Who did Andrade El Idolo face on this week's AEW Dynamite?

Andrade El Idolo wrestled Jake Doyle in a matchup that the author described as a mismatch of timing and charisma. The bout highlighted gaps in Doyle's game and ended with an underwhelming and confused finish, contributing to criticisms of Andrade's current midcard booking.

What was the main criticism of the six-woman tag match on Dynamite?

The six-woman tag match was criticized for feeling like directionless filler with a complete lack of stakes, drawing comparisons to late-era WCW Nitro. Although the work rate was acceptable, none of the competitors had a clear path toward the division's championship, leaving fans without a reason to invest.

Why are AEW fans frustrated with the current booking of midcard talent?

Fans are growing frustrated because world-class, talented workers are being booked in directionless matches without coherent stories, effectively acting as local jobbers for mid-tier talent. This marks a structural step back from the purposeful booking philosophy that characterized the company's early years.

What past matches of Andrade El Idolo are mentioned in the article?

The article highlights Andrade El Idolo's history of delivering world-class performances, specifically mentioning his time in NXT where he had some of the slickest matches in the brand's history. It also references his past high-profile match taking Shinsuke Nakamura to the limit in NJPW.

How does the author suggest AEW fix its current television programming issues?

The author suggests that AEW needs to shift away from relying on "dream match" energy and begin building coherent, purposeful storylines. To keep fans invested in who wins or loses, the company must provide logical builds and clear directions for its talented midcard roster.

AEW is playing Russian roulette with its midcard gems

The Andrade El Idolo problem keeps getting worse

If you watched Dynamite this week, you probably experienced the same whiplash I did. Andrade El Idolo, a wrestler who has the tools to be a global marquee attraction, is back on television, and the best booking idea the company has is a matchup against Jake Doyle. It feels like watching a Ferrari engine being put into a rusted-out lawnmower.

We all know the history here. This is the guy who took Shinsuke Nakamura to the limit in NJPW and had some of the slickest matches in NXT history. Watching him work in 2026 feels like a masterclass in wasted potential. He moves with a fluidity most guys on the roster would kill for, but for some reason, the creative direction remains stuck in neutral.

The Jake Doyle mismatch

Let’s be honest about the main event. Jake Doyle has been trying to break through, but putting him in the ring with a guy like Andrade highlights every gap in his game. It was a mismatch of timing and charisma. When Andrade hit that running double knees in the corner, it looked like a million bucks.

Then, the finish arrived. It wasn't just underwhelming; it was confused. If you are going to keep Andrade in that midcard spot, you have to at least give him opponents who can keep up with his pace, or at the very least, give him a storyline that isn't just "random TV match of the week." This booking is the equivalent of serving a five-course meal on a paper plate.

The women’s division is spinning its wheels

Then there was that six-woman tag match. Look, I love seeing talent get ring time, but this felt like pure filler. It reminded me of those late-era WCW Nitro episodes where they’d throw six random bodies into a ring just to fill twelve minutes before a commercial break. The lack of stakes was deafening.

The work rate was fine, I suppose, if you enjoy high-spots without any logical build. But when nobody in the match has a clear direction toward the championship, what exactly are we doing here? The division is talented enough to be the focal point of the show, yet it is currently being used as a commercial floor-filler on a busy card.

Missing the mark on momentum

This episode felt like a massive step back from the booking philosophy that made the company must-see television in its early years. It is easy to point fingers at the roster, but this is a structural issue. You have incredible workers who are effectively being turned into local jobbers for a rotating cast of mid-tier talent.

If I am an AEW fan, I am starting to get irritated. We have seen previous episodes handle these stars with actual purpose, and seeing that effort evaporate is frustrating. They need to stop coasting on the "dream match" energy and start building actual, coherent stories.

We aren't asking for the world. We are just asking for a reason to care about who wins or loses on a random Wednesday in July. Right now, I can't name a single reason to tune in next week unless they change the trajectory of these midcard guys and the women's division fundamentally. They have the talent, but they are lacking the soul.

They need to stop being afraid of long-term storytelling. The fan apathy is real, and it is going to show up in the attendance numbers if this keeps up. You cannot rely on a few high-flying spots to carry a dying narrative. It is time for a change, or at least a realization that this current formula is stale.

I will be watching next week, hoping for a miracle, but I won't be holding my breath. This company made its name on being the alternative, but lately, it feels like it is becoming the very thing it claimed to be fighting against. Consistency matters, and they simply don't have it right now.

At the end of the day, wrestling is supposed to be fun. When you take a guy like Andrade and force him into a vacuum of storylines, it stops being fun and starts being a chore. Fix the booking, or stop wondering why the casuals are drifting away.