‘AEW: Dark’ Review (June 21st 2022)
Another episode of AEW: Dark, which this week is back being taped at AEW Universal. Let’s join Taz and Excalibur, commentators for Dark as usual, and see what this week’s NINE matches have in store… The match count keeps getting higher!
Match #1: Max Caster def. Trever Aeon
My Thoughts: Trever Aeon certainly has a striking look, however he didn’t have the striking ability to beat Max Caster who took the fight to Aeon in a typical AEW quasi-squash match!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #2: Serpentico def. Vary Morales
My Thoughts: Serpentico wrestling in another singles match without Luther? Joy! Here he takes on the ever-reliable Vary Morales, who’s always impressed in his AEW appearances. And that’s the case here too, as Morales goes toe-to-toe with Serpentico in a fantastic, fast-paced match between two evenly-matched competitors.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #3: Kris Statlander def. Ava Everett
My Thoughts: Ava Everett makes her AEW debut getting squashed by Kris Statlander. And by squashed I mean she didn’t even get a chance to take a breath before Statlander hit her with a couple of power moves and got the pin.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #4: Dark Order (Alex Reynolds & John Silver) def. The Wingmen (Cezar Bononi & Peter Avalon)
My Thoughts: Dark Order get a new team to feud with. Yay! We’ve had plenty of matches between Dark Order and The Factory, so much so that it became super-repetitive. Here’s hoping this new feud; because hopefully this is a new long(ish) running feud that doesn’t get stale fast and they eep it up in this fashion as both teams opened this new feud strong!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #5: The Varsity Blonds (Brian Pillman Jr. & Griff Garrison) & Brock Anderson def. Larry Lazaro, Terry Yaki & Jay Lucas
My Thoughts: Brock Anderson’s tag partner Lee Johnson is apparently out with injury so he gets teamed with the Varsity Blonds for a trios match against a handful of enhancement talents and I don’t know who needed this team-up more, Anderson or the Blonds.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #6: Diamante def. Devlyn Macabre
My Thoughts: This was a short and sweet quasi-squash match, with Diamante giving Devlyn Macabre room to get in some offence and showcase her skills to those, like me, who are unfamiliar with her work outside of her prior appearance in AEW. After this I wouldn’t mind seeing a rematch between the two if I’m honest.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #7: Tony Nese def. JDX
My Thoughts: We get Tony Nese in a Pure Rules ROH match to set up a match against Wheeler Yuta, the current champ. That’s pretty much the only reason this match existed, though kudos to JDX for taking it to Nese – so much so that Nese didn’t come out of this quasi-squash match as strong as he probably should!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #8: Mercedes Martinez & Serena Deeb def. Yade & Anna Diaz
My Thoughts: Mercedes Martinez & Serena Deeb’s tempestuous relationship continues in a quick squash match that did more to sell the fragility of this tag team than the actual match. You’d got to expect the pair will face each other somewhere down the line when their tag run breaks up right? Right?!
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #9: Jay Lethal def. Blake Christian
My Thoughts: AEW sold this one throughout this episode with both sides cutting a promo on the other, only Jay Lethal didn’t participate in the match that saw Matt Cardona tear his bicep off the bone did he? No. That was Blake Christian, who’s been doing some great work on the indies since being released from his short stint in NXT. You knew Christian wasn’t going to win this but damn did I really want him too. Deserved it more than Lethal that’s for sure!
