u/AnonymousChicken

Forget workrate, Meltzer stars, and who had a banger in Korakuen Hall in front of 147 polite clappers. We gotta talk about the real main event.

If Mason Rook and Eddie Kingston got locked in at a Golden Corral and had to engage in shoot fisticuffs... who actually walks away the winner?

On one side: a man who looks like he manages a vape kiosk at the mall and says "actually, in Japan..."

On the other: a man built like a half-deflated couch who fights like he's trying to defend his Subway footlong.

No weapons, no run-ins, no bleeding Moxley interference, no Grado cameos. Just big fight feel and pure combat sports energy, between two dudes who look like they'd get winded carrying a PS5 upstairs.

Restore the feeling, Midcarders. Who takes the last of the prime rib in this meat madness?

So in a prior post - https://www.reddit.com/r/midcarder/comments/1t5idhl/has_darby_allins_aew_title_run_ruined_your/ - there was a comment with an allusion to Darby Allin dunking a drunk and druggie's head (whom is apparently the cousin of Jimmy Kimmel) in a dirty toilet for a few dollars for fun and laughs.

I was disgusted and appalled. I couldn't believe that would have been said.

But it was said.

So, if we are to believe Darby Allin at his word on Talk Is Jericho, then, that happened, by his word.

You may not want to listen to this one, and I don't blame you if you don't want to. The clip starts around 14-15 minutes, and goes for just over a minute, and there's more if you can hang with it. Strongly recommend you do not if you're not ready.

For myself, I've personally been down-and-out and homeless, and not by choice or for a lifestyle. This is not what I'd spend my last money on for entertainment or sustenance.

My opinion on this guy is quite now nearly as low as my opinion of Buck Zumhofe. And it's going to be hard to separate the art from the artist for me going forward.

My opinion of Chris Jericho having a laugh about it is pretty low as well.

And I guess that's our AEW World Champion as a pillar, and a founding father of AEW.

Source: https://castro.fm/episode/kLIfSd Talk Is Jericho, January 10, 2020, "Coffin Talk with Darby Allin"

Sickos need not comment.

I’ll be blunt with you. I’ve largely stopped watching AEW weeklies (and WWE weeklies), and Darby Allin as World Champion has done absolutely nothing to pull me back in.

This run really reminds me of EVIL’s IWGP title run in New Japan: a reign that didn’t just cool off the belt, but actively hurt a lot of people's interest in the product. including mine.

And before the Sickos start screaming, it’s not about "workrate", it’s about presence. The AEW World Title is supposed to feel important. Darby just doesn’t feel like a world champion to me. The size, the lack of charisma, the one-note "reckless emo skateboard kid" character... I just don’t buy him as the face of a major wrestling company.

This isn't to knock Darby as a performer. He makes for a great attraction for AEW, even if it's an attraction that can be a serious liability both on and off AEW programming. Car crash matches can be fun. Not so big on flamethrowers, but you get the idea. I don't hate where he was, but where he is at the top just does not feel right to me.

And overall, instead of feeling must-watch, AEW right now feels colder to me than ever.

Am I alone here, or has this title run completely failed to make you care?

AEW Dynamite on TBS
Wed, Apr. 22, 2026: 8:00 to 10:00 pm
617,000 viewers (P2+)
P18-49 rating: 0.10

Reported earlier by Programming Insider.

Dynamite ranked tied for #10 for the night on cable in P18-49.

P2+ comparisons:

• This episode vs. last week (710,000): -13%
• This episode vs. trailing four weeks (715,000): -14%
• Current 2026-Q2 P2+ average (678,000) vs. 2025-Q2 (627,000): +8%
• Current Apr 2026 P2+ average (678,000) vs. Apr 2025 (605,000): +12%

P18-49 comparisons:

• This episode vs. last week (0.12): -17%
• This episode vs. trailing four weeks (0.14): -29%
• Current 2026-Q2 P18-49 average (0.13) vs. 2025-Q2 (0.17): -24%
• Current Apr 2026 P18-49 average (0.13) vs. Apr 2025 (0.16): -19%

Viewer counts for this week’s episode with the difference versus the median of the last 4 non-preemption episodes in parentheses. Viewer counts for categories other than P2+ are approximate only and derived from the national rating for that demo:

• P2+: 617k (-14%)
• P18-49: 136k (-29%)
• F18-49: 53k (-21%)
• M18-49: 87k (-32%)
• Non-P18-49: 481k (-10%)

As always. please note the following:

• We do not control nor influence the promotions, presentations, bookings, networks, viewers, reporting source, or Nielsen.
• We do not create nor influence the reports. If you believe the numbers are inaccurate, unless you really believe we've made a typographical error, please contact the people that posted the numbers. We only relay the reports.
• While imperfect, Nielsen includes their very educated guesses from all streaming sources, including Netflix, Peacock, and HBO Max. If you disagree with their measurement ideology, please contact Nielsen. The source only relays their figures. https://www.nielsen.com/news-center/2025/nielsen-begins-updated-era-of-tv-ratings-with-big-data-panel-for-this-falls-tv-season/
• We are not adding any editorials, narratives, or opinions about the reports on the numbers — excluding major events that may cause significant swings — irrelevant of the promotion or content of the show.
• If you comment or question the above four points in the thread, please do expect a temporary suspension about it. We've all been over these points. Repeatedly.

Otherwise, freely discuss amongst yourselves respectfully. Remember to avoid the tribalism, stay on topic, be constructive, no bad faith bodyslams, and above all... be nice.