When professional wrestling last made its way to Milwaukee, it was WWE in the heart of WrestleMania season. With some big names and the idea of Roman Reigns’ reign of terror finally coming to an end by the grandson of a plumber, Cody Rhodes, things couldn’t have been going more the way of WWE.
It’s only been a few weeks since that WWE event, but already the tides have once again shifted in the wrestling war. A series of questionable decisions on WrestleMania and the shows after, coupled with a corporate merger and the unwanted return of noted sex pest Vince McMahon, WWE suddenly isn’t looking so hot. AEW, on the other hand, is looking like the hot promotion after recently announcing its biggest-ever show this summer at Wembley Stadium in London.
Between that stadium show, the second edition of the AEW x New Japan Pro Wrestling Forbidden Door, and next month’s sold-out Double or Nothing, it’s a great time for wrestling fans as their next few months are booked with things to look forward to. Which includes this Wednesday night’s AEW Dynamite from UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena. This will be the third time that AEW has come to the Cream City and it will once again be their only visit for the calendar year. The previous shows have been filled with great matches and big surprises, and this one looks to be no different.
A potential show stealer will take place between Darby Allin and Swerve Strickland. Darby is one of those wrestlers who seems incapable of having a bad match and who will sacrifice his body to make sure the fans are entertained. While Swerve, who has always been a great in-ring wrestler, has had a major breakout since turning heel on former tag team partner Keith Lee. These two Washington natives had a great match last year in the Owen tournament, but things should be a bit more heated and violent this time.
Speaking of Keith Lee, he has one of the biggest matches of his career on Wednesday as he faces off against Chris Jericho. Lee has mostly been a tag team wrestler since coming to AEW, but it’s hard to deny his “limitless” ability. Jericho has wrestled everyone who is anyone in AEW, so this match will be a big one for Lee.
Despite criticisms, AEW isn’t just the “great match” promotion. They also feature matches where one team has a higher chance of leaving on a stretcher than winning the match. The most lopsided match-up of the night is Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli of the Blackpool Combat Club taking on Brandon Cutler and Michael Nakazawa. Two comedy wrestlers taking on two of the most violent men in the company is unlikely to earn a high star rating, but it should be a heck of a lot of fun.
Of course, it wouldn’t be an AEW show without Orange Cassidy. The AEW All-Atlantic champion (who will also be at Vanguard on Tuesday) is one of the most popular stars and is a guaranteed good time anytime he steps into the ring. He’ll go against Buddy Murphy of the House of Black here.
AEW has gone through many eras and personalities in its short existence but has always remained committed to the rather simple goal of putting on an entertaining show. There have been failures along the way and there will be more in the future. This Wednesday does not look like it will be one of them though, as AEW looks to make their one stop in Milwaukee in 2023 a memorable one.