SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)...
To help add context, my “Hits” are ordered from best to worst. With that said, let’s move into the high points of this week’s episode.
HIT — NICK WAYNE vs. CHRIS JERICHO
Nick Wayne may already have championship gold on his résumé in AEW, but I would argue defeating Chris Jericho is the biggest victory of his young career.
Wayne continues to show why AEW has invested so much in him. What I appreciate about this feud is that Wayne isn’t simply sharing the ring with Jericho to gain experience. He’s being presented as someone who can stand across from an established veteran and beat him.
Jericho has accomplished just about everything there is to accomplish in professional wrestling. At this stage of his career, helping establish younger talent should be one of his biggest contributions. I think this feud is setting Wayne up for future success, and victories like this can help take him to the next level.
HIT — THE DEATH RIDERS’ CURRENT DIRECTION
I’ve said this before, but how are fans supposed to boo the Death Riders moving forward?
One thing I’ve noticed recently is how much the group has fine-tuned its presentation. Moxley and the others aren’t speaking in riddles anymore. Their promos are more straightforward, their message is clearer, and they’re letting their actions in the ring do most of the talking.
Look at the reaction they received in Paris. The Death Riders got a largely positive response from the crowd, and fans even joined in their trademark group huddle during the tapings. That’s a pretty strong indication of how fans are connecting with this group right now.
The Death Riders haven’t lost their edge. If anything, I think their presentation has improved because they’re no longer overcomplicating everything. AEW now has an interesting decision to make with how it presents the group moving forward.
HIT — DEATH RIDERS vs. THE CONGLOMERATION
I thought adding the mixed tag element to this match was a great decision. The match was entertaining and physical throughout, with all eight wrestlers getting opportunities to contribute.
One of my favorite moments was Orange Cassidy attempting his own lazy version of Claudio Castagnoli’s giant swing, only for Claudio to return the favor with the real thing shortly afterward. It’s the kind of spot that makes Cassidy so entertaining without taking away from the match itself.
The interactions between Marina Shafir and Roderick Strong were also entertaining, especially considering they’re husband and wife. It’s not often we get to see that dynamic play out against each other in the ring.
For a match that went nearly 15 minutes, I thought everyone involved did a good job keeping things moving. The mixed tag format added something different to a rivalry we’ve seen plenty of on AEW television.
HIT — KRIS STATLANDER RETURNS
It was great to see Kris Statlander back in an AEW ring after some time away. Statlander looked to be in great spirits and appeared rejuvenated.
Statlander and Harley Cameron looked good together in the three-way match against Divine Dominion and the Sisters of Sin. Statlander especially stood out, showing off her strength and athleticism before picking up the victory.
The win also gives Statlander and Cameron a shot at the Brawling Birds for the AEW Women’s World Tag Team Titles. I’m glad to see Statlander back on television, and I like that AEW immediately gave her something meaningful to work toward.
HIT — THE PARIS CROWD
One of the biggest highlights of Grand Slam France was the fans in Paris. The crowd brought tremendous energy throughout the tapings and helped create an atmosphere that made the show feel special.
Whether it was the opening match or the main event, the fans stayed engaged. With 6,482 fans in attendance, they gave AEW plenty of reasons to return to the Adidas Arena in the near future.
MISS — PREDICTABLE CLOCKWORK CARNAGE QUALIFIERS
AEW announced five qualifying matches for Wednesday’s Dynamite and Collision ahead of WrestleDream. On paper, there are some really good matches here, especially Kazuchika Okada vs. Myron Reed, which I’m looking forward to.
My issue isn’t with the matches themselves. It’s that when you look at the five matchups, there’s very little drama surrounding who will advance.
I fully expect the wrestling to deliver, but part of the appeal of qualifying matches should be the possibility of an upset. Looking at this lineup, I have a hard time imagining any of the expected winners failing to qualify.
Again, I’m looking forward to Wednesday’s show. I just wish AEW had given us a little more uncertainty heading into these matches.
FINAL SCORE
- HITS: 5
- MISSES: 1
FINAL THOUGHTS
Grand Slam France opened with a great episode of Dynamite and bookended the week with a good episode of Collision.
Was it perfect? No. But AEW delivered enough action and star power throughout both shows to keep the Paris crowd happy and engaged.
More importantly, I think AEW gave fans in France plenty of reasons to want the company to return.
WRESTLING HISTORY
On this day in 2011 – Masato Tanaka defeated MVP at NJPW Destruction ’11 at Sumo Hall in Tokyo, Japan, to become the second IWGP Intercontinental Champion.
