‘AEW: Dark’ Review (Apr 25th 2023)
Another week, another episode of AEW: Dark which this week features a moderate six matches (and isn’t a bunch of repeats unlike this week’s Elevation – hence no review of it). Let’s see what went down…
Match #1: Harley Cameron def. Mafiosa
My Thoughts: QTV’s “Harley Cameron” gets her first singles match on Dark and it was a pretty solid debut. Nothing to set the world alight but both women gave as good as they got and in the end it was everything a Dark debut could be against enhancement talent that are, unfortunately, never booked as aggressively as signed talent.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #2: Blake Christian def. Lee Johnson
My Thoughts: Honestly I was surprised to see Lee Johnson lose this one – even if it does feel like its been an eternity since he’s been on AEW programming. That’s not really the case but Johnsonm was a VERY regular talent on TV and on AEW’s YouTube shows, and that hasn’t been the case of late. After seeing this match I honestly have to ask why that’s the case. This was a fantastic match between Johnson and Christian and really delivered a Dynamite and/or Rampage level of match
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #3: Brian Pillman Jr & Brock Anderson def. Ryan Nemeth & Cezar Bononi
My Thoughts: This wasn’t a great match but at least the right team, even if they didn’t feel cohesive, won. Pillman and Anderson need a LOT of work. The only thought I had after this match was… what’s happened to Griff Garrison?
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #4: Emi Sakura & Mei Suruga def. Ashley D’Amboise & Reka Tehaka
My Thoughts: Emi Sakura and Mei Suruga make for a solid, truly dominant team. And that’s what they did here. Dominate. This was a squash match of the highest order with Sakura and Suruga showing up most of the rest of AEW’s women’s tag teams, let alone the rest of the women’s division.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #5: Zack Clayton vs. Jake Logan
My Thoughts: No matter how much AEW push Zack Clayton as a prospective talent I can’t help but not be impressed. He feels very much a middle-of-the-road style of wrestler and there’s nothing in his presentation that makes him stand out. They’ve even dropped the “former reality star” angle now.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #6: John Silver & Alex Reynolds def. Tony Nese & Josh Woods
My Thoughts: Dark Order’s dominant run continues aplenty with Silver and Reynolds taking it to the well-oiled team of Tony Nese & Josh Woods – who are a much more worthy pair of opponents for the Dark Order rather than the usual “comedy stylings” of the Wingmen or some other set of regular Dark jobbers. I could’ve done without the shenanigans at the end of this one but that didn’t spoil the match overall.
