‘AEW: Dark – Special’ (May 28th 2022)
Welcome to this bonus review of AEW’s special pre-PPV Saturday edition episode of AEW: Dark which usually means that either a) AEW are burning off pre-taped stuff that doesn’t fit into post-PPV storylines OR b) are building hype for said PPV. Given this episode comes from Las Vegas, I’ll bet it’s the latter… Let’s see!
Match #1: Darby Allin def. Brandon Cutler
My Thoughts: This was short and sweet, essentially a squash match-come-promo for Allin’s pay per view match against Kyle O’Reilly. Cutler stood no chance and with a few moves Allin put him away. Nice submission finish to this one – proving Allin has more in the tank than the coffin drop.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #2: Anna Jay def. Sandra Moone
My Thoughts: Again this was something of a warm-up match for Anna Jay before her PPV match against Jade Cargill. Moone had just enough of a window to get in some offence, making this less of a squash match than usual. Judging by how this one went I’m expecting something very similar in terms of speed and style at Double or Nothing.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #3: House of Black def. Adriel Noctis, Gregory Sharpe & Matt Brannigan
My Thoughts: I was expecting House of Black’s intro to last longer than the match itself as Malakai Black and co. made short work of the enhancement talent sacrificed to them. But that wasn’t the case. Black instead toyed with all three of his opponents before feeding them to Matthews and King who pretty much repeated what Black did, toying with their three poor, poor opponents and dragging this one out longer than it had any right to.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #4: Riho, Yuka Sakazaki, Skye Blue def. Emi Sakura, Nyla Rose & Diamante
My Thoughts: We’re back to the women’s trios matches again for this one with Emi Sakura, Nyla Rose & Diamante reteaming to take on a team that were the clear fan (and audience) favourites. LOVED how Yuka opened this match, running scared from the much bigger Nyla Rose! This match played out like a lot of these trios matches do, with the heels taking control early and dominating before Yuka finally tagged in and got some offence in on Sakura. Then things switched up and the trio of Yuka, Riho and Skye got on a roll, and got the win.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #5: Death Triangle def. QT Marshall, Nick Comoroto & Aaron Solo
My Thoughts: Much like House of Black did, Death Triangle gave away far too much to the Factory. So much so that it looked like QT and co. could’ve got the win at various points in this one – especially when they played up Comoroto’s size and strength. I think the longer this one went on, the weaker Death Triangle looked going into Double or Nothing and their match against House of Black. And that QT spot against PAC? And the Liger Bomb follow-up? WTF were they thinking having the Factory pull that off this close to the PPV? Still, on its own this was a good, nay great match, it just made no sense in terms of the weekend’s storytelling.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #6: Johnny Elite def. Marq Quen
My Thoughts: I have to apologise to Marq Quen, because as soon as his opponent Johnny Elite came out I switched off. I really LOVE John Morrison as the parkour-practising action movie star but as a wrestler? He needs to change things up… and no I don’t just mean changing his surname gimmick. And why was THIS match the main event of the show? And what was that weird post-match “dance-off”?
My Score: 2 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
Some weird booking decisions and a weirder main event didn’t stop this from being one of AEW: Dark‘s better episodes, beating out this week’s traditional Tuesday one that’s for sure!
