wrestling / TV Reports
Cazer’s AEW Dark Review 3.14.23
Image Credit: AEW
Loading...It’s Tuesday night and we are back for another episode of AEW Dark. Last week they announced 12 matches on Twitter (maybe more but thats what I recall) but only aired 7. Now we are back to air the rest of that card. There was some controversy online last week because Riho was a bit confused, as were many that her match didn’t air and she got a lot of flack for that and other things forcing her to disable her social media. I’m excited to see her on another episode of Dark she’s a great talent and I think all the social media shit she takes is unfortunate. We have a new set for AEW Dark which is much needed for sure. It’s not much but still slightly better and the crowd looks better. This makes sense as they’re taping Dark alongside ROH.
Dark Order (John Silver & Alex Reynolds) vs. The Outrunners (Turbo Floyd & Truth Magnum)
The Outrunners are back after impressing many early on. Silver and Magnum with a bit of a flex off early, Silver in control so Floyd tags in and Silver drops him and taunts again. Silver continuously with the double bicep pose sending Taz into a frenzy. Silver charges Floyd but gets tossed outside the ring into Magnum. Floyd convinces Aubrey that he was hit by Reynolds and she scolds him for a moment making her look a little bit silly. The Outrunners continue working over Silver and taunting Reynolds. Silver with a burst of energy to fight free and tag in Reynolds. Reynolds with a burst of offense on Floyd. He hits him with a pop up knee strike and a tiger driver covering for two. Reynolds launches Floyd into an uppercut from Silver, Reynolds makes a tag and sets Floyd up for a double stomp DDT and Reynolds covers for the victory.
Rating: **3/4
Review: This was a solid opening match, some of the tag stuff that the Dark Order does feels a tad forced but it’s never bad. The finish for example was neat but didn’t really actually seem to be necessary if it makes sense. The Outrunners are cool but that spot with Aubrey was really goofy and makes the referee look bad. Im not trying to be too old school but i’m not sure it’s the best way to do things.
Riho vs. Diamante
Nice back and forth action between these two and this crowd is loving the match. It’s nice to have a lively crowd for Dark. Riho sent to the apron and Diamante hits a reverse neckbreaker before dropping her to the outside with a dropkick to the back. Diamante sends Riho back inside covering for a two count before continuing to work over Riho’s neck. Riho with a rana to regain control then a drop toe hold and her version of a 619. Riho with a crossbody to Diamante but Diamante back in control with a modified neckbreaker like a cross rhodes and covers for two. Diamante is angry so she attacks Riho and tosses her across the ring. Diamante looks for a german suplex but Riho fights free and looks for one of her own but Diamante fights free as well. Riho with a running knee then looks for a cazadora but Diamante counters. Riho with a counter of her own and hits Diamante with the double stomp. Riho with a northern lights and covers for two before heading up top. Riho with a diving footstomp and covers again for a two count. Riho looks for the running knee but Diamante counters and hits her with a lariat and covers for two. Riho with a dragon suplex and running knee, she covers and has the victory.
Rating: ***3/4
Review: This was a fun back and forth match that made both women look great. Diamante has been a strong focal point for AEW Dark and deservedly so because she puts on matches like this with talent who can really go at the level she can. I loved every bit of this and wish we’d get more women’s action like this on Dynamite.
Sonny Kiss vs. Terry Kid
Kid in control early working over the arm of Kiss and Kid is very much playing the role of the heel as the crowd seems to be behind Sonny anyways. Sonny with a leg drop and cover but pulls him up to prevent the finish too early. Sonny with a great back hand spring slap. Sonny has come a long way. Sonny distracts the ref as the Trustbusters attack and the crowd boos Sonny as well. Kid fights back and looks for a lariat but Sonny ducks it and drops Kid with an elbow strike. Kid back in control dropping Sonny with a back suplex and drops the straps. Sonny cowers in the corner as Jeeves is on the apron checking in. Sonny uses the distraction to rake Kid’s eyes and hit a corkscrew kick before covering for the victory.
Rating: **
Review: This match really makes no sense at all as both sides were playing heel despite them loving Sonny anytime they were in control. I don’t get the point in booking things this way, it’d make more sense if Terry Kid was playing more of a babyface.
Julia Hart vs. Zoey Lynn
Julia in control early dropping Zoey with a bit of a weak backfist. Julia maintains control until Zoey trips her up and gets the crowd behind her for a moment. Zoey with a roll up for two but it’s unsuccessful. Julia with a thrust kick and follows with a moonsault and covers but pulls her opponent up at one over and over similar to what we saw in the last match but not exactly. Julia then locks in the heartless submission forcing Zoey to submit. Julia refuses to let go at first before finally complying.
Rating: **
Review: This was fine, Julia still isn’t great at some of this stuff but she’s grown a bit more into this character so that’s nice. I’d love it if they’d work harder to prevent them using these same moments in back to back matches to make them feel a bit more special, the Julia Hart moment where she broke her own pin was actually cool but at first it just reminded me that we just saw it in the previous match.
Action Andretti vs. Lee Johnson
Lee is joined by Cole Karter for this one. Nice chain wrestling early with neither taking control right away. Lee Johnson with a nice dropsault and covers for two. Andretti with a burst of offense and a sweet armdrag before hitting a springing spinning elbowdrop covering Lee for two. Lee and Andretti exchange chops in the corner, Andretti with a rana then dumps Andretti to the outside with a lariat. Andretti off the ropes but Karter sweeps the leg for a moment allowing Lee to take control. Lee works over Andretti in the corner before exchanging words with Aubrey. Andretti is sent into the corner back first as Lee does a series of push ups to taunt Andretti. Lee with a headlock but Andretti fights free and drops him with a dropkick. Both are slow to get up but finally both to their feet and Andretti with a backbreaker neckbreaker combination as the crowd is pumped up for this one. Andretti with a torture rack attempt but Lee counters raking his eyes. Andretti with a tornado DDT and covers for two. Lee counters Andretti with a moonsault into a neckbreaker and he nearly misses it but Andretti falls into position perfectly allowing Lee to hit it and cover for two. Back to their feet and they exchange strikes. Lee with a series of superkicks and Andretti with a pele but Lee falls onto Andretti for the cover, ok. Andretti kicks out at two. Lee goes for a superkick to Andretti as he attempts a moonsault but he clearly misses. Lee with a blue thunder bomb and covers for the two count. Lee up top and Andretti meets him there for a superplex but he’s shoved off, Andretti runs back up and hits the superplex on Lee. Lee to the outside to escape but Andretti kips up and hits a dive on Lee outside. Andretti with a split legged moonsault to Lee after dropping Karter. Andretti with a superkick, Lee with one of his own. Lee dives back into neckbreaker from Andretti and he covers for the victory.
Rating: ***
Review: This match was solid, probably a bit too much. If these guys did less then they don’t run the risk of doing stuff like the moonsault into a superkick that clearly missed. Less is more. I liked all the action from Andretti but there’s a point where you can only do so much in a match like this. It felt like Lee was coming back a bit too much but it was a strong fun main event that the crowd enjoyed so solid work.
