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This week's AEW Dark opened with a pre-recorded segment of FTR cutting a promo from Dax Harwood's house.
FTR issued an open challenge to all the Luchadors except the Lucha Bros for the next episode of Dynamite, where they will put their AAA Tag Team Championship on the line.
The main show finally kicked off with Excalibur and Taz welcoming fans as the in-ring proceedings got underway with a tag team match.
Santana & Ortiz vs. Joe Coleman & Idris Abraham (AEW Tag Team Debut) on AEW Dark
Santana started the match for his team while Idris stepped in from the other end. Coleman told his partner to go after Santana's leg, but the Inner Circle member executed a drop step and landed two stiff back elbows.
Santana got a round of applause for a basement dropkick as Abraham struggled to tag out of the match. Santana went for the Three Amigos and got in Ortiz before the third suplex.
Ortiz brought Coleman into the ring and dropped him down with a short-arm clothesline. Santana tagged himself in and delivered a double powerbomb on Coleman with Ortiz's help.
Idris showed some fight with an enziguri, but Ortiz and Santana were a step ahead. The duo executed a perfect combination that included a knee lift, an enziguri, and a rolling lariat.
The combo knocked Idris' lights out and was more than enough to get Santana and Ortiz the win.
Result: Santana & Ortiz def. Joe Coleman & Idris Abraham on AEW Dark
Grade: B
Viva Van vs. Nyla Rose (w/ Vickie Guerrero) on AEW Dark
Vickie Guerrero cut the music with her trademark 'Excuse me,' and she didn't miss the chance to insult Justin Roberts. Guerrero introduced Nyla Rose as the future TBS champion before the Native Beast's entrance theme was played once again on AEW Dark.
Rose started the match on the front foot as she tossed Viva Van across the ring with ease. Rose kicked her opponent in the ribs and sized her up before coming in for a back elbow.
Van avoided contact and tried to string a few kicks together. Nyla chopped Van across the windpipe and rocked her with a heel kick out of nowhere.
Rose finally landed the running back elbow, which was the setup for the Beast Bomb. As expected, this was just another routine victory for the former AEW Women's champion.
Result: Nyla Rose def. Viva Van on AEW Dark
Grade: C
Lee Johnson & Brock Anderson vs. Eli Knight & Malik Bosede (AEW Tag Team Debut) on AEW Dark
Brock Anderson locked up with Malik Bosede in the AEW Dark match and faced some difficulty while countering the initial grappling exchanges. Anderson is still very green in the ring, and it showed during the early seconds of the match. Brock managed to drop Bosede with a slam and tried to kick a hole in his opponent's chest with some aggressive stomps.
Lee Johnson came in and delivered a snapmare and a kick to Bosede's spine. Eli Knight got the tag and was immediately taken off his feet by Johnson.
Eli Knight showed off his agility with a brilliant hand spin. Johnson one-upped him with a front-flip counter. Knight had some grit in him as he shoved Johnson in the face and screamed, "You can't beat me."
Big Shotty responded with a massive clothesline. He sent Bosede out of the ring before tagging Brock Anderson back into the match.
Arn Anderson's son dropped Knight with a spinebuster before Johnson came through for a frog splash from the top turnbuckle. Brock covered Knight for the three-count.
Result: Lee Johnson & Brock Anderson def. Eli Knight & Malik Bosede on AEW Dark
Grade: B
Daniel Garcia (w/ 2point0) vs. RSP on AEW Dark
From a stylistic standpoint, the next AEW match looked incredibly promising on paper.
Daniel Garcia and RSP began with a high-octane collar and elbow tie-up. Garcia used the referee to create a distraction before going on the offensive. Daniel used familiar-looking strikes to keep RSP on the ground.
Garcia caught RSP's roundhouse kick and executed a perfect dragonscrew. Daniel Garcia knew that he was no match for RSP's power, and he focussed on keeping his opponent on the mat.
Garcia targeted the knees and head with a variety of strike-based moves. 2point0 briefly got involved in the match with an assist from the outside. RSP responded with an enziguri that staggered Garcia.
Daniel countered the chokeslam with a guillotine. RSP broke the submission hold by delivering a brutal toss across the ring.
RSP charged in with a splash in the corner, followed by a nasty powerslam. Garcia kicked out at two and managed to reverse another chokeslam.
He got in another front-face headlock before transitioning to the back for a rear-naked choke. RSP was forced to tap out, handing Garcia a big submission win on AEW Dark.
Result: Daniel Garcia def. RSP on AEW Dark
Grade: B+
The Dark Order's John Silver & Alex Reynolds (w/ Negative One) vs. Sean Carr & Marcus Kross (AEW Tag Team Debut) on AEW Dark
Alex Reynolds grabbed Sean Carr's hands but still ate a few punches in the early goings of the AEW Dark match. Reynolds casually walked out of an incoming splash and landed a stylish dropkick followed by a kip-up.
John Silver hit a double drop toe hold followed by a double dropkick with his partner. "Johnny Hungy" chants echoed inside the Universal Studios as Silver flexed his muscles.
John Silver caught Carr in a Hurricanrana and a dropkick before tagging Reynolds back in. Alex continued the dominance for his team with a few kicks. Carr, however, found an opening and tagged Marcus Kross, who leaped off the top rope and stunned Reynolds with a crossbody.
Reynolds blocked Kross' suplex and sent him flying to the corner. Silver got the hot tag, and he executed two biel throws on his opponent. He completed a snapmare on Carr onto the turnbuckle and shifted his attention to Kross, who got laid out with two German suplexes.
Reynolds connected with a high boot before Silver sent Cross crashing into Sean Carr in the corner with a release belly-to-belly suplex. Great combination offense!
Reynolds hit the Dark Destroyer DDT on Kross, and Silver covered him for the win.
Result: The Dark Order's John Silver & Alex Reynolds def. Sean Carr & Marcus Kross on AEW Dark
Grade: B
Negative One kicked Kross out of the ring to end the post-match segment.
The Acclaimed vs. Ishmael Vaughn & Dontae Smiley (AEW Tag Team Debut) on AEW Dark
Max Caster's latest verse on AEW Dark had some amusing references, such as Harry Potter and Revenge of the Mummy. The Acclaimed's opponents for the night laughed in the ring as Max Caster and Anthony Bowens carried on with their entrance.
Bowens went for a kick to the mid-section and wasted no time in gaining control of the match. Caster came in fairly quickly, and the Acclaimed worked in tandem against Ishmael Vaughn.
Caster was relentless as he dropped Vaughn with a back suplex. Bowens used the springboard for an elbow drop, and he proudly declared that 'everybody loved the Acclaimed.' The crowd seemed to agree with him as well!
Vaughn finally created some space as he dropped Bowens down to one knee and tagged Dontae Smiley.
Smiley showed off his quick hands and feet with a furious combo on Bowens. Anthony stopped Smiley in his tracks with a cross chop and a thrust kick across the jaw.
Caster received the tag, and the Acclaimed hit a double Russian leg sweep, followed by a penalty kick from Bowens. Vaughn entered the ring to help his partner, but the plan backfired as Caster was alerted of the danger.
The Acclaimed isolated Smiley and Caster executed the Mic Drop to end the match.
Result: The Acclaimed def. Ishmael Vaughn & Dontae Smiley on AEW Dark
Grade: B+
The Bunny (w/ The Butcher) vs. Santana Garrett on AEW Dark
The Bunny didn't let Santana Garrett settle down as she viciously assaulted her with a series of punches.
Bunny jammed Garrett's neck into the turnbuckle with a dropkick from the back, and she talked trash at her opponent. Big Butch looked on as Bunny urged Garrett to fight back.
Santana couldn't catch a break as Bunny landed a knee lift and scratched her back to inflict more pain. Garrett got back into the match with a big-time shot across Bunny's jaw. She kept up the excellent work with a handspring elbow in the corner followed by a thrust kick.
However, Garrett missed her backflip splash, and Bunny capitalized by taking her down the rabbit hole!
Result: The Bunny def. Santana Garrett on AEW Dark
Grade: C
2point0 (w/ Daniel Garcia) vs. Bison XL & Toa Liona (AEW Tag Team Debut) on AEW Dark
Jeff Parker caught Bison off guard with a no-look dropkick to start the AEW Dark match. Bison looked unaffected by the kick as he effortlessly scooped Parker and slammed him down to the mat.
Bison dropped a big elbow, and Parker quickly retreated to his corner. 2point0 discussed their game plan on the outside before the match resumed. Matt Lee was the legal man now, and he looked to outsmart Bison XL.
2point0 used classic heel tactics to isolate Bison in their corner, and Daniel Garcia's leg trip helped them take control of the bout. 2point0 members began wearing down Bison with some outstanding tag team wrestling.
Toa Liona got the fans behind his partner as 2point0 continued to call the shots. Bison used all his strength to get away and make the hot tag to Liona.
Toa came in like a freight train and bamboozled both members of 2point0. Liona, of course, executed a Samoan drop but missed the double splash in the corner. He did, however, land a double-shoulder tackle!
Daniel Garcia stepped up on the apron to create a distraction, and it worked wonders as Bison accidentally crashed into Liona.
2point0 delivered the 'Two for the Show' finisher on Bison, and Toa Liona couldn't get into the ring to break the subsequent pinfall.
Result: 2point0 def. Bison XL & Toa Liona on AEW Dark
Grade: B+
Bison and Toa didn't come across looking like enhancement talents, and fans should expect to see more of the duo in the coming weeks.
Red Velvet vs. Sholance Royal on AEW Dark
Taz singing along to Red Velvet's entrance theme song was one of the highlights of AEW Dark! Taz loves stirring it up, apparently!
Sholance Royal's opera singing skill was another interesting dynamic in the match. Red Velvet shut her opponent down with a single-leg lariat.
Sholance's melodic outbursts kept popping the fans, and even Taz briefly joined in with his opera rendition. Royal kept singing as she had Velvet in a headlock, and the audience was amazed by her unique brand of in-ring action.
Sholance wasn't just about her singing as she rocked Velvet with a rolling back elbow. Red Velvet came back with a clothesline before landing a running knee strike in the corner.
She followed it with a stunner and a running double-knee strike across Sholance's spine. Royal kicked out of the pinfall after getting laid out with a standing moonsault press.
Sholance missed her clothesline back on the feet and got caught in Red Velvet's 'Final Slice' finisher.
Result: Red Velvet def. Sholance Royal on AEW Dark
Grade: B+
After the match, Bunny attacked Red Velvet with brass knuckles and sent a big message ahead of the TBS title tournament matches.
Bobby Fish vs. Ryzin on AEW Dark
Bobby Fish took Ryzin down to begin the AEW Dark match and used his kicks to prevent an early comeback. Fish mixed things up with body shots and punches before executing a rolling senton for a two-count.
Fish got another near fall with an exploder suplex into the ropes. Bobby kept looking for the win as he executed a backdrop and transitioned to a rear-naked choke.
Bobby Fish released the hold and knocked Ryzin out with a kick across the jaw for an easy win in the books.
Result: Bobby Fish def. Ryzin on AEW Dark
Grade: C
AEW Dark Co-Main Event: Tony Nese (AEW Debut) vs. Fuego Del Sol on AEW Dark
Tony Nese's first AEW match had to be against the best Luchador from Mobile, Alabama! The former WWE Cruiserweight Champion was greeted with several boos as he proudly showed off his chiseled physique before the match.
Loud 'Fuego' chants started the match, and Tony Nese used his power to gain the early advantage. Del Sol used his quickness to launch himself into Nese's mid-section.
Tony Nese's incredible agility came to the fore as he evaded a clothesline with a kip-up. Del Sol was unwilling to back down as he executed a tremendous Tiaras off the ropes.
Tony Nese stopped Del Sol from soaring through the air with a stiff shoulder block. Nese got a two-count with a delayed vertical suplex.
The Premier Athlete grabbed Del Sol and told him that they didn't belong in the same ring. Nese got another near fall with a springboard moonsault press off the second rope. He dragged Del Sol to the middle and locked him in the body scissors.
The painful yet straightforward technique proved tough for Del Sol to break out of, and Nese smartly moved to a reverse gut-wrench hold. Fuego used the crowd's support, broke free, and dropped Nese with a big kick.
Both men beat the ten count, and it was Fuego who took Nese off his feet once again with a crossbody. Del Sol landed four quick attacks before wiping Nese off on the outside with a moonsault.
Del Sol got a near fall after a double-foot stomp. He signaled for the Tornado DDT, but Nese reversed it into a roll-up. He lifted Del Sol in mid-air and dumped him into the corner with a buckle bomb.
Tony Nese built up a head of steam and connected with his running knee strike in the corner for his first AEW win.
Result: Tony Nese def. Fuego Del Sol on AEW Dark
Grade: A
Tony Nese looked polished on his AEW outing and we're sure there are more wins to come for the company's latest recruit.
AEW Dark Main Event: PAC vs. Tiger Ruas on AEW Dark
Both men had an intense face-off before the big-time AEW Dark main event! Ruas used his footwork to keep PAC guessing, but 'The Bastard' used all his experience to get the side headlock takedown.
PAC kept the pressure on Ruas until the tables turned in the Brazilian star's favor. The exchanges between the two wrestlers were highly technical, and it made for a very engaging viewing experience.
Ruas took PAC out of the air twice with modified deep arm drags, followed by a snap suplex and a double leg takedown. PAC tried to turn the match into a street fight as the action spilled over to the ringside area.
Ruas was sent into the barricade as PAC weathered the storm and dictated the pace of the match. A long-drawn side headlock ended with Ruas and PAC exchanging punches in the middle of the ring.
Ruas blocked the lariat and connected with a basement dropkick. He stalked his prey and ripped PAC's ribs with hooks and punches. Ruas got a near fall with a traditional side suplex.
Tiger looked for the cross-arm breaker, but PAC reversed it into a pinfall predicament. PAC lifted Ruas off the mat and came back down with a powerbomb.
PAC put together a few kicks and sent Ruas into the ropes for a suplex. He locked in the Brutalizer and forced Ruas to give up.
Result: PAC def. Tiger Ruas on AEW Dark
Grade: B
The latest AEW Dark had some solid in-ring action and several promising new talents, and you can check out the complete episode above. Also, don't forget to share your reviews in the comments section below.
