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

Boom: a solid match emblematic of FTR

I wondered last week if The Butcher and The Blade were worthy opponents of FTR even knowing they would be putting over the new team. This had all to do with their booking and nothing to do with their actual skill.

They showed that last night as it was a hard hitting, back-and-forth affair (I think commentary said “old school” a good 73 times during the match, more or less).

Still, considering how The Butcher and The Blade were booked, maybe 11 minutes was too long? Again, though, this is the pattern in AEW (read: previous slide).

However, it was a fun match. Cash Wheeler (fka Dash) showed that “old school” style when he feigned injury only to rollup his opponent for a near fall. Both teams remained relatively grounded, focusing on strikes and mat wrestling. I say “relatively” since FTR did their patented superplex/top rope splash combo during the match.

They finished the match with The Goodnight Express (fka Shatter Machine) followed by their new finisher, an assisted spike piledriver they call The Mind Breaker, on The Butcher for the victory. It was a real good showing for both teams, and Wheeler and Dax Harwood (fka Dawson) showed they’ve added new wrinkles to their game, or at least, showing the wrinkles they weren’t able to show in WWE.

Also credit to FTR for using the tag rope. FTR stands for “Follow the Rules,” after all (among other things). Remember that they also specifically called out Lucha Bros by telling them they’ll teach the brothers how to tag, “emphasis on tag.”

The Butcher and The Blade had a great showing as well. Their less-than-stellar booking until last night coupled with their new attire (I called them “AEW’s resident mimes” last week) and loss of The Bunny, I mean Allie didn’t move the needle much for me. Maybe this was because we haven’t had character development for the team yet.

Speaking of character development, a newish team received some last night in Joey Janela and Sonny Kiss, the latter FINALLY receiving some time on Dynamite.

After, Young Bucks made their way to the ring because they really just wanted an introduction. After finally introducing themselves, Young Bucks were attacked from behind by The Butcher and The Blade. FTR looked to fight them off only to have The SuperBad Squad (Kip Sabian and Jimmy Havoc) enter the fray. This brought forth AEW Tag Team Champion Kenny Omega and “Hangman” Adam Page (well, Page sauntered to the ring with whiskey in hand), who helped clear the ring and calm things down.

Props to Page for not even spilling a single drop.

The tag division in AEW is looking strong with the addition of FTR and the continued focus on newer teams such as Janela and Kiss and The SuperBad Squad. Don’t forget there are still teams like Lucha Bros., Santana and Ortiz, The Hybrid2, #Stronghearts, SCU, Private Party, Jurassic Express, and Evil Order waiting in the wings.

AEW’s focus on tag team wrestling is going to reap many benefits if it hasn’t already.