'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Taz and Excalibur welcomed fans to a massive episode of AEW Dark, which featured 17 matches.
AEW Dark was loaded tonight with a packed two-hour show that had some of the biggest names in the company mixing things up with up-and-coming talent.
Thunder Rosa kicked off the in-ring proceedings following a typically lively introduction from Justin Roberts.
Thunder Rosa vs. Zeda Zhang (AEW Debut) on AEW Dark
Zeda didn't seem to fear Rosa as she executed a good snap mare to start the match. The AEW debutant used her MMA-influenced style to get some ground control early on.
Thunder Rosa is no stranger to MMA as she knocked her opponent down with relative ease, followed by a kick to the midsection. Zhang ducked under a clothesline and landed a strong knee lift.
Rosa got back with a shotgun dropkick, which was on the mark. Thunder struggled to lift Zeda for a corner slam, but she executed two stampede attacks to make up for the early sloppiness.
Thunder Rosa completed the sequence with a power slam for a two-count. The former NWA Women's Champion stunned Zhang with a clothesline followed by the double knees in the corner. She built up more momentum with a shotgun dropkick in the corner, followed by a double underhook suplex for a near fall.
The AEW newcomer showed her toughness, but she couldn't escape the Peruvian Necktie as the submission move got Thunder Rosa the win.
Result: Thunder Rosa def. Zeda Zhang on AEW Dark
Grade: B+
Red Velvet vs. Skyler Moore on AEW Dark
Skyler Moore used her power to get the better of the hammerlock exchange with Red Velvet.
Velvet used her agility to frustrate Moore with an arm drag and a perfectly-timed dropkick. Skyler took a break to collect herself before getting back with two kicks to the ribcage.
Moore sent Velvet into the corner before planting her into the mat with a slam. She chopped Red Velvet in the corner.
The AEW Women's title contender mounted her comeback with a few kicks and a facebuster. Velvet landed two back elbows before setting her opponent up against the rope with a drop toehold.
Velvet came through for the running knee strike to the back, which was the setup for her finisher, 'The Final Slice.'
Result: Red Velvet def. Skyler Moore on AEW Dark
Grade: B
2.0 (Matt Lee & Jeff Parker) (AEW Tag Team Debut) vs. Adrian Alanis & Liam Gray on AEW Dark
2.0, formerly known as Ever Rise in the WWE, got quite an extensive entrance as Jeff Parker started the match with Adrian Alanis.
Adrian grabbed Parker's hair, but the AEW debutant outfoxed Alanis with some swift movement. Alanis prevented Parker from making the tag with a Northern Lights suplex followed by a dropkick.
Parker regrouped and tried to bait his opponent into his corner. Matt Lee finally got the tag, and he sent Alanis flying across the ring with a German suplex. He stomped away on Adrian in the corner as Parker knocked Liam Gray off the apron.
Matt Lee sent Alanis crashing into the turnbuckle with a hammer throw before tagging Parker back into the contest. Jeff returned with a right hand before getting Matt Lee in for a few tandem moves.
2.0 looked incredibly well-oiled as a team, and the commentary team put them over as a formidable alliance. Alanis finally created some pace with a big boot and some clutch strikes.
He vaulted over Parker to tag Liam Gray, who sent Parker slamming into his partner. Gray took both 2.0 members out with a rolling senton off the top, followed by a leaping kick on Matt Lee.
The action continued as a recharged Alanis re-entered the match but failed to hold on to Lee.
Matt sent Alanis crashing into Gray and used the momentum to deliver a backdrop. He tagged Parker, and 2.0 hit a backbreaker-running knee combo.
They hit a Hotshot on Alanis on top of the rope for a massive win.
Result: 2.0 def. Adrian Alanis & Liam Gray on AEW Dark
Grade: B+
Chaos Project vs. Bear Country on AEW Dark
Bear Boulder returned to AEW action following a brief injury layoff. Bronson kicked off the match against Serpentico. The Luchador found himself in the wrong corner in the early goings. He walked into a gutwrench but managed to escape the corner attack.
Bronson took Serpentico out with a massive powerslam before tagging in Boulder. The returning star shook off the ring rust with a gigantic splash followed by a side slam on Luther. Bear Boulder came in with a significant elbow drop on Luther.
Bear Country focused on Serpentico as he got laid out with a double back body drop. Bronson continued to punish Serpentico, this time on the outside.
Luther regained control for his team by sweeping Bronson off his feet on the apron. He then threw Serpentico at Bronson as Chaos Project seemed proud of their handiwork.
The Original Death Dealer finally got into the match and drove Bronson face-first into the barricade. Luther kicked his opponent in the back before making a quick tag out to an exhausted Serpentico.
The masked man looked more banged up than Bronson, which said a lot about Chaos Project's offensive style. Luther used Serpentico as a weapon throughout the match as Bronson fought to make it to his corner.
Chaos Project got near fall with an assisted splash. Bronson finally strung together a few kicks before delivering a double senton drop. He eventually made the tag to Boulder, who came in hot with big boots and slams on Luther and Serpentico.
Boulder showed freakish strength with a double powerbomb on Chaos Project! Bear Country finished the AEW Dark match with an assisted splash on Luther.
Result: Bear Country def. Chaos Project on AEW Dark
Grade: B+
Bear Country is back!
Darby Allin vs. Invictus Khash (AEW Debut) on AEW Dark
Invictus Khash was the first Iranian wrestler to perform in AEW, and he was trained by Buddy Wayne, the same man who groomed Darby Allin.
Both men began the match with strong lock-ups, and Allin looked better with his arm control. Khash showed off his technical skills by executing a smooth arm drag takedown.
Khash maintained wrist control and drove Allin down to the mat. Darby's innovative offense came to the fore as he built up some speed with phenomenal arm drags.
Invictus stopped Allin near the ropes and dropped the former TNT champion with a brutal backbreaker. Khash got a one-count with a snap suplex before getting in a chin lock.
Darby broke free and pulled off a series of roll-ups. Khash reversed a few but couldn't find a way out of the Last Supper pinfall on AEW Dark.
Result: Darby Allin def. Invictus Khash (AEW Debut) on AEW Dark
Grade: B
The AEW Dark match's unique finish highlighted Darby Allin's mat sense and sound fundamentals in the ring.
Dark Order's Alan "5" Angels vs. QT Marshall (w/ The Factory) on AEW Dark
QT started the match with an impressive mat return. The Factory leader mocked the Dark Order, and the gesture fired up Angels.
5 unleashed a barrage of kicks, but QT used his body to knock him down. Marshall avoided a dropkick and connected with a big chop.
Angels then got back with southpaw strikes in the corner. He stopped at five and invited QT into the drop toehold. Marshall rolled out of the ring to escape a double knee strike. However, he still ate a dropkick and a tope suicida on the outside.
A brief distraction from other Factory members helped Marshall pull Angels towards the barricade. QT then deployed a systematic approach and broke down Angels with concentrated attacks.
He got a near fall after a hellacious tilt-a-whirl backbreaker and a crossface punch. The Dark Order member stayed alive in the match and escaped a back body drop. He caught him with an enziguri, followed by the "this is going to suck" rope move.
Angels picked up the pace and kicked QT in the midsection. Marshall caught Angels and dropped him with a backbreaker-flatliner combo. Alan kicked out at two, much to the surprise of QT.
Marshall placed Angels on the top turnbuckle before joining him at the perch. The Dark Order member fought through a suplex using his punches and upper body strength before knocking QT to the mat.
Angels executed a diving crossbody followed by the Tiaras and a few forearm shimmers. QT missed the German suplex and absorbed a kick and a running knee strike.
Alan positioned QT for the moonsault press, which got him a near fall. Marshall was on rollerskates after taking a commonguri, but he dug deep to block a lungblower.
Marshall showed off tremendous power to drop Angels with a massive Liger bomb. Angels kicked out of the pinfall, and QT was shellshocked for the second time in the match.
Angels blocked the Cutter before going for another top-rope move. Aaron Solow distracted Angels from the apron as hell broke loose near the ringside area between the Factory and Dark Order.
Back to the match, QT had Angels in a powerbomb position on the top rope. Angels fought through with a few headbutts before delivering a magical Spanish Fly. Marshall kicked out at two and a half! Holy s***!
We passed the halfway point of the time limit as Angels looked for the Wingsnapper finisher. Marshall executed a back elbow and ripped off Angels' mask.
Alan rolled QT up and bought some time to get his mask back on. However, QT used that time to catch Angels with the Cutter, and it was enough to get him a hard-fought win on AEW Dark. What a match!
Result: QT Marshall def. Alan Angels on AEW Dark
Grade: A+
QT and Angels put on a pay-per-view quality AEW match for free on YouTube. Incredible!
Hikuleo vs. Thad Brown (AEW Debut) on AEW Dark
The Bullet Club's Hikuleo was back for another AEW match, and he made quick work of his opponent, as expected.
Hikuleo started with a big boot and a running hammer throw in the corner. The 6-foot-10-inch monster drove Brown into the ring post.
The son of King Haku faced some adversity, though, as Thad Brown used his quickness to catch the big guy off guard.
Hikuleo blocked Brown's lungblower attempt and rocked him with a short-arm clothesline. The AEW debutant seemed to have been knocked out cold as Hikuleo ended the match with a T-Bomb.
Result: Hikuleo def Thad Brown (AEW Debut) on AEW Dark
Grade: C+
Nyla Rose (w/ Vickie Guerrero) vs. Valentina Rossi on AEW Dark
There was only one predicted outcome here, and it panned out as imagined. Nyla Rose ran through her Italian opponent with her vicious brand of offense before ending the match with the Beast Bomb.
Result: Nyla Rose def. Valentina Rossi on AEW Dark
Grade: D
Fuego Del Sol vs. Daniel Garcia on AEW Dark
Fresh off his Dynamite debut, Daniel Garcia returned for a match against the face of AEW Dark, Fuego Del Sol.
Garcia began with an excellent mat return and was calm in his approach. Del Sol got back with a knee and a standing shooting star press.
Del Sol was not an opponent to be underestimated as he went for the Tornado DDT. Daniel Garcia stopped him in his tracks with a running boot. Daniel spent the next few minutes wearing down his high-flying opponent.
Del Sol began cooking with a few running uppercuts and a spear in the corner. Daniel Garcia stunned Fuego with a shotgun dropkick. Del Sol countered with a Fisherman's buster, followed by another attempted Tornado DDT.
Garcia reversed it into an unorthodox hold that forced a verbal submission out of Del Sol.
Result: Daniel Garcia def. Fuego Del Sol on AEW Dark
Grade: B+
Garcia picked up his first career win in AEW, and he looked highly intimidating as his entrance music played following the victory.
Penelope Ford vs. Sahara Seven on AEW Dark
Seven wasn't too pleased with Penelope Ford touching her hair, and both competitors exchanged some words.
Ford delivered a big-time stunner and stamped her authority on the contest. Sahara Seven missed a hip attack in the corner and got her face dragged on the top rope by Ford.
Penelope followed it with multiple kicks to the chest. Ford executed her trademark offense, including a handspring elbow and a German release suplex. The Super Bad Girl picked up a submission win with the Indian Death Lock.
Result: Penelope Ford def. Sahara Seven on AEW Dark
Grade: C+
Shawn Spears & Wardlow vs. Seth Gargis & Ripper Zybysko on AEW Dark
WWE Hall of Famer Larry Zbyszko's son Ripper Zybysko made his AEW debut alongside Seth Gargis. The commentary team put over Larry Byszko before the match got underway.
Shawn Spears started with Ripper, and the Pinnacle member used his experience to win the early wrestling exchanges. Ripper connected with a stiff body shot before tagging Seth Gargis into the match.
Wardlow came in for a clash of mountains against the gigantic Gargis. The battle of the beasts was hard-hitting as Wardlow called for a few shoulder blocks.
Mr. Mayhem sent Seth Gargis flying across the ring with a shoulder tackle of his own and a suplex toss.
Ripper made the mistake of tagging in and was punished with an unforgiving throw from Wardlow. Spears got the tag, and the Chairman sinched in multiple knees right into Zybysko's face. That was painful to watch!
Spears got Ripper up for the C4 while Wardlow stopped Gargis from breaking up the winning pinfall.
Result: Shawn Spears & Wardlow def. Seth Gargis & Ripper Zybysko on AEW Dark
Grade: B
The Hybrid2 vs. Jay Freddie & Marcus Kross (AEW Tag Team Debut) on AEW Dark
Jack Evans and Jay Freddie got the match rolling with a hip toss exchange. Freddie looked crisp as he got a one-count from a snap suplex.
Kross came in and executed a sweet dropkick and an elbow drop. TH2 regained control with some tandem offense. Evans and Angelico focussed on Kross and delivered a neckbreaker combo followed by a facebuster.
Marcus kicked out at two but got caught in a complex leg scissor lock courtesy of Angelico. TH2 executed a stomp-backbreaker combo as Evans used the momentum to knock Freddie off the apron.
Kross created some separation with a back elbow and a middle-rope strike. Freddie got the hot tag, and he took Evans out with a shotgun dropkick followed by a dragonscrew on Angelico.
The Bulldog-clothesline combo from Freddie on both TH2 members was the biggest moment of the match. His team couldn't capitalize as they missed a Doomsday device, giving TH2 an opening to exploit.
Evans laid out Kross with the Sasuke special on the outside. Back in the ring, Angelico staggered Freddie and set him up for the Navarro Death Roll.
Result: The Hybrid2 def. Jay Freddie & Marcus Kross (AEW Tag Team Debut) on AEW Dark
Grade: B+
The Wingmen's Cezar Bononi & JD Drake (w/ Peter Avalon) vs. Lucha Brothers (w/ Alex Abrahantes) on AEW Dark
JD Drake and Penta had an intense face-off at the beginning of the match. Fenix took flight with a high crossbody before working with Penta for a double kick on Drake.
Rey Fenix took Drake down with a move that was impossible to call or prepare for, as per Excalibur. The Blue-Collar Badass fought back with a series of chops before tagging in Cezar Bononi.
The Wingmen bent Fenix in half with a Manhattan drop-high boot combination. Fenix evaded a running attack that helped Penta to catch Drake with a commonguri.
Penta followed it with a double stomp on JD. Bononi stopped Penta from breaking his partner's arm and executed a throwaway pump handle. Drake came running through for a cannonball senton on a defenseless Penta.
Fenix rushed in to break the pin, and he came around the ropes to kick Bononi in the face. He gave a boot to Drake as well before the Lucha Brothers wiset the stage for the finish.
Penta went up first for a diving foot stomp to Drake's chest. Fenix applied the finishing touch with a frog splash for the win.
Result: Lucha Brothers def. The Wingmen's Cezar Bononi & JD Drake on AEW Dark
Grade: B+
Tay Conti vs. Robyn Renegade on AEW Dark
Robyn Renegade and Tay Conti lit each other up with stiff punches to start the AEW Dark match.
Conti backed Renegade in a corner and got a two-count following a sunset flip. Tay missed the pump kick and ate a double knee strike from Renegade.
Robyn rolled Conti to the center and slammed her head into the mat. Renegade enjoyed some dominance before Conti finally connected with her pump kicks.
The Brazilian star finished the AEW Dark match with the DD-Tay.
Result: Tay Conti def. Robyn Renegade on AEW Dark
Grade: B+
Private Party (w/ H.F.O.) vs. Chuck Taylor & Wheeler Yuta on AEW Dark
Isiah Kassidy and Wheeler Yuta kicked off the match with a back-and-forth sequence.
Yuta's research-based approach to professional wrestling was a topic of discussion for the commentators as the NJPW Strong competitor dominated against Kassidy.
Chuck Taylor received a tag, and he delivered a single-leg Boston crab in the middle of the ring. Marq Quen had to break the hold, much to the displeasure of the referee.
Private Party took Taylor down with a high-flying combo of strikes. Quen then continued the momentum with stomps on Chuck. The heels took advantage of all the diversions to keep the Best Friend in their corner.
Chuck finally created the separation with Sole Food before making the hot tag to Yuta. Wheeler knocked Kassidy down with a shotgun dropkick.
He got some 'show points' with a kip-up before taking a few elbows in the face. Kassidy stepped over and landed an enziguri but still got caught in a bridged German suplex.
Quen came rushing and was sent flying out by Wheeler. Yuta suffered a terrible landing on the outside, and Private Party couldn't afford to babyface any room for breathing.
Wheeler broke away from a full nelson hold and rolled through to tag Taylor.
Chuckie T went on a clothesline spree as he took on both members of the Private Party. The Best Friend outsmarted his opponents and sent them crashing into one another in the corner.
Wheeler Yuta returned to the ring, and he headed up top for the splash on Quen. Kassidy made the save but was sent back out by Chuck.
Wheeler had Quen in a Flying Octopus hold, and it looked excruciating. Marq got a rope break but received some much-needed help from his partner.
Kassidy then sent Yuta face-first into the ring post. Private Party isolated Chuck Taylor and delivered the Silly String DDT.
Kassidy wiped out Yuta with a moonsault, and Quen followed through with another dive. Back in the ring, Kassidy hit the senton bomb on Taylor, but Chuck kicked out!
Quen looked frustrated as he missed a Shooting Star Press and got decked with a rising knee strike.
Wheeler Yuta came back to attack Kassidy. However, Jack Evans interfered and executed a cheap shot on Yuta. Private Party rolled Wheeler up for the win.
The babyfaces get cheated out of another win on AEW Dark!
Result: Private Party def. Chuck Taylor & Wheeler Yuta
Grade: A
Orange Cassidy and Kris Statlander hit the ring to save Yuta from a post-match beatdown.
AEW Dark Co-Main Event: Dark Order's Evil Uno, Stu Grayson & Colt Cabana vs. David Ramos, Jake Manning & Joey Sweets
Stu Grayson wasted no time as he stunned Joey Sweets with his frantic pace. The Dark Order worked smoothly in tandem as Sweets was aching to tag himself out.
Jake Manning came in, and his chops did not affect Cabana, who executed a head scissors takedown. David Ramos was next, and he looked to unsettle Cabana with an unannounced shoulder tackle.
Cabana barely moved an inch, but he felt the pain. He swept Ramos off his feet before tagging Uno into the match.
Grayson leaped off the ropes for the DDT before Sweets ran in to get kicked in the face. Colt finished the match with the Chicago Skyline and the Superman Splash on Joey Sweets.
Result: Dark Order's Evil Uno, Stu Grayson & Colt Cabana def. David Ramos, Jake Manning & Joey Sweets
Grade: C+
AEW Dark Main Event: Dark Order's Alex Reynolds, 10 & John Silver vs. Dean Alexander, Arjun Singh & T.I.M.
The Dark Order wrapped up the show with another trios match. Johnny Hungy pumped his gigantic biceps before the main event.
T.I.M. made his AEW debut by starting with Alex Reynolds. The AEW fresher was explosive, but Reynolds was one step ahead of his opponent.
Alex landed a big knee followed by a drive-thru. Preston Vance knocked Dean Alexander down with a shoulder tackle before executing two splashes in the corner.
10 tossed Alexander with a fallaway slam. Arjun Singh got a piece of the action and got taken down by John Silver. The most jacked man in AEW lifted Arjun Singh in the air and planted his face into the mat.
Silver loved the round kicks to the chest of Singh, who took all the momentum away with a buckle attack. Silver worked his way out of opposing territory to get Reynolds into the AEW Dark match.
Alex took Dean out with a back elbow and follow-up dropkick. 10 made the blind tag and delivered two clotheslines on Alexander.
Preston wobbled Dean with a pump kick followed by a spinebuster. Silver and Reynolds hit a six-move combo on Alexander, which was just to soften him up for Vance's Full Nelson.
Result: Dark Order's Alex Reynolds, 10 & John Silver def. Dean Alexander, Arjun Singh & T.I.M.
Grade: B+
That was another jam-packed episode of AEW Dark, which had some big moments as always.
You can check out the full AEW Dark episode above, and don't forget to share your grades and reviews in the comments section.
