‘AEW: Dark’ Review (Feb 8th 2022)
It’s Wednesday morning so you know what that means… It’s time for our review of this weeks AEW: Dark, which this week comes from AEW Universal in Orlando, Florida. Like the show itself, let’s get right into the action!
Match #1: Julia Hart def. Kelsey Heather
My Thoughts: Julia Hart continues her aggressive streak AGAIN in this match, beating the hell out of her Kelsey Heather – an opponent who tried to trash talk too much and paid for it. Long may this streak continue as it’s certainly improved the presentation of Hart over the past few weeks. Hart ended the match with the same great-looking submission finish too!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #2: Powerhouse Hobbs def. Gus De La Vega
My Thoughts: Hobbs laid out Vega before the bell even rang and then pummeled him around the ring in a squash match… Literally! Hobbs squashed Vega against the ropes, in the corner, everywhere! This was another example, which has been prevalent this week in AEW, of a wrestler playing with their opponent rather than ending it early.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #3: Gunn Club def. Liam Gray & Adrian Alanis
My Thoughts: Gunn Club, Ass Boys… here in the UK it’d probably be Bum Club (because it rhymes with Gunn). Whatever their name this duo have toned down the OTT behaviour and upped the heel work. Still, there’s no getting away from the fact both sons of a Gunn have no charisma. I was hoping Gray and Alanis would get more offence in but no, apart from a few hits, this was a squash.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #4: Mercedes Martinez def. Queen Aminata
My Thoughts: Mercedes Martinez follows up her DQ match on Rampage with a brutal assault on Queen Aminata, trash-talking, ass-kicking and everything in between. This was a show of complete strength and control by Martinez.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #5: Anthony Ogogo def. Tony Vincita
My Thoughts: This was exactly the same as every Ogogo match we’ve had since his return to AEW. A squash. And one that’s supposed to make Ogogo look like a killing machine. The first few times it did… Hey, at least these matches are letting Ogogo get experience, which is what both of these AEW YouTube shows are for.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #6: Lee Moriarty def. Anthony Henry
My Thoughts: Now THIS was a wrestling match! Moriarty and his technical skills took control early on but Henry was no slouch, eventually fighting back against his opponent and playing up to the crowd to get a reaction (as all good heels do) and Henry’s submission holds were great to see! This match was given time to breathe and told a really great story – it also showed off both guys skills, which is surprising given that this is only Anthony Henry’s second singles match in AEW.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #7: Anna Jay def. Kaci Lennox
My Thoughts: Kaci Lennox surprised here, taking it to Anna Jay in a vicious manner. Although the flurry of fists wasn’t enough to get the win as the tables turned and Jay hit the queen slayer for the win. Nothing remarkable but nothing disappointing either.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #8: Fuego Del Sol def. Serpentico
My Thoughts: Fuego Del Sol never disappoints and, when working singles matches, neither does Serpentico. I just wish they’d left Luther in the back – between his screaming, the interference and the “comedy” shenanigans he really took away from what was happening inside the ring – a fast-paced, well-matched duo working their asses off to deliver one of the highlights of this episode. So well-matched were this pair that you actually, for the first time in forever, thought Serpentico could, and would, pick up the win!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #9: Wheeler Yuta vs. Aaron Solo
My Thoughts: If there’s one thing you can say about Aaron Solo, it’s that he can pull off good matches no matter the opponent. It’s a credit to his experience as a wrestler and a trainer that he knows how to look good AND make his opponent look good. Building on his recent match against Moxley, Yuta looked a lot better and wrestled to a higher standard compared to what we’ve seen before; and both men delivered a solid main event.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2.5/5
Three great matches and a bunch of filler and squash matches makes for another average episode of AEW: Dark. There was nothing here that disappointed but not much to get too excited about either, The appearance of Orange Cassidy at the end of the show ended this on a high though!
