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AEW aired a special Friday night edition of Dark ahead of Full Gear
Former Mae Young Classic participant Tesha Price, Angel Dominguez, and Trevor Read made their AEW debuts tonight on a card that featured seven matches.
WWE Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn was also interestingly referenced during the match.
Without any further delay, let's get to the results and highlights of the show:
#1. Big Swole vs. Tesha Price on AEW Dark
Big Swole dropped Price after an attempted lockup. Swole executed another takedown and drove the knees into the kidneys of Price.
Back on the feet, Price fired back with a big slap. Price was now on top, as had Swole in a headlock. Tesha connected with a single foot dropkick for a 1-count.
Price was in control, but Swole fought back and leveled her opponent with a clothesline. Swole unleashed a series of open-handed slaps.
Swole ended the match with the Texas Cloverleaf.
Result: Big Swole def. Tesha Price on AEW Dark
Grade: B-
#2. Matt Sydal vs. Christopher Daniels on AEW Dark
Matt Sydal and Christopher Daniels shook hands before beginning the match, and the crowd sounded hyped. This one was bound to be good.
Both men jockeyed for position by exchanging hammerlocks and arm drags. Sydal got in an inside cradle before settling for the side headlock. On the feet, Sydal took Daniels down with a shoulder block.
Daniels got back with a standing splash. Sydal connected with a big round kick for a two. Matt leg swept Daniels before executing the vertical corkscrew Shooting Star press. That was insanely clean.
Daniels created some separation with a big high collar suplex, and Taz seemed impressed as the Original Suplex Machine gave him a 9.2. Daniels got a two-count following a Blue thunder powerbomb.
Sydal ate an elbow but took Daniels down from the top rope with the Hurricanerana. Sydal dropped Daniels with a side suplex, and the landing looked bad, which got him a near fall.
Sydal then went up to the top rope, but Daniels caught him on the way down and executed the Urinagi.
TH2 came out to the ramp, and Daniels was distracted. Sydal reversed the Angel's Wings into a pinfall for the win.
Result: Matt Sydal def. Christopher Daniels on AEW Dark
Grade: B+
#3. Brandon Cutler vs. Michael Nakazawa on AEW Dark
Fresh off his first win against Peter Avalon, Brandon Cutler looked to get a winning streak going as he took on Michael Nakazawa tonight.
Cutler and Nakazawa had a fast-paced start to the match, which included an impressive reverse DDT by Cutler for the two-count. The action shifted to the outside as Nakazawa connected with a clubbing blow before sending Cutler into the barricade. The oil was out as Nakazawa applied it on the apron to prevent Cutler from getting back in.
Cutler still managed to find a way back, and he connected with a springboard elbow. Nakazawa responded with a big spear for a near fall. Cutler got up and delivered the TPK for the win.
Result: Brandon Cutler def. Michael Nakazawa on AEW Dark
Grade: C
Frankie Kazarian cut a backstage promo in which he noted down his goals in AEW while also sending a message about TH2. Solid promo.
#4. Ariel Dominguez vs. Griff Garrison on AEW Dark
Garrison had a massive size advantage over Dominguez. However, Angel had some fire in him as he punched Garrison in the face.
Griff dropped Angel with a big boot in the middle of the ring. The Ivy League MVP executed a splash in the corner. He went for another splash, but Dominguez jumped to the top turnbuckle.
Garrison caught him in mid-air and ended the match with the Rack Bomb.
Result: Griff Garrison def. Ariel Dominguez on AEW Dark
Grade: C
Lance Archer hit the ring after the match; Garrison didn't back down! Griff drew first blood, but Archer rocked him with a kick before dumping him out of the ring.
Archer manhandled Dominguez by throwing the AEW debutant over the top rope. Jake 'The Snake' Roberts cut a promo and reminded everyone about Archer's intentions of becoming the AEW World Champion. Lance Archer ended the post-match segment with a great promo.
#5. Sean Maluta & Ryzin vs. Stu Grayson & Evil Uno on AEW Dark
Grayson kicked off the AEW Dark match with Maluta, and Sean was sent straight to the opposing corner.
Uno got the quick tag, and Maluta fought back with a series of punches. Maluta connected with a backswing kick followed by a hanging neck breaker. Ryzin got the tag, and he went up before coming down with a double ax handle. Uno created some separation and made the tag to Grayson.
Ryzin delivered the Northern Lights Suplex on Grayson for a two-count. Uno got the match in the Dark Order's control by sending Ryzin crashing into the ring apron. Ryzin was rolled back into the ring, and The Dark Order was now busy wearing him down. Classic tag team wrestling on display as Grayson and Uno made quick tags. Ryzin created an opening with a neck breaker before making the hot tag to Maluta. Uno was also tagged in, and The Dark Order hit a Powerbomb combo.
Evil Uno connected with a Ripcord-Flatliner combo for the win.
Result: Stu Grayson & Evil Uno of The Dark Order def. Sean Maluta & Evil Uno on AEW Dark
Grade: C
#6. Ricky Stars vs. Trevor Read on AEW Dark
Trevor Read's AEW debut match was against one of the most promising talents in AEW, Ricky Starks.
Starks wasted no time as he rushed towards Read and unloaded with a series of strikes. Read got sent to the ropes, and he got hit with a dropkick on the return trip.
Starks delivered a beautiful delayed vertical suplex. He stomped Read's head, and while Trevor showed glimpses of a fightback, Starks hit the ropes before dropping Read with a massive spear.
The Rochambeau followed, and so did the three-count.
Result: Ricky Starks def.Trevor Read on AEW Dark
Grade: C
#7. 'The Nightmare Family's' Lee Johnson vs. Chuck Taylor on AEW Dark
Taylor and Johnson engaged in the usual trade of basic locks and holds to begin the match. Taylor took Johnson down with a shoulder block.
Johnson dropped Taylor with a big dropkick, and Orange Cassidy gave his nod of appreciation on the outside.
Excalibur referenced WWE Intercontinental Champion Sami Zayn by saying that Lee Johnson considers El Generico to be a big inspiration. Interesting!
Johnson was now flat on his back as Taylor went up to the middle rope for a moonsault. Lee wasn't home, and he began to rally with a bunch of big moves.
However, Taylor connected with a Soul Food, but Johnson responded with a blue thunder powerbomb for a near fall. Taylor then dropped Johnson with a Sitout pop-up powerbomb for a near fall.
Taylor got another near fall with a Falcon Arrow. Chuck headed to the top and delivered a diving double foot stomp for yet another near fall.
Taylor was in disbelief that Johnson was still in the match. Taylor and Johnson proceeded to fight on the ropes, but Lee broke it up and delivered the springboard missile dropkick. Johnson followed it up with a dive outside the ring.
Orange Cassidy and Trent high-fived Johnson. Back in the ring, Chuck Taylor spikes Johnson's head into the mat for the win.
Johnson might have lost, but his resiliency was a highlight, and he looked great despite the loss. The Best Friends hugged Johnson after the match as a show of respect.
Result: Chuck Taylor def. Lee Johnson on AEW Dark
Grade: B+
The announcers closed out the show by hyping up the Full Gear match card. Don't forget to follow AEW's PPV tomorrow live right here at Sportskeeda.
