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After last week's relatively low-key match card, AEW went all-in this week with two incredibly stacked Dark events.
Last night's AEW Dark: Elevation was the biggest ever as it had Sting and many other high-profile names in attendance.
The regular AEW Dark broadcast was also an exciting show on paper with a runtime of almost two hours. So let's not waste any more time and get to the results and analysis of the latest AEW Dark episode:
Matt Hardy (w/ H.F.O.) vs. JAH-C (AEW Debut) on AEW Dark
Big Money Matt started the in-ring proceedings of the evening with a relatively easy opener. The Hardy Family Office's presence proved to be a significant distraction for JAH-C as he was on the back foot for most parts of the match.
Matt Hardy taunted the crowd and ended up paying for it. JAH-C exploded with an offensive sequence featuring a dropkick and a leaping elbow drop.
Hardy shut down any attempts of a comeback with two Side Effects. Matt locked in The Leech and forced his opponent to tap out.
Result: Matt Hardy def. JAH-C on AEW Dark
Grade: C
Matt Hardy ordered Jora Johl to wipe off his sweat with a towel after the match, and the Indian star didn't look too happy with the activity.
Brian Cage vs. Foxx Vinyer (AEW Debut) on AEW Dark
Taz spoke about the toxic relationship between Brian Cage and Ricky Starks and explained a good-old fight would settle their differences.
The Machine wasted absolutely no time in laying out his opponent with a swinging inverted neckbreaker.
Foxx tasted some success with an uppercut, but he got planted with a modified spinebuster. The FTW Champion ended the contest with the Drill Claw.
Result: Brian Cage def. Foxx Vinyer on AEW Dark
Grade: D
The Acclaimed vs. Derek Pisaturo & Roman Rozell on AEW Dark
Roman Rozell started the match with Max Caster, and he did well with some decent matwork.
Caster got the upper hand, and he maintained control even before Bowens came in and landed a big back elbow.
Roman Rozell reacted with a fireman's carry dump before tagging in Pisaturo, who showed tremendous power with a gut-wrench flatliner. Bowens used his speed to counter a move and got back with a big side suplex.
The Acclaimed worked in tandem to execute a dropkick. Platinum Max dropped Pisaturo on the apron before hitting a double suplex.
Derek created some separation by driving him face-first into the knee. Rozell came in hot after the tag and executed German suplexes on both Acclaimed members.
Acclaimed stopped Rozell's swinging neckbreaker combo. Bowens then dropped Pisaturo on his knees before Caster hit a deadlift backdrop throw.
The Acclaimed focussed on the legal man as Caster hit the Mic Drop for the win over Rozell.
Result: The Acclaimed def. Derek Pisaturo & Roman Rozell on AEW Dark
Grade: B
Diamante vs. Harlow O'Hara (AEW Debut) on AEW Dark
The crowd was firmly behind the AEW newcomer as she engaged in a collar and elbow tie-up. Diamante also had her supporters, and she got the early advantage with an arm-drag takedown.
It was a cagey affair until Diamante dropped O'Hara with a big lariat. Harlow connected with a few strikes, but Diamante baited her into the corner for a leaping dropkick.
She followed it with a Russian leg-sweep, a running no-hands splash, and a standing sliced bread.
Diamante then locked in a half straight jacket submission for the win.
Result: Diamante def. Harlow O'Hara (AEW Debut) on AEW Dark
Grade: B
Diamante sent a big statement to Big Swole, who was also slated to compete on the show.
Ryan Mantell vs. Ethan Page (w/ Scorpio Sky) on AEW Dark
Ethan Page hilariously moved his hips and mocked his opponent to start the AEW Dark match. Scorpio Sky joined the commentary team to support his tag team partner.
All Ego used his size to mow down Mantell with a massive shoulder tackle. Ryan fought back with a dropkick, followed by a body shot and a chop in the corner.
Ethan Page underestimated Mantell but regained his momentum with a cross-armed iconoclasm followed by the Ego's Edge.
Result: Ethan Page def. Ryan Mantell on AEW Dark
Grade: C
Big Swole vs. Sahara Seven (AEW Debut) on AEW Dark
Big Swole executed a snap mare and kicked Seven right along the spine as she played to the crowd a bit.
Sahara Seven gathered steam with a running uppercut to Swole in the corner. The AEW debutant looked good as she landed some ground and pound. Swole delivered a few palm strikes before eating several knee shots.
Big Swole didn't back down as she threw hands in the center of the ring. The sequence ended with Swole spiking Sahara with a DDT.
Swole hit two cross chops before picking Seven's ankle for the Clearwater Cloverleaf submission win.
Result: Big Swole def. Sahara Seven (AEW Debut) on AEW Dark
Grade: B
Big Swole grabbed the microphone and cut an excellent promo directed at Diamante. Swole was on fire as she sent a daunting warning to his Hispanic rival.
RSP (AEW Debut) vs. Dante Martin on AEW Dark
The AEW Dark match began with Dante Martin bouncing off the rope and landing perfectly outside for a hurricanrana on RSP (Ricky Shane Page). Not many can pull that off!
The bell finally rang, and RSP elevated Dante over the top and caught him with a nasty kick on the way down. What a frantic start!
RSP looked impressed with his handiwork as he began to control the pace of the match. The towering wrestler tossed Martin around the ring and attacked him with repeated clotheslines in the corner.
Dante took RSP down with a diving crossbody before coming in for a moonsault press. RSP kicked out at two, and Martin looked to string together a few more moves. He went for a forearm shot before rolling through for a cazadora pinfall.
A colossal spinning kick got Dante a two-count as RSP got his hands on the rope. RSP faked Dante twice and caught him with an enziguri on the third time. He went up to the top and executed a big-time frog splash. RSP almost pulled off an upset, but Martin stayed in the match.
RSP missed a top-rope senton as Martin rolled out of the way. The high-flyer took RSP down with another flipping hurricanrana and a front-flip Stunner for a hard-fought victory.
Result: Dante Martin def. RSP on AEW Dark
Grade: A
RSP needs to be brought back for a few more matches as the Deathmatch veteran looks like a polished performer on his AEW debut.
Dark Order's Stu Grayson & Evil Uno (w/ -1) vs. Sean Maluta & Papadon (AEW Debut) on AEW Dark
Evil Uno started things off with Sean Maluta, and the Dark Order member got all the love from the crowd. Papadon's AEW debut was another notable moment as the 43-year-old veteran was a known figure in wrestling circles.
Sean connected with a quick shot but got dropped with a shoulder tackle. Grayson and Papadon came in next and had an intense exchange of punches and kicks.
Stu delivered a phenomenal hurricanrana, but Papadon got back with an elbow strike. Uno made the blind tag and caught Papadon off guard with a deadlift German suplex. The Dark Order hit an assisted high boot, followed by a senton on the apron from Grayson onto Papadon.
Evil Uno was the legal man now, and he clapped Papadon in his ears. Maluta created a distraction, and the heels began to dominate the match. Papadon kept Uno grounded with a side headlock, followed by a powerful backdrop.
Maluta got the tag and missed a diving crossbody as Uno quickly tagged Grayson.
Stu took Papadon out with cross chops and body blocks before rocking Maluta with a belly-to-belly suplex. Grayson cracked Papadon with an STO before helping Uno with an assisted powerbomb on Sean.
The Dark Order finished the match with a great sequence that saw Grayson hit a running punt kick on Papadon, who was then dropped on his head with a piledriver.
Result: Dark Order's Stu Grayson & Evil Uno def Sean Maluta & Papadon on AEW Dark
Grade: B+
Ryan Nemeth (W/ The Wingmen) vs. Marcus Cross on AEW Dark
Marcus Cross' flashy Dragon Ball-inspired hairstyle was the show's real star as Ryan Nemeth kicked off the match.
Speedy Cross stunned Nemeth with a nice dropkick followed by an elbow drop. The Wingmen leg-tripped Cross from the outside while Nemeth distracted the referee.
Marcus was dumped outside, and the Wingmen members poured hair on his well-set hair. Nemeth showed off in the ring with a headstand hammerlock while also grabbing his opponent's hair.
Ryan hit a side suplex, but Cross fired back with a kick to the jaw and a few body shots. Nemeth caught a strike but couldn't avoid a corkscrew attack for a two-count.
Cross went for "The Kamehameha," but Nemeth stopped him in his tracks and executed the neckbreaker finisher for the win.
Result: Ryan Nemeth def. Marcus Cross on AEW Dark
Grade: B+
Penelope Ford vs. Robyn Renegade on AEW Dark
Penelope Ford was back in action on AEW Dark against another regular, Robyn Renegade. The Super Bad Girl started on the backfoot as Renegade delivered some stiff elbow shots.
A pump kick from Penelope tipped the scales of the match in the heel's favor. Ford attacked Robyn's throat against the ropes before continuing her systematic approach.
Renegade created some separation with a backstabber and a clothesline. She followed it with a double knee strike in the corner, but Penelope bought some time with a roll-up.
Ford clocked Robyn with a clothesline, but the babyface returned with a series of overhead shots. Ford, however, delivered the firewoman's carry gutbuster to get the three-count.
Result: Penelope Ford def. Robyn Renegade on AEW Dark
Grade: B-
Matt Hardy cut a passionate backstage promo ahead of his Fyter Fest match against Christian Cage.
Frankie Kazarian vs. Austin Green (w/ Diamond Shiek) (AEW Debut) on AEW Dark
Frankie Kazarian charged in towards the big man with a barrage of forearm shimmers.
The Elite Hunter found it tough to get Austin Green down to his knees with a few leaping knee strikes. The behemoth ragdolled Kaz with an unforgiving toss across the ring.
Green punished Frankie with a double-handed chop in the corner, followed by a vertical suplex. Austin scored a two-count with a massive side slam. Diamond Sheik tried to get involved in the match but got knocked on his back by Kaz.
Frankie ran through Green with a monstrous lariat before locking in the crossface chicken wing for a big win.
Result: Frankie Kazarian def. Austin Green (w/ Diamond Shiek) (AEW Debut) on AEW Dark
Grade: B
Lee Johnson & Brock Anderson (W/ Dustin Rhodes & Arn Anderson) vs. Mark Davidson & Aaron Frye on AEW Dark
Lee Johnson got the match underway with Aaron Frye, and the early sequences were really fast-paced. Brock got the tag, and he landed an excellent elbow drop for a one-count.
Anderson transitioned into a side headlock before Johnson got right back into the contest. A cheap shot from Davidson helped Frye knock Johnson off his feet.
Mark Davidson assaulted Lee in the corner with a running splash. Frye returned for a running forearm strike, and he got Big Shotty down in a chin lock.
Lee Johnson fought out of the hold and made a hot tag to Brock Anderson, who delivered basic strikes on both opponents. He sinched in his dad's patented shoulder strikes in the corner before dropping Frye down with a back body drop.
Anderson went for a gut-wrench move but lost control of his opponent, resulting in a botch. Arn Anderson's son looked livid about the misstep, but Davidson broke up the pinfall.
Johnson dumped both of his opponents outside before wiping them out with a crossbody over the top.
Frye was rolled back into the ring, and Lee Johnson set him up for Brock's spine-buster finisher.
Result: Lee Johnson & Brock Anderson def. Mark Davidson & Aaron Frye on AEW Dark
Grade: B
Wheeler Yuta had a message for Angelico as the two were scheduled for a match later tonight.
Julia Hart (w/ Varisy Blonds) vs. Madi Wrenkowski on AEW Dark
Madi Wrenkowski made her return to AEW tonight from an injury layoff, and she began her match with Julia Hart with some hand-fighting.
Madi got taken down with a hip toss and still evaded a corner strike. Julia Hart came through for a rolling dropkick.
Wrenkowski delivered a knee shot that left Julia to dry on the ropes. Madi brutally fired strikes across Julia's throat while using the ropes as a barrier. Julia Hart reversed a move with a chin buster before digging in two heavy-handed punches, followed by twin clotheslines.
Julia executed a front handspring clothesline and a running elbow strike before delivering a perfect split-legged bulldog.
The standing moonsault press wasn't enough for Julia to win as Madi got right back with a massive elbow strike. Julia stopped Madi with a pump kick followed by a splitting leg drop for her fourth AEW win.
Result: Julia Hart (W/. The Varsity Blonds) def. Madi Wrenkowski on AEW Dark
Grade: B
The Blade (w/ The Bunny & Matt Hardy) vs. Jake Tucker on AEW Dark
Matt Hardy prepared Blade for the AEW Dark match with some prep-talk from the apron. Jake Tucker tried to psyche out Blade with comical hip rolls, and the H.F.O. member called for some punches.
The Blade barely flinched from Tucker's strikes as he intensely demanded a fight. Jake went after the H.F.O. mercenary with a dropkick.
Blade left Tucker on the ropes with a suplex, followed by a Dr. Bomb for the win.
Result: The Blade def. Jake Tucker on AEW Dark
Grade: C
Angelico had a response for Wheeler Yuta ahead of their AEW Dark main event.
Private Party (w/ Matt Hardy) vs. Joeasa & Deonn Rusman (AEW Tag Team Debut) on AEW Dark
Private Party didn't wait for the bell to execute an attack in the corner. Joeasa took on the fight and dropped Kassidy with a hanging neckbreaker. Rusman came in and laid out Quen with a power slam.
Joeasa continued the match with Kassidy as he rocked him with a big boot.
Kassidy delivered a cutter on the ropes following Quen's unsurprising distraction. Matt Hardy was a proud mentor as Private Party stomped away on Joeasa against the buckle.
Joeasa escaped a kick and tagged Rusman into the match. Deonn Rusman knocked Kassidy off the apron before bringing a lot of heat on Quen with two running clotheslines.
He took Quen for a ride with a spin-out powerbomb. The Private Party member avoided contact from an incoming strike before catching Rusman with the stereo corkscrew kicks for the win.
Result: Private Party def. Joeasa & Deonn Rusman (AEW Tag Team Debut) on AEW Dark
Grade: B
Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Travis Titan on AEW Dark
AEW Dark can't be without your typical Powerhouse squash. The Team Taz member didn't allow his opponent a complete introduction as he attacked him at ringside.
Travis Titan got rammed back-first into the steel ring post as the crowd booed Hobbs.
The match finally kicked off, and Hobbs needed a mere 13 seconds to hit the spinebuster and get the three-count.
Result: Powerhouse Hobbs def. Travis Titan on AEW Dark
Grade: Powerhouse Squash
AEW Dark Co-Main Event: Gunn Club vs. The Wingmen's Cezar Bononi & JD Drake (w/ "Pretty" Peter Avalon)
A chaotic brawl got the match rolling as The Wingmen tried to get the advantage over the father-son duo.
The Gunn Club sent Bononi and Drake over the ropes as the action spilled over near ringside. Colten landed a big chop before Drake was rolled into the ring.
Referee Aubrey Edwards called for the bell, and Billy Gunn unleashed a classic clothesline-based attack on Drake.
Colten came in and executed a clean dropkick for a two-count. Papa Gunn missed the Famouser and absorbed a big right hand. Bononi then got the tag and decked Gunn with a big boot after Drake's Manhattan drop.
Cezar focused on Billy's midsection with hooks. The WWE Hall of Famer got dumped outside, but he still had a lot left in the gas tank.
He sent Bononi crashing into the guard rail before getting back into the ring. Colten and Drake got the tags, and the match resumed.
Colten created a misdirection to outfox both Wingmen members. He laid out Cezar with a leaping clothesline before following through with a swinging neckbreaker.
JD blocked the Colt 45 as Cezar recuperated to re-enter the ring. The former NXT star delivered the hoss toss before JD's cannonball senton in the corner.
Colten kicked out at two-and-a-half, but he didn't have his father in the corner for the tag. Drake missed the Vader Bomb, and Bononi accidentally pulled JD's boot off.
Colten sent Bononi outside as Billy hit a Famouser on Drake. Absolute pandemonium!
Colten reversed the pump handle powerslam into the Colt 45 to pick up a very challenging win for the Gunn Club on AEW Dark.
Result: Gunn Club def. The Wingmen's Cezar Bononi & JD Drake in the AEW Dark co-main event
Grade: B+
AEW Dark Main Event: Wheeler Yuta vs. Angelico (w/ Jack Evans)
The main event started with an intricate wrist lock exchange, followed by a snap mare from Yuta.
Angelico promised to bring his A-game tonight, but Wheeler was not your average in-ring worker. The highly-rated wrestler outsmarted Angelico, but the TH2 member worked towards a chin lock.
Yuta's aggressive attacking kicks followed the early stalemate. Angelico stopped a tope with a big commonguri and got the match back in the ring. Angelico executed a drop toehold and a double stomp to his rival's back. He went back to his slow but painful strategy of keeping Yuta grounded.
Wheeler broke free with three up-kicks, but his momentum didn't last long. Angelico locked in a trailer hitch submission before going for a modified octopus hold.
The matwork from Angelico was incredibly technical as he moved to a rear-naked choke. Yuta got back to his feet only to get rocked with a knee strike. The NJPW Strong star began the comeback with a mid-air counter followed by a springboard crossbody.
Yuta faked a top-rope move before delivering another flying crossbody for a near fall. Angelico landed a series of back elbows but got planted with a back suplex for another near fall.
Yuta pushed Angelico to the limits as he hit a Manhattan Drop-Enziguri combo. Angelico responded with a big right forearm, but Yuta bounced back to bridge the German suplex.
Angelico kicked out and retreated to the outside. Yuta followed him with a tope suicida as the crowd chanted for the star.
Angelico finally got some relief with the anti-air kick, followed by a stomp to Yuta's knee. It was just the set-up for the Navarro Death Roll, which got Angelico the submission win on AEW Dark.
Result: Angelico def. Wheeler Yuta in the AEW Dark main event
Grade: A
Wheeler Yuta put up one hell of a fight, but Angelico's technical prowess proved too mighty to tackle for the promising wrestler on AEW Dark.
AEW Dark lived up to its stacked match card, and you can view it in its entirety above.
