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Excalibur, Anthony Ogogo, and Taz welcomed the fans watching around the world to the latest edition of the AEW Dark.
This week's AEW Dark had 17 matches. Yeah, 17! We have a lot to get into, so let's no waste any precious time.
#1. Vipress (AEW Debut) vs. Big Swole on AEW Dark
There was a lot of hype around Vipress' AEW debut as she is regarded a one of the most talented female wrestlers on the indie circuit. The Serpent of Evil's first match being against Big Swole was a clear indication of her reputation as a performer.
A collar and elbow lock up began the match. Swole used her power to get the better of the feeling out phases of the contest. They switched up hammerlock positions before Vipress grounded Swole with a headlock takedown.
Swole took control of the match with a back elbow, but she couldn't capitalize on the momentum. Vipress pulled on the back of Swole's hair and got in a few strikes.
Vipress attempted to choke Swole against the ropes before working on her back. Vipress got a 1-count with a clean Northern Lights Suplex. Swole responded with a Urinagi. Swole then followed it up with a headbutt to the jaw. She locked in the double underhooks and delivered a botchy tiger driver. Big Swole then trapped Vipress in a Texas Cloverleaf for the win.
Result: Big Swole def. Vipress on AEW Dark
Grade: C
#2. Lee Johnson & Aaron Solow vs. Dark Order's 3 (Alex Reynolds) & 4 (John Silver) on AEW Dark
Reynolds and Solow kicked off the match for their respective teams. Alex offered Solow the opportunity to join the Dark Order. Solow baited Reynolds before delivering a right-hand strike followed by a dropkick.
Johnson came in and executed a double team neck breaker combo with Solow. Lee, however, got sent into the opposing corner and Silver got the tag. Johnson laid out Silver with a beautiful dropkick for a two-count.
Solow got the tag, and he continued to work on Silver. Johnny Hungy, connected with a strike before going to the outside. Solow attempted a suicide dive but got cut off by Reynolds near the apron.
The Dark Order members cut off the ring and punished Solow, who got dropped with a double team move. Silver sinched in the kicks into Solow's chest.
Silver showed off his pecks as he tagged Reynolds in. Solow was in a spot of bother, but he created some separation with a few punches to the gut. Reynolds stunned Solow with a neck breaker for a two-count. Silver was back in now, and he locked in a chin lock.
Solow dropped Silver with a Screwhigh kick. Reynolds stopped the tag attempt for a brief moment, but Solow somehow made the hot tag.
Johnson swept Reynolds off the feet with a few kicks before delivering a neck breaker. He took Silver out on the outside with a big diving move. Back in the ring, Johnson got a near fall with a Blue Thunder Bomb on Reynolds.
Silver sneaked back into the ring, and Johnson was knocked out with an uppercut combo. Solow was left alone in the ring, and the Dark Order members finished the match with an insane rapid-fire combo. The series of moves included two kicks; a forearm shot, a stunner, a german suplex, and the jackknife pinfall for the win on AEW Dark.
Result: Dark Order's 3 (Alex Reynolds) & 4 (John Silver) on AEW Dark
Grade: B
A Leva Bates promo aired next.
#3. Michael Nakazawa vs. Trent (w/ Orange Cassidy & Chuck Taylor) on AEW Dark
Trent called the referee's attention to the lump in Nakazawa's trunks. The ref hesitantly reached into Nakazawa's trunks and found two bottles of baby oil.
The referee even confiscated a bottle from his knee cap before the match officially got underway.
Both men engaged in an areola pinch battle. Nakazawa got the early advantage with a shoulder tackle that sent Trent to the outside.
Trent assumed control of the match with a series of chops. He dropped Michael with a back elbow. Trent, however, got his leg swept while he was perched up on the middle rope. Trent hit his head on the turnbuckle.
He recuperated and got a two-count with a Northern Lights Suplex. Trent decked Nakazawa with a brutal clothesline for a two. Nakazawa somehow managed to get hold of an oil bottle, and he applied it on his back.
Trent's arms slipped as he attempted a tornado DDT. Nakazawa got a two-count with a side suplex. The thong was out next, but Trent intercepted the attack.
Nakazawa survived a near fall but was back at the thong claw attack. Trent dropped Michael with a side suplex followed by two bicycle knee strikes. Trent finished the match with a third bicycle knee strike on AEW Dark.
Result: Trent def. Michael Nakazawa on AEW Dark
Grade: B
#4. Red Velvet vs. Tesha Price on AEW Dark
They locked up in the middle of the ring, but the exchange ended in a stalemate. Velvet smartly got a pinning combination before getting in a Japanese arm drag followed by a leg lariat in the AEW Dark Match.
Velvet looked impressive as she got in a few body shots in the corner. She hit the ropes and caught Price with a single leg dropkick.
Price tipped the scales in her favor with a few strikes. Tesha got a two-count with a Bulldog. Price connected with a vile knee to the mid-section before working on Velvet's jaw.
Back on the feet, Velvet connected with a combination of strikes. She delivered the Cazadora-Bulldog combo for a near fall. Velvet connected with a dropkick to the side of Price's head for the win. The finish seemed edited.
Result: Red Velvet def. Tesha Price on AEW Dark
Grade: C
Alex Marvez interviewed Shawn Spears and Tully Blanchard backstage. Spears spoke about his win over Scorpio Sky before sending a message to the SCU member.
Lance Archer was out in the ring with a victim on his shoulder. As always, Jake 'The Snake' Roberts and Archer cut weird yet excellent promos. Archer laid out the gauntlet to anyone who wishes to step up to the Murderhawk Monster.
#5. VSK & Baron Black vs. Private Party on AEW Dark
Kassidy and Black got the match rolling with a fast-paced exchange of holds.
Quen got the tag and connected with a dropkick for the two-count. VSK got the tag, and he squared up against Quen in the ring.
Quen got in a deep arm drag. Private Party executed a beautiful wishbone - double dropkick combo. The tag team's synergy was off the charts. Kassidy was now the legal man. He got a two-count with a bulldog.
Baron Black got control of the match, stopping Kassidy mid-air with a Manhattan Drop. Black locked in the bow and arrow stretch in the corner as VSK came in. VSK got pancaked by a slam, and Kassidy made the hot tag to Quen.
Marc came in hot with a few clotheslines and a hip toss. He connected with a kick on VSK that sent him outside. Black was now alone in the ring with Private Party.
Black got double Irish Whipped into the ropes, and leg-tripped right into the guard of Kassidy. Quen delivered the Shooting Star Press right off of Black's back. That was a sick combination move for the win on AEW Dark.
Result: Private Party def. VSK & Baron Black on AEW Dark
Grade: B
#6. Rache Chanel vs. KiLynn King on AEW Dark
King wrestled Chanel down to the mat for an early pin. Chanel, however, also got a pinning combination. Both women exchanged several quick pins, but neither of them could come away with the advantage.
Chanel drove King's head into the canvas for a two-count. Chanel connected with her signature running boot across the face for another two-count.
King created some separation by using her power and slamming Chanel's head into the turnbuckle. King connected with two big clotheslines, followed by a roundhouse kick and a German release suplex.
Chanel upped her game tonight as she delivered a series of good-looking kicks followed by a big strike.
However, it was King's day as she connected with her 'Kingdom Falls' finisher on Chanel for the win on AEW Dark.
Result: KiLynn King def. Rache Chanel on AEW Dark
Grade: B
#7. Sammy Guevara vs. Marko Stunt on AEW Dark
Guevara and Stunt bumped fists and got the AEW Dark match underway. Sammy showboated, but Stunt showed some fire in his belly with a few strikes. Stunt took Guevara out with a Dragonrana on the outside.
He followed it up with a diving elbow to the back of Sammy's head from the top rope.
Guevara took control with a diving knee strike and followed it up with a few clubbing blows on a grounded Stunt. Guevara took to the skies and delivered an insane springboard 450 on Stunt on the outside.
Stunt answered back in the ring by sending Guevara to the outside with a reverse hurricanrana. Stunt executed a running dive onto Guevara from an elevated platform. Stunt went up to the top rope, but Guevara caught him on his shoulders and delivered the GTH, aka the driving knee strike for the win.
Result: Sammy Guevara vs. Marko Stunt on AEW Dark
Grade: B+
Guevara bumped fists with Stunt and showed his opponent some respect. The Inner Circle member took the microphone and began his promo by talking about all his struggles in 2020. Sammy called himself the best in AEW, and he put himself over, as you may have expected.
Considering the tension amongst some of Inner Circle members, could AEW be preparing the fans for a Guevara babyface run and a possible split from the faction?
#8. Dreamgirl Ellie vs. Penelope Ford (w/ Kip Sabian) on AEW Dark
Ellie rolled up Penelope Ford early on in the match for a two-count. Dreamgirl connected with a few forearms and knees before dropping Ford face-first into the mat.
Ellie went for a tope, but Ford stopped her with an elbow strike. Ford dropped Ellie with a gutbuster for a two-count. She followed it up with a few knees to the chest,
Ellie, however, executed an innovative German Suplex-pinning combo for a two-count. Ford took control of the match yet again and began to deliver her signature moves.
The Springboard Stunner was followed by the Fisherwomen's Suplex with the Bridge for the win.
Result: Penelope Ford def. Dreamgirl Ellie on AEW Dark
Grade: C
#9. Lady Frost (AEW Debut) & 'Bionic Beast' Jenna vs. Ivelisse & Diamante on AEW Dark
The Bionic Beast was all over the winners of the AEW Women's Tag Team Tournament in the match's early goings.
Lady Frost and Diamante were the legal women of the match. Frost used her athleticism to show off a few good moves. However, she was left hung to dry on the top rope with an uppercut from Diamante.
Ivelisse was in the match now, and she connected with a few kicks. Ivelisse attempted a rear-naked choke, but Frost got back to a vertical base.
Frost was sent crashing into the mat with an assisted powerbomb. Frost began to make a comeback with a few strikes and a flipping neck breaker. Frost took advantage of the opening by making the tag to Jenna.
Jenna ran roughshod with a few big moves. She double choke slammed Diamante and Ivelisse. Diamante kicked out at two.
Ivelisse and Diamante, however, managed to get the win with a Thrust kick-Code Red combination.
Result: Ivelisse & Diamante def. Lady Frost (AEW Debut) & 'Bionic Beast' Jenna on AEW Dark
Grade: C+
#10. Adam Priest vs. Brandon Cutler on AEW Dark
Cutler and Priest locked up to begin the match. Ricky Starks was in the commentary booth.
Priest tried to keep Cutler on his knees, but Cutler answered with a couple of shoulder tackles. Cutler was feeling it as he did the peck flex. The win streak had undoubtedly boosted Cutler's ego.
Preist got Cutler on the mat with a Dragonscrew. Adam was rugged in his approach, but he ate a right-hand shot.
Adam Priest executed a beautiful modified Russian leg sweep. Cutler limped but delivered a few good kicks but, Priest managed to escape a TPK attempt before getting caught in a springboard strike.
Cutler delivered an elbow drop before finally connecting with the TPK for the win.
Result: Brandon Cutler def. Adam Priest on AEW Dark
Grade: B
Cutler's win-streak now stands at four victories.
The Waiting Room segment on AEW Dark
Another episode of The Waiting Room with Reba (not Rebel) with Dr. Britt Baker and special guests Tay Conti and The Acclaimed aired next. This was a great segment, and it was another reminder that Baker's new talk show has a lot of potential to be an iconic feature of AEW programming.
#11. KTB, Cezar Bononi & Seth Gargis (AEW Trios debut) vs. The Gunn Club on AEW Dark
Austin and KTB kicked things off with a collar and elbow tie-up. Austin took KTB down with a knee sweep.
Colten got the tag but KTB connected with a knee. Seth Gargis got the tag, but Colten took him down and made the tag to Billy.
The Gunns worked in tandem with quick tags and moves in their corner.
Cezar Bononi and Billy Gunn now squared off in the middle of the ring. They exchanged shoulder tackles. Austin made a blind tag but got lit up with a Bononi clothesline. Cezar unleashed a series of vicious kicks across the jaw and body of Austin on the corner.
KTB got the tag, and he rolled through for a knee to Austin's gut. KTB followed it up with a rolling headbutt. Seth Gargis was now in the match, and he connected with kicks in the corner. Bononi got the tag, and he planted Austin face-first into the mat for a two-count.
Austin created some separation with an enziguri. Colten got the hot tag, and he executed a double clothesline on KTB and Gargis. He delivered splashes on KTB and Gargis on either corner. Bononi came in to break up the pin on Gargis. Colten hit the Colt 45 on Gargis for the win.
Result: The Gunn Club def. KTB, Cezar Bononi & Seth Gargis on AEW Dark
Grade: C
#12. Panda X-Press (Super and Ultimo Panda) (AEW Tag Team Debut) vs. The Jurassic Express on AEW Dark
Ultimo Panda and Jungle Boy started the match. Ultimo wanted Jungle Boy to rub his belly. Okay!
Ultimo Panda seemed burnt out within seconds. He might actually be a real Panda after all! Super Panda got the tag, and Jungle Boy got in a few dropkicks.
Luchasaurus got the tag, and he dominated Super Panda, who made the tag to Ultimo. Jungle Boy got a two-count with an assisted senton. Ultimo got a two-count with the 'big a** squisher' on Jungle Boy.
Luchasaurus tagged in and took both the Pandas down with shoulder tackles. The Pandas were having a tough time keeping up with AEW's resident dinosaur.
Ultimo Panda got Jungle Boy down with a Panda Drop followed by a frog splash from the top rope by Super Panda. That got the Pandas got a near fall. Absolute Pandamonium! That was almost an upset!
The Jurassic Express got things in control and finished the match by getting the three-count on Super Panda.
Result: The Jurassic X-Press def. Panda Express on AEW Dark
Grade: C
#13. Brian Pillman Jr. & Griff Garrison vs. TH2 on AEW Dark
Pillman and Angelico kicked off the match with a hammerlock. Pillman caught Angelico with a dropkick.
Angelico connected with a kick to the midsection before making the tag to Evans. TH2 executed a hanging neck breaker for a two-count. Garrison was fired up in the corner as TH2 wore down Pillman.
Evans got a two-count after a suplex. He connected with the Muay Thai knees and tagged in Angelico, who connected with a brutal thigh kick. Pillman responded with a few chops. Angelico stepped through with a leg capture into a modified leg submission move. Evans came in and got a two-count following a standing press sky twister.
Evans went up to the top turnbuckle, but Pillman caught him with an uppercut. Pillman didn't got for a tag and instead dropped Evans with a massive suplex from the top.
Garrison finally got the hot tag, and the Ivy League MVP was on a roll as he laid out Angelico. Garrison caught Evans in mid-air and executed the flipping neck breaker with Pillman's assistance.
Evans sent Garrison to the outside, and he got taken out with the Asai moonsault. Back in the ring, Angelico locked in the Navarro Death Roll on Pillman for the win.
Result: TH2 def. Brian Pillman Jr. & Griff Garrison on AEW Dark
Grade: B+
TH2 attacked Pillmn after the match until Top Flight hit the ring to make the save.
Top Flight will take on TH2 on Dynamite this week.
#14. Alex Chamberlain & Damian Fenrir (AEW Dedbut) (AEW Tag Team Debut) vs. The Acclaimed on AEW Dark
Bowens and Fenrir began with an aggressive collar and elbow tie-up. Bowens slapped Fenrir's chest with a furious series of chops.
Fenrir created some separation with a couple of dropkicks. He found great elevation on them.
Bowens dropped Fenrir onto the apron, and the Acclaimed were now in firm control of the proceedings. Acclaimed executed a good-looking neck breaker combo on Fenrir. Caster sent Fenrir crashing into the mat with a high-altitude side suplex.
Fenrir made the tag following the enziguri before Chamberlain used his power to taken Bowens down. Chamberlain then inflicted the punishment on Bowens in his corner. Fenrir was back in, but Bowens connected with a massive rolling elbow strike.
Bowens dropped Fenrir with a brainbuster, and Caster connected with an elbow drop for the three-count.
Result: The Acclaimed def. Alex Chamberlain & Damian Fenrir on AEW Dark
Grade: C
#15. Matt Sydal vs. Alan '5' Angels on AEW Dark
Matt Sydal tried to coax Angels into leaving the Dark Order. Sydal promised to help Angels open his third eye, but Alan was having none of it. Sydal and Angels began to exchange holds and tie-ups in the AEW Dark matchup.
The chain wrestling sequence ended with Sydal getting three pinfall attempts. Sydal's technical prowess was a treat to watch. Sydal got Angels down with a Hurricanrana.
Angels answered with a stiff clothesline before laying in the left hands on Sydal in the corner. Sydal countered with a cross body, followed by a low-angle backdrop for a two-count. Ten of The Dark Order came to his partner's assistance, but Angels dropped Sydal with a clothesline onto the ring frame.
Angels got a two-count on Sydal in the ring. Matt fired back with some strikes, but Angels stomped his opponent down in the corner.
Sydal went for a German Suplex, but Angels landed on his feet and delivered the double foot stomp in Sydal. Both men exchanged leg kicks. Angels chopped Sydal down to the mat but dropped Alan with a roundhouse kick followed by standing corkscrew shooting star press on AEW Dark.
Sydal drove Angels down with a Northern Lights Bomb for a two-count. Sydal went up to the top rope, but Angels followed him with a rising knee strike. Angels went for the Spanish Fly back on the mat for a near fall.
Sydal delivered the Russian leg sweep before transitioning to the submission, but Ten entered the ring. The distraction helped Angels get the Moonsault Press for another near fall. Angels looked for the wing snapper, but Sydal got a roll-up near fall.
Sydal turned Angels inside out for the three-count on AEW Dark.
Result: Matt Sydal def. Alan Angels on AEW Dark
Grade: A
#16. Co-Main Event: Feugo Del Sol vs. Peter Avalon on AEW Dark
A classic collar and elbow tie-up got the penultimate AEW Dark match underway. Avalon broke it up soon as he didn't want to mess up his pretty face. Del Sol flipped around to maintain control of the battle of holds.
Sol got a two-count with a roll-up before transitioning to a Boston Crab. Both men then exchanged quick pins. Pretty Peter sent Del Sol to the outside and relaxed on the turnbuckle. Avalon got a two-count with a side suplex.
Avalon looked for the suplex from the top rope, but Fuego headbutted him off the top. Del Sol took Avalon down with a crossbody. He transitioned from the straightjacket to the neck breaker.
Del Sol went for the Tornado DDT, but Avalon reversed it and connected with the Martinis. Pinfall...1...2...3! Peter Avalon picked up the win, and he looked absolutely shocked! He even asked the ref to pinch him!
Peter Avalon picked up his first win after 27 losses, and 2 draws on AEW Dark.
Result: Peter Avalon def. Fuego Del Sol on AEW Dark
Grade: C
#17. Main Event: Chaos Project vs. Stu Grayson & Evil Uno vs. Sonny Kiss & Joey Janela (Three-way Tag Team Match)
The Dark Order attacked Kiss and Janela to get the match underway, but Chaos Project came in to get a piece of the action. Janela and Kiss got the better of the heels by sending both teams to the outside.
Janela and Kiss dived onto the heels on the outside. The AEW Dark match officially started with Kiss and Janela working on Serpentico. Evil got the blind tag on Serpentico before assaulting Kiss. Uno then dropped Kiss with the Exploder Suplex.
The Dark Order isolated Kiss in their corner. The quick tags were a significant feature of their modus operandi.
Serpentico got the tag, and he connected with a kick. Luther executed the running bulldog combo with Serpentico on Kiss. Serpentico attempted to lift Luther, but it was a tall task. Luther did his job instead by slamming Serpentico onto Kiss. Things broke down between the heel teams, and Kiss took advantage by making the tag to Janela.
Joey took all the competitors out with a flurry of moves. The Bad Boy screamed after every move as he suplexed Serpentico onto the Dark Order.
Janela and Kiss hit the Doomsday Device on Serpentico for a near fall. Serpentico cracked Sonny with a DDT before tagging in Stu as he had no other choice. Dark Order then delivered the Powerbomb on Kiss.
Uno connected with a Senton Atomico on Kiss for a near fall. Luther got the tag, and he sent Serpentico into the midsection of Grayson. Luther reverse suplexed Serpentico onto Grayson.
Luther threw Serpentico on the outside on Kiss and Uno. Luther dropped Grayson with the cannonball on the outside.
Chaos Project hit the Creeping Death on Kiss, but Uno broke the pin.
The Dark Order was now in the ring, and Kiss made the tag to Janela. Grayson caught Joey, and Dark Order hit the Fatality for the win on AEW Dark.
Result: The Dark Order def. Chaos Project and Sonny Kiss & Joey Janela on AEW Dark
Grade: B
That was an exhausting 3-hour episode of AEW Dark, and you can watch it in its entirety above.
One of Samoa Joe's colleagues had harsh words for him HERE
