Minnesota Wants Brody | AEWeekly #212

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 and Collision, plus any social-media exclusives up until publication.

This week’s contributors are Abel [@loza3.bsky.social] covering Match of the Week and the week's MVP, and Sergei [@sergeialderman.bsky.social] talking about the Best Interview and the Moment of the Week, as well as editing and organizing it all.

 A page of links to prior installments may be found here: #AEWeekly

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Brody King in MN

"We Want Brody..."

by Sergei.

One week ago, I finally attended my first AEW live event. I went in with some trepidation that I may have missed the boat for "peak AEW", due to my dissatisfaction with some recent booking decisions, and the absence of our favorite cowboy. But I went in with an open mind to having AEW prove me wrong, and BOY did they ever! For us in the arena, at least: the live experience was VERY different from what people watching at home got. On TBS, the show ended on a down note with the Callis Family beating down Darby Allin. But the live audience got a diametrically different ending!

It should be noted that throughout the night, "We Want Brody" chants had been breaking out randomly. I don't think any of those made the air because they would happen only when we weren't engaged with what was in front of us – so, mostly during the commercial breaks. Then, the main event came on at just a few minutes before 9PM. Minnesota has been dealing with the Federal invasion force for months and had just been impatiently waiting for a justification to chant "FUCK ICE!" – preferably towards a triumphant Brody King. But when we noticed that 9 o'clock had hit, I think we mostly gave up on that hope and just started chanting it apropos of nothing. I know that I, at least, was tempted to also try to start a "We Want Brody!" chant, but held back as it seemed disrespectful towards the two unrelated wrestlers giving their all in the ring.

But NOT SO FAST. When the Callis family came out and attacked Darby, we realized that the perfect moment to FINALLY get a Brody King triumphant run-in had arrived and we finally got to chant "We Want Brody!" …and quickly thereafter got what we wanted: in the form of Brody AND our hometown boys Top Flight coming down to make the save for Darby. The folks watching at home didn't get to see this, but I think that doesn't make it any less a valid and canon part of the show. For any who didn't already seek this out on YouTube afterwards, here is what you missed:

I think it's worth noting that for maximum hometown cheap pop, Darius is wearing a MINNESOTA FLAG jacket! Before the run-in, the audience had incorporated their ICE hate with what was going on in front of them by chanting "Fuck Don Callis (Fuck ICE too!)" After the rescuers came out, they made another interpolation by combining "Fuck ICE!" with the Brody bark.

This was a show and especially a moment that brought me from on the fence about the direction of AEW to full of fan enthusiasm again. That's a hell of a moment!!

Kenny Omega vs Swerve Strickland

"What’s a King to a God?"

by Abel.

Few things in wrestling top a high-stakes, non-PPV match on AEW TV. The crowd atmosphere is unbeatable, and the energy from viewers feels palpable — almost like channeling Goku’s Spirit Bomb — spreading to social media. This energy builds during Dynamite’s opening match, ensuring all that excitement is fully used.

​The winner would be the center of attention for a month, and both Swerve Strickland and Kenny Omega fought like both Kenny's EVP position and Swerve's title shot were up for grabs (since they were.) They gave it their all, and the match lived up to the hype. It brought pay-per-view-level physicality and psychology to free TV. For these reasons, Omega vs Swerve in an EVP vs No. 1 contender match was the week’s top match.

​Every big fight needs big entrances from its fighters, and that is exactly what we got. Both Swerve and Omega walk with so much gravitas. Nothing matches the excitement and fan bliss quite like “Battle Cry” does when that first note hits. That makes Omega a bigger-than-life character, just big enough for the moment. Having this match open up Dynamite helped Omega come out to a hot crowd that didn't have to wait long to cheer for their hero.

​AEW and Tony Khan are really starting to rethink how big matches are booked on weekly television. Anybody else on major television would have put this on last as the main event. But AEW sees it differently…

The stakes were so big, they couldn't wait. They are pay-per-view-level stakes, and they weren't done on PPV. Omega’s schedule has become a blessing in disguise. Because of his prior Street Fighter engagements and responsibilities, Omega was unable to participate in Revolution. Both of his matches against Swerve were broadcast weekly on television.

​Not to be outdone, Swerve came out wearing an “homage” to Omega’s classic “One Winged Angel” entrance gear. Swerve’s “swag” – I just aged myself – is so natural looking and he's just one of the coolest people in a wrestling ring. However, both competitors looked ready for a fight, and while they might have looked or sounded cool, the assignment was to try to beat the shit out of their opponent, which they did.

​You know it’s a banger when Excalibur mentions a limited commercial break to keep the action going. The match delivered. The intensity and physicality matched the stakes. Every chop, kick, and bump was delivered with maximum effort, sending both wrestlers straight to ice baths after.

​Both Omega and Swerve aren't as limber as they once were; however, they more than make up for it with the explosiveness from their moves. Not only that, but their matches are structured to let them conserve energy and maintain a strong effort for the 20+ minutes. That isn't to say that neither man is athletic anymore. That couldn't be further from the truth. Both are still very good at what they do; they are just a bit more reserved in when those moves are implemented. Building tension in the match and letting the fans build anticipation for the big moments.

​It was hard to see how anyone could ever match Swerve the way Hangman did, but Omega has. The vitriol and power of Omega's strikes are not only heard but also felt by everyone watching. Swerve lives in this weird area where he works like a heel, not even an anti-hero or a tweener, and the crowd still loves him. It lets him get away with almost anything, including low blows and distracting the referee.

​Swerve's frustration throughout the match with not being able to finish Omega was noticeable and a fantastic element to the story. It also put over Swerve as a worthy competitor, basically handling the entire match while still having Omega go over and win. With Swerve not being able to close the deal, Omega took advantage, and after the third attempt of the One-winged Angel, Omega finally did enough to pin Swerve and earn the No. 1 contender status.

​Even in a loss – a clean loss at that – Swerve still looks like a major player in AEW. All it does, really, is build Omega and propel him to his designated and deserved spot at the top of the card. Swerve losing the second battle does a couple of things – at least for me. First, it opens the door to a trilogy, as AEW has been famous for doing. The matches have been so good, why not get one more from them? Secondly, it proves that in AEW, anyone can lose. It's such an added tool to storytelling when anyone can win on any given match.

​Swerve and Omega delivered a banger on free TV. Their egos never prevent them from putting on classics outside of PPVs, benefiting AEW. This is what separates AEW from other promotions. Here, the best truly wrestle. 

Adam Copeland

"Get my damn nose hairs..."

by Sergei.

As I mentioned above, this past Wednesday was my first live AEW event, and anyone who's a longtime AEWeekly reader knows about my love of the art of the wrestling interview. Seeing a show for broadcast live like this really emphasized for me the difference between an in-ring promo and a backstage promo… watching on TV at home they seem more alike than different, both ostensibly live from the arena, just from different locations. But for the live audience, the backstage interview is just something up on the 'Tron, something to kill time until the live performances resume. So I wish I could say that one of those live, in-ring promos really knocked it out of the park for me, but… the biggest impression was nonetheless left by one of those faces up on the 'Tron – that of Adam Copeland.

I know that a lot of folks have grown tired of many aspects of Copeland's schtick, and I can sympathize with that, but after all these years he remains one hell of a great intense interview. But intensity with no substance is just "sound and fury, signifying nothing." What really sets Copeland apart on the mic is his ability to cut to the heart of the WHY… why the audience should care.

He acknowledges that condemning FTR for betraying a longtime friend for career advancement would be hypocritical coming from "the ultimate opportunist." And then makes the point that what truly crossed the line was harming a woman whose dinner table they'd sat at, eating her cooking, while their kids played together. By cutting to the core of why FTR's actions go beyond typical wrestler perfidy, Copeland makes his own dire threats sound relatable rather than merely unhinged. As long as Adam Copeland can grab the audience on the mic the way that he does, there will always be an important role for him near the top of the card.

Kenny Omega

“The Devil and God are Raging Inside me…”

by Abel.

Was there any doubt in anyone’s mind that Kenny Omega, the God of Professional Wrestling, wasn't going to be the Most Valuable Wrestler for this week? Omega was (purposefully) the main character of the week, earning and building up his match with the dastardly MJF and keeping his EVP status for All Elite Wrestling. Each one of his three (!!!) segments on Dynamite – a match, an in-ring promo, and a backstage promo – was done with precision and careful timing to get his match against MJF up and going for the next two-and-a-half-week build. He was given the ball, to use a football reference, and he carried his team to a win. That is why Kenny Omega is the MVP of the Week.

Omega is such an engaging character, and we tend to lose sight of that since Omega has been hurt for the better part of the last couple of years. All Elite Wrestling is a much better product when Omega is in the picture, and it's a much healthier product when he's in the World title picture. Omega is such a good talker and convincing babyface, and this last Dynamite reminded us of how lethal and integral Omega is on the mic and obviously in the ring.

​This is now two weeks in a row – since I took over the MVP section – that our MVP has competed in the match of the week. There must be a common thread where the person who has been put in charge of carrying the show that week has done a good enough job that it comes across as coherent and easy to follow. It also helps that the man tasked with carrying AEW to Dynasty is one of the best wrestlers of all time.

​Every Dynamite appearance built up the matchup between Omega and MJF. Obviously, the win gave him the world title match. The confrontation with MJF made him a legitimate contender, and the backstage promo made it seem like there might be a future with Omega as champion. In American wrestling, it's rare for a wrestler to be on television once AFTER a match, let alone two times. That is how trusted Omega is to carry AEW when it's his turn to fight for the title. This also allowed us to, officially, get our angle for the Dynasty match: “The Devil vs the God of Pro Wrestling.”

​Just as “Speedball” last week, Omega spoke openly and honestly to the crowd about his intentions. Omega is not interested in any of Maxwell’s hijinks, and the only thing he is interested in is the title. The crowd will eat that 10/10 times, especially when it comes from a fan favorite like Omega. He is the perfect foil to MJF’s brash, in-your-face style of promo. Omega is laid back, his heart rate doesn't elevate above normal, and he is precise with his words. Still just one of the best in the world at what he does.

Right before Omega finished up for the night, his interaction with Speedball Mike Bailey gave us a possible glimpse into the near future, if Omega happens to win the world title. Last week’s MVP and this week’s are already teasing a possible world title match against each other. You know what that means, right? I’ve been paying attention and picking up on who Tony Khan and the creative team have wanted to highlight. Also, it's a connection of stars, a trail that leads to the next match, rivalry, or segment. That is good professional wrestling writing.

​Will Omega beat MJF for the title? I don't know. If I had to bet on it, I don't think he does. I think MJF is still the Golden Goose and has been doing a great job representing AEW. However, in commentary, at least since this last run started, they have mentioned how much a second AEW title win would cement his legacy in the company. I would disagree, but in kayfabe, it makes sense. Omega feels as though he needs to become a champion once again, in his own company, to become one of the all-time greats.

​If this is the “Best Bout Machine”—a fully healthy Kenny Omega—we get each week, then he’s physically set to carry the AEW title for at least one more run. He’s the wrestler we deserve right now.