‘AEW: Dark’ Review (Oct 11th 2022)
Another week, another episode of AEW: Dark which is another stacked 10-match card AND a live audience thanks to being taped in DC… On with the review!
Match #1: Lance Archer def. Alec Odin
My Thoughts: Two matches in a row for Archer, this was even more of a squash than his Elevation match this week! Odin did get a move or two in but this was very much Archer’s match.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #2: Penelope Ford, Serena Deeb and Jamie Hayter def. Jordan Blade, Trish Adora and Brittany Blake
My Thoughts: I was totally surprised to see that this match WASN’T a squash – as it certainly looked like it would be on paper. Thankfully this instead was a well-fought, competitive match – one that really showcased the trio of heels to perfection.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #3: Hikaru Shida def. Marina Shafir
My Thoughts: Well colour me shocked! Shida taking on Shafir and, like every other time Shafir has fought someone with plenty of experience, Shafir came out of this one looking strong. Shida provided a good challenge for her and vice versa. Nice to see such a good women’s match on Dark!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #4: Brian Cage def. Papadon
My Thoughts: Papadon gets another match on AEW programming this week after facing Lance Archer on Elevation on Monday. And like that match Papadon got in some good offence against Brian Cage, who couldn’t deliver a match as good as last week’s against Wardlow. Which is a shame.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #5: Athena def. Gia Scott
My Thoughts: This one felt mis-timed, with Athena missing a step and Scott doing the same. Athena needs opponents with more experience and bigger movesets than a lot of enhancement talent has. And it showed here.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #6: QT Marshall def. Action Andretti
My Thoughts: I just mentioned that Action Andretti looked good in his Elevation match on Monday and now he’s on Dark looking even better – unfortunately he faced QT Marshall in this one and it really feels like audiences are getting tired of QT’s schtick – they were certainly rooting for Andretti to geet the win in this match and when he didn’t the crowd fell totally flat. Still, another good “audition” match for Action Andretti.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #7: Dalton Castle & The Boys (Brent and Brandon Tate) def. Joe Keys, Josh Fuller and BK Klein
My Thoughts: This felt like a repeat of the match Dalton Castle and The Boys had on Elevation. WHich, as I said in that review, is a shame given they’ve actually been partaking in decent, competitive, matches of late. Still, it’s good to see ROH talent in AEW, just hope it’s not too long before ROH gets its own show!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #8: Kip Sabian def. Brandon Cutler
My Thoughts: Don’t ask me what the hell was going on in this match..! Kip Sabian should have demolished Cutler but no, this was booked as a competitive match and one that Sabian looked like he could’ve lost. Too much comedy and poor booking ruined this one.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #9: Toni Storm def. Emi Sakura
My Thoughts: I just said in my Elevation review that Emi Sakura should be getting into the main event scene and then we get this, an AEW Women’s World Championship Eliminator Match featuring the champ taking on Sakura for a chance at a future shot at the title. OK, so it took place on Dark but at least it was in front of a big crowd and not at AEW Universal. Great co-main event with the last match of the night to send folks, and the viewing audience, home satisfied.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #10: Matt Sydal and Dante Martin def. Cole Karter and Aaron Solo
My Thoughts: This was a great main event, mainly due to the fact we got Aaron Solo and Cole Karter representing The Factory, which meant this one actually felt like a competitive professional wrestling match and no a joke like a lot of The Factory’s other “main event” matches. Even the shenanigans from Nick Comoroto couldn’t spoil this match.
