wrestling / TV Reports
Winfree’s AEW Dark: Elevation (Ep. 109) Review 4.03.23
Image Credit: AEW
Loading...Alright everyone, Elevation time. Tonight we’ve got Skye Blue, Lance Archer, Gates of Hell, Kip Sabian, and The Gunns in your main event. Yeah, that’s not exactly a compelling line up, but hey the action might still be good so let’s get to it. Tony Schiavone and Matt Menard are on commentary.
Match #1: Nick Comoroto vs. Action Andretti
Comoroto tosses his sucker at Andretti, then just kind of overpowers him for a bit. Andretti rolls through on a toss and lands a dropkick to the knee. Comoroto stalls out an arm drag but Andretti lands an enziguri then hits a head scissors. Andretti tries to lift Comoroto, nothing doing there but he is able to dropkick Comoroto then hit a suicide dive but Comoroto catches him and slams him into the edge of the apron. Back in the ring Comroto lands a few elbow drops. Andretti tries to fire up but runs into a backbreaker for a 2 count. Some chops from Andretti but Comoroto catches him and hits another backbreaker for another 2 count. Comoroto with some lower back work, then he grabs a single leg Boston crab. Andretti gets to the ropes to force the break, then Andretti lands another enziguri before low bridging Comoroto and trying another suicide dive but again he’s caught though this time he slips free and Comoroto posts himself. Split legged moonsault from Andretti, then back into the ring where Andretti misses a split legged moonsault but follows up with a Whisper in the Wind. Comoroto catches Andretti and tries a Snake Eyes but Andretti balances and kicks him then hits a split legged moonsault for 2. Comoroto lands a clothesline to floor Andretti. Back suplex into a Backstabber from Comoroto gets another 2 count, also Andretti did not land on the knees of Comoroto. Andretti grabs a Victory Roll for the 3 count.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Action Andretti won in 7:58
Rating: 2 stars
Thoughts: A bit slow, stuck around too long, and kind of heatless. The crowd here is really small as there at Universal Studios on a stage though so it might be hard to accurately gauge some of the reactions. Comoroto has a look and a bit of presence, but he’s still working on putting the pieces together.
Match #2: Skye Blue vs. Angelica Risk
Some jaw jacking from Risk, and Blue lays into her with elbows then tries a Sky Fall but Risk avoids it. A knee from Blue then a modified Sick Kick for a 2 count. Risk avoids a corner charge and slams Blue down by the hair. There’s some uneven audio levels here, I’m not sure exactly what’s up with that. Risk with a 619 that gets a 2 count. Blue hits an enziguri, then a kick from the apron and heads up top for a crossbody. Risk blocks a superkick, Blue spins through and hits a head kick for another 2 count. They start trading elbows then Risk hits an Edge-O-Matic for a 2 count. Blue lands a superkick, Sky Fall connects and that’ll do it.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Skye Blue won in 3:37
Rating: 1.5 stars
Thoughts: Should have been more of a squash than it was, I don’t mind the enhancement talent getting time to get their stuff in and occasionally it works well to have competitive matches with them but more often it makes your regular talent look weaker rather than the others look strong. By all rights Blue should be in the spot where she’s taking out this level of opponent easier than this.
Match #3 – Tag Team Match: Gates of Agony (Toa Liona and Bishop Kaun) w/ Prince Nana vs. Leonis and Maximus
Kaun and Maximus start us off, for what it’s worth Maximus and Leonis are large men. Toa tags in as does Leonis. Toa wont sell a shoulder block, then neither will Leonis but eventually Toa lands a shoulder block. Kaun tags in and we get some tandem moves. Kaun with some stomps then mounted punches. Now Kaun grabs a chin lock. Leonis fights back with a jawbreaker and tags in Maximus who runs wild, Leonis tags back in and hits a sliding northern lariat on Toa for a 1 count. Kaun takes out Maximus leaving Leonis alone to take a couple of clotheslines then a double back suplex to a facebuster that gets the 3 count.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Gates of Agony won in 3:19
Rating: Pyriformis squash
Thoughts: Leonis and Maximus have a pretty good look and might be worth another shot at some point. Gates of Agony look good but still struggle to actually work. It was an effective squash overall.
Match #4: Julia Hart vs. Kelsey Heather
Heather is doing a cheerleader gimmick, Hart the former competitive cheerleader is less than impressed and clobbers her with an elbow. They trade some elbows then Hart slams Heather down. Suplex from Hart then mounted punches. Back elbow from Hart, Heather then hits a split Stunner and a second rope moonsault misses. Hart with Heartless and that’ll do it.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Julia Hart won in 2:44
Rating: Romanesco squash
Thoughts: Solid enough squash for Hart, whos character work continues to be quite good but I think it’s time to see if her ring work has come along in a more competitive setting.
Match #5: Kip Sabian w/ Penelope Ford vs. Leon Ruffin
Sabian avoids a knuckle lock for a bit then they tie up. Sabian and Ruffin trade arm wringers and escapes then we get a stand off. This time we get a knuckle lock tie up and the old test of strength, then Sabia switches to a takedown then stomps the elbow of Ruffin. Ruffin isn’t happy and hits the ropes for a bit but Sabian cartwheels out of an arm drag. Fake dive from Sabian and he plays with the crowd for a bit. Ruffin avoids a cheap shot then bounces around the ropes avoiding Sabian and lands a dropkick then clotheslines Sabian out and follows with a suicide dive. Back in the ring Ruffin plays with the crowd which allows Sabian to recover and lands a kick. Sabian tries a suplex Ruffin avoids it and they trade counters then Sabian lands a punt kick. Some slow heel work from Sabian then he grabs a modified Rings of Saturn but Ruffin wont tap and Sabian has to break it after a near roll up. Up and over Stunner from Sabian then a senton in the corner. Ruffin with a Small Package for 2, then a boot to try and fire up. Elbow from Ruffin then he starts hitting the ropes but Sabian blocks a Cutter and winds up eating a Pele kick. Jumping Cutter from Ruffin gets 2. Brainbuster from Sabian then a knee strike, and a spinning Kiss of Death ends things.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Kip Sabian won in 7:16
Rating: 2 stars
Thoughts: Competent but a bit too slow paced and another one that probably should have leaned more into squash territory than it did as 7 minutes for this one felt a touch too long.
Match #6: Lance Archer w/ Jake “The Snake” Roberts vs. Bryce Cannon
Archer messes with Cannon’s hair then knees him in the face. Cannon rolls out of the ring, where Roberts hits a short arm clothesline while Archer distracts the ref. Archer with some corner elbows, then pulls off the double popped collar shirts so he can land chops. Cannon tries to fight back with some kicks but gets booted down, then eats a chokeslam. Lariat from Archer and that’ll do it.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Lance Archer won in 2:15
Rating: Spaghetti squash
Thoughts: Delicious squash. I’m curious what we’re doing with Archer, because a bit like Athena, this is a mild distraction but is getting old if he doesn’t have actual direction.
Match #7 – Tag Team Match: The Gunns (Austin and Colten) vs. The Infantry (Shawn Dean and Carlie Bravo)
Austin and Dean start us off. Long bit of stalling at the start before they eventually tie up. Austin with a snapmare then he celebrates. Dean with an arm whip down then he celebrates, this leads to dueling poses as Menard asks if we’re in Memphis. Colten tags in, more posing as Bravo tags in and poses as well. Colten tries a cheap shot but Bravo counters into an arm whip then tags in Dean and we get a double shoulder block followed by an attempted Wishbone splitter, Austin tries to break it up but we just get a double wishbone on both of them then the Gunns powder. Dean eats a cheap shot from Austin then Colten hits a clothesline. Austin tags back in and starts brawling with Dean on the floor. Colten tags back in and Dean takes some tag team offense. Austin back in and he grabs a chin lock. Dean with a jawbreaker to counter, Colten tags in and tries to stop Dean from tagging out but eventually Dean lands a kick and tags in Bravo. Bravo runs wild for a bit including a neckbreaker to Austin then he dives onto both Gunns on the floor. Jumping Cutter from Bravo gets a 2 count.
Colten avoids a move then keeps getting rolled up but distracts the ref so Austin can hit a Fame-Asser but Dean breaks up the pin. Bravo lands a double DDT then an ax kick to Austin as Dean makes a tag, then Dean with a Splash from the top and Colten has to break up the pin. Bravo tags back in and tosses Dean at Austin but Austin avoids that then he and Colten hit Bravo with the 3:10 to Yuma and get the pin.
OFFICIAL RESULT: The Gunns won in 9:20
Rating: 2.5 stars
Thoughts: Boy do the Gunns stall a lot, that Memphis line from Menard was dead on. This picked up a little steam down the stretch but the Gunns are still way more sizzle than steak and this felt like it overstayed its welcome.
Post match Schiavone interviews the Gunns. Decent “Ass boys” chant. Schiavone sets up the match on Wednesday, Austin sings “Hey hey, goodbye” then Colten says the 3:10 to Yuma will end the FTR run. Colten mocks the crowd for trying to “What?” them by saying it went out of style 20 years ago, then they head out.
