AEW Booms and Duds: ‘Blood’ Orange Cassidy, beaten to a pulp!

Boom: a fantastic showing by Marq Quen and a well-told story

Neither: can Cody maintain this pace?

(This is my first “neither” for both my “booms/duds” and “smacks/downs,” for what it’s worth.)

First thing I should credit AEW is they answered my main question from last week regarding the TNT Championship matches Cody has every week: how are his challengers determined?

From what Jim Ross, Tony Schiavone, and Excalibur said last night, anyone who is approved by the matchmaker can have a TNT Championship match. That accounts for Marq Quen receiving his shot last night even though he had a (kayfabe) ankle injury and was competing in his first singles match, a fact acknowledged in Quen’s lower third during his introduction.

This also adds validity to Cody saying anybody can challenge for the title, even wrestlers not signed to AEW, such as Rusev, Marty Scurll, or Hiroshi Tanahashi as my colleague Zack Heydorn wrote.

(This throws out my argument for MJF using his ranking as #1 for the past three weeks to challenge Cody, though he furthered my belief that he will aim for the TNT Championship with his promo last night berating Jungle Boy for receiving an opportunity before him.)

Now we know that even with an injured ankle, Quen was approved to challenge Cody, and what a showing for Quen.

Remember, last night was Quen’s first singles match in AEW. Yet here he is, compromised ankle and all, lasting 12 minutes with the TNT Champion. It was more impressive considering the story told through the match was Cody targeting the leg with the already compromised ankle. This slowed Quen’s movements considerably, and caused him to crumble to the mat on a springboard attempt (I’m a sucker for this spot).

Also, Quen pulled off what I think is the most impressive and unique DDT I’ve ever seen.

Quen masterfully sold his injured left leg throughout the match, having to contend with his previously injured ankle and now-injured knee that Cody spent the first half of the match targeting. While Quen was hobbled, he was still able to perform a couple of topes and even a beautiful 450 splash (perfect rotation) to Cody on the entrance ramp.

The end saw Quen attempt a Shooting Star Press only for Cody to catch him in a poorly-cinched ankle lock that he turned into an ankle lock/death lock combo, forcing Quen to tap. Cody showed that while Quen oozes potential, Cody is at a higher level. It’s kind of like All Might telling Bakugo you can’t judge the growth of someone at level 50 to someone at level 1 (Midoriya/Deku). Quen wasn’t level 1, but he also wasn’t level 50 like Cody.

A solid, solid showing for Quen in his first singles match, and it only buttressed my belief in his future.

Jake Hager appeared after, placing his hands on Arn Anderson to draw Cody to him. This led to a wild brawl involving members of Inner Circle, The Elite, and even the new triumvirate of Private Party and Matt Hardy (with referees to separate them, of course). Cody challenged Hager to a TNT Championship match at Fyter Fest, that is, if Cody makes it with championship intact.

This leads to what is neither a “boom” or “dud,” but a genuine question: how much longer can Cody’s body and mind take of this schedule considering he hasn’t had an “easy” match in, well, AEW’s history?

I loved that Quen showed out, but does Cody really need 12 minutes to defeat someone in their first singles match who was (kayfabe) injured heading into the match? The time it took Moxley to beat his opponent on Dark this week was explained away by Moxley only finding out who his opponent was shortly before the match. That wasn’t the case here since we knew a week ago this would be the match.

Sure, this gave Quen time to scout Cody (which he really seemed to do with some of his counters). Still, Cody probably should have taken six minutes max against a first-time singles wrestler with an injury in Quen.

If every Cody defense is going to a be a drawn out, physical, emotional affair, I wonder just how long he can hold up. A match with Hager will inevitably be snug (think about Hager’s match with Moxley), and we don’t even know who Cody’s facing next week. Will it be someone on AEW’s roster like a Scorpio Sky or Rey Fenix or MJF? Will it be a wrestler like NWA’s James Storm or Ring of Honor’s Jonathan Gresham? Could it be a returning Jeff Cobb?

Cody making this the workhorse title is laudable and a surefire way to elevate the newly-minted championship. Defending every week is a daunting task; having 12+ minute defenses every week makes it that much more daunting and draining.

However, it’s not just a glitch in Cody’s matches. Most matches in AEW seem to want to straddle the line of making every competitor look “good” without necessarily damaging any individual competitor. That formula works in certain instances, like when evenly-matched wrestlers/teams face each other, but this shouldn’t be the formula for even most matches.

Squashes are great, but seem to only be utilized for “big men” like Lee, Lance Archer, and Wardlow (Jericho’s one-move victory over SUGE D notwithstanding). How would I incorporate some squash-like matches for Cody’s TNT Championship defenses?

If it’s certain that anybody can be approved by the matchmakers, have people like Brandon Cutler, Peter Avalon, Austin Gunn, and some of the independent talent showcased on Dark challenge Cody. Cody should take no longer than two to three minutes to defeat them, taking as little to no offense as possible to show just how much higher his level is comparatively (remember, Bakugo vs. Deku).

Further, not all of Cody’s defenses should main event Dynamite. One, it can get stale knowing you’re going to have the same match with the same stakes as the main event every week. Two, by having his defenses at different points in the show (opening match one week, top of the hour another, bottom of the first hour the next), you keep fans “on their toes” because it wouldn’t be obvious if it’s a squash or not.

For example, since we don’t know Cody’s opponent next week, maybe he starts the show and says he’s tired of waiting. Maybe someone booked to the caliber of Pres10 Vance (“10”) appears and goes a five minutes with the champ (easier sold through Vance’s size and power). The next week, have Cody announced to defend against a wrestler like Frankie Kazarian who’s above Vance but below Cody in nine minutes at the bottom of the first hour. Then, the week after, don’t announce his opponent and have him squash Avalon in two minutes at the top of the second hour.

There are different ways to make this reign a lengthy one without wearing out Cody and keeping the open challenge fresh, including squash matches. Let’s not act like there haven’t been championship squashes in pro wrestling history, either.

We’re still in the nascent stages, so I’m curious to see if this is indeed a long reign or if Cody will have it pulled out from under him.