The awkward finish to the Shelton Benjamin vs. Mike Bailey match on Dynamite reportedly stemmed from a miscommunication. Near the match’s end, Benjamin landed a powerful kick that knocked Bailey down, and the referee halted the count just before Benjamin went for the pin. Even if Bailey hadn’t kicked out, the conclusion was affected by this miscue.
Wrestling Observer’s Brian Alvarez clarified that the incident wasn’t due to Bailey suffering a concussion. The match was originally planned to last longer, but Shelton Benjamin improvised after witnessing Bailey’s impressive selling of the move. The only issue was that this change wasn’t clearly communicated to the referee.
Alvarez explained, “The planned finish was going to be a superkick. Shelton hits the kick and Bailey does an incredible full flip bump, looking completely out. Shelton then decides that this moment is perfect and calls an audible to end the match. Unfortunately, the referee didn’t hear him, so the count stopped.”
Despite this hiccup, the two wrestlers finished the match properly, with Benjamin suplexing Bailey, hitting a running knee, following up with another superkick, and finally securing the pin.
This victory places The Hart Syndicate in a strong position, especially since Bobby Lashley also defeated Ricochet on the same show. Both wrestlers have now claimed the top two spots heading into the National Championship Casino Gauntlet match at Full Gear this Saturday.
The gauntlet rules allow a pinfall at any point during the match, which means The Hart Syndicate could potentially win the title before other competitors even enter. The key challenge will be deciding who among them deserves to become the first champion and make a lasting impact.
Fan Take: This news is significant for AEW fans as it highlights the unpredictable nature of live wrestling and the quick thinking required by wrestlers and officials. It also raises the stakes for the upcoming National Championship match, promising dramatic twists and high competition that could shape the future of the sport.
