‘AEW: Dark’ Review (Jun 22nd 2021)
Welcome to this weeks episode of AEW: Dark, I’m editor Phil and let’s not mess around with extraneous introductory waffle and let’s just jump straight into this weeks episode!
Match #1: Lance Archer def. Rex Lawless
My Thoughts: Well this one went on longer than expected for a Lance Archer squash match! Still this one didn’t go longer than two minutes with Archer eventually hitting the Blackout of Lawless for the win. Nice to see Archer taking on someone slightly bigger than normal too… seems unfair to have him throwing little guys around all the time.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #2: Brian Pillman Jr. def. Bear Bronson
My Thoughts: I honestly didn’t know what to expect going into this one. After all Bear Bronson is a big guy and Pillman isn’t. I know I didn’t expect Pillman Jr. to win with a crossbody, that’s for sure… Unlike Dante Martin, who’s also wrestling singles matches as his brother is out with injury, it looks like Bear Bronson isn’t getting a singles push – he always looks good but can’t get the wins.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #3: Brian Cage def. Chandler Hopkins
My Thoughts: Hopkins got in some good offense in this match – in fact Cage gave him a good bit of leeway to show off, unlike Archer who threw him around in their match. Hopkins even got a two count on Cage! It was still weird watching the skinny, pale Hopkins take it to buff, bronzed Cage. Couldn’t get anymore more opposite!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #4: Diamante def. Ashley D’Amboise
My Thoughts: Diamante made swift work of D’Amboise, really loooking more vicious here than usual, even taking out her anger on D’Amboise after the match ended.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #5: Colt Cabana def. Kit Sackett
My Thoughts: Kit Sackett, who’s wrestle in numerous tag matches, gets his singles debut on AEW against the veteran Colt Cabana… Who demolishes him in mere seconds. Uber-squash that really didn’t need to be on the card TBH.
My Score: 0 out of 5
Match #6: Chuck Taylor def. Dan Barry
My Thoughts: Dan Barry made his AEW debut in this match – apparently he’s buds with Chuck and Trent? of the Best Friends but that didn’t stop Barry giving it to Chuck with a great moonsault & senton combo that got a two-count. The rest of the match was Chuck Taylor’s though.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #7: Abadon def. Ashley Vox
My Thoughts: Much like Jade Cargill’s match on Elevation this week this squash made Abadon look strong. Eventually she’ll have to take on stronger opponents but for now I can dig Abadon squashing each and every wrestler she faces and her leghook DDT is a great finisher.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #8: Griff Garrison def. Marko Stunt
My Thoughts: Nice subtle demarcation of who was the face and who was the heel in this match with Garrison teasing Marko over his hat. Garrison even got mean at one point, seemingly p*ssed off with Marko’s more “fun” style of wrestling. Definitely a weird match to watch if you’ve watched all the AEW-related vlogs over the past few years – two buds going at it seems wrong!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #9: The Bunny def. Reka Tehaka
My Thoughts: Reka Tehaka is always introduced as some sort of powerhouse female wrestler, carrying on the Samoan tradition of great competitors, yet she’s has yet to win a match – including here against The Bunny. Though if you’d been hit with the stiff opener The Bunny hit Tehaka with then you probably wouldn’t win your match either!
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #10: Stu Grayson def. Serpentico
My Thoughts: Serpentico gets a singles outing… so no abuse from Luther this time out. Serpentico did get to abuse Stu Grayson though for quite a while in this match; as did my ears by Luther’s high-pitched screaming! Of course Stu Grayson wasn’t going to lose against Serpentico, though he did struggle against the wily snake man.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2/5
Yet again another average epsiode of Dark, yet still a fun one. There was nothing here that disappointed, not even the squash matches. It’s just there was nothing too exciting here either.
