The War Report - 2021: War Is Over… For Now
NXT vs. AEW: Dynamite - which was the better show this week?
Storyline Development
What did I just say? It was a go-home show, so NXT packed a lot of stuff into two hours.
There were the afore-mentioned bits from WALTER/Ciampa, Cole/O’Reilly, and all the moving parts for The Way. Again, it’s also nice to see Roddy Strong with something to do, abandoning his main event battle royal spot because he is mentally drained. I wonder if he’ll interfere during TakeOver night two…
The running story throughout tonight was Io Shirai being absolutely fuming and looking for a fight. The champ kept coming for Raquel all night and time and time again Gonzalez had Io’s number, at one point throwing her through a wall. Io ended the night standing tall though, after wiping out practically the entire women's division with a dive. Great stuff, even if the booking has been a little backward (the never say die champion repeatedly attacking the heel challenger? Seems a bit topsy turvy to me)
Unfortunately, as has been the theme with recent go-homes, we got nothing from NXT Champion Finn and Kross aside from some quick videos. I do like that they were pushing Kross as a wrestling/judo/sambo monster. I’d prefer that to his clock obsessed herald of doom to be honest.
In the battle royal main event we got some nice story beats; Ruff vs Swerve continues on and I love it. Kushida and Pete Dunne eliminated each other and have a match at TakeOver. I love that even more. And I predict a good showing for Bronson Reed in the gauntlet match, and a Dexter Lumis win, not that you were asking.
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As usual, AEW kept several plates spinning, whilst adding a couple more to the mix.
The intrigue around The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega intensified this week, with The Jacksons coming to Mox’s side as he stared down Omega and The GBs. Still hoping The Young Bucks turn heel though, so much better when they’re cocky superkick throwing dickheads.
QT going rogue was a great moment, but with QT having a lack of build, and his crew being younglings, never mind they’re going up against the superhuman Rhodes family, I don’t see this one panning out very well. Also, I didn’t realise that Billy Gunn is simply called ‘Billy’ in AEW. The more you know.
Hopefully with the fantastic Arcade Anarchy match we’ve seen the end of the Cassidy and Chuck vs. Miro and Kip feud. Nice to have Best Friends back, even nicer to have Sue back. Added bonuses; Kris Statlander and Penelope Ford look like they have a feud going forward, and Orange Cassidy having The Pixies as his music is a sublime choice. Anyone who disagrees is wrong, and probably likes 'Voices' for Randy Orton.
As for The Pinnacle? More on that in a minute…
Winner: NXT. Io Shirai vs. Raquel Gonzalez constantly battering each other all over the place like Tommy Dreamer and Raven was great and served as a tidy bassline for the entire show. Last call for TakeOver was a success even if Cole vs. O’Reilly has totally eclipsed the Men’s NXT Title match.
