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 = Simply put, the Lights Out match between Britt Baker and Thunder Rosa was fantastic. I expected a high level of brutality, but they surpassed my expectations to put on arguably the best women's match in AEW history. Penta El Zero Miedo put on a superb match with Cody Rhodes, whilst every other match on the card was warmly received. This week's offerings were definitely a major improvement over last week, but extra credit does have to go to Baker and Rosa for their absolutely amazing match.
NXT = NXT's match quality was noticeably a step below that of Dynamite this week, although there were a number of standout offerings. Dakota Kai vs Zoey Stark was a solid match, allowing Kai to show how talented King Kota actually is, whilst the main event was a fairly entertaining contest. LA Knight's debut was ok at best, but no other match was suitably memorable.
WINNER: AEW
FACTOR 2: PROMOS
AEW = The promo from Tully Blanchard and MJF to christen 'The Pinnacle' was amazing. I have always been a fan of MJF and how he brings a distinct level of passion to his promos, but this offering was off the charts!
NXT = Adam Cole's promo against Kyle O'Reilly was solid, allowing the former leader of The Undisputed Era to show another side to his character. Whilst not mindblowing, it was at least a solid attempt at furthering his feud with his former friend.
WINNER: AEW
FACTOR 3: STORYLINES
AEW = Although The Pinnacle made their mark on this week's episode, the lack of Inner Circle was a downer for their storyline. This is not the most egregious issue, however, as it was at least positive to see them selling the beating they sustained last week. Brian Cage caused a very intriguing storyline development with his praise of Sting. Could this be the start of a face turn that he so sorely needs?
NXT = Finn Balor's feud with Karrion Kross gathered a significant amount of momentum this week, with Scarlett seemingly driving the storyline forward on Kross' behalf. This feud almost writes itself as Kross never lost the NXT Championship, but it is great to see some serious thought given to their feud. I don't care how campy it is at all, as I'm finding it extremely entertaining to watch.
WINNER: NXT
FACTOR 4: SCHEDULING / PACING
AEW = The St. Patrick's Day themed episode of Dynamite was absolutely electric, with the show striking a home run. The matches and promos were well crafted, whilst the main event was absolutely mindblowing.
NXT = Although NXT was a perfectly good show, it did not feel as tightly scheduled as Dynamite did, which made the show feel longer than it actually was.
WINNER: AEW
EXTRA CREDIT BONUS ROUND!!!
AEW gains points for actually allowing Britt Baker and Thunder Rosa to go out and create a masterpiece. Many of the spots they engaged in were some of the most brutal in AEW so far.
AEW also gains points for making Shawn Spears, of all people, seem relevant.
AEW gains even more points for the t-shirt brandished by Don Callis, which was a not so subtle jab at WWE. Usually I don't like direct references to the other company, but on this occasion, it actually came off well.
AEW loses points for failing to make Sting interesting. His weekly interviews are now a chore, and not something I look forward to.
NXT gains points for LA Knight looking strong on his in ring debut.
NXT also gains points for Dakota Kai proving she is a beast in the ring.
NXT gains even more points for WALTER! His return to NXT is something to behold, as he is a genuinely imposing force. His Powerbomb on Tommaso Ciampa was enough to remind fans how dangerous he can be.
NXT loses points for having Io Shirai ignore Dakota Kai on her way to facing off with Raquel Gonzalez. This suggests they may be splitting up the team, which is something I don't want to happen. It is highly probable that Kai won't be pleased with the current situation.
POINT ADJUSTMENTS: AEW (+3 / -1) / NXT (+3 / -1)
THIS WEEK'S WINNER = AEW
With a score of 5 to 3, AEW wins this week's Wednesday Night War. Both shows were great, but Dynamite was just on another level this week.
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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