‘AEW: Dark’ Review (Oct 4th 2022)
Another week, another episode of AEW: Dark which is another stacked 10-match card; which is one less match than last week I suppose… On with the review!
Match #1: Marina Shafir def. Sio Nieves
My Thoughts: We’re in quasi-squash territory for this one. Unfortunately Shafir hasn’t lived up to her potential so far but there’s still time for her to develop in matches like this or… Maybe its time to get Shafir a manager as a mouth piece? Her in-rings skills are fine but she seems to get distracted by the storytelling aspects of wrestling.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #2: Ari Daivari def. AR Fox
My Thoughts: This was a great match between two guys that are always seemingly under most fan’s radar(s). This was a fantastic display of technical wrestling from Daivari and Fox. I may not like Daivari’s new faction but can’t deny he’s a good wrestler.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #3: Tony Nese & Josh Woods def. Rohit Raju & Invictus Khash
My Thoughts: This was a short match but that worked in its favour – any longer and this would have been a retread of Nese and Wood’s recent matches. At least in this one the had great comeptition in Raju and Khash – it’s about time Khash got signed to EW (or ROH) methinks as he’s been putting in some great work.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #4: Abadon def. Freya States
My Thoughts: Abadon gets her second match of the week and it plays out much like the first – their competitor has a little bit of offence before Abadon essentially demolishes them. Simple yet effective. Time for Abadon to move into the main event picture IMHO.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #5: Slim J def. Blake Christian
My Thoughts: Given how little Slim J has been in action in AEW you’d never have guessed how much of a banger of a match this would be! Of course for indie fans this comes as no surprise, as both Slim J and Blake Christian have put on great matches in companies like GCW in the past. This was, honestly, a main-show worthy match but on YouTube, for free!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #6: The Wingmen (Ryan Nemeth & Cezar Bononi) def. Eli Isom & Chris Farrow
My Thoughts: I’m totally uninterested in anything Ryan Nemeth does in AEW these days. The same goes for Cezar Bononi, as both men seem “stuck” in this Wingmen schtick, whereas the other group members – namely JD Drake and Peter Avalon – have personalities OUTSIDE the group and so have made more of an impact.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #7: Parker Boudreaux def. Terry Kid
My Thoughts: I would normally complain about squash matches like this one but after how well Impact handled Masha Slamovich’s squash run, which turned into a title shot, I’m holding out hope for Parker Boudreaux. Still, a squash is a squash.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #8: Skye Blue def. Robyn Renegade
My Thoughts: What no Renegade Sisters shenanigans? This match went a lot better than Blue’s Elevation match this week. I joke about the Renegade sisters stuff but it was good to see them NOT do the switcheroo for once in AEW.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #9: Iron Savages def. Vary Morales & Levy Valenzuela
My Thoughts: I still don’t dig the Iron Savages “rebrand” but I’m willing to roll with it. Unfortunately the name change hasn’t come with a change in fortune for Bronson and Boulder, who are still stuck wrestling Dark squash matches.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #10: Dante Martin & Matt Sydal def. The Workhorsemen (JD Drake & Anthony Henry)
My Thoughts: A cracking main event and one that continued the feud between these two tag teams. As I said earlier, JD Drake is better than the Wingmen team and this match, like the Workhorsemen’s last, proves that. I could see these two teams got at it in a much longer program – hopefully moving it to one of the main AEW shows in future.
