‘AEW Dark: Elevation – Episode 101’ Review
Welcome back to another review of AEW Dark: Elevation, which features nine matches on the card. We’ve got regulars Paul Wight and Matt Menard (who also opens the show in a match) on commentary. So let’s get into the review!
Match #1: Matt Menard and Angelo Parker def. The Boys (Brandon and Brent Tate)
My Thoughts: This was a standard squash match from Menard and Parker, the only notable thing was that the crowd really weren’t into this match at all. A damp squib.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #2: Juice Robinson def. Jake Crist
My Thoughts: Woah… Former Impact wrestler Jake Crist in an AEW match-up against Juice Robinson and it wasn’t a total squash! In fact, Crist gave Robinson a run for his money in this one.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #3: Dark Order (Evil Uno, Alex Reynolds, and John Silver) def. Renny D, Matt Brannigan, and Crash Jaxson
My Thoughts: Another win (and appearance in fact) for Dark order on AEW’s YouTube shows. No sure what the plan is for this now-diminished faction but they’re back doing skits about hiring folks to be in the group on BTE, so maybe that’s a good sign? Otherwise, this was your typical Dark Order squash match against enhancement talent.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #4: Yuka Sakazaki def. Billie Starkz
My Thoughts: Billie Starkz makes yet another appearance on AEW programming and once again has a great match, this time against the “Magical Girl” herself, Yuka Sakazaki! This was a solid, well-fought, well-matched battle that I’d like to see run back again in the future. Great stuff.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #5: Best Friends (Orange Cassidy, Trent Beretta, and Chuck Taylor) def. Zack Clayton and Chaos Project (Luther and Serpentico)
My Thoughts: A comedy match featuring one team I really like the work of, Best Friends, and one team who are slowly becoming my least favourite team behind The Wingmen faction. What does that mean for this match? Well for one I wish it would have been a LOT shorter, this one felt dragged out for a squash match!
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #6: Powerhouse Hobbs def. Corey Calhoun
My Thoughts: So what were we all expecting from this then? Corey Calhoun to give Hobbs a run for his money? Or even a chance to get a few movies in? NO. We knew we were getting a decisive squash and that’s exactly what Hobbs delivered.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #7: Top Flight (Dante and Darius Martin) def. The Butcher and The Blade
My Thoughts: Anyone else think Tony Khan is pushing Top Flight week in and week out NOT because of the rankings (which have since long-gone as a marker for matches etc) but to see if the two can keep injury free for a sustained period? If I was Tony Khan that’s what I’d do because when, not if, when TOp Flight challenge for the tag titles they HAVE to be able to stay injury free and keep defending on a high-level basis. The hype has forced that situation. A hype Top Flight deserve no less. As this match proves!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #8: Emi Sakura, Diamante, Marina Shafir and Nyla Rose def. Madison Rayne, Skye Blue, Queen Aminata and Hyena Hera
My Thoughts: So we’ve gone from a three-women match to four now! No matter the number, no matter the competitors, there’s always one thing you can guarantee… Emi Sakura and Nyla Rose will dominate and will [almost] never lose. As is the case with this match. Nice to see Diamante in the mix here too – she’s a great addition to the already hard-hitting, take no prisoners team of Sakura and Rose.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #9: Blackpool Combat Club (Claudio Castagnoli and Wheeler Yuta) def. Tony Nese and Ari Daivari
My Thoughts: Has Josh Woods gone from AEW? Is he injured? This is the second time we’ve had Ari Daivri team with Tony Nese instead of Woods – and after they established the duo as a decent “Varsity” team too! Anyway, who cares about Nese and Daivari when you’ve got Wheeler Yuta and Claudio Castagnoli in action? I don’t and neither did this crowd watching. A crowd who were most definitely in the BCC’s camp!
