‘AEW Dark: Elevation – Episode 77’ Review
Welcome to this week’s review of AEW Dark: Elevation, the opening salvo in the AEW wrestling week. We’ve got a repeat of last week’s commentary team, Excalibur and Matt Menard, for this episode so let’s see what the show has to offer!
Match #1: Anna Jay def. Nikki Victory
My Thoughts: Another short and sweet squash match for Anna Jay, who traded in the fin and happy mood of the Dark Order for a more serious and more importantly vicious attitude. And it works. Now she just needs to get more competitive matches under her belt.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #2: Ruby Soho & Ortiz def. Queen Aminata & Mickey Midas
My Thoughts: Interesting… Undoubtedly because of Sammy and Tay’s championship, it seems AEW are getting into the mixed tag match scene – giving Ruby and Ortiz some practice before their match against the aforementioned Sammy and Tay at All Out.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #3: Dante Martin def. Jackson Drake
My Thoughts: Jackson Drake makes his AEW debut in a match where he didn’t stand a chance. Dante Martin played things fairly but he out-manoeuvred and out-classed Drake at every turn. In fact, at times it actually looked like Martin was playing with Drake, even busting his nose mid-match!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #4: Serena Deeb def. Megan Meyers
My Thoughts: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, I dig Megan Meyers’ goth horror chick look. Though that got her nowhere against the professor… Who toyed with Meyers, taking control of the match from the get-go and only letting Meyers get a modicum of offence in. The crowd however REALLY wanted Meyers to get the win, cheering her at every move and booing Deeb out of the building (which is a testament to her great heel work).
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #5: Dark Order (John Silver, Alex Reynolds & 10) def. D’Mone Solavino, Alexander Apollo & RC Dupree
My Thoughts: Another tune-up match for Elevation, with the Dark Order trios team getting to get some practice in before their championship match against House of Black. This was your typical quasi-squash, with the enhancement team getting a bit of offence in but Dark Order were always in control and always going to win.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #6: Julia Hart def. Hayley Shadows
My Thoughts: I’m really loving Julia Hart’s presentation – the look, the attitude, the entrance music. It all works and having her go from smiling cheerleader to a vicious psychopath is a brilliant bit of storytelling. Hayley Shadows didn’t take things lying down but was no match for the ever-improving Hart.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #7: Tony Nese & Josh Woods def. Andrea Guercio & Logan James
My Thoughts: Nese and Woods wasted in another YouTube squash match. If you’re going to put two guys with this particular set of skills together as a team they kind of deserve more than continuous squash matches. Though to be fair, I had about as much interest in this match as the crowd watching live!
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #8: Death Triangle (Pac, Penta el Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix) def. Rosario Grillo, Manscout & Dean Alexander
My Thoughts: It’s only fair that another trio of participants in the trios tournament get a tune-up match, with Death Triangle making a rare YouTube appearance. Death Triangle got a HUGE pop as expected and didn’t disappoint, even if this was yet another squash match for this week’s Elevation… Still, it’s always good seeing Death Triangle in action, no matter the match!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #9: Emi Sakura and Maki Itoh def. Hikaru Shida and Skye Blue
My Thoughts: Loved the intro of Sakura and Itoh, which could not have been more opposite, even Sakura looked to be totally confused. Shida came out with her Wave championship belt but that did nothing for her as Itoh and Sakura played up the heel work beautifully, eventually pointing Skye Blue for the win (it had to be Blue that took the pin right?) But hey, at least this was an actual match and not another squash! Plus it got better and better the more it went on!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2 /5
A bunch of squash matches does not a great show make. We need real competition AEWm even on your YouTube shows! Also, did anyone else think some of the camera choices were a little odd this week? Some really tight camera angles for the in-ring action and what looked to be the odd digital zoom rather than physical ones (or they cropped in even tighter in editing)!
