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Tonight (April 22) All Elite Wrestling comes our way pre-taped from a closed set. Last week Lance Archer moved on in the TNT Championship Tournament, The Bubbly Gang warmed our hearts, Britt Baker explained why she was a role model and Moxley retained the championship in a SLOG of a match.
Advertised for tonight:
- Sammy Guevara versus Darby Allin (TNT Championship Tournament quarter final match)
- Dustin Rhodes versus Kip Sabian (TNT Championship Tournament quarter final match)
- Orange Cassidy versus Jimmy Havoc
- Kenny Omega in action
- Brodie Lee in action
- Wardlow in action
Here are five questions about AEW tonight:
1) Who would you rather see face Cody in the semi finals: The Spanish God or The Relentless Darby Allin?
The way I see it, this one is 50/50. Both wrestlers have impressive wins under their belts and both, in many ways, deserve not only to move on in the semi-finals, but would make excellent TNT champions.
Allin has won the hearts of the AEW universe with his reckless wrestling style and his punk with a heart of gold persona. He may paint his face like a skull, but he’s 100% pure babyface in AEW. People have been saying it since he debuted, but Allin is championship material.
If Allin is the lovable punk kid, than Guevara is the popular kid we all want to be kiss punch. It’s not insulting enough that he’s young and good looking, but he has to be insanely talented too?? Rude. It would be unbearable, but he’d make an excellent champion, too.
If Allin wins we get to see a semi-final match that’s all about heart, determination and two guys respecting the hell out of each other. If Guevara wins we get to see a semi-final match that’s all about show-boating, gloating and, weirdly, Brandi’s honor.
Both compelling interesting, valid, options. While I don’t know who is going to win, the one thing I know is this match is going to steal the show!
2) Will Dustin Rhodes have a career after tonight?
Dustin Rhodes has got his panties in a bunch. He’s feeling his age and doesn’t know where he fits in the AEW roster. He knows he’s a legend, but he also knows that it’s not enough.
First he had to be tormented by someone like Sammy Guevara and now another hot young thing, Kip Sabian, has taken that mantel.
In a “shocking” turn of events Dustin told his brother (and boss) that if he can’t beat a guy like Sabian than he’s going to retire.
Here’s the thing. While Dustin Rhodes is a legend and has put on some excellent (bloody) matches in AEW, the fact of the matter is, they don’t need him anymore.
The roster is stacked (at least on the men’s side) with young, hungry talent, established veterans and other legends, that are, frankly, more interesting than him.
He already got his dream match with Cody. It might be time for Dustin to pack up the boots.
3) What kind of Chris Jericho shenanigans can we expect tonight?
Sure, Guevara versus Allin is going to be face meltingly good, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t more excited about whatever Chris Jericho ends up doing tonight.
The quarantine shows have been weird. There have been many great, creative moments, but there have been a lot of duds (understandably so). The one consistent thing, however, has been Chris Jericho.
Jericho mouthing off with Matt Hardy: Gold.
Jericho swearing at a drone: Gold.
Jericho sitting in his hot tub with leather pants on: Gold.
Jericho on commentary: Gold.
Jericho and his Bubbly Bunch: Gold.
Honestly, I don’t care what he does as long as he does something!
4) What’s the deal with The Dark Order?
The Exalted One has been revealed!
The Exalted One has won matches!
The Exalted One has been mean to his underlings!
...now what? What’s the end game here? This story line is starting to stale and I don’t know how much longer “Brodie Lee cosplay’s as Vince McMahon” is going to cut it.
5) Could we get a Nyla Rose appearance?
Nyla has been conspicuously absent during the quarantine. In and of itself, that’s not too surprising. Lot’s of people on the roster have been MIA. What is concerning, however, is that she’s the FRICKIN’ WOMEN’S CHAMPION.
Don’t get me wrong, Britt, Shida & Penelope have been holding it down (Britt especially), but this division needs to hear from the champion.
She recently told Tony Schiavone in a teleconference on Twitter that she “wasn’t impressed” with the women’s division, which fine, okay, fair. She’s the champion. That’s her prerogative.
Now let’s have her say that on TV. Let the audience who don’t endlessly scroll Twitter know why their champion isn’t on TV and let’s give the women who are there even more reason to kick ass in her absence.
Tune into AEW on TNT at 8 ET tonight to see if we get any answers to these questions!