wrestling / TV Reports
Winfree’s AEW Dark: Elevation (Ep. 49) Review 2.07.22
Image Credit: AEW
Loading...Alright everyone, time for more Elevation action. This week we’ve got Bobby Fish, a ladies trios match, Scorpio Sky, Aaron Solo takes on Dante Martin to continue that feud, an 8 man tag match, and a main event where Chaos Project takes on Best Friends. Tony Schiavone, Paul Wight, and Mark Henry are on the call for us.
Match #1: Bobby Fish vs. Robert Anthony
Fish and Anthony trade some wrestling holds, then Fish lays in knee strikes from a Thai clinch before taking him down but he misses a hilo as Anthony rolls out of the ring. Anthony lays in some strikes as they’re on the outside, then back in the right he lands a chop but Fish lands an inside leg kick and starts laying in elbow strikes. Fish runs into a drop kick and some strikes then Anthony hits a delayed vertical suplex. Fish fires up and they start trading elbows but Fish lays in a full combination of strikes. Anthony has a leg kick caught then Fish with a Dragon Screw leg whip and starts targeting the leg. Sliding clothesline from Fish gets a 2 count. More kicks from Fish, Anthony fires back with chops but he can’t keep up with the strikes of Fish. Fish hits a back drop driver for a near fall. Fish jumps for a sleeper hold, but Anthony slams out of it then blocks a German suplex before getting hit with an exploder suplex into the ropes. Buzzsaw kick from Fish connects and we’re done.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Bobby Fish won in 5:15
Rating: 2.5 stars
This bordered on 3 star territory, which was a very pleasant surprise. They gave Anthony a lot here, and while the outcome was never in doubt he got to show what he can do. Anthony is better known from his time on the indies as Egotistico Fantastico, for those who might have been curious as to why “Ego” was on his gear.
Match #2 – Trios Match: Skye Blue, Queen Aminata, and Heather Reckless vs. Diamante, The Bunny, and Emi Sakura
Diamante and Blue start things off, they trash talk then trade strikes. Blue with a single leg takedown and they start brawling on the mat then Blue lands a super kick as they stand. Aminata tags in and starts chopping Diamante. Blue tags back in and hits a seated super kick then tags Reckless. Diamante clocks her with an elbow then an overhead throw and tags in Emi. Emi tosses Reckless around then hits the corner cross body and a back breaker but Blue breaks the pin. Everything breaks down after that with the heels getting submission holds while Bunny skips around before the ref gets control over things again. Bunny tags in as Emi hits a double underhook backbreaker then Bunny hits a sliding clothesline on Reckless. Knee strikes from Bunny. Blue and Aminata come in again, and again things go poorly for them as all three are hit with stereo moves out of a Dragon Sleeper, Reckless in particular takes a Down The Rabbit Hole (Eye of the Hurricane) and Bunny pins Reckless to win.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Bunny, Diamante, and Emi Sakura won in 4:00
Rating: 2 stars
Fairly average, the chaos didn’t help the match down the stretch and once the heels took over things became a touch too predictable, but the action was very clean.
Ethan Page joins commentary for the next match.
Match #3: Scorpio Sky w/ Dan Lambert vs. Stephen Wolf
They tie up, trade go behinds then Sky grabs a side headlock then hits a shoulder block. A trade of leg sweeps but Sky hits his face rake rather than go for a cover. Sky starts laying in strikes in the corner. Backbreaker from Sky then he starts in on a neck crank. Wolf fights up with body shots then lays in a chop and a twisting arm drag. Impressive athleticism from Wolf there, but he runs into a big boot from Sky and is down again. Sky has had enough, he hits the TKO and we’re done.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Scorpio Sky won in 3:40
Rating: Golias. . . SQUASH
That brief flurry of offense from Wolf was pretty impressive, he might be worth another look. Page on commentary is pretty solid too, I know the AEW booth is crowded as heck right now but it might be worth considering using him in that capacity a little more often.
Match #4: Julia Hart vs. Arie Alexander
They tie up, trade go behinds then Alexander hits a snapmare and roundhouse kick. Hart starts laying in strikes in the corner for a bit then hits a kick to the back. Alexander fights back with a forearm but takes a scorpion kick then a standing moonsault from Hart. Corner clothesline from Hart then a split bulldog and a reverse triangle choke (sort of) finishes things as Alexander taps.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Julia Hart won in 2:05
Rating: 1.5 stars
A bit too even to be a total squash. The new persona seems to be growing on Hart, and while she’s still obviously green she’s come a long way since her first match.
Match #5: Dante Martin vs. Aaron Solo w/ Nick Comoroto
They tie up then break without incident. The crowd is solidly behind Martin, who grabs a side headlock then hits a takeover on Solo. Shoulder block from Martin then they run the ropes with Martin getting the better of things then going back to a headlock. Solo avoids an arm drag but can’t hit the follow up and Martin just kind of smirks over him. Solo sends Martin to the apron, then Comoroto and Martin get into it allowing Solo to hit a baseball slide and take over. Back in the ring and Solo lands elbow drops then a kick and a clothesline. Martin starts fighting back with strikes, then he fires up with running elbows and an inside out flapjack. Solo rolls to the outside, Martin sets to dive but Comoroto gets on the apron to cut him off which allows Solo to come from behind with a tornado kick for a near fall. Martin dives onto Comoroto then hits some kicks to Solo before the double jump moonsault press connects and he pins Solo for the 3 count.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Dante Martin won in 5:00
Rating: 2.5 stars
Martin continues to come along, his athleticism has always been nuts but he’s starting to smooth out his fundamentals and better his psychology.
The Acclaimed are up in the next match, so my approximation of Caster’s rap will follow. Caster mocks the murder rate of Chicago, the lack of promo ability from all of his opponents, and even gets a minor dig at the Gunn Club calling them Ass Boys.
Match #6 – 8-Man Tag Team Match: Lee Johnson, Brock Anderson, Matt Sydal, and Lee Moriarty vs. The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens and Max Caster) and Gunn Club (Colten and Austin Gunn) w/ Billy Gunn
Sydal and Bowens get things started. Bowens takes over but gets caught in a school boy for 2. Arm drag from Bowens then a botched counter scoop slam leads to Sydal hitting a back kick and tagging in Moriarty. Moriarty goes for the arm but Bowens clocks him and tags Caster. Sweep from Moriarty then he kicks the arm. Things break down for a bit, and Colten and Austin bail before physicality. The heels regroup on the outside then Caster gets in the ring as Brock tags in. Austin tags in and Brock hits a back suplex then starts stomping the arm before tagging Moriarty again. Austin gets free and tags Colten. Colten lands a right hand then hits short clotheslines against the ropes. Colten takes a bit too much time playing with the crowd then tags in Caster. Moriarty starts too fight back but but Caster cuts him off and tags Bowens. Bowens lays in strikes and floors Moriarty after a bit. Again Moriarty starts to fight back, but can’t tag out on a couple of attempts before he eats a super kick from Bowens for a 2 count. Side suplex from Moriarty, then he tosses Caster out and he tags in Johnson. Austin tags in as well but Johnson is a house on fire as he takes out everyone. Reverse DDT from Johnson, then he goes up top but Bowens cuts him off. Time for everyone to get their stuff in via the Parade of Finishers. Caster gets the chain but Johnson super kicks him. Colten with a cheap shot with the boombox and Austin rolls up Johnson then pins to win.
OFFICIAL RESULT: The Acclaimed and Gunn Club won in 7:10
Rating: 2 stars
This was a bit of a drag in the middle, and I don’t have any use for Austin Gunn in terms of his presentation right now (he reminds me too much of Brian Christopher) but the action was clean and the story was fairly sound.
Match #7- Tag Team Match: Chaos Project (Luther and Serpentico) vs. Best Friends (Chuck Taylor and Trent Beretta) w/ Kris Statlander
Taylor and Luther start things off, Taylor tries a side headlock but can’t retain is as Luther hits a back elbow. More strikes from Luther then Taylor hits an enziguri. Serpentico tags in, and takes a tilt a whirl backbreaker. Trent tags in and Serpentico takes some double team offense. Serpentico and Trent trade strikes but Trent gets the best of that with relative ease. Kick from Serpentico then Trent back drops him. Trent hits a tornado DDT, but he runs into a super kick and rolls out of the ring only to be met with a boot from Luther. Luther tags in and drops Trent across the barricade before they head back into the ring. Side slam from Luther then Serpentico tags in. Serpentico heads up top and Luther helps him hit a Swanton onto Trent. Luther back in, hugs Serpentico then he tosses Serpentico into Trent. Chops from Luther then he tags Serpentico, but Serpentico misses a chop and Trent chops him. Luther back in but takes a chop from Trent. Enziguri from Luther then he tags Serpentico. Serpentico gets slammed onto Trent, then Luther wants to be slammed onto Trent and Serpentico tries but gets squashed by Luther. Trent then picks up Luther and slams him onto Serpentico. Back suplex from Trent then he tags in Taylor. Taylor runs wild on both Luther and Serpentico before tossing Luther out of the ring. Luther trips up Taylor but Taylor shoves him into the ring steps. Trent tags in, Serpentico takes a Sole Food into a half and half suplex from Trent and Best Friends hug it out. The Strong Zero follows and Best Friends pick up the win.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Best Friends won in 6:40
Rating: 2 stars
Decent main event, Chaos Project is kind of a one trick pony but if it amuses you it will do so pretty consistently.
