‘AEW: Dark’ Review (June 28th 2022)
Another episode of AEW: Dark, which this week is back being taped at AEW Universal. Let’s join Taz and Excalibur, commentators for Dark as usual, with TEN matches this week – including a main event that sees the ROH Pure Championship on the line. Let’s get to it!
Match #1: Willow Nightingale def. Ashley D’Amboise
My Thoughts: Who doesn’t love the energy Willow Nightingale brings to her matches?! Her infectious attitude really raises the bar for any match she’s a part of, including this one (which is why this match gets an extra half-point just for THAT). Ashley D’Amboise plays a great heel too and whilst this match was too short for my liking this was still a great opener to this week’s Dark.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: Nick Comoroto & Aaron Solo vs. Matt Vandagriff & Knull
My Thoughts: Solid but forgettable is how I’d describe this match. Even as the next match started the events of this match had dissipated from my mind. At least Knull looked physically impressive?! If Comoroto and Solo are ever going to have any impact they need to start winning against more than enhancement talent.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #3: Matt Sydal def. Jake Something
My Thoughts: Matt Sydal is pretty much guaranteed to deliver a good match and he does that here. Though credit must go to former Impact star Jake Something, who put in a great display as Sydal’s opponent – in fact, he’s put into some decent work since appearing in AEW and deserves to get more chances in future to show what he can do.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #4: Athena def. Amber Nova
My Thoughts: Athena gets another singles match in AEW, against the ever-reliable Amber Nova – who’s put in some good work as enhancement talent on Dark and Elevation. This one ended up as a typical AEW quasi-squash match with Nova given a small window to get offence in on Athena before the latter took control and got the submission win. Though, to be fair to Athena, she should’ve REALLY squashed Amber Nova to assert her dominance in the women’s division.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #5: Dante Martin def. Lucky Ali
My Thoughts: This was something of a by-the-numbers match for Dante Martin. Lucky Ali didn’t really push him in any way, in fact it looked like Martin had to adjust for Ali. Still, any Dante Martin match is a good match, much like Matt Sydal he never disappoints.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #6: Julia Hart def. Valentina Rossi
My Thoughts: This was, I think, the first chance for Julia Hart to develop her character and skills as part of the Hosue of Black and she’s clearly going for a more vicious tone and demeanour. It’s still in the early stages but I can get behind THIS Julia Hart going forward!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #7: Fuego Del Sol def. Marcus Kross
My Thoughts: Has Marcus Kross dropped the Dragonball gimmick? In his last few appearances he hasn’t had the wild Goku hair! Anyways, this was your usual Fuego match with the masked Lucha working from underneath even though that’s exactly where he shouldn’t be in a match against enhancement talent! Nice to see Fuego get a win via submission though.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #8: Evil Uno & 10 def. JD Drake & Ryan Nemeth
My Thoughts: I love me some JD Drake and I love me some Dark Order (though it’s getting harder to love the latter given how members are slowly leaving AEW) but Nemeth? Nah… Why folk like him are still in AEW when Stu Grayson and Alan Angels are gone from the company is beyond me? To be fair, it’s always good seeing him get the sh*t beaten out of him, so there’s that.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #9: Ariya Daivari def. Caleb Konley
My Thoughts: Well this is a weird one. Two guys known for wrestling elsewhere, facing each other on an episode of AEW: Dark. It’s actually refreshing to see Caleb with a K. wrestle – he spent so long as a sidekick in Impact that seeing him wrestle feels odd. This match felt like both men were looking for a spot on the roster via this one, which made for a decent match TBH.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #10: ROH Pure Championship Match – Wheeler Yuta def. Tony Nese
My Thoughts: This was a great main event, especially considering this was a DARK main event and not on one of the main shows. I’m guessing ROH titles are going to be defended on AEW’s YouTube shows until an actual Ring of Honor show exists? It’s interesting to see AEW almost throw together championship matches with a minimum of build… and excitement. In fact, Yuta’s been focused more on the BCC stuff than defending his championship on other AEW shows!
