Winfree’s AEW Dark: Elevation (Ep. 85) Review 10.17.22

Hey there people, time for another jaunt to the land of Elevation. Tonight we’ve got Athena, Frankie Kazarian, Emi Sakura and Serena Deeb teaming up against Madison Rayne and Skye Blue, and a main event featuring The Gunns of the Firm among a few other matches. Looks squash heavy but who knows, we might be surprised. Ian Riccaboni, Paul Wight, and Matt Menard are on commentary.

Match #1 – Mixed Tag Team Match: Kip Sabian and Penelope Ford vs. Jessika Neri and Jeremy Profit

Ford and Neri start us off, Ford out wrestles Neri then tags in Sabian meaning Profit has to come in. Sabian with some misdirection attempts at a tie up, then he out wrestles Profit for a bit. They trade arm wringers and escapes before Sabian grabs a side headlock then they hit the ropes and Sabian lands a calf kick. Ford with a blind tag, then she gets to hit a handspring back elbow on Profit before Sabian tags back in for a modified cannonball senton in the corner. Sabian conducts the crowd for a bit then tries a Torture Rack Bomb but Profit counters with a roll up for a 2 count. Boot from Sabian, then Profit catches him in a dive and hits a spike DDT that I think was supposed to be a northern lights suplex. The ladies tag in and Neri runs wild for a bit before missing a clothesline and eating a Cutter. Profit tags in, eats a drop kick from Sabian then the Anarchist Suplex but Neri breaks up the pin. Sabian tosses Ford to hit a Codbreaker on Profit, then follows up with another Anarchist Suplex to get the win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Kip Sabian and Penelope Ford won in 3:58

Rating: Yellow Hubbard. . . SQUASH

Seems like the rust is finally fully gone for Sabian and Ford, this was smoothly executed based on what was presented.

Match #2: Frankie Kazarian vs. Matt Blackmon

Kazarian isn’t defending his Impact X-Division Title here. They tie up, then get into the corner where Blackmon misses a cheap shot only to eat arm drags then a chop. More chops from Kazarian then a running Russian leg sweep. Thumb to the eye from Blackmon then a drop kick, nice vertical leap there. Kick to the back from Blackmon, that mostly annoys Kazarian who fights back with chops. Kazarian lands a back kick then a clothesline, scoop slam then the springboard leg drop follows. Running knees to the back from Kazarian, then the Crossface Chicken Wing which gets the tap.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Frankie Kazarian won in 2:23

Rating: Calabaza. . . SQUASH

Blackmon didn’t look too bad here, he’s got a decent physique and some physical tools plus working someone like Frankie Kazarian can only be beneficial.

Match #3: Athena vs. Jody Threat

Pretty good reaction to Threat who’s a veteran of the area, and Threat attacks before the bell to take over. Strikes from Threat in the corner but she runs into a back elbow then gets floored by a forearm from Athena. The crowd is very pro Threat. More strikes from Athena then they hit the ropes and Threat hits a Michinoku Driver for a 1 count. Threat with some strikes then a suplex for another 1 count. Corner offense from Threat but she misses a charge and posts herself. Athena with a hurricanrana then some strikes to drop Threat and things break down as there’s some communication issues it looks like, and Athena lands some mounted strikes. Athena then hoists Threat up for a suplex, and just gordbusters her out of the ring and to the floor. That looked rough. On the floor Athena with a running shotgun dropkick to send Threat into the barricade. Back in the ring Threat avoids a kick then grabs a school boy for 2. Threat with some strikes, but Athena comes out of the corner with the Eclipse, then a kick and an Argentinian backbreaker into a Codebreaker to get the pin.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Athena won in 4:57

Rating: 2 stars

I appreciate them giving Threat some time to shine here, especially given the crowd reaction. Athena showing off her heel abilities, even a little bit like this, is a nice change of pace for her because she badly needs an actual character at this point. The sloppiness in the middle drops it just below average though.

Post match Athena and Threat share a hug.

Match #4 – Tag Team Match: The Butcher and The Blade w/ The Bunny vs. Voros Twins (Chris and Patrick)

Blade lays into Chris with strikes then a suplex. Bunny gets in a few cheap shots, the crowd pops for that. Butcher tags in and Chris takes some double team moves then Butcher tosses him into his corner and demands Patrick tag in. Patrick fires elbows, but Butcher cuts him off with a knee. Another knee from Butcher then a fireman’s carry and low running leg lariat. Blade tags back in, double suplex attempt but Patrick slips free and lands strikes to try and fight back but he runs into a double headbutt. Chris gets an assisted gutbuster, then Drag the Lake to Patrick and we’re done.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Blade and Butcher won in 2:37

Rating: Butternut. . . SQUASH

Delicious squash.

Before the next match Sonjay Dutt wants to talk. He wants to address the rumors that he and Lethal aren’t on the same page, he claims Lethal is the happiest he’s ever been and calls them a well oiled machine. He then says Singh and Lethal are going to kill these poor boys.

Match #5 – Tag Team Match: Jay Lethal and Satnam Singh w/ Sonjay Dutt vs. Junior Benito and Dylan Davis

Lethal and Benito start, then Lethal is called to tag out by Dutt and he does so. Singh is in, he no sells Benito then hits a high scoop slam. The usual big man stuff from Singh then he demands Davis tags in. Davis does tag in, and tries to strike with Singh but Singh again no sells, then grabs him by the throat and slams him onto the mat several times by the neck. Big boot to Benito, then a double suplex to Benito and Davis. Singh then hits a spinning release Razor’s Edge, but seems to forget that’s the finish because he hauls Davis up to club him back down then pin to win.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Jay Lethal and Satnam Singh won in 2:32

Rating: Shishigatani. . . SQUASH

Singh needs the reps (clearly), and Lethal continuing to be a little disgruntled with the association makes sense.

Match #6 – Tag Team Match: Emi Sakura and Serena Deeb vs. Madison Rayne and Skye Blue

Rayne and Emi start us off, Emi goes right to the strikes and tosses Rayne around. Chops in the corner from Emi, but Rayne avoids a splash and hits a snapmare then a low cross body. Deeb tags in now and tells Rayne to tag in Blue. Blue obliges and tags in. They tie up, and Deeb immediately out wrestles Blue and mocks her then mocks Rayne which allows Blue to get a 1 count on a roll up. Rayne tags in as Blue holds an arm wringer, then some tandem offense from Blue and Rayne. Emi comes in illegally and takes an enziguri from Blue. Blue tags back in and starts working the arm of Deeb, but Deeb fights back with chops and uppercuts. Some elbows from Blue but Emi trips her up on the ropes before Deeb lands a clothesline. Mounted punches from Deeb, then she tags in Emi. Emi scratches the back then hits a scoop slam and ties up Blue to sit on her back and drink some imaginary tea. Stomps from Emi then chops in the corner followed by the corner cross body. Deeb tags in now and hits a rolling neckbreaker for a 2 count. Emi back in and tries the double under hook backbreaker but Blue slips free and lands a super kick leading to both women tagging out. Rayne runs wild for a bit then Blue dives onto Emi on the floor. Rayne hits a Cutter in the ring but only a 2 count. On the floor Emi and blue have some issues, and Emi slams her onto the apron then that sets up a distraction to Rayne so Deeb to get the Serenity Lock for the tap out.

OFFICIAL RESULT: Emi Sakura and Serena Deeb won in 6:00

Rating: 2.5 stars

A few slightly clunky spots but mostly this was good solid tag team wrestling. Kudos to all four ladies, they all came to work.

Matt Menard with some references to how much he hates the Bollywood Boyz, given their history it makes sense.

Match #7 – Tag Team Match: The Firm’s Gunns (Austin and Colten Gunn) vs. Bollywood Boyz (Gurv and Harv)

Austin and Harv start us off, Harv out wrestles Austin with relative ease then tags in Gurv. Gurv attacks the arm of Austin, Harv tags back in and Austin runs away. Colten gets sent out of the ring, and Austin tries to beg off as Harv and Gurv dance. Cheap shot from Colten behind the refs back allows the Gunns to take over. Some corner work from Austin while commentary debates the filmography of Paul Wight (they’re partial to Jingle All The Way). Some tandem offense from the Gunns as Colten tags in. Colten grabs a chinlock, Austin tags in and Garv comes in and runs wild for a bit. Chops from Garv, but Colten makes a blind tag and then Austin hits a Fame-Asser but Colten pulls up on the cover leading to a 2 count. The Big Rig follows and ends things for the Gunns.

OFFICIAL RESULT: The Gunns won in 4:16

Rating: 2 stars

Austin still struggles to be a truly compelling worker, but his personality shines through while Colten has kind of the opposite problem as his work is pretty smooth but character wise he just kind of exists.

6.7

The final score: review Average

The 411

Pretty solid episode this week, nothing spectacular but some good overall mechanics. Ford and Sabian continue to get back into the groove, Athena showed off a more aggressive and heelish side, the main event was alright, honestly the highlight is probably Deeb and Emi vs. Blue and Rayne, or Butcher and Blade killing TikTok personalities. Ultimately average leaning towards good, and I rather like the interplay between Wight and Menard on commentary.