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AEW Dark Main Event: Varsity Blonds & Dante Martin (w/ Julia Hart) vs. Ryan Nemeth & The Acclaimed
A video highlight package of The Acclaimed's AEW storyline with the Varsity Blonds aired before this week's AEW Dark main event, which looked like a show-stealer on paper.
Top Flight's Dante Martin approached the ring first for the trios tag team match, followed by the Varsity Blonds and Julia Hart. The audience showered their love for the team as Ryan Nemeth came out next to a few boos from the AEW crowd.
The Acclaimed got the biggest pop of the night, proving that Max Caster and Anthony Bowens are top stars in the making! Platinum Max had some bars as usual, with his shot at Julia Hart being a prominent feature of his latest diss verse.
Bowens used his strength advantage to overwhelm Dante Martin in the early stages. Martin got back with some crafty work on his feet as he utilized his quickness to stun Anthony. The Top Flight member effortlessly leapfrogged over Martin, bounced off the ropes, and dropped his rival with a shotgun dropkick.
Bowens prevented Martin from tagging out and briefly worked on him with Caster's help in the corner. Martin escaped and tagged Brian Pillman Jr. in the AEW match.
Ryan Nemeth came in for the heels as Garrison and Pillman peppered the Hollywood Hunk with some combination moves, including a dropkick-spinebuster variation.
Nemeth turned the referee's attention away as Bowens and Caster unloaded on Pillman after a cheap shot. Ryan and his partners were now in control as the tags started to increase in frequency.
Pillman was a fighter, however, and he swung his hands and connected with a few solid punches. The Varsity Blond got laid out with a release northern lights suplex, and Bowens quickly went for the cover. Taz called it wise wrestling on Bowens' part to not give his opponent any breathing room in the AEW Dark match.
Nemeth got a piece of the action in the bout with a running spear in the corner. Brian Pillman popped the AEW crowd and knocked down Nemeth and Bowens with a high crossbody from the top turnbuckle.
Brian tried to tag Dante Martin, who got swept off the apron by Nemeth. Garrison received the hot tag, and he attacked every opponent in plain sight with a series of clotheslines. He sent Nemeth outside before giving Bowens a taste of his boot.
Griff Garrison smashed Caster in the corner with a running splash before sending him across to the other end into his partner. Garrison then came running through for a double splash on both members of The Acclaimed.
Garrison executed a flapjack for a near fall as Caster was able to kick out. Max blocked a side suplex with a few elbows, but Garrison returned with a rolling elbow strike in the engaging AEW Dark bout.
Brian made the blind tag and missed his Air Pillman finisher as Bowens caught him and turned him inside-out with a side slam variation. He dropped Garrison with a thrust kick but couldn't evade Dante Martin's incredible moonsault off the ropes. Martin walked on top of the rope before executing the moonsault, and fans deservedly clapped for the star.
Max Caster missed the mic drop on Pillman, who moved out of the way and got a near fall with a roll-up. Dante got the tag, and he went to the top for a shotgun dropkick. The elevation on the move was insane!
Martin had his hands full with Nemeth, who ate a few elbow shots before going down with a dropkick. The Top Flight high-flyer showed glimpses of his mercurial talent as he almost landed on his feet after the dropkick.
Ryan reversed a hammer throw and sent Martin into the corner. Any other wrestler would have crashed into the turnbuckle, but not Dante!
The 20-year-old AEW star continued running and executed a somersault over the ring post onto the remaining members of the match. That was a legitimate holy sh** moment! Fans predictably gave props to Martin for the move as he looked to finish things up with Nemeth.
Dante Martin hit the Front-Flip Stunner but seemed to have partially botched up the finisher. Ryan Nemeth still sold it like a pro and couldn't kick out of the subsequent three-count.
Result: Varsity Blonds & Dante Martin def. Ryan Nemeth & The Acclaimed in the AEW Dark main event
Grade: B+
The AEW Dark main event also featured a post-match segment as Brian Pillman grabbed the microphone for a promo directed towards The Acclaimed.
It was the Varisty Blonds' time for retribution as Pillman accused Caster and Bowens of being mere talkers. He declared that the Blonds were the top-ranked tag team in the No. 1 company in the world.
The latest AEW Dark episode came to a close with The Varsity Blonds, Julia Hart, and Dante Martin celebrating in front of fans, as the heels looked on from the ramp.
You can check out the latest AEW Dark episode above, and feel free to share your grades and reviews in the comments section below.
