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Welcome to the #AEWeekly review discussion where PWM contributors reflect on the highlights of the last week in AEW. The eligibility week always includes the most recent episode of Dynamite, Rampage, and Collision, plus any social-media exclusives up until publication.
This week’s contributors are Tim [@TimmayMan] covering Match of the Week, Sergei [@SergeiAlderman] covering MVP, and Interviews, Saul [@SaulKiloh] exploring a key Story Beat, and Peter [@PeterEdge7] giving us the Moment of the Week.
A page of links to prior installments may be found here: #AEWeekly
Shelton Benjamin vs. Sammy Guevara
"Reinvention, Revitalization, Rebirth"
by Tim.
Only a few AEW workers have had back-to-back Matches of the Week. Hangman Adam Page, Darby Allin, and Will Ospreay during the time I’ve been recapping matches. None can claim to have back-to-back Matches of the Week in their first two matches though. Shelton Benjamin has that sole honor and it’s impressive what he’s accomplished in his short time in AEW. It feels to me that this isn’t just a new chapter in his career, it’s a new volume that has a firm separation from what came before. It doesn’t ignore what has occurred in the past, but it feels like Benjamin is finally being recognized for just how great of a worker he is, and allowed to stretch to his full potential.
Just like last week, Benjamin looks like an absolute beast in this match. Early on he’s throwing Sammy around like a rag doll. One spot which starts off as an Exploder Suplex has Sammy rotating in mid-air with great height. On the outside Benjamin manhandles his younger opponent by ping-ponging him from barrier to ring apron — just pure physical dominance. Outside of the physicality, there was a fun callback to Benjamin’s history as Sammy goes for a springboard to the inside only to catch a superkick for his efforts — it was a role-reversal from a famous similar spot where Benjamin launched himself towards Shawn Michaels.
Sammy Guevara is again in a unique position of facing off against one of his childhood heroes. Many years ago he was getting a picture with Benjamin at a signing and now he’s catching superkicks to the face from him. Sammy has commented how his pro-wrestling life is like a fever dream, it must feel extra surreal during a match like this. He played his role in this match perfectly as a babyface, and when you’re building up a heel you need plucky babyfaces for them to knock down. Sammy got the crowd on his side with some high flying offense. With Sammy it’s good to utilize him as a babyface when you can, because his offense is excellent for that role, but it rarely takes long for him to alienate the fanbase once again and need to turn. It’s sometimes frustrating, but he’s good at both and you need utility players like Sammy who can be successful in a variety of roles.
This match accomplishes so much in the larger picture. It builds up Shelton as a credible opponent for Swerve Strickland at "Fright Night Dynamite." Beyond that match, Benjamin is established as a believable challenger for any AEW championship (single or team). It makes me hopeful that Benjamin is going to be participating in the Continental Classic at the end of the year. It even makes me look forward to seeing another Sammy Gueverra match and his teaming with Dustin Rhodes. This is everything that a promoter wants from a wrestler's performance in a match: pop the crowd, while at the same time building interest for future events.
McGuinness X Yuta
"Anyone who kills…will suffer vengeance seven times over"
by Saul.
I've always agreed with William Faulkner when he said that the human heart in conflict with itself is the only thing worth writing about. I've always taken that as my guiding principle and the rest is just set dressing. You can have dragons in it, or aliens and starships, or a western about a gunslinger, or even literary fiction, and ultimately you're still writing about the human heart in conflict with itself.
– George R.R. Martin
These words still hold true when talking about professional wrestling. This is the key reason why Hangman Adam Page has been one of the most compelling wrestlers to follow in AEW, especially in the last year with his rivalry against Swerve. It’s also why Wheeler Yuta has been the most interesting consequence of Moxley’s villainous turn.
Much like when I write a university essay, I’m going to use another quote to pad my word count (it’s also a blatant attempt to make myself look well-read and smart). This one’s from Aaron Sorkin discussing how he writes antiheroes: “You have to write them as if they’re making their case to God why they should be let into heaven.” As Yuta sat across from Danielson’s biggest rival and number-1 opp, this was the feeling his words conveyed. It wasn’t just that he wanted to convince God, he always needed to persuade himself that he was worthy to see the pearly gates after what he had done.
However, Yuta was not the only interesting character in this segment. A lot of the time, wrestling interviewers are little more than a microphone stand. A framing device that allows a wrestler to exposit their feelings and motivations to the audience. This was not the case this time though, as the brilliant decision was made to have Nigel McGuinness conduct this interview.
A notorious hater, (especially whenever the American Dragon came on screen), the former ROH Champ has been a constant highlight of AEW TV and one of the best wrestling commentators currently active. His presence in the segment made it come alive even further, as it added further interesting character dynamics that no-one else could’ve provided. Having Danielson’s main nemesis, a man that derided him any chance he could, judge Yuta’s actions as crossing the line made it hit much harder. For the audience, and surely for Yuta himself too.
Yuta was right in his Batman and Joker comparison, as it highlights a universal truth about rivalries. Love and hate can often be two sides of the same coin, and dedicated enemies will often form a bond that’s hard to match. In terms of shared understanding and pushing you to become your best self, an opponent can often be more impactful than a partner. The loss of such a relationship can be clarifying, as we've witnessed in Nigel’s altered attitude in Bryan’s absence.
Currently, Yuta’s providing the majority of the emotional weight and narrative intrigue in EBCC (that’s Evil Blackpool Combat Club, iydk). As Moxley seems unburdened by his actions and the rest of his soldiers falling in line, Yuta remains in conflict. This helps Wheeler remain compelling and not get lost in the shuffle of a faction with more established stars. This segment seemed to potentially be setting up a McGuinness X Yuta match, what with the amount of sublimated (as well as not-so-sublimated) anger showcased from both men. It was certainly compelling enough to demand follow up, and facing his former nemesis would be a great way to continue confronting Yuta with his past actions.
No Awardee
"..."
by Sergei.
Just not feeling it this week — one of those weeks I'm sorely tempted to just give it to Mansoor, who is at least consistently funny and doesn't flub. But I'd rather give it to him when he's especially strong one week, not just as default. Note that I agree with Saul that the Story Beat awardee was a truly excellent segment, but… as an interview: I feel that the interviewer really shouldn't outshine the interviewee that way. If this leads to Nigel getting involved as a competitor, my view on that may change retroactively, we'll have to wait and see...
Orange Cassidy
"I will deal with it…"
by Peter.
One of the AEW originals is unconscious in the ring, his neck potentially broken, a mass of people are in the ring upset at the broken body of one of the most popular people in the locker room, who had been trying to make a go at a new direction in his life, which now might be over before it truly got going. Fans of that man are crying and people just don't know what to do with themselves.
Just another day in the office for the Blackpool Combat Club.
The reign of terror that MJF threatened to unleash when he was champ is nothing like what we are seeing from the BCC right now. Bodies being strewn all over AEW rings is now a regular occurrence. Episodes of AEW television are ending with beloved favorites being put on stretchers, and while the onslaught feels like it's not going to end, there are signs help might be on the way soon… even if there is some reluctance in their efforts.
Orange Cassidy has had the appearance of someone who is indifferent to the world around him, but in actuality Orange is one of the most sensitive people in AEW — in a good way. He loves his friends, he cares about his job, he's loyal. He just doesn't show it 98% of the time. But when it's that 2%, when the poker face drops, all hell explodes and the biggest example of that was on Dynamite this past Wednesday.
Best Friends wasn't just a name or a trademark, it was an expression for Orange of his relationship with Chuck Taylor. When Trent betrayed his friends, with Chuck suffered an injury that looks like it will be career-ending, Orange ended up alone… but not for long. But the problem with Conglomerations are — the differences in personalities mean that separation is more likely than not, even if it ends up being civil. If you believe that friends are the real soulmates in your life, Chuck Taylor is Orange's soulmate.
But what makes the attack on Chuck Taylor sting so much more is that it's the second time Chuck has been taken from Orange. First, Orange could no longer tag with Chuck, and then just as Chuck was back in a new role as a coach, he was taken from Orange again.
It was that moment that saw Orange take heed of what Jerry Lynn said at WrestleDream and what Chuckie T emphasised earlier on in the night. He stepped up … amidst another "conglomeration" of figures in the ring who — while their intent has been to defend AEW from the slaughter that has come from the BCC — have been directionless in their efforts so far. Orange, with the heartbreak of seeing his friend being stretchered out, has taken the baton to race ahead in the direction needed. He told Daniel Garcia that he was going to "deal with it" — "it" presumably being the Blackpool Combat Club — on Wednesday. In that Moment, Orange stood up to be a leader of souls amongst the attack of Moxley and co.
Orange Cassidy
"I'm No Hero..."
by Sergei.
As Greyson talked about in last week's Moment of the Week, on the first Collision of the Moxley Era, Orange Cassidy replied to Daniel Garcia's call to step up, saying: "I'm no leader. I'm just not that guy." Above, in THIS week's Moment of the Week, Peter talks about Orange confronting Daniel after the shocking attack on his last remaining Best Friend after this week's Dynamite went off the air. The approach that Orange Cassidy has been taking has added a lot of intrigue to the big overarching story of Moxley's War on Everybody. Much like Saul points out about Wheeler in the Story Beat section above, Orange is intriguing because his heart seems to be in conflict with itself. But there is more to his value than that intrigue.
I gave a lot of thought to who to compare Orange Cassidy's current character arc to: Achilles in his tent … "I ain't in this for your revolution" Han Solo… "Trust me kid, I'm no hero" Wolverine… but the protagonist he reminds me of the most? "Alice": the boilerplate character invented by TVTropes as their prototypical example of "Heroic Neutral"
Alice is principled and skilled, and she'd make a great hero. But all she wants is to live in peace. Out there, Good and Evil may be fighting to the death, but she doesn't care. She'll turn down Heroes "R" Us and Villains "R" Us, and she'll give both of them the same reason: she just doesn't want to get involved.
It is the job of the plot to make Alice care. Heroic Neutral types usually Default to Good because Evil is usually the side that provokes them: kidnaps their Love Interest, threatens their home, kicks their dog, etc. Once Evil starts it, Alice will finish it
The difference is, it's not so clear if Orange blames the "Evil side" because they did what Evil Guys do? Or if he is more angry at "Heroes 'R' Us" because he feels that they instigated the whole situation... It should be noted that the issue Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli took with Bryan Danielson from the start was that the Dragon would repeatedly cape for AEW, rather than rationally putting his own interests ahead of his employer's. Almost two years ago, Greyson wrote a piece for us that gets more relevant all the time, positing Orange Cassidy as an antiwork hero. Is it possible OC has more in common with BCC than with AEW's defenders?
The trope of a character trying to stay out of the "Good vs Evil" fight, and leaving us wondering which side he'll take CAN be incredibly compelling, but it also can be eye-rolling. And the difference comes down to: did we care about the character in the first place? It's the great work that the performer behind "Orange Cassidy" has put into making us care over the years that put him into the position of being such a key part of this big story, and that's what makes him our MVP.
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