‘AEW: Dark’ Review (May 31st 2022)
Another episode of AEW: Dark and another short post-Double or Nothing show. After yesterday’s 20-minute Elevation we get a sub-30 minute episode of Dark AND another title defence for Mercedes Martinez! Taz and Excalibur are joined by Caprice Coleman on commentary for the matches this week!
Match #1: ROH Women’s Championship – Mercedes Martinez def. Viva Van
My Thoughts: The veteran Mercedes Martinez faces yeat another “green” wrestler in Viva Van, who only has three years under her belt compared to Martinez’s 21 years in the business! This was a patented (by me) AEW quasi-squash match, with Van given a little room to get some offence in before being dominated by Martinez. Better than Martinez’s Elevation match.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #2: The Butcher & The Blade def. Hunter Grey & Paul Titan
My Thoughts: Well Hunter Grey & Paul Titan have an interesting look. Didn’t stop them from being squashed by The Butcher & The Blade though did it? Nope. This was short and sweet. No wonder they’ve crammed so many matches in this 30-ish minute show. They’re all squashes!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #3: Anthony Ogogo def. Carlie Bravo
My Thoughts: I say it every time he’s on the show but I’m a fan of Carlie Bravo. I’ve also said that I’m not a fan of Ogogo’s wrestling style sometimes too. So swings and roundabouts. Though credit to Ogogo, that finisher looked amazing – throwing Bravo into the air and knocking him out with a ounch on the way down. Fantastic stuff!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #4: Jamie Hayter def. Danika Della Rouge
My Thoughts: Danika Della Rouge makes her AEW debut against one of AEW’s best, and most underrated female wrestlers, someone who deserves to get out from under Britt Baker’s shadow and get in the title scene ASAP. Even in a short squash match like this, Hayter impresses.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #5: Evil Uno, John Silver, & 10 def. Serpentico, Ryan Nemeth, & Pretty Peter Avalon
My Thoughts: Serpentico with two of The Wingmen? A weird combo but I’ll take it over an screaming, shouting appearance by Luther! This was essentially the Dark order trio beating down Serpentico for 90% of the match before he managed to tag in Peter Avalon and he and Nemeth double-teamed Evil Uno. The Wingmen got a smidgen of offence in before the match swung back in Dark Order’s favour and they got the win following a pendulum powerbomb.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2.5/5
To repeat what I said about this week’s Elevation, it’s hard to judge a such a short show, even more so when its packed with squash matches. And even though it’s nice to have such a short show after last week’s deluge of AEW programming, this never got above 2nd gear. Average at best.
