‘AEW: Dark’ Review (March 8th 2022)
Welcome to this week’s review of AEW: Dark, which airs just 48 hours after the companies Revolution pay per view. This one is in front of a hot crowd at a pre-Rampage taping. With 1o matches on this card there’s a lot to cover so let’s get right to it.
Match #1: Anna Jay def. Marina Tucker
My Thoughts: This was Anna Jay doing another of her squash matches, taking just over a minute to put Marina Tucker away with the Queen Slayer. Other than that there was nothing much to this one.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #2: Scorpio Sky def. Sonny Kiss
My Thoughts: With Scorpio Sky set to fight Sammy Guevara on Dynamite this week you’d think he’d be taking things easy but no, Sonny Kiss actually give Sky a run for his money in this match. Sky looked like the dominant wrestler he is for the most part but Sonny Kiss didn’t just roll over and take the pin either, using speed and agility to combat Sky’s strength and veteran skills, ultimately making Scorpio Sky get more vicious than usual in order to get the eventual win.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #3: Red Velvet def. Kiera Hogan
My Thoughts: I’ve said it before and will say it again. Kiera Hogan seems to be missing something in her presentation since signing with AEW. Maybe it’s because AEW’s women’s roster is deeper than Impact’s? Whatever it is (I think it’s that she’s booked as more of a babyface rather than heel) Hogan doesn’t seem to be the “star” she was in her previous promotion and that showed here, losing to Red Velvet in a rather quick fashion even though she mounted the better offence.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #4: Top Flight (Dante Martin & Darius Martin) def. The Wingmen (Peter Avalon & Ryan Nemeth)
My Thoughts: So good to see the Martin brothers back together in tag team action and I really appreciated that AEW gave Darius the spotlight in the Casino Battle Royale. The crowd was WELL behind Top Flight for this match and with good reason, they took charge of this one early and looked like they were due a quick win. Of course, the Wingmen being FOUR guys meant that interference was inevitable and that allowed the Wingmen to get control. For a little bit. But this match was ultimately Top Flight’s to win and they looked very good doing so (and the Wingmen didn’t look too bad here either).
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #5: Kris Statlander def. Kelsey Raegan
My Thoughts: Kelsey Raegan makes another appearance for AEW and gets her arse handed to her by Kris Statlander, only managing the slightest of offence before getting hit with the Big Bang Theory, giving Statlander the win. Oh, and Danhausen makes yet another appearance in a “Best Friends” match!
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #6: AQA & Ruby Soho def. Diamante & Emi Sakura
My Thoughts: The recently signed AQA gets an outing as tag partner for Ruby Soho in a multi-woman match this week. At least it makes a change for a tag match rather than trios one! Diamante is teamed with Emi Sakura once again and both are impressive hard-hitters. Even in their first pairing Soho and AQA looked like a tag team both in terms of style and performance and I’d certainly like to see the duo continue to mix it up as a team in the women’s division. Nice to see a women’s match tonight got longer than two minutes too!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #7: The Butcher and The Blade def. Dark Order’s Alan Angels & Colt Cabana
My Thoughts: This was a great tag match that made The Butcher and The Blade look more badass than they have recently – they really need to get away from the A.H.F.O. as soon as possible, it does nothing for them other than make them identikit “henchmen,” rather than the superb tag team they are. The fact the Angles has been on a winning run AND Colt Cabana is back in action for Dark Order I thought this could’ve gone either way but the right team won it.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #8: Nyla Rose def. Skye Blue
My Thoughts: We’re in AEW quasi-squash territory with this match, with Skye Blue given just enough time and space to put in some offence before Ayla Rose took control with a beast bomb out of nowhere for the win. More like this from Skye Blue please!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #9: Jay Lethal def. Serpentico
My Thoughts: I could really copy and paste my thoughts from any of Serpentico’s singles outings with Luther in his corner for this one. Stop it AEW. Stop it. Serpentico looks stronger and wrestles better in singles matches WITHOUT Luther, who just distracts from the match. You don’t have to have Serpentico win matches but give him some leeway to at least look like decent competition as he has done in the past.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #10: Private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen) def. Brock Anderson & Lee Johnson
My Thoughts: This was a decent match, especially when Kassidy and Johnson were going toe to toe. Speaking of which, Kassidy seems to be getting the spotlight both on AEW shows AND the various vlogs that the roster have and he seems to be stepping up in the ring too. This felt a little rushed, especially the finish but I can forgive that.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
A solid episode of Dark that made up for the squash matches with some actual, real, matches that would also be TV-worthy. Now if we can just get ALL the matches on this show competitive I’d be a happy bunny. But that’s not how wrestling shows work right?
