‘AEW: Dark’ Review (May 3rd 2022)
Welcome to this week’s review of AEW: Dark which comes from AEW Universal and features 9 matches this week. Once again we’ve got Taz and Excalibur on commentary… Let’s get into the review!
Match #1: John Silver def. Ryan Nemeth
My Thoughts: As this match started I couldn’t help but with John Silver would kick the living crap out of Ryan Nemeth. If ever there was a wrestler in AEW who need an overhaul it’s Nemeth. His gimmick sucks and no matter how many times he tries to sell it on TV or on Being the Elite it doesn’t get over. Ever. To be fair though both men put on a great opening match – I might not like the gimmick but Nemeth (and Silver) can wrestle.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #2: Varsity Blonds def. The Workhorsemen
My Thoughts: Always love seeing JD Drake wrestle and now he’s with his longtime tag partner Anthony Henry in The Workhorsemen I’m hoping he’ll be given more serious opportunities than when he was the comedy guy in the Wingmen. I do think The Workhorsemen deserved to pick up the win here, though given that Varsity Blonds are the company’s “golden boys” that was never going to happen. Does anyone else think the Blonds need an injection of something interesting now? The guys can wrestle but the team’s getting a bit stale now – maybe it’s about time Julia Hart fully turns to give the group something more to do methinks.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #3: Shawn Spears def. Lord Crewe
My Thoughts: Shawn Spears is, IMHO, another AEW star who needs ‘something’ to change things up for his character (more matches like this one would help). But there’s no denying he can wrestle, as can his opponent here – Lord Crewe – who makes his second appearance for AEW in this match. Spears did the usual heel stuff here, antagonising the ref and the crowd – which at least got the crowd involved and engaged in this one.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #4: Ricky Starks & Powerhouse Hobbs def. Terry Yaki & Jay Lucas
My Thoughts: Straight out of the gate, this SHOULD have been a total squash match However Starks and Hobbs let their opponents Terry Yaki & Jay Lucas get in a bit too much offence! To be fair to Starks and Hobbs it’s a joy to watch them wrestle – Starks gets to do the flashy wrestling (and showboat) and Hobbs gets to kick arse and they’re both great at what they do. A perfect combo.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #5: Julia Hart def. Jacey Love
My Thoughts: Squash-tastic! This was a short and sweet example of the AEW quasi-squash, with Jacey Love getting just enough offence in to not make this a total demolition of her character. Meanwhile, Julia Hart does the aggressive wrestling she’s been building up slowly over the past few weeks. Again, can we just have her turn now and join House of Black? Or drop the gimmick? Either way, something needs to happen and happen now.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #6: Tony Nese def. Leon Ruffin
My Thoughts: Former NXT star Leon Ruff makes his AEW debut against another former WWE wrestler and both men put on a banger. This was easily one of the best matches of the show, with both men showing off their skills in both offence AND selling for the other guy. Besides being one of the best matches of the night, it was also one of Nese’s best matches since arriving in AEW.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #7: Angelico def. Yuya Uemera
My Thoughts: NJPW’s Yuya Uemera makes his AEW debut, clearly as part of the build to the Forbidden Door pay per view. Against Angelico of all people, an AEW wrestler who’s been out of action for while until VERY recently. And guess what? In the time he was away I’d forgotten just how damn good he is! And Yuya Uemera matched him all the way (Sidenote: can we get Uemera and Takeshita wrestling on AEW programming more regularly? Both add a LOT to AEW’s roster). THIS was the best match of the night for me. Never thought I’d say that about an Angelico match a year or so ago.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #8: Dante Martin def. Invictus Khash
My Thoughts: Another great match as the end of Dark approaches. This show was definitely one of two halves, the latter portion of the show being much better than the early matches on the card (though none really disappointed at all). Invictus Khash has out on some great matches in AEW previously and he does it again here, really taking it to Dante Martin and giving him a real challenge – working Martin’s arm was a great bit of storytelling that took out some of the nimbleness of the high flyer. Great storytelling in this one.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #9: Toni Storm def. Diamante
My Thoughts: Toni Storm makes her first appearance in front of fans at AEW Universal in a match against Diamante – and a match that I expected to be a hard-hitting match-up. Diamante got in a lot of offence here, making this hard work for Storm – which worked for both women. Diamante has always been shown to be a badass and even in defeat she maintains that reputation. By the same token, Storm showed the grit and determination she’s been known for in the past. So two women doing what they do best then in a fantastic main event!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 4/5
Probably one of the best all-round episodes we’ve had of Dark in some time. The matches in the latter half of the show could ALL have easily been on Dynamite or Rampage and that’s saying a lot for this “little” studio show.
