19th May2022

‘AEW: Dark’ Review (May 17th 2022)

by Phil Wheat

Welcome to this week’s review of AEW: Dark which comes from AEW Universal and features 9 matches this week. Well, nine from Universal… we do have a tenth match but it seems to have been filmed during a Rampage taping away from AEW Universal (was it cut from a previous episode?). Once again we’ve got Taz and Excalibur on commentary… Let’s get into the review!

Match #1: Max Caster def. Tyler Uriah

My Thoughts: Tyler Uriah (what a name) makes his AEW debut in a singles match against Max Caster, who’s at AEW Universal sans Anthony Bowens. Shocker! Caster even had to get an audience member to do Bowens’ part of the Acclaimed’s intro! I was expecting a squash match but Uriah actually delivered some decent offence before Caster got the pin, plus this got more time than the usual AEW squash.

My Score: 2.5 out of 5

Match #2: Marina Shafir def. Layna Lennox

My Thoughts: I feel like Shafir is going to become the top dog of Dark and Elevation given by how many shows she’s appeared on, plus I don’t think she’s over too well with the main AEW crowd – especially after her match against Jade Cargill. But that’s not a bad thing, it’s like Adam Cole, Johnny Gargano etc. did in NXT. It worked out for them and it can work for Shafir. Though kudos to the debuting Layna Lennox who REALLY sold for Shafir, making her look even more badass than usual.

My Score: 2.5 out of 5

Match #3: Bear Country (Bear Bronson & Bear Boulder) def. The Workhorsemen (Anthony Henry & JD Drake)

My Thoughts: Now this is what I like to see, two great tag teams – whose work and characterisation I really enjoy – going at it in a hard-hitting match. Good to see bear Country back in action after their sudden disappearance from AEW programming. Bronson, Boulder and Drake were pretty much evenly matched and despite his obvious speed advantage, it was Henry’s size difference that cost The Workhorsemen the match. Great stuff.

My Score: 3 out of 5

Match #4: Emi Sakura def. Devlyn Macabre

My Thoughts: Another AEW quasi-squash match, this time with Emi Sakura making short work of the debuting Devlyn Macabre. Kudos to Macabre, she managed to impress with a brief flurry of offence (as is usual for AEW’s quasi-squashes) but for the most part, she was a punching bag for Sakura!

My Score: 2 out of 5

Match #5: Angelico & Jora Johl def. Baron Black & Anthony Catena

My Thoughts: I love how Angelico is back in the spotlight AND is seemingly focussing on wrestling rather than showboating. Also great to see Baron Black back in AEW, if only as enhancement talent. Johl and Angelico had total control of this one for the most part. Consider this another AEW quasi-squash but of the tag team variety.

My Score: 2.5 out of 5

Match #6: Trent def. Ryan Nemeth

My Thoughts: Loving how AEW has put “bigger” names of Dark and Elevation this week. Unlike most people, who think having big names on the two YouTube shows is AEW not using their talent right. THEY ARE. They’re using names to get people to watch, it’s how you build an audience. Dumbasses! Trent kicked Nemeth’s arse here, as he should. A run-in from Peter Avalon post-match brought a Roppongi Vice reunion. Which was nice.

My Score: 2 out of 5

Match #7: Skye Blue def. Amber Nova

My Thoughts: Loved Amber Nova’s heel work in the opening of this one. This one looked like it was going to be an even match until Blue picked up the quick pin after a two-move combination. It was really out of the … pun intended… blue!

My Score: 2 out of 5

Match #8: Yuya Uemura, Clark Connors, Karl Fredericks, Alex Coughlin & Kevin Knight def. QT Marshall, Aaron Solo, Nick Comoroto, Brick Aldridge & Blake Li

My Thoughts: NJPW’s L.A. Dojo versus The Factory… A great teaser for the Forbidden Door pay per view AND another appearance in AEW for Yuya Uemura after his superb match against Angelico earlier this month. This was a fantastic showcase for the L.A. Dojo boys, even if they did all blend into one and there were no standouts among them… Them’s the breaks when it comes to multi-man action.

My Score: 3 out of 5

Match #9: ROH Pure Championship Match – Wheeler Yuta vs. Josh Woods

My Thoughts: This was a great ROH pure rules match. I was surprised to see Yuta use ALL of his rope breaks and get penalised for a closed fist punch. Even more surprising was how Yuta managed to get the win, seemingly by a quick “flukey’ roll-up. Josh Woods looked really good in defeat, proving why he needs to be in the new ROH roster – if and when we get separate ROH programming.

My Score: 3.5 out of 5

[Bonus] Match #10: Swerve Strickland & Keith Lee def. Chaos Project (Luther & Serpentico)

My Thoughts: If you’ve read ANY of my reviews of Serpentico’s recent singles matches you’ll know how much better I think he is away from Luther. And nowhere is that more apparent than in this match. Serpentico plays the total fool in this one, comedy wrestling all the way. This pretty much makes a mockery of Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland, two men who deserve more than to appear in a comedy wrestling match. No wonder this is a “bonus” match. I thought the IWC were over-exaggerating how badly this wasted two hot talents but they weren’t!

My Score: 2 out of 5

Final Verdict: 2.5/5

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