Grading AEW Dynamite (10/09/19)
A week after smashing NXT in both the ratings and the key 18-49 demographic, All Elite Wrestling looked to continue its momentum with the second episode of Dynamite, and once again, the show lived up to its name. Pre-emption by the MLB playoffs thankfully appears to have been avoided, and the action began on TNT at 8 PM eastern. It was an explosive episode, but what notable developments took place, and just how explosive was it?
Let's explore last night's show more in-depth, segment by segment.
The Young Bucks vs. Private Party: A+
The first 25 or so minutes of AEW Dynamite showcased The Young Bucks vs. Private Party to kick off the tag team title tournament. This was a brilliant way to start the show and immediately signaled that AEW is going to take its tag team division seriously.
The Young Bucks were the heavy favorites going into the show, seeded first in the tournament, but Private Party had become popular over the summer and were looking to make a name for themselves on their television debut.
The Young Bucks dominated most of the contest, but Private Party's tenacity was making it difficult for the more experienced, well-traveled team to put their opponents away. Every time it looked like the Bucks had the match won, Private Party somehow survived.
This eventually led to a counter rollup where Private Party walked away with the upset, to the delight of the crowd.
With the Bucks embroiled in a faction war, this actually wasn't too shocking, and they did everything they could to put a rising, popular act over. It was nice to see, as the Bucks could definitely afford the loss while Private Party gets to continue to make a name for themselves.