Like the rest of the world, there’s a lot wrong with pro wrestling in the year 2020. Beyond the simple fact that it’s inherently unsafe to run events during a pandemic, no matter how much testing is done, you’ve got to contend with things like WWE running layoffs despite seeing massive profits, the revelation of widespread sexual abuse and harassment throughout every level of the industry, AEW’s repeated mishandling of concussed wrestlers (seriously, watch this clip of Alex Reynolds getting ignored in the middle of the ring and then dragged around after clearly getting knocked cold last night), WWE absurdly limiting its “independent contractors” from profiting off third-party work on Twitch and Cameo, independent promotions like Game Changer Wrestling running shows that could easily turn into superspreader events, and more.
So when something that’s unquestionably good happens in wrestling this year—whether it’s New Japan’s G1 tournament, AEW’s Stadium Stampede match, or John Cena’s Lynchian mindfuck of a WrestleMania match—it’s good to highlight it. And last night Chris Jericho and MJF did something on AEW’s Dynamite show that isn’t just good, but is one of the most unexpected and memorable things I’ve ever seen in 35 years of watching wrestling.
Jericho and MJF have had a passive aggressive frenemy relationship going on for a few weeks now. As conceited, condescending heels it makes sense they’d feel a kinship, but their characters are so similar and so arrogant that there’s no way they could coexist for long. AEW has been gradually teasing that out on Dynamite, with MJF unwilling to outright ask to join Jericho’s Inner Circle stable, and Jericho unsure if he wants this younger version of him to potentially undermine the stability of his gang. Their whole deal is a delicate web of suspicion, cautious respect, and slight contempt, and last night it culminated in what was billed as a steak dinner between the two so that they could clear the air and figure out what exactly each of them wants from the other. What we got from “Le Dinner Debonair” was something far more than a wrestling riff on My Dinner with Andre.
It really helps to not know what’s coming, so here’s the whole segment. Watch it before reading on.
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