‘AEW Dark: Elevation – Episode 72’ Review
Welcome to this week’s review of AEW Dark: Elevation, the opening salvo in the AEW wrestling week. This time around we’ve got Excalibur, Caprice Coleman and Mark Henry on commentary and I’m digging the switch-ups we’ve had on the commentary team in recent weeks… Let’s see what the show has to offer!
Match #1: Bobby Fish def. Blake Li
My Thoughts: This felt very much like Bobby Fish getting back into the swing of things after not being on TV for a few weeks. Other than that this was your typical AEW quasi-squash match.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #2: Marina Shafir and Nyla Rose def. Skye Blue and Brittany
My Thoughts: Another squash match for this week’s Elevation, but one that makes sense given that Rose and Shfir are supposed to be the dominant team and Skye Blue is the underdog. Speaking of Shafir, it’s clear that working with Nyla Rose, hell working with a tag partner, has helped her come out of her shell a little. She looks like she has more personality in these matches than her stoic appearance in her singles work. And looks like she’s having fun.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #3: Julia Hart def. Amber Nova
My Thoughts: What’s that? Three squash, or quasi-squash, matches in a row? So it’s like that this week is it AEW? They should be keeping Julia Hart’s stuff short and sweet, both because she’s now in the House of Black, a dominant team, AND the fact she still has some way to go in terms of skillset. She’s improving, don’t get me wrong, but she’s still got room to grow. However, she suits the heel persona fabulously!
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #4: Ethan Page def. Leon Ruffin
My Thoughts: Woah, out of nowhere comes a FANTASTIC singles match. One that felt competitive, with both Ruffin and Page really working their asses off to make this one LITERALLY the best match on the card. This one had the time to tell a decent story and make for an exciting match. Both men came out of this one looking better than they did going in.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #5: Dark Order (Evil Uno and 10) def. The Hughes Brothers (Terrence and Terrell)
My Thoughts: Not quite back to a squash match, though Evil Uno and 10 were in control of this one from the outset. Much like Julia Hart, Terrence and Terrell have the look down pat but they still need to build their skillset. It’s the kind of thing where more and more experience will only help the duo. After all, their dad can teach them the moves right? They just need more experience to look and feel more comfortable in the ring.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #6: Butcher, Blade and Angelico def. Jameson Ryan, Brandon Bullock and Bryce Cannon
My Thoughts: And there’s the squash… You knew this was coming given that we got “enhancement talent” as opponents for such strong members of the AEW roster!
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #7: Tony Nese def. John Walters
My Thoughts: And then we end with a squash match too?! WTF. It’s ridiculous that we got such a great mid-card match and a decent tag team follow-up but ended the show with TWO squash matches! I know I complain when we get the same tag team matches ending Dark and Elevation but I’d rather have those than a squash match!
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2/5
What a poor episode of Elevation. Saved LITERALLY by Ethan Page and Leon Ruffin… I don’t know if AEW are treading water with these shows (some rumours out there that one may become an ROH YouTube show?) but this is definitely a low point for the show this year.
