Champions.
Serena Deeb vs Thunder Rosa was a strong women's match, one which underlined the potential for the division to rival the offering from NXT. Deeb is looking more and more like a star each week, and with matches like this, she is sure to be in line to face Hikaru Shida for the AEW Women's Championship.
NXT = The NXT Women's Championship match between Io Shirai and Rhea Ripley was simply magnificent. Both women were at the top of their game, with Shirai winning once more to evidence how she is arguably the most complete wrestler in WWE today.
The majority of the matches this week were decent, choosing to forgo high octane action in favour of storyline development. Whilst not a bad choice, it did highlight how AEW had the better matches this week.
WINNER: AEW
FACTOR 2: PROMOS
AEW = The Inner Circle segments were awful, as they veered into over the top territory. The Hornswoggle appearance was just the icing on the shit cake that was their Vegas trip.
NXT = Finn Balor and Pat McAfee both worked well together as they delivered promos, with Balor choosing to rise up against the upstart stable.
WINNER: NXT
FACTOR 3: STORYLINES
AEW = Dynamite advanced a number of storylines this week, however I was disappointed by the lack of development in the Kenny Omega and Jon Moxley feud. I feel it would have benefitted the show to have Moxley's attacker revealed. It was a great moment, however, to see the reunion of Death Triangle.
NXT = The build to NXT TakeOver: WarGames started in earnest this week, with the women's and men's matches being teased early on. Finn Balor also elected to rise up against The Kings of NXT, which is an interesting dynamic considering how both he and Adam Cole are former Bullet Club members.
WINNER: NXT
FACTOR 4: SCHEDULING / PACING
AEW = Dynamite was a strong show overall, with a superb mix of storylines and matches. Whilst the storylines weren't advanced in the same manner as NXT, they were still interesting to watch.
NXT = NXT was a fantastic show this week, with a series of matches that served a purpose, whilst advancing storylines as we move towards NXT TakeOver: WarGames.
WINNER: NXT
EXTRA CREDIT BONUS ROUND!!!
AEW gains points for the genuinely heartwarming moment of watching Penta El Zero Miedo saving his brother.
AEW also gains points for following up on Britt Baker's Twitter feud with Thunder Rosa. I cannot wait for them to face off.
AEW loses points for the insane Inner Circle segments. They weren't funny. Not in a single moment were they funny.
NXT gains points for the high octane finish to the show.
NXT also gains points for starting the build to NXT TakeOver: WarGames in an effective manner.
NXT loses points for the unsatisfactory explanation for Xia Li's absence.
POINT ADJUSTMENTS: AEW (+2 / -1) / NXT (+2 / -1)
THIS WEEK'S WINNER = NXT
With a score of 4 to 2, NXT wins this week's Wednesday Night War. Both shows were fantastic, but it was NXT that felt like a more complete offering.
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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