‘AEW Dark: Elevation – Episode 69’ Review
Welcome to this week’s review of AEW Dark: Elevation which sees the show get back to a longer card, featuring seven matches this week. We’ve got Excalibur, Anthony Ogogo and Mark Henry on commentary once again… Let’s get into it!
Match #1: Anna Jay def. Heather Reckless
My Thoughts: This was a quasi-squash, with Heather Reckless given a couple of chances to get a shot in on Anna Jay, otherwise this was all Anna – a woman who’s literally getting better and better each and every time she wrestles. It helps that you’ve got someone like Reckless as an opponent – she can really sell a move!
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #2: Powerhouse Hobbs & Rocky Starks def. Jordan Kross & Joey Jett
My Thoughts: What’s not to love about Hobbs & Starks? Plus this week we actually get Taz come out with them and stand ringside! Kross and Jett looked like low-budget versions of Lance Archer and Rockstar Spud… which means they stood ZERO chance in this match, even if they did get a little bit of offence in!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #3: Ruby Soho def. Missa Kate
My Thoughts: Another quasi-squash match for AEW’s women’s division, with this match at first acting as a Soho showcase, and a chance for her to bulk up those win/loss stats. However, Missa Kate did plant Soho in the corner with a nasty-looking faceplant on the turnbuckle, which I rather enjoyed! And she delivered a huge kick to Soho too, that looked like this one was going to be more evenly matched… Until Soho got the quick pin straight afterwards!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #4: Swerve in Our Glory – Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland def. GPA and Vic Capri
My Thoughts: Not sure when this was filmed but Keith Lee & Swerve Strickland seemed to be less coherent as a team in this match than in their Buy-In match at Forbidden Door. This one ended with The Butcher, The Blade, and The Bunny staring down Lee & Strickland… But The Bunny is currently on the injured list. So when was this filmed again?
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #5: Ethan Page def. Serpentico
My Thoughts: I was hoping we’d see Serpentico pull something out of the bag as he has done in previous singles matches recently. But no, This was a quick, definitive squash match; with Page getting a very quick win!
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #6: John Silver def. KM
My Thoughts: This was a great singles out for Dark Order’s John Silver, showcasing his strength and skill – especially against someone of KM’s size and stature! To be fair KM didn’t come out of this one looking too bad either!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #7: Buddy Matthews and Brody King def. Brubaker and CJ Esparza
My Thoughts: This was House of Black being as nasty and brutal as they can be… Everything you want from the dark team! Again, it’s been reported Matthews has been working injured, so is that the case here or was this filmed prior to that? If it’s the former you really can’t tell at all – Matthews looked like a beast here!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #8: Max Caster, Austin Gunn and Colten Gunn def. Evil Uno, Alex Reynolds and 10
My Thoughts: These guys again? Seriously, can we get some other people in the main event of Dark and Elevation? I’m not saying don’t have them on the show, just don’t keep putting them in the main event week after week.
My Score: 1 out of 5 (because this is getting tiring now)
Final Verdict: 2.5/5
It’s weeks like this that make me wonder if AEW’s YouTube shows are worth sticking with… When it comes to storytelling, especially around pay-per-views, these shows feel so out of step with what’s happening on Dynamite and Rampage.
