‘AEW: Dark’ Review (June 14th 2022)
Another episode of AEW: Dark, which this week was apparently taped around an episode of Rampage so we get a decent crowd and bigger names on the card. Let’s join Taz and Excalibur, commentators for Dark as usual, and see what this week’s EIGHT matches have in store… Those match counts are getting bigger and bigger the further we get from Double or Nothing.
Match #1: QT Marshall def. Alan Angels
My Thoughts: WTF?! We closed this week’s Elevation with Dark Order versus The Factory and open this week’s Dark with Alan Angels versus QT Marshall… Running out of ideas much? I’m really starting to wonder what the hell the plan is, if there is a plan, with these recurring Dark Order/The Factory matches? Feuding on YouTube shows but not referencing them outside of YouTube. Hell, I’m expecting to see both teams start Dynamite and/or Rampage feuds with OTHER teams to confuse things further! As usual Alan Angels lost his solo match… Big surprise there (note the sarcasm).
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #2: Bobby Fish def. Brock Anderson
My Thoughts: This was exactly what you expected it to be. Bobby Fish dominating the younger, greener, Brock Anderson. This was a veteran taking apart a youngster in the most wrestling way possible – methodical and with malice. Anderson got a few moves in, which meant this wasn’t a total squash. Plus Fish made the entire thing look good.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #3: The Jericho Appreciation Society def. Jack Banning, Ray Rosa, and Sinn Bodhi
My Thoughts: A promo in the guise of a match, That’s what this was, with the JAS demolishing their opponents and then ranting at Eddie Kingston and co. to sell the Blood and Guts show. I get that this is giving Daniel Garcia the spotlight but I can’t help that it’s a total fucking waste of a fantastic talent.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #4: Anna Jay, Ruby Soho & Kris Statlander def. Nyla Rose, Emi Sakura & Diamanté
My Thoughts: Another Dark, another 6-woman Trios match. Unlike the Dark Order/Factory matches, these women’s matches at least rotate the members MOST of the time – though we’ve seen this particular match-up a few times now. Still, if these matches get Diamante on AEW programming more then I’m all for it. Interesting that the heels all had to come out together, whilst the faces all got individual entrances… Seems a bit biased if you ask me! A dependable match as per usual.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #5: Anthony Ogogo def. Nick Ruiz
My Thoughts: Nick Ruiz, aka Wise Guy, aka Wise Guy Nick, gets to make his AEW debut in a match against a man whose matches are known for being squashes. Gotta feel for Ruiz.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #6: Konosuke Takeshita def. Nick Comoroto
My Thoughts: Match of the night. Match of the week, so far, too! I’ve loved Konosuke Takeshita’s run in AEW and this is probably up there as one of the best after the Adam Page match. Comoroto managed to play the big, bad villain perfectly here – showcasing his size and strength against a man who matched him step for step, blow for blow. My only issue with this match? It was too short. These two guys could’ve closed the show with a 20-minute barnstormer but hey, ho, you can’t have everything.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #7: Matt Sydal def. Taylor Rust
My Thoughts: Former NXT star, and member of the Diamond Mine (of which AEW’s Stokely Hathaway was the manager) AND former ROH wrestler Taylor Rust, aka Tyler Rust, aks Rust Taylor, makes his AEW debut against Matt Sydal – which is almost like being thrown to the wolves when it comes to wrestling; or a trial by fire if you will. Excalibur really out Rust over for those unaware of his background but he didn’t need to as Rust’s in-ring ability sold itself. A decent debut for Rust and a good follow-up to the previous match on this week’s Dark line-up.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #8: Ethan Page def. Kazarian
My Thoughts: Two guys who’ve got themselves huge matches coming up – Page against Miro and Kazarian appearing at Impact’s Slammiversary – face each other in the main event of Dark and it ends… screwy. The entire Men of the Year/Scorpio Sky/Frankie Kazarian thing has felt a little forced and so a touch weak and that’s totally apparent here, where the entire thing felt more like an opportunity to get all three members of SCU out in front of the Ontario, California crowd. Which was a waste of BOTH men’s talents!
