wrestling / TV Reports
Winfree’s AEW Dark: Elevation (Ep. 68) Review 6.20.22
Image Credit: AEW
Loading...Hey there people, time for the latest episode of AEW Dark: Elevation. Tonight we’ve got Serena Deeb and Mercedes Martinez continuing to team up, Andrade El Idolo vs. Frankie Kazarian, Ruby Soho, Anna Jay, and a main event of QT Marshall taking on Matt Sydal. We’ll see some faces from last week repeated here as well and I’m curious to see a few of them in slightly different contexts.
Excalibur, Mark Henry, and Anthony Ogogo are on commentary for this one.
Match #1 – Tag Team Match: Serena Deeb and Mercedes Martinez vs. Heather Reckless and Tootie Lynn
Martinez and Deeb are continuing their slightly antagonistic pairing here. Deeb and Lynn get things going, Deeb quickly out wrestles Lynn and grabs an armbar after Lynn kicked out of an Alligator Clutch, but Lynn gets to the ropes to break the hold. Martinez wants a tag, Deeb declines and lands an uppercut to Lynn. They hit the ropes and Lynn lands a drop kick, then tries another that Deeb avoids. Martinez with a blind tag to Deeb, and everyone winds up in the ring with Martinez and Deeb cleaning house then Martinez grabs a Crippler Crossface on Lynn. Lynn avoids a move and tags out, Heather lays in kicks to Martinez then she whiffs on an enziguri but Martinez sells it anyway. Spinebuster from Martinez then she tosses Heather into her corner. Deeb tags in and they hit some tandem offense in the corner. Deeb hits a guillotine onto the bottom rope, then hits the Detox but doesn’t go for the cover. Instead Deeb moves to grab the Serenity Lock, Lynn tries to help but Martinez cuts her off and grabs the Brass City Sleeper as Deeb gets the Serenity Lock and that’ll end things.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Serena Deeb and Mercedes Martinez won in 4:29
Rating: Acorn. . . SQUASH
Delicious squash, this pairing of Martinez and Deeb is an interesting one, I’m curious to see what they’re going for with it.
Match #2: Frankie Kazarian vs. Andrade El Idolo w/ Jose
Some circling then they tie up and start jockeying for position through the ropes. They trade shoves, then Andrade with a school boy for 1, Frankie counters into an arm wringer, then Andrade hits an arm breaker and grabs his own arm wringer. Frankie counters with a drop toe hold and grabs a side headlock on the mat. Back on the feet Frankie hits a shoulder block but Andrade doesn’t go down, so Frankie hits a jumping one then some arm drags and a headlock takeover to ground Andrade. Andrade fights to his feet and tries a back suplex, Frankie flips out of it then sends Andrade through the ropes to the floor. Next Frankie hits a leg drop as Andrade tried to get in the ring, and Jose calls for a time out but Frankie ignores him. Another distraction from Jose allows Andrade to shoves Frankie into the ring post. They head back into the ring and Andrade starts working stomps. Frankie fires back with chops, then Andrade drops him with a right hand and lays in a chop of his own. Running kick from Andrade connects for a 2 count then he grabs at the arm of Frankie to start working it. Frankie lands a few kicks to break the hold and Andrade stomps him then Frankie catches a small package for 2, then a Crucifix Driver for 2 as well. Big boot from Andrade staggers Frankie, then Frankie blocks El Idolo only to get kicked again. Frankie starts fighting back with punches then picks up the pace with clotheslines and a flying elbow. Facebuster from Frankie gets 2, then he looks for the Crossface Chicken Wing but Andrade fights off with a hip toss then powerslams a running Frankie into the corner. Meteora from Andrade but that only gets a near fall. Andrade looks to climb the ropes, Frankie cuts him off and climbs up with him. Frankie eventually gets Andrade up for a Japanese Ocean Cyclone Suplex that gets a 2 count. Andrade lands a back elbow, Frankie replies with kicks but takes a Lethal Combination in the corner then Andrade hits El Idolo and pins to win.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Andrade El Idolo won in 8:43
Rating: 3 stars
Unsurprisingly, if you give two talented workers time and space they’ll give you a good match.
Match #3 – Tag Team Match: Nyla Rose and Marina Shafir vs. Heidi Howitzer and Max the Impaler
Nyla and Max get us going, they tie up but neither gets an edge in the strength. Now they start trading blows, Max catches a punch and Nyla knees her in the body then tags in Shafir. Shafir works body shots then they slightly botch a transition before Shafir grabs a crossface, Max walks the two of them to the corner then Heidi tags in. Chops from Heidi then a full nelson to drive Shafir into the corner a few times then Max tags back in. Avalanche from Max, then Shafir comes back to life and chops Max down with a leg kick and tags out. Nyla lays into Max with strikes, then Shafir makes a blind tag and unloads body blows to Max, then Nyla catches Max with a Diamond Dust and super kick. Heidi breaks up a pin and attacks Shafir, then Heidi drags Max to their corner and tags in. Heid goes after Shafir but Shafir ties her up with Greedy, and Nyla Spears Max to prevent the save and Heidi taps.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Nyla Rose and Marina Shafir won in 3:25
Rating: 2 stars
A couple of timing issues, and Shafir got lost once but recovered nicely. Max and Heidi impressed again as well.
Ogogo leaves commentary as Lee and Strickland are heading to the ring, he’s going to help QT Marshall prep for his match.
Match #4 – Tag Team Match: Swerve Strickland and Keith Lee vs. Davey Vega and Mat Fitchett
Swerve and Lee have a bit of tension going between them. Swerve and Vega start us off, Vega lands a headbutt and Swerve replies with a head scissors. Corner offense from Swerve then a diving uppercut to the back. Vega tags in Fitchett who lands an elbow to Swerve then Swerve takes some tandem offense. Vega tags back in but now Swerve fights them off with strikes. Fitchett lands a drop kick but Swerve tags off of it and comes in with a pop up Pounce to Fitchett. Lee with an avalanche to Vega then he tosses him across the ring and into Fitchett. Next Lee powerbombs Vega onto Fitchett, then Swerve wants to hit the stomp to assist the Spirit Bomb but Lee turns away, Spirit Bomb’s Vega and pins him.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Keith Lee and Swerve Strickland won in 3:10
Rating: Aurantia. . . SQUASH
Showing the tension between Lee and Swerve was a nice move, and both men played it very well.
Post match Swerve offers a fist bump as he’s trying to mend fences, Lee debates then gives him a bit of a fist bump but still walks off rather quickly after doing so.
Match #5: Anna Jay vs. Rebel
They tie up, Rebel grabs a side headlock but Jay counters into one of her own. Jay tries a scoop slam but Rebel blocks her then lands a knee to the body. Jay counters a suplex into a side kick to the face, then grabs the Queen Slayer and Rebel has to tap.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Anna Jay won in :56
Rating: Casertaosa. . . SQUASH
I’m glad Rebel is healthy enough to start working again.
Match #6: Tony Nese w/ Smart Mark Sterling vs. Warhorse
Pretty good pop for Warhorse. Nese shows off his biceps, Warhorse responds by posing and headbanging. Shot to the throat from Nese then then Macho Man top rope guillotine. Stomps from Nese in the corner but Warhorse comes out of the corner with a clothesline. Boot from Warhorse but he hangs out on the top rope and Nese clocks him with an uppercut. Nese heads up top with Warhorse, he tries a superplex but Warhorse fights him off with a headbutt then hits a drop kick. Corner clothesline from Warhorse, then another one and Nese rakes the face then hits a wheel kick to the face. Running Kneese from Nese and he pins to win.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Tony Nese won in 2:53
Rating: Cocozelle. . . SQUASH
Nice to see Warhorse getting a bit more of a chance to shine here, and Nese was very giving all things considered.
As Ruby Soho is posing on the apron for the next match Gordy jumps her from behind. A few blows on the floor follow before they head into the ring.
Match #7: Ruby Soho vs. Miranda Gordy
Ruby lands kicks in the ring, but the larger Gordy clubs her down in response. Chops from Gordy then she poses, which lets Ruby fire up and regain herself. Ruby lays in strikes of her own and wobbles Gordy. Saito suplex from Ruby, then she heads up top but Gordy shakes the ropes and crotches her. Ruby fights off of the shoulders of Gordy and hits an STO then Destination Unknown and Ruby pins to win.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Ruby Soho won in 2:05
Rating: 1.5 stars
They gave Gordy enough to avoid a squash rating I guess, but there were some timing and placement issues here that I can’t fully overlook. That said Gordy has solid presence and good physicality.
Match #8: QT Marshall w/ Aaron Solo, Anthony Ogogo, and Nick Comoroto vs. Matt Sydal
They tie up, hit the corner then Marshall with a go behind and grabs a side headlock. Sydal flips out of a snapmare and hits a headlock takeover. Chop from Sydal then a head scissors takeover. Marshall lands a right hand, but Sydal counters a suplex into a Slice for a 2 count then a standing twisting moonsault for another 2 count. Sydal heads up top, but Marshall cuts him off with a right hand then tosses him but Sydal counters in mid air into another head scissors move. Jumping heel kick from Sydal gets a 2 count. Marshall hot shots Sydal off of the middle rope to take over. A cheap shot from Solo as the ref is distracted, then Marshall hits a backbreaker. Neck crank from Marshall, Sydal fights to his feet then transitions a back suplex into a sunset flip for a 2 count. Leg kicks from Sydal then Solo trips him up allowing Marshall to hit another backbreaker. Marshall looks to suplex Sydal into the ring, Sydal knees him and Stuns him over the top rope. Comoroto grabs the leg of Sydal but the ref sees it and ejects all of the Factory. Marshall misses a corner splash, Sydal follows up with a top rope Meteora. Sydal is selling his leg after the landing, but starts laying in more kicks to Marshall. Running drop kick in the corner from Sydal gets a 2 count. Sydal wants the Lightning Spiral but Marshall kicks him off and wants the Diamond Cutter but Sydal counters into a backslide for 2. More kicks from Sydal but he’s caught in a pop up punch. Marshall removes his elbow pads, tries a brainbuster but Sydal counters into a hurricanrana and gets the pin.
OFFICIAL RESULT: Matt Sydal won in 7:28
Rating: 2.5 stars
Solid main event, a bit slow as Marshall tends to be more methodical and the interference got old fast though was appropriately handled. No major complaints as both men are good hands.
