AEW Dark Elevation Results (May 17th, 2021) - Teaser dropped for major Paul Wight match, Indian wrestler makes big debut, Four main events

AEW Dark Elevation
AEW Dark Elevation

AEW wasted no time and went straight to the first match of the evening following Tony Schiavone and Paul Wight's introductions. Today's AEW Dark Elevation episode featured 16 matches and the card was headlined by four main events.


Adrian Alanis vs. Jungle Boy (w/ Marko Stunt & Luchasaurus) on AEW Dark Elevation

Alanis' first AEW singles match was against one of the most popular stars in the promotion. A traditional collar and elbow tie-up got the in-ring action underway.

Jungle Boy executed a side headlock takeover and assumed ground control. Jungle Boy kept up the pressure with a dropkick, and he even popped the crowd with a kip-up. The audience was extra lively tonight.

A Tope Suicida from Jungle Boy continued his dominance in the match until Alanis fired back with a Sling Blade. Alanis was quite a hated figure as he connected with combination blows in the corner. Adrian followed it with a vertical suplex before floating over for a pinfall. He forgot to hook the feet, which got him a two-count.

Jungle Boy picked up the pace with an uppercut and a running lariat. He then sent Alanis crashing into the turnbuckle with a belly-to-belly suplex. A German suplex and an elbow strike followed, before Jungle Boy locked in the Snare Trap for the win on AEW Dark Elevation.

Result: Jungle Boy def. Adrian Alanis on AEW Dark Elevation

Grade: C


Aaron Solow (w/ The Factory) vs. Dustin Rhodes on AEW Dark Elevation - Main Event 1

It's always great to see Dustin Rhodes in action, and he got a great reception during his entrance. Dustin and Solow engaged in a furious brawl to kick off the match.

The action quickly moved outside, with Rhodes hitting a big clothesline. Dustin was a man focused as he threw Solow over the barricade. He pleased the crowd with a chop, which kicked off a 'one more time' chant. Dustin obliged.

Dustin dropped Solow with a power slam on the mat. The Natural finally rolled Solow back into the ring, but Comoroto confronted the veteran.

As the elder Rhodes brother went up to the top turnbuckle, Solow grabbed onto Aubrey Edwards. Comoroto took advantage of the situation and pulled Rhodes down to the ground.

This caused Aubrey Edwards to instruct The Factory to leave the ringside area, and the crowd loved it. The match resumed, and Solow was now in the driver's seat.

Solow connected with some ground and pound shots, but Dustin reversed into a roll-up. Solow replied with a clubbing forearm strike to the face.

A 'Let's Go Dustin' chant kicked off in the arena as the veteran hit a few chops. Solow delivered a hard Irish Whip in the corner, and The Natural was in a world of trouble at this point.

Solow taunted Dustin as he slapped him in the head. The elder Rhodes brother reacted with a back elbow strike after springboarding from the turnbuckle. Innovative!

Both men exchanged rights in the middle of the ring. Dustin hit two short-arm clotheslines, followed by a back body drop. Rhodes executed his classic moves, which included a smooth power slam for a two-count. Solow blocked the Bulldog and hit a superkick.

Dustin responded with a pump kick, followed by a spin kick and a massive Canadian Destroyer for a near fall. Solow reversed the brainbuster into a standing enziguri and a Perfect Plex. Solow connected with the double foot stomp from the top rope for another near fall.

Solow picked up Dustin's bull rope, but Aubrey handed him a warning. Dustin evaded the attack and hit a running Bulldog. Rhodes broke the pin and took the bull rope.

Aubrey Edwards did her job of trying to stop Rhodes, and he eventually dropped the weapon. Dustin finally hit his Swinging Vertical Suplex finisher for the win.

Result: Dustin Rhodes def. Aaron Solow on AEW Dark Elevation

Grade: A


Dustin wasn't done with Solow after the match, but Comoroto came through at the right time and attacked the former WWE star with the bull rope. Lee Johnson came out with a chair to make the save on AEW Dark Elevation.

Main Event 2: Jon Moxley & Eddie Kingston vs. Royce Isaacs & Danny Limelight on AEW Dark Elevation

Kingston started the AEW match with Danny Limelight and called for a few leg kicks. Kingston baited Limelight as he caught the kicks and pushed Danny into the corner.

Danny executed a clean arm drag and a dropkick, but Eddie remained unfazed and got back with a clothesline. Kingston mercilessly dropped Limelight with a powerbomb. He pushed Limelight towards Isaacs and made the tag to Mox.

Kingston and Mox were trying to one-up each other, and the dynamic between the two was entertaining to watch. Moxley and Isaacs jockeyed for position on the mat.

Isaacs displayed impressive strength to execute a hooked suplex for a two-count. The former AEW World Champion wasn't having the greatest of matches, and he needed a few seconds to recuperate. Moxley faked a handshake and slapped Isaacs.

Kingston came in and hit a belly-to-belly suplex for a two-count. Eddie was at the top of his game tonight, but Isaacs escaped an elbow strike and hit a back suplex.

Limelight got the tag, and he flew into the ring with a springboard DDT on Kingston. Limelight went for another top-rope move, but Kingston caught him and delivered a T-bone suplex.

Moxley got tagged, and he caught Danny in a sleeper hold. Kingston came back in, and the duo executed the Violent Crown on Limelight.

Moxley hit the Paradigm Shift on Isaacs, and Kingston covered for the win. Eddie and Mox are now 4-0 in tag team competition in AEW.


Result: Jon Moxley & Eddie Kingston def. Royce Isaacs & Danny Limelight on AEW Dark Elevation

Grade: B-


Jake 'The Snake' Roberts and Lance Archer cut a backstage promo next. Archer was scheduled to face Bear Bronson. Lance also called out Miro and vowed to win the TNT Championship.


Lance Archer vs. Bear Bronson on AEW Dark Elevation

The big men had an intense face-off before they locked up to begin the match. Buckle up, folks, this one's going to be good!

Bronson and Archer enjoyed the early striking exchanges. Archer meant business as he took his shirt off.

We got a battle of chops early on before moving on to a series of back-and-forth forearm strikes. Archer laid out Bronson with a running short-arm clothesline.

Archer nonchalantly slapped Bronson across the face as he wanted Bear to bring the fight. Archer came running through in the corner for three back elbow strikes. Vicious!

Archer's in-ring style was all about wearing down opponents with strikes, and Bronson was in a tough spot due to the same.

Bronson showed signs of life, but Archer shut down any signs of a comeback with a snap suplex. Bronson, however, reversed the Hellacoaster into a German Suplex. That was impressive!

It took both men some time to get back up to their feet, and it was Bronson who got in an elbow strike. Bear unleashed a barrage of punches in the corner, before running in for a massive cannonball in the corner.

Bronson seemed winded from the move, and Archer used the time to get back up and hit a forearm shot. Archer was sent outside, and Bear followed through for a tope suicida. Archer and Bronson were back in the ring, and Bear executed a running Senton Atomico for a near fall.

Archer blocked a side suplex with repeated elbow shots. Lance trucked Bronson with a massive shoulder tackle.

Archer used the ropes as a springboard to execute a splash. He then followed it with a senton for another two-count. Bronson managed to flip the pinfall predicament for a two-count of his own.

Bear got up and rushed towards Archer only to get dropped with a big boot. Lance hit a chokeslam, followed by The Blackout on Bronson for the win on AEW Dark Elevation.

Result: Lance Archer def. Bear Bronson on AEW Dark Elevation

Grade: B+


AEW has been on fire tonight with the quality of matches thus far.


The latest edition of AEW Elevation Showcase was all about Ryan Nemeth and his story. As expected, Nemeth spoke briefly about his brother Dolph Ziggler and the WWE Superstar also briefly appeared in a photo during the AEW Dark Elevation segment.

Leyla Hirsch vs. Natalia Markova (AEW Debut) on AEW Dark Elevation

Hirsch vs. Markova.
Hirsch vs. Markova.

Both competitors were billed from Moscow, Russia, and the well-traveled Natalia Markova was making her first AEW appearance.

Despite having the size advantage, Markova was taken down in the match's early goings as Hirsch used classic grappling techniques to force a few takedowns.

Hirsch executed a side headlock takedown and rolled to take control of the back but got cracked with an elbow and a few stiff kicks. Leyla responded with two brutal German Suplexes. Markova folded from the impact and was sent rolling to the outside.

Markova got kicked towards the barricade, and Hirsch followed her opponent. Hirsch enjoyed herself as she called the shots in the match. Back in the ring, Markova got dropped yet again with a back-body suplex. Hirsch landed flush with a high-running shin strike. 'Legit' Leyla locked in a cross-arm breaker to defeat the AEW debutant.

Result: Leyla Hirsch def. Natalia Markova (AEW Debut) on AEW Dark Elevation

Grade: C


Ethan Page & Scorpio Sky vs. Traevon Jordan & Jaylen Brandyn on AEW Dark Elevation

Traevon Jordan played to the crowd and danced around to get a few cheers. Ethan Page didn't look pleased, and he locked up with his opponent.

Page missed a 'clean Irish whip,' and Jordan tagged Brandyn. The babyface hit a double-leg drop combo for a one-count.

Page faked an injury and distracted the referee while Sky attacked Jaylen. The heels got Brandyn in their corner, and it was all one-way traffic from here onwards.

Page and Sky made quick tags and trash-talked at their opponents throughout the methodical onslaught. Brandyn escaped a suplex attempt and rolled through for the hot tag to Traevon.

The massive Jordan used his size and energy to take on both Sky and Page. He executed a big side slam on Page for a two-count.

Sky made a blind tag and delivered the high-low on Traevon. Scorpio Sky locked in the heel hook on Traevon for the win. Ethan Page dropped Jaylen over Traevon with the Ego's Edge after the tap.

Result: Ethan Page & Scorpio Sky def. Traevon Jordan & Jaylen Brandyn on AEW Dark Elevation

Grade: B


Matt Hardy spoke about the perks of joining Hardy Family Office, and he cited The Bunny's example. Bunny also cut a promo and sent a message to KiLynn King, who she was slated to face next.


The Bunny (w/ The Hardy Family Office) vs. KiLynn King on AEW Dark Elevation

King vs. Bunny.
King vs. Bunny.

Bunny tried to catch King off guard with a running attack, but KiLynn moved out and executed a traditional slam.

King got Bunny down with a snapmare takeover and a rolling neckbreaker for a two-count. Bunny used her quickness to evade a few moves before trapping King on the apron. Bunny yanked King's hair and sent her crashing onto the floor.

Bunny punished KiLynn as the HFO members egged her on. Bunny rolled King back into the ring and went for a cover. King kicked out of the pinfall but couldn't get back to her feet as Bunny was relentless with her offensive output.

Bunny connected with some solid knees to the body, but she got caught in a massive fallaway slam. King showed incredible strength there to hoist Bunny up in the air. King gathered momentum with two lariats and a kicking combo.

KiLynn executed a big spinebuster for a near fall. King was pumped up as he ran towards Bunny for a dropkick in the corner. King followed it with closed fists on Bunny's head from the top.

Blade distracted referee Aubrey Edwards while Matt Hardy sneakily slipped in what seemed like a brass knuckle to the Bunny.

Bunny rocked King with a huge punch using the weapon, and the knockout strike was enough to get Bunny the win.

Bunny hit her 'Down the Rabbit Hole' move on King after the match before Big Swole hit the ring to make the save. The feud is just getting started!

Result: The Bunny def. KiLynn King on AEW Dark Elevation

Grade: B

The Acclaimed vs. Kevin Blackwood & Kevin Bennett (AEW Tag Team debut) on AEW Dark Elevation

Blackwood and Caster got the AEW match underway, and Max got the upper hand with a side headlock. Blackwood chopped the legs with a few kicks before tagging Bennett, who is also a rapper, and goes by the name 'The Remix.' Bennett is also a sound engineer.

Caster regained control with knee strikes into the midsection. Bowens made the blind tag and also managed to catch Bennett with a stiff kick.

The Acclaimed showed off their incredible synergy with an extensive combination sequence. Caster missed the knee drop, but he stopped Bennett from making the tag. Bennett made the tag anyway after a step-up enziguri.

Blackwood was hot after coming in as he hit Caster with a European diving uppercut. He hit a five-piece combo on Bowens, followed by a German release suplex.

Bennett tagged himself, but a brief miscommunication with Blackwood cost them the match. The Acclaimed took advantage, and Caster hit the Mic Drop on Bennett for the three-count on AEW Dark Elevation.

Result: The Acclaimed def. Kevin Blackwood & Kevin Bennett on AEW Dark Elevation

Grade: B-


Ethan Page and Scorpio Sky boasted about their winning streak in a backstage segment on AEW Dark Elevation. The duo also had a message for Darby Allin and Sting.


QT Marshall (w/ Anthony Ogogo & Nick Comoroto) vs. Baron Black on AEW Dark Elevation

Black vs. Marshall.
Black vs. Marshall.

QT Marshall was on song as he knocked Baron Black down to the mat. Black waited for his opportunity and executed two eye-catching arm drags.

Marshall chopped his way back into the match but got caught in an atomic drop. Black pulled down his straps and fired off a chop and a European uppercut.

QT reacted with a chokeslam. Marshall mocked Paul Wight's gesture by replicating the former WWE superstar's chokeslam gesture. Paul Wight was ready to throw hands with QT if it came down to it. Could QT Marshall and Paul Wight be hinting towards a future storyline? Only time will tell.

QT Marshall continued the match at his own pace as he earned a two-count with a dropkick. The Factory leader caught Black in mid-air and executed a backbreaker.

QT thought he had the match, but Black kicked out yet again. Insane resilience! Marshall unloaded with a series of punches in the corner, and the referee had to separate him. Black telegraphed a kick and blocked two shots to fire off a right cross.

QT leveled Black with a big right. Black switched gears and hit a massive lariat. Black put together a sequence of moves which included a reverse atomic drop and a backstabber.

Black was gaining control as he followed it with a rolling discus punch and an overhead pickup slam. QT kicked out at two and a half. Let's go, Baron!

QT dropped Black with a ripcord clothesline. Marshall went up to the top and delivered a flying headbutt. We don't see diving headbutts that often these days, so that was pretty cool!

Black kicked out at two and managed to lock in a cross face. QT tried to reverse the hold, but Black rolled over to maintain control.

Marshall finally broke free from the move with a pinfall. Both men got to a vertical base, and QT hit the Cutter out of nowhere for the victory on AEW Dark Elevation.

Result: QT Marshall def. Baron Black on AEW Dark Elevation

Result: A


Joey Janela vs. Daniel Garcia (AEW singles debut) on AEW Dark Elevation

Garcia vs. Janela.
Garcia vs. Janela.

Daniel Garcia is a pretty agile performer, and he used all his speed to take Joey Janela down. Joey is a veteran, though, and The Bad Boy smartly reversed positions and got hold of Garcia's legs. The grappling exchanges were pretty neat.

A series of standing switches ended with Janela's German Suplex on Garcia. Daniel got out of the brainbuster and hit two heavy chops but faked the third and swept Janela off his feet. The lanky wrestler then delivered a German Suplex of his own for a two-count.

Garcia was extra aggressive tonight as he chopped Janela with force. Janela responded with a clothesline. The tempo of the match slowed down as Janela elbowed Garcia and sent him into the turnbuckles.

Janela took time to break down his opponent. Garcia ate a massive forearm shot but still had enough in the gas tank to hit a dropkick.

Garcia locked in the STF, but Janela pulled himself towards the rope for the break. Daniel and Janela went back and forth with the rights and lefts. We witnessed slaps, punches, uppercuts, and whatnot. It was a wild exchange!

Janela hit the brainbuster, but Garcia kicked out of the subsequent pinfall. Janela looked stunned by the kickout as he picked his opponent up for the Death Valley Driver.

Garcia got down and delivered another dropkick. Garcia went to the top but absorbed a punch.

Janela followed him and hit a suplex from the second turnbuckle with the bridged pinfall. The Bad Boy finished the match with the Death Valley Driver.

Result: Joey Janela def. Daniel Garcia on AEW Dark Elevation

Grade: B+

The Factory was involved in a backstage segment next on AEW Dark Elevation, and Anthony Ogogo got some time to showcase his promo skills.

Private Party (w/ Hardy Family Office) vs. Alex Reynolds & Alan "5" Angels of The Dark Order on AEW Dark Elevation - Main Event 3

Private Party vs. Dark Order.
Private Party vs. Dark Order.

Matt Hardy and The Blade were told to go to the backstage area by the referee before the AEW match. All four men involved began the contest with a chaotic brawl.

The Dark Order members assaulted Private Party near ringside, and neither team seemed to have any intentions of winning the match; they just wanted to beat the hell out of each other.

The action finally moved to the ring, and Angels delivered his ten-punch routine from the middle turnbuckle. Reynolds came in for a knee lift that got him a two-count.

Marq Quen had great in-ring awareness to slam Reynolds head-first into the middle buckle. He couldn't take advantage of the opening, as Alex got back with a dropkick.

Quen lured Reynolds outside, and Kassidy completed a blindside attack with a suplex on the floor. The next few minutes were about Private Party punishing Reynolds. Quen hit a good belly-to-back suplex for a two-count. He applied the Front Chancery, but Reynolds picked him up and extended to drop him over the back.

Quen and Kassidy stopped Reynolds from making the tag. Private Party paid homage to the Hardy Boyz with the assisted body springboard attack. Quen held Reynolds' face against his knees, and Kassidy came down from the top with a senton to complete a very painful-looking double team move.

Reynolds finally got the tag, and Angels laid out Quen and Kassidy with kicks and throws. He executed a double Hurricanrana and placed Private Party on the ropes. He hit the running crossbody and a tope suicida. Angels was single-handedly getting the job done for his team as he hit a springboard moonsault for a two on Quen.

Reynolds came into the contest and hit an assisted knee lift, followed by a small package brainbuster-like suplex. Kassidy rushed in to break the pin. Angels pulled Kassidy outside, and the referee followed.

Matt Hardy sneaked into the ring behind the ref's back and hit the Twist of Fate on Reynolds. He put Quen on top of Alex, and the referee returned to execute the three-count.

Result: Private Party def. Alex Reynolds & Alan "5" Angels of The Dark Order on AEW Dark Elevation

Grade: A

HFO attacked Reynolds and Angels after the match, which prompted other Dark Order members to come out for the save.


Alex Marvez interviewed Kris Statlander up next. Britt Baker interrupted the proceedings before Hikaru Shida joined the frame with her sword to scare away the doctor and Rebel.


JD Drake & Ryan Nemeth vs. Roman Rozell & Derek Pisaturo on AEW Dark Elevation

Drake & Nemeth vs. Rozell & Pisatoru
Drake & Nemeth vs. Rozell & Pisatoru

JD Drake was leveling up his fashion game with each passing week, and tonight he sported a swanky-looking pair of boots.

Ryan Nemeth kicked off the match with Roman Rozell. Drake came in next and got taken down with an arm drag by Roman.

Rozell was sent crashing outside, and Bononi attacked him while the referee had his back turned. Drake and Nemeth executed an atomic drop-dropkick combo on Roman.

Drake took Rozell to his corner and hit a couple of chops before tagging Nemeth. Roman reversed the Rude Awakening to tag Pisatoru. Derek had a 6-2-1 MMA record and showed off his striking abilities with an excellent jumping knee strike. A distraction helped Drake hit Pisatoru with a Claymore kick.

Nemeth delivered the Rude Awakening, aka 'Hot N Bothered' before Drake came flying through with a moonsault from the top rope for the win.

Result: JD Drake & Ryan Nemeth def. Roman Rozell & Derek Pisaturo on AEW Dark Elevation

Drake: B


On a side note, Peter Avalon and co. have a banger of an entrance theme song in AEW.


A recap of Britt Baker's brawl with Hikaru Shida from last week's AEW Dynamite photoshoot aired next.


Tay Conti vs. Kiah Dream (AEW Debut) on AEW Dark Elevation

Both women had mixed martial arts backgrounds, which made this a stylistically exciting match to watch. Dream grabbed Conti's hair and executed a takedown.

Conti got back with three brutal kicks to the chest. Dream planted Conti's face into the mat, which earned her a one-count. Conti was brought to her feet by Dream, but she delivered a furious sequence of chops and uppercuts.

Conti slammed Dream's face into the turnbuckle thrice before delivering a pump kick from the apron.

She hit another pump kick in the corner, followed by a running kick. Conti's kicks were on point tonight, and they softened her opponent up for the TayKO DDT finisher on AEW Dark Elevation.

Result: Tay Conti def. Kiah Dream on AEW Dark Elevation

Grade: C


Matt Hardy explained why he attacked Alex Reynold earlier in the AEW Dark Elevation match. The HOF leader also had a menacing message for the Dark Order.

Penta El Zero Miedo (w/ Alex Abrahantes) vs. Robo (AEW Debut) on AEW Dark Elevation

Penta got some epic pyro during his entrance on AEW Dark Elevation. Robo, aka Harpreet Singh, is an Indian wrestler who made his in-ring debut in 2016. Robo is a former bodybuilder and state-level footballer.

Robo offered the handshake, but Penta responded with the Zero Miedo gesture. Robo ran right through Penta with a shoulder block. The AEW debutant showed off tremendous athleticism with a dropkick.

Penta waited for the right time to connect with his kick. Penta silenced the crowd and hit a knife-edged chop. Paul Wight appreciated the homage as he considered himself to be the creator of the shush chop.

Penta dropped Robo with a thrust kick. Robo reversed the Small Package driver with a headbutt, but he ate a series of rights.

Robo dug deep to deliver a big ol' pump kick for a near fall. Robo picked Penta up in the fireman's carry position, but Penta escaped and hit the backstabber.

Penta placed Robo in the tree of woe position before running through for the basement dropkick. Penta snapped Robo's arm with the cross-arm breaker, followed by the Fear Factor finisher for the win.

Result: Penta El Zero Miedo def. Robo (AEW Debut) on AEW Dark Elevation

Grade: C


Thunder Rosa vs. Robyn Renegade (AEW Debut) on AEW Dark Elevation

Thunder Rosa took Renegade's back before transitioning into a side headlock. The former NWA Women's Champion took her time to control the pace on the mat.

Rosa snapmared Robyn down to the mat before connecting with a dropkick. Rosa was in cruise control as she hit the body shots followed by a clothesline.

Renegade created some separation with a jumping kick and a running double-knee strike. Thunder Rosa got back into the match with a running clothesline and two basement dropkicks in the corner.

Rosa got a two-count with the double underhook suplex. Renegade got a two herself with a Sling Blade out of nowhere. Thunder, though, fought out of the firewoman's carry and hooked in the Peruvian Calavera choke.

Result: Thunder Rosa def. Robyn Renegade on AEW Dark Elevation

Grade: C


Ryan Nemeth, JD Drake, Cezar Bononi, and Peter Avalon hyped their alliance in a segment.


AEW Dark Elevation Main Event 4: Mike Sydal (w/ Matt Sydal) vs. Brian Cage (w/ Hook)

Brian Cage predictably ragdolled Mike Sydal across the ring to begin the final match of the show. Mike, however, used two dropkicks and some Matrix-inspired flexibility to evade a few strikes.

Cage caught Sydal from the tope suicida and dropped him on the apron. Cage back suplexed Sydal onto the apron before getting back into the ring.

The Machine rammed his shoulders into Sydal's guts. The FTW Champion then military pressed Sydal down to the mat. Cage executed what looked like a deadlift snatch suplex, as per Paul Wight, and it was another example of Brian's freakish power.

Sydal used his agility to land on his feet, followed by a suplex. Mike hit a dropkick and thrust kick. Sydal then sent Cage over with a hurricanrana and a moonsault from the top.

The Yoga Monster had all the momentum on his side as he approached the top turnbuckle to deliver the Meteora for a near fall. Sydal went to the top again, but Cage followed him and connected with a leaping knee strike.

Cage picked Sydal up from the apron to deliver a deadlift suplex inside the ring. Sydal reversed the Drill Claw into a suplex. However, he got rocked with a discuss spinning clothesline from Cage.

Cage delivered the Weapon X for the win.

Result: Brian Cage def. Mike Sydal on AEW Dark Elevation

Grade: B

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You can watch the entire AEW Dark Elevation episode above.

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