‘AEW Dark: Elevation – Episode 92’ Review
Welcome back to another review of AEW Dark: Elevation, this week features more main roster names than usual and another 9-match card! We’ve got Tony Schiavone, Paul Wight, and Matt Menard on commentary, so let’s get into the review.
Match #1: Nick Comoroto def. Hagane Shinno
My Thoughts: Interesting to see Comoroto booked as a monster once again, with Shinno booked as the plucky underdog who could not get the big man down. That’s not to say Shinno didn’t put in the effort but it was like watching a fly trying to beatdown a bulldog! Comoroto spent a bit too much time playing to the crowd but still, this was an OK start to the show.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #2: Nyla Rose and Marina Shafir def. Kitty LaFleur and Alice Crowley
My Thoughts: Can you say squash match?! This was the usual Nyla/Shafir squash match with the pair demolishing the enhancement talent… Honestly, Kitty LaFleur and Alice Crowley neve stood a chance. Sidenote: was there some dissension amongst the ranks, with Nyla Rose seemingly taking issue with Vickie Guerrero at one point in the match.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #3: Kiera Hogan def. Nikki Victory
My Thoughts: Kiera Hogan turns babyface by leaving Jade Cargill’s “baddies” and immediately somehow becomes totally uninteresting – very much like she was when she first entered AEW. It’s unfortunate but I honestly think Hogan needs a tag partner or something to elevate her on the roster, otherwise she’s going to flounder on Dark and Elevation like a number of other AEW talents.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #4: Top Flight (Dante and Darius Martin) def. Truth Magnum and Turbo Floyd
My Thoughts: What’s not to love about a Top Flight match? Even when they’re squashing their opponents it’s one hell of an entertaining watch! Which certainly applies to this match. Plus it’s just great to see Top Flight TOGETHER as a team once more!
My Score: 1 out of 5 (still gets a squash match rating though!)
Match #5: Emi Sakura def. Madison Rayne
My Thoughts: Great match between two veteran talents and yes, Emi was the right winner for this one! Rayne has seemed a little out of place in AEW since signing with them, especially in singles matches (she’s great tagging with Skye Blue) but she’s found a great opponent in Sakura, as this match clearly demonstrates.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #6: Lee Moriarty def. Serpentico
My Thoughts: This felt like one of Serpentico’s more competitive matches because, yes, Serpentico can go when he’s allowed and isn’t participating in comedy matches and Lee Moriarty was a fantastic foil for him, especially in his more aggressive heel persona. A great match hidden away on Elevation, when we see worse on TV some weeks!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #7: Brian Cage and Gates of Agony (Bishop Kaun and Toa Liona) def. Dan Adams, Star Rider, and Facade
My Thoughts: This felt, come the end of the match, like one big set-up for an angle between Brian Cage and Gates of Agony and Dalton Castle and The Boys… Which is a shame because if I’d known this was just all for an angle I wouldn’t have bothered given that this was another squash! It was, however, funny to see how much the crowd were behind Dan Adams and NOT behind the established AEW talent. Says a lot about Cage and co. TBH (though I’m personally a huge fan of Kaun and Liona)
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #8: Kip Sabian def. Alex Reynolds
My Thoughts: It’s remarkable how Kip Sabian and Alex Reynolds have built this small feud through a few small actions on AEW’s YouTube shows and in the end we’ve got a decent match in this week’s show! The best match of the show (and yes, better the Takeshita’s – mainly because he faced Aaron Solo!).
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #9: Konosuke Takeshita def. Aaron Solo
My Thoughts: I love anything Konosuke Takeshita does in AEW. I’m a fanboy and I can’t help it. I hadn’t seen his work outside of AEW but in his brief first appearance for the company he left a massive good impression and that’s continuing now he’s signed to the promotion. Here he did great against Solo, even if it wasn’t up to the standard of his other matches IMHO.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3 /5
NOTE: I’m appreciating the storytelling that Ethan Page and Matt Hardy are bringing to AEW’s YouTube shows, even if I’m not invested in anything Matt Hardy os doing in the promotion. I think more stories need to be built this way going forward. Not only does it allow ACTUAL storytelling but it adds to the show too – it’s not just match after match, week after week, instead the audience has something to be invested in.
