16th Mar2022

‘AEW: Dark’ Review (March 15th 2022)

by Phil Wheat

It’s time for this week’s review of AEW: Dark, which once again comes from AEW Universal and, surprisingly, features an appearance by the Young Bucks… On Dark?! What’s going on? The Bucks taking a walk down memory lane? Let’s take a look.

Match #1: The Young Bucks & Brandon Cutler def. Dark Order (Alan Angels, Colt Cabana & Evil Uno)

My Thoughts: This was a great opening match with both teams looking good. Cutler did his usual goofy stuff and STILL got the pin. You knew Dark Order weren’t going to win this one but Cutler getting the pin? Really?! Still, a really good match to open Dark. Still weird seeing the Bucks wrestle at Universal Studios again though…

My Score: 3 out of 5

Match #2: Ruby Soho def. Ashley D’Amboise

My Thoughts: Nice to see Ashley D’Amboise back on AEW programming and, once again, she impresses even in the loss. A typical AEW quasi-squash than felt really short compared to the opening match but still solid.

My Score: 2 out of 5

Match #3: Josh Woods def. AC Adams

My Thoughts: Ring of Honor’s Josh Woods, the company’s last ROH Pure champion in fact, made his AEW debut back in December and was last seen mixing it up earlier this month in a match against Daniel Garcia. This was in no way as good as that match, no way. It was a squash that was essentially there to sell the post-match promo about Tony Khan buying Ring of Honor. Never seen THAT finisher before, which is something.

My Score: 1.5 out of 5

Match #4: Ricky Starks def. Darian Bengston

My Thoughts: Always enjoy seeing Darian Bengston in AEW and he didn’t disappoint here either. Apparently, this episode was taped BEFORE the pay per view where Starks took a nasty looking bump on his neck so there are no worries about Starks not being 100% here. Which he certainly was, controlling the match from the get-go and looking smooth AND strong as he did so.

My Score: 3 out of 5

Match #5: Diamante def. Session Moth Martina

My Thoughts: Nice to see Session Moth Martina in another AEW match but this felt like filler and a waste of both ladies’ talents. Especially Diamante, who should be working bigger names in AEW. Hopefully matches like these stack her win/loss numbers and that happens soon.

My Score: 1.5 out of 5

Match #6: Dark Order’s John Silver & Alex Reynolds def. Chaos Project

My Thoughts: WTF?!! WE HAD THE EXACT SAME MATCH ON THIS WEEK’S ELEVATION! Yes, I’m shouting. I don’t understand why this match exists… methinks there was an error in scheduling given that this was a taped show. Hopefully it’s not a sign that Tony Khan has taken his eye off the ball because NO-ONE wanted this rematch. Still, it was a good match, can’t take anything away from those involved.

My Score: 2.5 out of 5

Match #7: Leyla Hirsch def. Marina Tucker

My Thoughts: Leyla Hirsch goes back to working Dark matches after her Kris Stantlander feud and that qualifying match loss against Thunder Rosa. Which is probably why she was so pissed off in this match, working over Marina Tucker in a vicious fashion. This was what you call a glorious squash!

My Score: 2.5 out of 5

Match #8: Top Flight def. Invictus Khash & Ariya Daivari

My Thoughts: Superb stuff. Invictus Khash & Ariya Daivari are a great team, Top Flight are even better. Which meant we got TV-worthy action out of this match, with both teams giving it their all. Top Flight eventually out-classed their opponents with the combination of speed and determination. Gotta love it. Absolutely fantastic promo post-match too!

My Score: 4 out of 5

Match #9: 10 def. Aaron Solo

My Thoughts: Waaaay too many things going on outside the ring in this match. Interference-city if you ask me… Or interference-Jones if Taz is talking! Otherwise, this was a solid if unremarkable match between two Dark mainstays.

My Score: 2.5 out of 5

Match #10: Emi Sakura def. Shalonce Royal

My Thoughts: Thank got this was short. hate to say it but I cannot stand Shalonce Royal’s singing gimmick – it grates as much as Luther’s screaming now. I really wanted Emi Sakura to beat the crap out of Royal and silence that voice. And that’s what we got.

My Score: 1 out of 5

Match #11: Lance Archer def. Sage Scott

My Thoughts: Again… Same old, same old for Lance Archer. Meh.

My Score: 1 out of 5

Match #12: 2point0 & Daniel Garcia def. Luke Sampson, Mike Reed, & Shane Stetson

My Thoughts: Messy, short, a waste of 2point0 and Daniel Garcia. Not sure there’s anything more to say about this match. This was such a disappointing outing for a trio who normally deliver every time. Better opponents next time maybe?

My Score: 1.5 out of 5

Match #13: Frankie Kazarian def. Jora Johl

My Thoughts: This was the main event? This? It felt more like Top Flight was the main event and they crammed a ton of filler after it to make sure the roster got air time… who knows if that’s true but this was certainly another disappointment. I don’t know what AEW can do with Frankie Kazarian but they can sure as hell stop putting him in all these Dark and Elevation matches. The dude is a guaranteed audience-pleaser and deserves better IMHO.

My Score: 2 out of 5

Final Verdict: 2.5/5

Well this was a VERY mixed bag. A few great matches, one superb one, a bunch of average matches and a whole heap of terrible ones. And what was with all the short women’s matches this episode too?! That ratio of matches is what you get when Dark runs over an hour and has over a dozen matches… Hell, at least we’re not getting the two-hour plus versions we used to get that were the same as this. The word of the week is disappointing.

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