Welcome to another edition of Wednesday Night War from Smark Out Moment, where we compare this week's episodes of AEW Dynamite and WWE NXT and determine which one of the two was the better show.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT WAR:
AEW DYNAMITE vs. NXT
FACTOR 1: MATCHES
AEW = Shaq and Jade Cargill put in a credible performance against Cody Rhodes and Red Velvet, surpassing the low expectations that I had for the contest. Shaq actually looked intimidating, whilst Cargill evidenced that she has a future in AEW's women's division. I also enjoyed the fact that the women were in the ring for the decisive pinfall, which made their involvement feel more important.
Hangman Adam Page and John Silver took on Matt Hardy and Marq Quen in the main event slot, however the match never really got going. This did not feel like an appropriate match to headline the go home show for Revolution, which left a slightly sour taste for me.
NXT = Ignoring the screwy ending to the Women’s Tag Team Championship match, this was a fantastic contest to get over how strong Dakota Kai and Raquel Gonzalez are as a team. The action was intense and extremely entertaining, with all four women coming across well. Yes, even Nia Jax!
The main event of the evening pitted Roderick Strong against Finn Balor, with both men putting on a strong performance. Whilst slow to start, the finish was pure exhilaration. Overall, NXT had a successful night with the quality of it's matches.
WINNER: NXT
FACTOR 2: PROMOS
AEW = MJF was in fine form this week as he attacked fans with his vicous words, bringing back the vitriol that his character is known for. This brought out The Young Bucks, who provided a passionate promo of their own to increase the interest in their match at Revolution.
NXT = The Way participated in a therapy session this week, which was hilarious from start to finish. The Way continue to be a highlight of NXT, creating a promo masterclass once again.
WINNER: AEW
FACTOR 3: STORYLINES
AEW = As a go home show for Revolution, this was a great show to highlight all of the relevant feuds. Each feud received a fair amount of time and focus, with the Casino Tag Team Royale being given the best focus before this weekend's pay-per-view.
NXT = Adam Cole’s decision to become the number one heel in NXT was once again touched upon, allowing Roderick Strong to garner much face support. The multiple layers to his storyline are fascinating, making his segments an absolute joy to watch.
WINNER: NXT
FACTOR 4: SCHEDULING / PACING
AEW = Dynamite was a well paced show, competently getting the matches for Revolution over. As a go home show for that event, it succeeded, and was a generally well built and scheduled show.
NXT = NXT was a largely superb show, featuring a strong mix of promos and matches. Everything ticked along fine from last week, with the pacing of the show reflecting the positives on the roster.
WINNER: NXT
EXTRA CREDIT BONUS ROUND!!!
AEW gains points for Shaq's performance, which was much better than I had anticipated it would be.
AEW also gains points for the stereo table attacks by The Young Bucks on Inner Circle, which was a very cool and impactful visual.
AEW gains even more points for the frenetic climax to the show, perfectly setting up Revolution as unmissable.
AEW loses points for not giving us a stand off between Jon Moxley and Kenny Omega.
NXT gains points for re-establishing Legado del Fantasma as a strong faction.
NXT also gains points for allowing Roderick Strong an opportunity to shine on the microphone.
NXT gains even more points for LA Knight's appearance. It is clear there is something brewing for him.
NXT loses points for the screwy finish to the Women's Tag Team Championship match. It took away considerably from the overall enjoyment factor.
POINT ADJUSTMENTS: AEW (+3 / -1) / NXT (+3 / -1)
THIS WEEK'S WINNER = NXT
With a score of 5 to 3, NXT wins this week's Wednesday Night War. Both shows were fantastic, however NXT once again felt like the better scheduled show, featuring a better focus on the World Championship picture.
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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