AEW Booms and Duds: The Elite reunite!
https://twitter.com/AEWonTNT/status/1263263663709761536
Boom: Moxley is edgier, and Lee is more conniving than we thought
The most subtle, effective, and possibly underappreciated evolution of Moxley in this feud with Lee may be the extra edge he’s added to his character (yeah, an even more edgier Moxley).
It’s not just that he constantly looks perturbed, or how he walks to the ring. His facial expressions during matches have hit a more intense level, topped by him yelling into the camera last night, “Is this your favorite!?” at Lee while decimating 10 in the corner.
However, the addition of that Gotch piledriver is just something wicked. Maybe it’s how the Gotch style locks arms that makes it look so much more vicious than the Cactus style driver, but the piledriver Moxley landed on 10 last night looked brutal. I’ll give a hand to 10 for selling the move like he did.
You know just how much Moxley is agitated by Lee stealing his physical AEW World Championship? He busted out the elevated, angular Paradigm Shift for the first time in a long time. He has been putting people away with what was his Dirty Deeds 2.0 in WWE, the double arm DDT.
With how quickly he generally performs the latter maneuver, it’s usually more difficult for me to buy that as a match-ending move; that’s not the case with the actual lifting Paradigm Shift. It just looks so devastating.
Moving to Lee, I have to say I thought he fared quite well last night. His promo was solid, not spectacular, but further highlighted the unique charisma and intelligence that allows Lee to command the loyalty and dedication of fellow wrestlers.
Yes, of course he wants to win the AEW World Championship because it elevates him and Dark Order, which means capitalizing on more prominence. That wasn’t the only, and I daresay the main reason he wants to win. While pacing around the entrance area with his Creepers standing at attention (and 10 taking a “proper” knee), Lee said he has to win to “payoff the loyalty and love” of his followers.
If you’re a Dark Order member, hearing that from your leader has to instill confidence that not only did you make the right decision to join, but that “The Exalted One” really does have your best interests at heart…
…unless he needs to send a message, that is.
After Moxley pinned 10, he grabbed two chairs and threw them into the ring (the first actually landed on 10!). Moxley then trapped 10’s left arm in a chair and stood on it, giving Lee a 10-count to appear. Lee appeared, but on the tron, and indicated that sometimes sacrifices must be made. He and the Creepers left, leaving Moxley to (quickly) consider his options and bash 10’s arm with the other chair.
If 10 truly is Lee’s favorite, then maybe his loss to Moxley infuriated Lee. He may have been going the “tough love” route by “sacrificing” 10 to Moxley for the night, also sending the message to the other members that failure is met with brutality.
Then again, maybe Lee was just hyping 10 up by calling him his favorite and felt his sacrifice was necessary after seeing his level of skill.
While I don’t expect Lee to win Saturday night, I do like how we’ve seen more to “The Exalted One” character than a egotistical manchild he was the first few weeks. He and AEW have found a nice balance between being an intelligent yet conniving leader and a destructive force of decimation. It will be interesting to see what AEW has in store for Lee and Dark Order after Double or Nothing.
With Moxley, should he retain, there are a number of possible paths. The top two ranked competitors are facing each other for the TNT Championship, so does the loser of this match set their eyes on Moxley?
It works even with Cody. Moxley could give Cody a match and say if Cody beats him, he’ll forgo that stipulation and put the AEW World Championship on the line. It fits Moxley’s character, someone who just wants to have good, cathartic fights.
What about #4 ranked Kenny Omega? Will they pursue a story of Omega looking to become the first double-champion in AEW? How would that affect the story between him and his Tag Team Champion partner, Adam “Hangman” Page? Can Omega, who we are consistently told is the best in the world, handle the pressures and responsibility of possibly holding two championship?
Lastly, what about #5 Darby Allin, particularly if he wins the Casino Ladder Match? A rekindling of their brief feud that ended with an avalanche Paradigm Shift would be sure to garner the interest of fans.
Needless to say, the options for Moxley if he retains are salivating. We’ll find out more come Double or Nothing.