‘AEW Dark: Elevation – Episode 57’ Review
Welcome to this week’s review of AEW Dark: Elevation, we’ve got Tony Schiavone, Paul Wight and Mark Henry on commentary and an 8-match, still sub 50 minutes, card this week… Let’s get right into the review and the action!
Match #1: Leyla Hirsch def. Ella Envy
My Thoughts: Leyla Hirsch opens the show! Love to see it. Hirsch demolished her opponent in this one, in a clear squash match that legitimised (pun intended) Hirsch’s new nasty, hard-hitting, nature. It’s times like this that sqash matches DO work!
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #2: Brock Anderson & Lee Johnson def. The Factory (QT Marshall & Aaron Solo)
My Thoughts: Cracking tag team action from Brock Anderson and Lee Johnson. The former is really coming along in terms of skill and presentation, leaning into his resemblance to his father in looks AND movies now. QT Marshall did his usual shtick, playing the perfect heel, whilst Aaron Solo did all the great wrestling for his team.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #3: Serena Deeb def. Dani Mo
My Thoughts: Dani Mo looks the part but you know Serena Deeb isn’t going to give her any slack, keeping up that mean streak that fans love. Another squash match but another one that worked.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #4: Frankie Kazarian def. Lucky Ali
My Thoughts: I thought this one was going to go the same way as Serena Deeb’s match but instead Frankie Kazarian gave Lucky Ali enough space to make an impact and show what he’s got. A great showcase for Ali against one of the true veterans of the sport.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #5: Red Velvet def. Brittany Jade
My Thoughts: This was an example of AEW’s typical quasi-squash match, with Brittany Jade – making her AEW debut – giving just enough offence to stop this from being a total squash. Red Velvet improves with each and every match and looked smoother here than in previous matches, she’s definitely becoming one of the mainstays of AEW’s women’s division and give it a couple of years and she’ll be main eventing every week.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #6: Best Friends (Trent Beretta & Chuck Taylor) def. The WorkHorsemen (JD Drake & Anthony Henry)
My Thoughts: I love me some JD Drake and it’s great to see him as part of The WorkHorsemen again – it’s a role that makes him less of a gimmick wrestler than he is as part of the Wingmen. The WorkHorsemen actually got in some great offence against the Best Friends, who you’d expect to win this one with a quick squash. But no, this was a great tag team match that was easily the best match of the night.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #7: Ruby Soho & Anna Jay def. Diamante & Ashley D’Amboise
My Thoughts: Another good outing for the tag team of Ruby Soho and Anna Jay, though surprisingly Anna Jay looked better than the more experienced Soho. Speaking of experience, Ashley D’Amboise took the loss for her team which meant Diamante didn’t look weak in defeat – so much so she even buried D’Amboise post-match!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #8: Paul Wight def. Austin Green
My Thoughts: This felt like something of a bonus match, a match to get Paul Wight in front of a home crowd to send everyone home happy. Which is a polite way of saying this was a short squash. Though Austin Green looked interesting, his size and strength making me want to see more.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2.5/5
This felt like a step up (slightly) from last week’s episode, though this was still another average episode of Elevation, packed with squash matches of varying success. Thankfully we got a few decent tag match to make up for it.
