Winfree’s AEW Dark: Elevation (Ep. 8) Review 5.10.21

Well everyone, it’s time for another episode of AEW Dark: Elevation. Oh, we’re nearly at a 2 hour run time this week. Joy. Well on the plus side we’ll have Jon Moxley, Eddie Kingston, Tay Conti, and more in action. Per usual Tony Schiavone and Paul Wight are on commentary.

Match #1: David Ali vs. Lee Johnson

The tie up, trade some holds and escapes on the mat before standing off. Back to the mat, Johnson is getting the better of these exchanges so far as they wind up in the ropes and have to break. Another trade of holds, Johnson offers a handshake but Ali is a poor sport and hits a snap mare then a kick to the spine. Johnson runs the ropes and hits a drop kick to the face. Ali sends Johnson out of the ring, Johnson back in and lands a punch but flies into a European uppercut. Ali gets to take over on offense for a bit, including a butterfly suplex. Modified landslide from Ali but that only gets 2. Johnson fires up with clothesline and a neck breaker. Johnson flies into a super kick, then Johnson with a fisherman’s neckbreaker over the knee that commentary erroneously calls a Blue Thunder Bomb to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Lee Johnson won

Rating: 1.5 stars

I can’t go full squash here, but this is also very obviously designed to give Johnson some in ring experience. Johnson is coming along, he’s dialed back when it comes to doing stuff he doesn’t need to do, and is showing a bit more personality in there.

Match #2: Eddie Kingston vs. VSK

Eddie Kingston is about to kill a man. Kingston works a side headlock early and keeps VSK grounded. Knees from Kingston then he starts laying in strikes on the mat. Delayed vertical suplex from Kingston, VSK gets a little flurry of offense after avoiding an avalanche but Kingston wallops him with elbows. VSK with an enziguri then a fireman’s carry into a neckbreaker across the knee for a near fall. Kingston gets angry and lays in chops. VSK avoids the Backfist to the Future, hits a lungblower then heads up top but misses a frog splash. Kingston rolls up VSK for the win after he face planted.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Eddie Kingston won

Rating: 1.5 stars

I’m surprised at how much they gave VSK here, but as an unabashed fan of Eddie Kingston there might be a bit too much emotion in that sentiment.

Match #3 – Tag Team Match: Ethan Page and Scorpio Sky vs. Fuego del Sol and Baron Black

Sky and Black start us off. A lot of early success for Sky but he walks into an inverted atomic drop then a spinning chop. Black goes on offense, but is distracted by Page and Sky levels him to take over again. Page tags in and the heels work over Black in the corner. Sky back in, and Page’s mockery from the apron is glorious. Black gets a roll up, and on the kick out is able to tag in Fuego. Fuego is, well, en fuego for a bit including a moonsault to both men. Page avoids a tornado DDT, shoulder blocks Fuego down as Sky takes out Black which let’s Page hit the Ego’s Edge and cover to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Scorpio Sky and Ethan Page won

Rating: Kiszombori. . . SQUASH

Delicious squash. Page and Sky have really gelled over the last few weeks into a unit, Page is still likely going to need a secondary finisher as there are plenty of people he wont be able to hit the Edge on but that’s a relatively minor observation. The Egomaniacs keep on rolling.

We get a Showcase for Danny Limelight where he sits down with Wight. He goes into his history as a fan, but he didn’t start training until 2014, he and Wight met on one of WWE’s Tribute to the Troops shows and we see the pic of the two of them. He goes a bit into his military history as a member of the Marine Corps and time as a drill instructor. That dovetails to talking about his wrestling training, which started when he was still a Marine, and mentions the hardest part was consistency but his military time helped him with that. Wight asks him about the pandemic, Limelight exited the Marines in 2019 and went into wrestling and stunt work, did some stunt work in Hollywood which opened up a tryout for New Japan but the pandemic halted him possibly getting a shot with them. Fortunately AEW gave him a shot and he was able to make enough of an impression to stay here. He wants to be a workhorse people look back on 5-10 years from now as an inspiration. Nice little bit on Limelight there.

Match #4: Thunder Rosa vs. Renee Michelle

They trade go behinds and some mat holds with Rosa getting the best of things. Michelle gets a top wrist lock, then bridges into a bit of an Americana. Rosa up with a kimura roll then locks up the kimura. Back on the feet Rosa hits some arm drags and a drop kick. Chops from Rosa, Michelle lands a cravat into the knee then a kick to the head. Rosa back on offense, but runs into a low angle kick. Michelle gets a really bad attempt at an octopus stretch, Rosa slams out of it. Running clothesline in the corner then a slingshot meteora and the basement dropkick from Rosa. Butterfly suplex follows, but Michelle avoids a Fire Thunder Driver and gets a Chaos Theory. Knees from Rosa then a running kick, into a Peruvian Necktie (that’s the proper name for it, no idea what Rosa calls the hold) which gets the quick tap.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Thunder Rosa won

Rating: Kabocha. . . SQUASH

Rosa gave Michelle a bit but this was still comfortably a squash.

Eddie Kingston is in the back. He could talk about the match he won, but that’s not what’s on his mind. Moxley isn’t here right now, he’s chilling at home since he’s got a baby coming and how you doing Renee? What’s getting under his skin right now is the Young Bucks. What bothers him is that he signed here because of them, he was around them on the independents, he suffered with them, saw them get hated because they wouldn’t shake hands, knew them when they didn’t make any money doing this. He split appetizer samplers with them just to make sure everyone could eat. Then they turned in EVP’s who want to have a revolution and change the world. But it’s harder than you thought it was, and now you’re gonna whine and cry about it. Now they’ve joined up with Omega and the biggest carny piece of shit he’s ever seen in Don Callis, just because it got a little hard. They make him sick. He used to believe in them, and he doesn’t believe in a whole lot. The Bucks embarrassed him, Moxley, and the fans. They better understand that Kingston isn’t going anywhere else, this is his last stop in wrestling, so him being the way he is if they’re gonna treat the company like a joke they’re gonna have to tear his heart out. So fight them, and try. Kingston is such a great promo, this was understated in all the right ways and hit all the relevant notes. Seriously AEW, put the belt on him you cowards.

Match #5: Chuck Taylor w/ Trent?, Kris Statlander, and Orange Cassidy vs. Vary Morales

Taylor over powers Morales early, then they trade arm wringers and escapes. More mat wrestling, and Taylor lands a suplex at the end of the sequence. Back suplex from Taylor then Morales with some lucha style arm drags then a head scissor take over and a dive onto Taylor on the outside. Back in the ring Taylor lands a knee strike then the Awful Waffle to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Chuck Taylor won

Rating: Mammut. . . SQUASH

Usual stuff from Chuck Taylor, which is not a bad thing. We get the usual group hug post match.

Match #6: Leyla Hirsch vs. Dani Jordyn

They tie up, Hirsch easily out wrestles Jordyn. Jordyn goes to strikes to break up that and gets a little flurry including a suplex but only gets a 1 on the cover. Hirsch avoids a kick, avoids another but eats a diving European uppercut. German suplex from Hirsch then a running knee to the seated Jordyn for a near fall. Jordyn avoids an Angle slam, they trade elbow strikes, then Hirsch counters a blue thunder bomb attempt into a flying armbar and Jordyn has to tap.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Leyla Hirsch won

Rating: 1.5 stars

This was a little rougher than you’d think based purely on the write up, both struggled with timing and ring positioning a few times and a couple of the sequences seemed to be in slow motion. But Hirsch keeps coming along as a talent and is definitely someone to keep your eye on for the next few years.

Dasha gets to interview Ethan page and Scorpio Sky, they put each other over as winners, and stroke each others egos. They bring up how Scorpio heel hooked Sting and Page tossing Darby down some cement stairs. That sucks for Darby given his upcoming title defense against Miro. They wish Darby good luck, and promise they’ll be watching. It’s really not fair how quickly these two found their stride, they’ve got good rhythm and chemistry together, plus the mutual feedback loop of their egos build nicely. Until it inevitably explodes, but that’s for later.

Match #7: Matt Sydal vs. Manny Smith

They jaw jack early, then tie up with Sydal getting the better of some mat wrestling sequences. A lot of arm work now from Sydal, he’s just taking Smith to school before landing a kick to the back. Bow and arrow lock from Sydal then a double stomp to the back. Some body shots from Smith then a flying shoulder tackle. Sydal kicks Smith in the back of the head, hits a heel kick then a jumping leg drop. The Lightning Spiral follows and we’re done here.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Matt Sydal won

Rating: Hokkaido. . . SQUASH

Nice to see Sydal continue working his mat wrestling instead of just the high flying stuff, but I question the necessity of that match.

Match #8: Jade Cargill vs. Reka Tehaka

Jade with a knee to the body, Reka lands a headbutt but runs into a pop up Samoan drop. That’s just bad form, hitting a Samoan with a Samoan drop. Some strikes from Reka, but misses a pump kick then runs into a pump kick. Jade hits the Jaded (it’s a Glam Slam) and wins.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Jade Cargill won

Rating: Trombone. . . SQUASH

Exactly what you’d expect, Jade is a little rough around the edges still but stuff like this is what you need to work on smoothing those out.

Post match Mark Sterling, the most famous professional wrestling lawyer, is here to try and give free advice to Jade. He represented MJF and made him the highest paid athlete in AEW and thinks he can do the same for Jade. He gives her a sell job and asks for 30 minutes of her time in the back. She leaves with him to hear him out, Jade’s in the market for a manager and he’s just the latest suitor in that respect.

Match #9 – Tag Team Match: Dean Alexander and Dillon McQueen vs. Matt Hardy and Marq Quen w/ Isiah Kassidy

Quen is wrestling in his street clothes. Dillon and Quen start us off, Hardy tags in immediately and starts jaw jacking with Dillon. Quen with a cheap shot, as Hardy cheap shots Alexander. Side Effect from Hardy and he starts beating on Dillon. Quen tags in and hits a suspended splash. Dillon eats a drop kick, and here comes Hardy again. Hardy runs into a back elbow but Dillon can’t follow up. Sleeper hold from Hardy, Dillon counters with a jaw breaker. Quen tags in, and here comes Alexander as well. Alexander gets clubbed by Hardy and Quen hits a Pele kick. Hardy tags in, they send Alexander out of the ring then Quen with a springboard dive onto both of them. Back in the ring Hardy with the Leech to get the win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Matt Hardy and Marq Quen won

Rating: Turban. . . SQUASH

Exactly what you’d expect.

Match #10: Dr. Britt Baker w/ Rebel vs. Raychell Rose

They tie up, Baker getting the better of the mat wrestling. Rose is holding her own on the mat but just a step behind Baker before Rose escapes. They hit the ropes, Baker yanks Rose down by the hair. Spinning fisherman’s neckbreaker from Baker then she hits a running Curb Stomp to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Dr. Britt Baker won

Rating: Valenciano. . . SQUASH

Just a keep busy affair for Baker ahead of her title shot.

Match #11: Tay Conti vs. Madi Wrenkowski

Conti avoids some punches, lands a right then gets a takedown and starts working the leg. Madi gets to the ropes to break a straight ankle lock. Bit of a right from Madi, Conti takes her over into an armbar but Madi gets free and hangs up Conti on the top rope. Ax kick from Madi through the ropes but that just gets a 1 count. Conti comes out of the corner with a series of clotheslines, then a series of arm throws and a German suplex. Pump kick in the corner from Conti then a running kick in the corner and she sets Madi on the top rope. Up top and Conti with a senton to Madi as she was suspended in the corner, nasty looking spot. Madi comes back with an X-Factor for a 2 count. Conti with a spinning face buster, another pump kick then the DDTay to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Tay Conti won

Rating: Veltruska. . . SQUASH

They gave Madi a bit, I feel OK calling it a squash but they’re slowly giving Madi more and more in these spots.

Thunder Rosa in the back, she’s asked about her new finisher and acknowledges it’s called a Peruvian choke (necktie) but she calls it the Peruvian Callavera (I’m probably spelling that wrong) choke and she learned it doing a bit of MMA cross training. She’s been trying to round out her overall game recently. Asked about Britt Baker getting a title shot before her, she says her fight with Baker was unsanctioned it didn’t really impact the rankings, she says Baker earned the shot but whoever wins the title is going to have to face her soon. She also wants to get back the NWA Women’s title and can’t wait to be a double champion. Rosa’s a decent promo, and thankfully this one didn’t drag on.

Match #12 – Tag Team Match: Chaos Project (Luther and Serpentico) vs. Jurassic Express (Marko Stunt and Jungle Boy)

Jungle Boy and Luther start us off. Luther yells at the crowd for singing the Jurassic Express theme then kicks Jungle Boy down. Jungle Boy sends Luther into the ropes, we get a double blind tag and Stunt hits an enziguri then they double team Serpentico. Serpentico gets a side headlock then shoulder blocks Stunt down a few times. Springboard cross body from Stunt, then a less than ideal head scissors takeover. Both men avoid corner rushes then a diving bulldog from Stunt gets a 2 count. Jungle Boy tags in, they hit an inverted atomic drop and enziguri double team move. Stunt tags back in, and ges dropped onto Serpentico by Jungle Boy. Stunt tries to attack Luther, then runs into a tilt a whirl slam and Serpentico tags out. Luther over powers Stunt, then no sells a few drop kicks before hitting a stiff looking buckle bomb. Serpentico back in, and Luther tosses him into Stunt, before Serpentico tosses Luther into him. Stunt fights back out of a rear chin lock, but gets caught in a worlds strongest slam for a near fall. Luther back in and throws Stunt around, tags out and then slams Serpentico onto Stunt, then drop toe holds Serpentico onto Stunt. Again Luther tags in, and sends Stunt out of the ring before hitting Jungle Boy with a cheap shot. Serpentico gets sent over the barricade by Stunt, but back in the ring Luther kicks him down. Stunt eats a belly to belly suplex for a near fall. Serpentico tags in, climbs to the top rope and then gets launched by Luther but Stunt avoids it then tags out. Jungle Boy runs wild on both men, drops Serpentico with a brain buster but Luther saves the match. Luther hits an ugly looking high angle power bomb, Stunt kicks Luther out of the ring then dives onto him on the outside. Serpentico up top and hits a swanton bomb but only a 2 count. Jungle Boy lands a series of strikes, tags Stunt and they hit a double team move where Stunt comes in with a blockbuster as Jungle Boy has Serpentico on one shoulder then Jungle Boy deals with Luther while Stunt pins and wins.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Jurassic Express won

Rating: 2 stars

Mostly competent, though that powerbomb spot onto Jungle Boy was a little gnarly looking, and I’m not a big fan of Marko Stunt as a general rule.

In the back Britt Baker talks, mentioning that she spent more time lacing up her boots than wrestling. But that’s fine, because she’s finally getting her title shot. She hopes Shida is ready, because she sure is.

Match #13: Isiah Kassidy w/ Matt Hardy and Marq Quen vs. Alex Reynolds w/ John Silver and Colt Cabana

Much like Quen from earlier, Kassidy will be wrestling in his street clothes. Reynolds starts laying in strikes quickly to take over the early portion of the match. Snap suplex from Reynolds. Kassidy with a knee lift then kick but he gets dropped into the middle rope then Reynolds hits a running kick then a top rope cross body back in the ring. Reynolds gets his leg hung up on the top rope, then Kassidy sends him out of the ring. Hardy and Quen abuse Reynolds a little bit before he gets back into the ring. Kassidy in control now and working the lower back. Some elbows from Reynolds, then a kick to the face. Reynolds runs into a kick to the face then Kassidy sends Reynolds out of the ring. Kassidy drops the back of Reynolds across the guard rail, that had to suck. It takes Reynolds a bit but he gets back into the ring before the 10 count. They trade roll ups then Kassidy goes to a rear waist lock and tosses Reynolds into the corner. Reynolds lands a back elbow and starts landing rights. Some running elbows from Reynolds then a drop kick. A discus elbow, then modified tossing neckbreaker get a 2 count for Reynolds. Reynolds tries for a fireman’s carry but can’t support the weight after all the work to his lower back. Kassidy with a sling blade style backbreaker, but that only gets 2 again. Kassidy heads up top, but misses a diving leg drop. Reynolds with an O’Connor roll for a near fall, and Hardy trips him up, Kassidy with a small package for a 2 count. Kassidy with a kick, all four men argue on the outside as Reynolds rolls up Kassidy and gets the pin.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Alex Reynolds won

Rating: 2.5 stars

Perfectly average match, nice to see the Dark Order get a win as they’ve been on the losing end of this feud for so long it was becoming pointless to root for them.

Post match Hardy and Private Party beat everyone down. Hardy puts the Leech on Reynolds while Silver is held by Quen and Kassidy.

A video package hyping up Jon Moxley vs. Yuji Nagata follows that, it gives highlights of Moxley’s reign as NJPW US Title.

Match #14: Danny Limelight vs. Jon Moxley

They tie up, trading headlocks and escapes for a bit. Limelight with a roll up for 1. Moxley picks the ankle and then lets Limelight stand back up. Limelight goes after the arm, but Moxley sends him into the ropes and Limelight with an armdrag and drop kick. Moxley is annoyed, and hits a snapmare then a kick to the back. Suplex from Moxley then he goes after the arm of Limelight. Some kicks from Moxley, eventually Limelight catches one and they start trading elbows. A flurry of strikes from Moxley then a running clothesline. They head up to the top rope, Limelight shoves Moxley off then walks away on the second rope and hits a springboard double knee strike. Limelight avoids a clothesline, hits a pump kick then an elbow but Moxley returns that. They trade elbows again, Moxley gets the better of this but Limelight avoids a kick and lays in kicks to the leg then a jumping knee strike. Moxley heads out of the ring, but Limelight with a twisting dive onto him. Back into the ring, Moxley tries a German suplex but Limelight lands on his feet and hits an enziguri. Limelight up top and hits a blockbuster for a near fall. Moxley grabs a sleeper hold, but Limelight gets free quickly. Another jumping knee from Limelight, Moxley bits him to get free and hits a second rope Paradigm Shift to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Jon Moxley won

Rating: 3 stars

Soft 3 but it’s better than 2.5. Moxley gave Limelight a lot, and they pretty clearly like Limelight so giving him a chance to shine against one of their bigger names makes sense. That brings this episode to a close.

6.4

The final score: review Average

The 411

At nearly 2 hours this was pushing the limit of what this style of show can support, but they didn't quite cross over it. A few high points from this episode, Kingston's promo, Moxley and Limelight, and they're doing a decent job with the feud between the Hardy Family Office and Dark Order. All in all an average but trending towards good episode.