Crazy stuff last night.....so JJ is leading a kinda sorta TNA faction invading the show? Not sure how that will fly, long term. Maybe that's not the plan, certainly felt like was suggested. The Cole Carter reveal was a big ole dud but it was obviously a swerve thing to be shocked when JJ showed up seconds later. But seeing JJ on TV weekly is going to be weird and maybe unproductive when tons of other talent are already struggling to find time themselves. I guess we will see what happens but I'm certainly not needing to see another Sting/JJ feud in 2022 in AEW either. It's like a fever dream type thing. But it was a legit surprise seeing him show up. I do like the idea of him working more in a backstage live event development capacity, with whatever he took from his run in WWE in that role. It sure wouldn't hurt if AEW started a small house show run, just do a show every Saturday and see how that goes?
I've said my thoughts and then some on Cabana already, I kinda figured this was going to happen to appease everyone in the locker room. Question will be if they put him back in the Dark Order or what. I still think he would be another guy, much like JJ, that you utilize backstage in some role primarily. Match was alright, a bit clunky for sure at spots, but the crowd was into it for sure.
The Shibata return was fucking incredible, out of the fucking blue, and I guess they are at least trying to get some buzz going (finally) for a Rampage episode and this would be the one to do for Friday since the World Series is going to delay SD plus SD is of course taped. Between him working a match in just two days (!) and the Tyson thing (which should have been pushed harder probably), they may get a decent number on Friday, possibly. So does this also mean we might get Danielson vs Shibata at Full Gear? I say give him the title on Friday to move to Danielson at Full Gear and then you can give Danielson the title from there to give that title a bit more prominace.
Then to also get that vignette of Black returning, fuck yeah to that. So much surprise stuff it felt like an overload for one episode.
The in-ring in alot of spots felt flat last night, all of that was a backdrop to everything else it felt like. Normally doesn't happen much on a Dynamite like this.