Winfree’s AEW Dark: Elevation (Ep. 18) Review 7.12.21

Hey there people, it’s Monday and that means another episode of AEW Dark: Elevation. Tonight we’ve got Darby Allin taking on Angelico in the main event, plus bouts featuring Thunder Rosa, Matt Hardy, Jungle Boy, and Brian Cage. Our runtime is just under 2 hours so let’s get to it. We’ve got fans in attendance for this episode.

Some sad news today about the passing of “Mr. Wonderful” Paul Orndorff, condolences to his friends and family.

Match #1: Thunder Rosa vs. Dreamgirl Ellie

Rosa out wrestles Ellie early, working takedowns and mat holds mostly. Eventually they get to the ropes, Rosa lays in some chops then they run the ropes and Rosa hits arm drags then a scoop slam. Rosa abuses Ellie with strikes, Ellie tries to fire some back but that just annoys Rosa who chops the heck out of her. Ellie climbs the ropes but flies into a drop kick form Rosa. Very awkward roll up from Ellie only gets 2. Rosa with a series of roll ups, tries an armbar but can’t secure it. Ellie avoids a corner rush but can’t find any sustained offense. Rosa’s usual corner flurry of offense, then a butterfly suplex for a near fall. Ellie avoids a Fire Thunder Driver, they trade roll ups, Rosa hits a fireman’s carry locks up the Peruvian necktie and Ellie taps.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Thunder Rosa won

Rating: Calabaza. . . SQUASH

Squash, but it felt like it went on a bit too long.

Matt Hardy has a mic as he and his stable get to the entrance ramp. Hardy calls Fuego a loser, mocks his mask, and then says Big Money Matt has Deleted the idea that Fuego will win an AEW contract. He’s beating loser #1 tonight, will beat loser #2 tomorrow, and then on Dynamite he’ll beat the ultimate loser, the man who reeks of awfulness Christian Cage.

Match #2: Matt Hardy w/ HFO vs. Fuego del Sol

Fuego jumps Hardy at the bell, he hits a flurry of corner offense then an asai moonsault for a near fall. Fuego wants the tornado DDT, but Hard just tosses him to the outside. Out of the ring now and Hardy bounces Fuego around for a bit before they head back into the ring. Hardy abuses Fuego in a corner for a bit, and retains control with some basic moves. Fuego fights back but runs into a Side Effect. They head up to the top rope, Fuego fights Hardy off then hits a springboard hurricanrana for a 2 count. Hardy hits a Twist of Fate, doesn’t pin as he’d rather lock up The Leech and force the submission.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Matt Hardy won

Rating: 1.5 stars

Surprising amount of offense from Fuego, and a decent little match overall.

Match #3: Riho vs. Amber Nova

They tie up and trade arm drags before Nova gets a side headlock. Riho counters into a side headlock, then she hits a drop kick. Nova is able to drive Riho’s head into the corner then land a fairly mediocre wheel kick. Scoop slam from Nova, but she takes too long trying to follow up and gets rolled up for 2. Nova with a Northern Lights suplex for 2, then gets a modified armbar, Riho gets to the ropes to force a break. Riho bridges away from a poor cover, drop toe holds Nova into the second rope and hits a 619 for her own near fall. Riho is able to snap Nova’s neck over the top rope, then hits a flying crossbody for a near fall. Back up top for Riho, but Nova avoids a double stomp and lands a big boot. Riho with a Northern Lights suplex for 2, but a poorly timed kick out from Nova means that should have been 3. Not sure who screwed up there, might have been the ref. Riho up top, flying double stomp and now we get the 3 count.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Riho won

Rating: 1.5 stars

I was thinking 2 stars but that botched kickout/finish hurts this a fair bit. Also a match that felt a bit too long, might have just been a lack of connective tissue to the match though.

In the back Dustin Rhodes hypes up Lee Johnson for his match with Jungle Boy. They congratulate Jungle Boy on 50 wins in AEW, but Johnson is the future and tonight is the biggest opportunity of his life. They let Dustin do most of the talking, probably for the best as Johnson hasn’t quite found his voice yet on the mic.

Match #4: Powerhouse Hobbs w/ Hook vs. Baron Black

Black tries to come out aggressively, but Hobbs clobbers him with a short arm clothesline. Hobbs with an avalanche in the corner, he misses a follow up one but winds up just getting annoyed but chops from Black and then kills him with a spinebuster to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Powerhouse Hobbs won

Rating: Shishigatani. . . SQUASH

Delicious squash.

Match #5: KiLynn King vs. Yuka Sakazaki

They tie up and King tosses Yuka off. Yuka with an ankle pick and they start trading holds on the mat. Back up they trade arm wringers and escapes, then hit the ropes but Yuka can’t knock King off of her feet. King shoulder blocks Yuka down, then hits a few arm drags before Yuka hits a wheelbarrow arm drag and King heads out of the ring to regain herself. King takes a bit too longs, so Yuka hits a double springboard senton off the top rope to the floor. Yuka hits a kick and they head to the apron, Yuka up top but they botch whatever they were going for so King just slams Yuka down on the apron with a modified uranage. Back in the ring King starts working a front headlock. King with a running back elbow then a European uppercut to the seated Yuka. Yuka scoots away from a Dragon sleeper, then lands some forearms. Poorly done powerslam, King is just too big for Yuka to do that move. Yuka lands a kick to the face, then a corkscrew elbow off the second rope. Back up top for Yuka, and a drop kick lands, but when she tries a Sliding D King is able to counter into a pumphandle side slam for 2. King hits a jumping clothesline but can’t keep Yuka down. Yuka with a lifting hammerlock into a spinning flapjack for a 2 count. Yuka to the apron, hits a Magical Girl splash and wins.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Yuka Sakazaki won

Rating: 1.5 stars

There were a couple of rough spots here, I don’t know if it was a communication or a timing issue, or maybe Yuka being just a touch too ambitious on some spots, but this felt sloppy.

The Acclaimed are in the next match, coming out after the baby faces do. Caster claims his team is more over than the Blonds, and says Austen is so ugly Billy should have been wearing a condom during his conception. He closes with a cheap shot at the Miami Heat and their playoff run in basketball.

Match #6 – 8 Man Tag Team Match: The Acclaimed (Max Caster and Anthony Bowens) and Chaos Project (Luther and Serpentico) vs. Gunn Club (Billy Gunn and Colten Gunn) and Varsity Blonds (Brian Pillman Jr. and Griff Garrison) w/ Julia Hart

Pillman and Bowens get us going. They tie up, trade arm wringers and escapes then Bowens gets a near crucifix for a 1 count. Pillman starts in with the strikes to drop Bowens then he tags in Garrison. Colten in, they’re working fast tags to keep Bowens isolated. Here’s Billy now, who got the biggest pop. Bowens gets free and tags Serpentico, who fails on a cross body because Billy is just that much bigger than he is. Billy with a sidewalk slam, tags in Colten then body slams him onto Serpentico. Colten with a cover, and he avoids an elbow from Luther who hits Serpentico by accident. Garrison in, and he avoids Caster who elbows Serpentico. Another tag to Pillman, and it’s Bowens turn to try the spot but he stops himself from hitting Serpentico, which just allows Pillman to super kick him.
Serpentico is able to fight back and tag in Caster as they work to isolate Pillman. Blind tag to Bowens and he’s able to hit the neckbreaker over the knees of Caster for a near fall. Luther tags in now and starts kicking the body of Pillman. Chops from Luther then he tags in Serpentico and helps him hit a top rope Swanton bomb for a near fall. Strikes from Serpentico, but he misses a Bronco buster, Pillman dumps Caster and Bowens out of the ring where they get into it with Garrison and Billy leading to Pillman tagging in Colten. Colten runs wild , he and Garrison with a series of splashes and kicks. Serpentico charges into a tilt a whirl slam for a 2 count but Luther saved things. Luther tags himself in, and Pillman tags but Billy enters the ring, this confuses Luther who sends Billy out of the ring but eats the flying clothesline from Pillman and Pillman pins to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Varsity Blonds and Gunn Club won

Rating: 2.5 stars

For a multi man match this was fairly paint by numbers, though the somewhat inventive finish helps, but everything was executed well at least. Post match Caster gets a mic, he offers to freestyle on the Blonds but Bowens has a better idea, The Acclaimed want a shot at the belts and the Blonds are one rank ahead of the Acclaimed in the rankings. This means the Blonds can come back right now for a tag team match against The Acclaimed, or they can go Eifel tower their cheerleader under the bleachers. The Blonds chase the Acclaimed off, the Acclaimed scurry away.

Match #7: Brian Cage vs. Alan “5” Angels

Angels tries to stick and move early, he evades Cage but eventually gets caught by a back elbow and front kick. Angels back flips out of a German suplex and hits a Shining Wizard. The 5 punch in the corner from Angels, and he hits a drop kick then Cage heads out of the ring. Angels up top, but he’s caught by Cage on the entrance ramp and Cage hits a fall away slam back into the ring. Cage with the second rope deadlift suplex from the apron to the ring. Clotheslines in the corner from Cage, Angels with some strikes to fight back in open space but he can’t get Cage off of his feet until he hits a running clothesline. Cage draped onto the second rope, low angle cross body to him from Angels then a moonsault for a 2 count. Angels wants the Wing Snapper, Cage shoves him off and hits a pop up powerbomb into a powerbomb backbreaker, then the Drill Claw and Cage wins.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Brian Cage won

Rating: 2 stars

They gave Angels too much offense for me to consider this a squash, though you might disagree. As a semi-competitive match it was fine, though there’s a debate to be had around Cage having a mostly competitive match with Angels at all.

In the back Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus think about talking but decide to mostly wait for Christian. Jungle Boy has big news, he’s the first AEW wrestler to win 50 matches and tonight he’s wrestling Lee Johnson. He puts over Johnson but starting now he’s looking for a new record to break. Decent little promo from Jungle Boy, he’s not a big talker but he’s not bad on the mic.

Match #8: Leyla Hirsch vs. Kelsey Heather

They tie up, Hirsch out wrestles Heather early. Heather uses the ropes to beg off a few times before she lands a kick to the body and starts laying in stomps in the corner. Hirsch with a German suplex, running punt kick then the armbar and we’re done.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Leyla Hirsch won

Rating: Acorn. . . SQUASH

Delicious squash, Hirsch remains a solid prospect who’s still getting better.

Match #9: Scorpio Sky w/ Ethan Page vs. Capt. Shawn Dean

Page heads over to join commentary for the bout. They tie up and trade go behinds then hit the ropes with Sky getting a trip into a side headlock. Dean with a head scissor escape then hits a shoulder block and some arm drags and another drop kick. Sky uses the corner to slow down Dean, then he tosses him to the apron. Dean lands a left but gets caught with a jumping Flatliner coming back in the ring. Sky with some kicks, Dean fights back with punches and lays in clotheslines. DDT from Dean, then he kips up and hits a running dropkick in the corner for a near fall. Another roll up for Dean gets a near fall. Dean wants a backslide, Sky fights free, gets a TKO and wins.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Scorpio Sky won

Rating: 2.5 stars

Perfectly acceptable match. Dean looked pretty good in defeat, though Sky is quite good at making his opponents shine so it was a good pairing in that respect.

Smart Mark Sterling is here with a press conference about the future of Jade Cargill. Jade has a clause in her contract that means Jade is allowed to do anything related to modeling and films so Jade is needed elsewhere. They’ll be taking a tour of Hollywood to make sure the brand dominates all media and Jade can become the next great crossover star in professional wrestling. Jade talks, she’s happy to announce she’s going to Hollywood where all of her dreams will come true. She’s blessed us peasants for way too long, everyone can sit at home and watch her kill it. As a reminder, She’s that bitch.

Match #10: Tay Conti vs. Labrava

Conti with arm throws early, then a pump kick. Labrava is out of the ring and on the ramp, Conti follows her out there and drags her back to the ring. Conti gets a half Boston crab through the ropes. Labrava on the apron again and drops Conti’s neck across the top rope then hits a clothesline. Conti lands back elbow out of the corner, and lays in forearms then clotheslines. Stiff right from Conti, she misses a flying nothing off the top rope then hits another pump kick. Pump kick in the corner from Conti, then a running face wash as Labrava was seated in the corner. TayKO follows and we’re done.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Tay Conti won

Rating: Ampullaris. . . SQUASH

Delicious squash, Conti should be in the title picture for AEW sooner rather than later.

Match #11: Lee Johnson w/ Dustin Rhodes vs. Jungle Boy w/ Luchasaurus

They shake hands to get us going. A tie up, Jungle Boy gets a side headlock and moves to an arm wringer. Lee escapes, they trade arm drags then stand off. Jungle Boy with a shoulder block, then they run the ropes and Johnson gets some arm drags then tries to isolate the arm of Jungle Boy. Jungle Boy fights up, hits a springboard arm drag then a drop kick. Chops from Jungle Boy then he gets a headlock. Johnson fights back up with elbows then lands a kick. Running clotheslines from Johnson then a neckbreaker. Jungle Boy with a back elbow and some strikes, then a drop kick to the knee and running clothesline. Johnson avoids a suplex, and they trade blows off the ropes then Jungle Boy with a flying hurricanrana over the top rope and to the floor. Pretty bonkers spot. They head back into the ring, Johnson hits a running chop in the corner. Jungle Boy avoids a corner rush, but gets caught by Johnson in a fireman’s carry then an airplane spin. Several rotations later Jungle Boy counters into a tornado DDT. Johnson hits a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall. Jungle Boy counters a charge with an overhead throw into the corner then a bridging German suplex for a near fall. Johnson is set in the tree of woe position and Jungle Boy hits a basement dropkick for a near fall. Jungle Boy wants a pumphandle, Johnson counters into a small package then hits a rolling Death Valley Driver then a seated super kick for a near fall. Johnson wants the Braindog, Jungle Boy fights free and hits a brainbuster then slightly modified Death Valley Driver for a near fall. Johnson avoids a low angle clothesline and they trade roll ups for a bit with Jungle Boy finally finding one that works and gets the win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Jungle Boy won

Rating: 3 stars

Slightly generous rating but these two worked very well together and did a good job of making each other look good, which was especially beneficial for Johnson given Jungle Boy’s general position in the rankings.

Highlight package for Miro, he promises to change the TNT title the way it changed him.

Match #12: Red Velvet vs. Leila Grey

They tie up, Grey hits a shoulder block then runs into a one legged drop kick. Velvet with some kicks, then an ax kick through the ropes and a kick into the splits. Grey with some corner offense then a shotgun drop kick for a near fall. They trade rights, then Velvet fires up with running clotheslines and hangs up Grey on the second rope. Running knees from Velvet then a standing moonsault for a near fall. Velvet avoids some strikes, lands a combination of strikes culminating with the Chef’s Kiss spinning back kick and Velvet wins.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Red Velvet won

Rating: Aurantia. . . SQUASH

Grey sporting some new ring gear, she’s coming along well enough for the moment. Red Velvet had her usual match.

Jora Johl (formerly Robo the Punjab Lion) talks about considering Matt Hardy’s offer to him. He accepts Matt’s offer because it’s the route to his dream, and the dream of thousands of Indian kids watching him. Tonight is his first test as a member of the HFO and he wont fail.

Match #13 – Trios Match: Private Party (Marq Quen and Isiah Kassidy) and Jora Johl vs. Chuck Taylor, Orange Cassidy, and Wheeler Yuta

Private Party made Johl wear a Milwaukee Bucks jersey for the match. Taylor and Kassidy start us off, some shoulder blocks from Taylor then they run the ropes before Taylore gets a scoop slam. Kassidy tags out to Johl, he takes off the jersey but he’s made to put it back on and take too long so Quen tags in as does Yuta. Yuta runs the ropes, hits a springboard arm drag then some drop kicks. Kassidy on the apron holds the ropes open and Yuta tumbles through them, Quen with some cheap shots to Taylor and Cassidy then he dives onto Yuta on the outside. Back in the ring Kassidy comes in and they work over Yuta in the corner. Rapid tags between Quen and Kassidy, they’re ignoring Johl for the moment. Yuta fights back with an enziguri, but he’s not able to tag out. Kassidy tags in, Yuta fights them off and hits a double drop kick. Kassidy tags Johl, but Yuta is able to tag Cassidy. They trade go behinds for a bit, then Taylor with a blind tag and hits a rising knee onto Johl. Cassidy dives onto Quen, Taylor with a standing uranage then tags Yuta who hits a top rope splash but Kassidy saves the match. Kassidy gets a tornado DDT to Yuta, tosses Johl onto the cover but Taylor saves the match. Taylor sends Kassidy out and dives onto him. Quen holds up Yuta, Cassidy clobbers him with an Orange Punch. Yuta with a modified Mouse Trap pinning hold to get the win. If someone knows the proper term for this move please let me know, I’ve seen it before but it escapes me at the moment.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Chuck Taylor, Orange Cassidy, and Yuta Wheeler won

Rating: 2.5 stars

Going the reluctant heel role for Johl might not be the best choice, but I’m willing to see how it plays out. A very competent match throughout.

Match #14: Hikaru Shida vs. Julia Hart w/ Varsity Blonds

Hart was really green in her last match on Elevation, let’s see how she does this time. Shida shoves Hart away, then gets a test of strength spot but Hart back walks through it and gets a bit of an arm drag. Side headlock from Shida, they run the ropes for a bit then Shida hits a drop kick. They head out of the ring, and Shida lays in some strikes while Hart is on the apron. Hart with some of the worst looking punches, Shida basically no sells them then hits a running knee strike in the corner. Some strikes from Hart but Shida just eggs her on then clocks her with a right elbow. Hart with some kicks, they look better than last time. Some clotheslines from Hart then a handspring clothesline in the corner. Jumping split leg drop from Hart gets a near fall. Hart wants the bulldog split but Shida tosses her off. Roll up from Hart gets 2, Shida then gently flap jacks Hart into the top rope. God bless Shida for taking her time with that, Hart did not look safe for that bump. Hart lands some kicks, Shida catches one and hits a very awkward shin breaker. Shida locks in the Full Metal Muffler (a Stretch Muffler but with an arm trapped) and that gets the tap.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Hikaru Shida won

Rating: 1.5 stars

Squash adjacent but not a full squash. Hart still looked quite green, but she did improve since the last time I saw her and I want to give credit for that. Still this was mostly a carry job by Shida, but Hart working someone as good as Shida should help her continue to develop.

Match #15: Angelico w/ Matt Hardy and Isiah Kassidy vs. Darby Allin w/ Sting

They tie up, wind up in the corner then we get a clean break from Darby. Angelico gets a side headlock, then shoulder blocks Darby down. They run the ropes then Darby with an arm drag. Another arm drag from Darby, then they hit the ropes and Angelico bounces Darby off the ropes and Darby tweaks his knee on the landing. Angelico goes right after the knee with stomps, then a bow and arrow hold. Darby gets free and moves into a Fujiwara armbar and Angelico moves to the ropes to break the hold. Angelico lands a roundhouse kick then gets a Texas Cloverleaf swing into more of the proper Texas Cloverleaf but Darby gets to the ropes to force a break. Strikes from Angelico in the corner, but Darby tries to fight back so Angelico goes back to the knee. Angelico puts Darby on the top rope, follows him up and tries a superplex but Darby fights free with strikes, shoves Angelico down and gets a diving Sunset flip for a 2 count. A series of pinning predicaments from Darby can’t put Angelico away, but he does hit a front flip Stunner/cutter to drop Angelico. Darby up top, Coffin Drop connects and we’re done.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Darby Allin won

Rating: 2.5 stars

Decent match if mostly forgettable. Post match Christian Cage shows up to brawl with Hardy while Darby and Sting take out Private Party. Darby, now that the match is over, quits selling the leg. Ethan Page and Scorpio Sky are here as well, they just talk trash from the top of the entrance ramp and don’t get involved physically though. Sting gets a mic and plays to the crowd just a bit, then gives the mic to Darby. Darby says that in the first AEW coffin match it’ll be his pleasure to close the coffin on Ethan Page. That ends the episode.

6.0

The final score: review Average

The 411

Bit of a rough start to the episode with some matches that over stayed their welcome just a bit. But the closing half was solid wrestling for the most part.