‘AEW Dark: Elevation – Episode 46’ Review
Once again AEW Dark: Elevation gets right into the action, with a tag team match featuring Matt Sydal and Lee Moriarty. So like the show, lets not mess around and get right into the review!
Match #1: Matt Sydal & Lee Moriarty def. JR Miller & Marcus Kross
My Thoughts: Loved seeing Matt Sydal and Lee Moriarty team-up and I’m going to say it now, these two guys make for a SUPERB tag team. I know they were probably thrown together for this show but I think they’ve got something. As for their opponents, well Marcus Kross, he of the Dragonball hair (though not this week) put in a great effort too, with some great and innovative offence on Sydal. Great opener to this week’s Elevation.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: Tay Conti def. Ameera
My Thoughts: Ameera was an interesting opponent for Conti, she looked good most of the time but there were a few moves that looked a little stiff – not in the usual hard-hitting sense, more like she had to think about what she was doing and walk through the steps(ish). She also spent too long playing to the crowd, which ended up with her letting Conti get the upper hand and she never let up after that. A typical quasi-squash match.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #3: Gunn Club (Austin & Colten) def. JB Cole & T.I.M
My Thoughts: The Ass Boys are in action and unlike last week they’re sticking around for this match. Which is a shame, just having their dad fight alone was a lot more fun than this. Though the crowd made this one better with the “Ass Boys” chants. T.I.M had a great outing in this match though, much better than his last appearance for AEW, even though he was booked in a squash match!
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #4: Frankie Kazarian def. Labron Kozone
My Thoughts: This match was a perfect example of why AEW quasi-squash matches work. Kazarian gave Kozone space and time to show off what he could do, putting him over with the crowd (and showing he has some great talent I’d like to see more of in AEW) before taking control and getting a decisive win with the Cross-Face Chicken Wing… Gotta love the name of that move!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #5: Ruby Soho def. Kenzie Paige
My Thoughts: The crowd in attendance REALLY popped for Soho as she came out. As for the match itself, this was another of AEW’s quasi-squash matches, with Soho, like Kazarianm in the last match, giving Paige just enough leeway to make this not a total squash. Like Ameera in her match against Tay Conti, Paige made the mistake of taunting Soho and the crowd rather than trying to get the win over Soho – who would eventually hit the No Future for the win.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #6: Private Party def. Chase Emory & Patrick Scott
My Thoughts: Nice to see Private Party get a “solo” match, with no appearance of, or interference by, HFO. It was actually refreshing to see them get back to basics, even if there was too much showboating from the duo. Unfortunately for their opponents Chase Emory and Patrick Scott this was a decisive squash match and they weren’t given a chance to do anything other than take a beating at the hands of Private Party.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #7: Jay Lethal def. Alexander Moss
My Thoughts: Well this was interesting, Alexander Moss was trained by Labron Kozone who also appeared on this show and, like his trainer, Moss put in a great showing against the most established veteran performer. Loved the fact that Moss didn’t roll over, even getting out of a pin to the surprise of Jay Lethal. FOr someone who’s only been wrestling since 2018, Moss looked really good here and I’d like to see him face more of the AEW roster.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2.5/5
The scores for the matches and the show might not be high, thanks to too many squash/quasi-squash matches but that doesn’t mean this wasn’t a better episode of Elevation. This one worked as the show kept flowing and the matches were either fast-paced and/or exciting enough to keep the momentum going. I do think that the opener and main event should have been switched though IMHO.
