‘AEW: Dark’ Review (Dec 27th 2022)
Another week, another episode of AEW: Dark which this week features nine matches and some more “dark” regulars rather than the stacked cards we’ve had more recently. On with the review…
Match #1: Angelico def. Dante Casanova
My Thoughts: This was ridiculously short and decidedly average. Casanova did get a pinfall attempt on Angelico but to no avail. I’m guessing this is the start of the build of the SAP, the new faction featuring Luther, Serpentico and Angelico.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #2: The Workhorsemen def. The Hughes Brothers
My Thoughts: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, but I really LOVE The Workhorsemen, I really do. Which meant I enjoyed this match a lot. It felt like a breath of fresh air after the opening match hat’s for sure!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #3: Fuego del Sol def. Lucky Ali
My Thoughts: Finally Fuego del Sol is back on AEW programming… About time. Much like a lot of the vlog crew it seems Sammy Guevara dumped after sucking up to Chris Jericho, Fuego hasn’t been seen on ANY of AEW’s programmes, be they TV or YouTube, in what feels like months. WHich meant this match was very much appreciated.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #4: Matt Menard def. Brock Anderson
My Thoughts: Matt Menard in solo action once again, this time against the still-green Brock Anderson. Though to be fair to Anderson he didn’t just roll over and get squashed by Menard but the match was still very much by the numbers.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #5: Evil Uno def. Blake Li
My Thoughts: Much like Fuego del Sol’s match it was good to see Evil Uno in singles action again. Here he made short work of Blake Li and looked really strong doing so. I won’t get my hopes up, but seeing Uno look this good and this dominant could, COULD, be a sign that the Dark Order are on the rise to prominence in AEW once more.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #6: Red Velvet def. Billie Starkz
My Thoughts: Indie wrestler Billie Starkz continues her ascent to super-stardom with this mastch against Red Velvet. Though given how much this felt like a squash match you’d be hard-pressed to believe Starkz has made quite the name for herself on the indie circuit. Which is a shame.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #7: Iron Savages def. Brandon Bullock & Jameson Ryan
My Thoughts: It’s such a shame that Bear Country got repackaged as the Iron Savages because it seems to have taken all the wind out of their sails. To be fair they never really recovered from the loss of TV time after the team was split up following an injury. This was another squash match from the duo, who don’t seem to get much more than this out of their matches – squash or be squashed for the Iron Savages it seems!
My Score: out of 5
Match #8: Diamante def. Mafiosa
My Thoughts: This was another squash match, well an AEW quasi-squash match – with Mafiosa getting in some offence and countering Diamante’s. In the end though, a squash is a squash.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #9: AR Fox def. Slim J
My Thoughts: AR Fox is on a roll isn’t he? Debuts for AEW, gets signed, teams with Top Flight, Wins Trios Battle Royale and a share of $300,000 then main events a Dark… All in the space of mere weeks! This was a great end to a less-than-stellar episode of Dark, with Slim J even impressing in defeat.
