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The Bunny (w/ The Blade) vs. Big Swole on AEW Dark
The next AEW Dark match-up had significant implications for the women's rankings, and it got rolling with a lock-up in the corner. Swole rocked Bunny with a series of shots before hitting the ropes.
Bunny executed a shoulder tackle followed by a schoolboy roll-up. Swole got back with a diving uppercut across Bunny's spine. Diamante showed up on the ramp with a microphone, and the distraction helped Bunny capitalize and regain momentum.
Diamante took a seat at the timekeeper's table as Bunny landed a jaw strike in the corner. Swole, though, broke free from a hold with palm strikes and cross chops. She then missed a roundhouse kick and a leg sweep but found her mark with a headbutt.
Big Swole recovered really well and kept up the pressure with a clothesline. Swole peppered Bunny with more kicks before going for the Clearwater Cloverleaf submission move.
Blade jumped up on the apron, and Diamante took advantage of the distraction by hitting Swole with a dropkick to the side of the head.
Bunny rolled Swole up and held on to her trunks for the three-count.
Result: The Bunny def. Big Swole on AEW Dark
Grade: B
Wardlow vs. Chad Lennox (AEW Debut) (w/ Dustin Rhodes) on AEW Dark
Nightmare Factory graduate Chad Lennox made his singles AEW debut tonight against one of the most intimidating men in the company, Wardlow.
Mr. Mayhem got a solid reaction from the crowd as he proceeded to dismantle his opponent. The dominance started with a brutal spinebuster. The Pinnacle member planted Chad on the top buckle before knocking his lights out with his knee strike finisher.
Result: Wardlow def. Chad Lennox on AEW Dark
Grade: C
Big Swole cut a backstage promo up next as she reacted to Diamante's cheap shot. Swole accepted Diamante's challenge for a match and left it up to the Hispanic star to decide on a date and time.
QT Marshall cut a pre-match promo to get some heat from the AEW fans in Austin, Texas - the hometown of Dustin Rhodes.
Solow is also a former Austin native, and Marshall said he was unhappy about the disrespect towards his stablemate. Solow had a few words to say as well, and he predictably dissed the crowd before Dustin Rhodes's entrance.
AEW Dark Main Event: Dustin Rhodes vs. Aaron Solow (w/ The Factory)
Dustin Rhodes got a hero's welcome as The Natural approached the ring for the closing match of the evening.
However, Solow didn't let Dustin complete his entrance as he connected with a blindsided right-hand strike to the veteran's head. Rhodes knocked Solow to the outside and landed a few well-placed rights.
The former WWE star chopped Solow near the barricade before rolling him back into the ring. Marshall locked eyes with Rhodes, and Solow sent his opponent spine-first into the ring post.
The action continued to unfold near the ringside area as Solow landed a few punches and cross chops.
Back in the ring, Aaron dropped Dustin with a rolling knee strike for a two-count. The heel kept up a systematic approach as he opened up an opportunity for QT to deliver a cheap shot from the outside.
Solow mocked Rhodes with a hilarious move in the corner. The former WWE Intercontinental Champion began his comeback with a Manhattan Drop followed by an attempted Bulldog. Solow blocked the move and clashed heads with Dustin.
Both men got to a vertical base, and Rhodes connected with two punches in a row. He executed a big-time uppercut followed by his classic powerslam, which was absolute poetry in motion.
Rhodes got a near fall with a Code Red from the corner. The crowd was on their feet as the 52-year-old missed a suplex and ate a thrust kick. Rhodes then absorbed a German suplex followed by a corkscrew kick. Solow went for the pin but couldn't hold on for the three-count.
Rhodes reversed the Pedigree into a catapult towards the turnbuckle. Solow smartly countered with a double stomp off the second rope.
Rhodes showed remarkable resilience by taking a few more shots and bouncing off the ropes. He turned it up a notch by outfoxing Solow into delivering a running Bulldog for the win.
Result: Dustin Rhodes def. Aaron Solow on AEW Dark
Grade: B
The Natural celebrated his win to end another eventful episode of AEW Dark, which you can view above.
