‘AEW: Dark’ Review (Feb 15th 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: Jon Silver & Alex Reynolds def. Ariya Daivari & Invictus Khash
My Thoughts: A good opening match between two great teams. Daivari and Khash have looked good in all their AEW outings and that continues here. If anything this match felt like it ran a little short, even though it went over 5 minutes… The sign of a good match IMHO!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #2: QT Marshall def. Pat Brink
My Thoughts: I was surprised by how much Pat Brink was in control of this match, with Marshall only seeming to get the upper hand thanks to interference from the Nightmare Factory on the outside. Loved how Brink actually countered QT’s Diamond Cutter, don’t think we’ve seen that happen too often in AEW.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #3: Max Caster def. Cameron Stewart
My Thoughts: Cameron Stewart was a pretty decent opponent for Caster, providing a great foil for Caster’s offence. Such a shame then that this match was pretty much forgettable minutes after it ended.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #4: Tony Nese def. Carlie Bravo
My Thoughts: This was a decidedly average match, with nothing Nese did standing out (much like his AEW career so far). Carlie Bravo, who’s been such a stalwart of AEW’s enhancement talent roster, deserves better than appearing in average matches like this. Not even Nese’s “name” could make this match anything interesting.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #5: Emi Sakura def. Angelica Risk
My Thoughts: A good women’s match, with Emi Sakura delivering as usual. Why she’s not appearing on the main AEW programming more I don’t know. She always seems over with the audience and delivers great matches. So what’s the issue? Is it perhaps that she doesn’t fit the mold AEW has for their women?
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #6: 2point0 def. Metro Brothers
My Thoughts: What the hell was this? A tag team squash match that TOTALLY wasted 2point0, who are doing a lot more interesting things than this in AEW. This felt like the show needed a time filler and they were asked to oblige.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #7: MT Nakazawa def. Joey Sweets
My Thoughts: Nakazawa needs a gimmick change and some wrestling lessons ASAP. The HUGE botch in the corner took all the wind out of this match AND the audience watching. A joke of a match. Literally.
My Score: 0 out of 5
Match #8: Frankie Kazarian def. Luke Sampson
My Thoughts: This was two minutes of Kazarian kicking the arse of a guy that looked like a former member of the nWo, if the nWo had stunt doubles! Another example of AEW talent being wasted.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #9: Jora Johl def. Axel Rico
My Thoughts: Axel Rico makes his AEW debut here but it’s not exactly an auspicious start. This was like watching indie wrestlers in your local promotion but broadcast by an international wrestling promotion. Weak.
My Score: 0.5 out of 5
Match #10: Dark Order’s 5 & 10 def. Chaos Project
My Thoughts: As I’ve said before, Dark Order can always be trusted to deliver a good match and that was the case here. Luther upped the comedy antics in this match which was better than having him through Serpentico around the ring like normal.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #11: Anthony Bowens def. Fuego Del Sol
My Thoughts: Bowens was booked strong in this match, smashing Fuego’s winning “streak” (note the sarcasm). Fuego got in some decent offence as usual but the numbers game was the decider in this match – with Caster on the outside playing interference Fuego didn’t stand a chance. Best match of the night though.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2/5
This has to be one of the worst episodes of AEW: Dark in recent memory. Started out well and ended better but everything in between was a total waste of the talent involved and a waste of the time it took to watch it. It seems Tuesday February 15th 2022 was a bad day for AEW…
[SIDENOTE: I watch AEW: Dark (and Elevation) via the YouTube app on Apple TV and this week there have been MORE ads than you’d ever expect to see, even on TV, cutting into matches and taking the steam out of the entire show(s). You might want to have a word with YouTube there AEW… Can’t see many people enjoying the experience, and shows, if this continues]
