‘AEW: Dark’ Review (Apr 18th 2023)
Another week, another episode of AEW: Dark which this week features seven matches. Let’s see what went down…
Match #1: Juice Robinson def. Pat Buck
My Thoughts: Pat Buck, back in the ring? Yes, the man who’s spent most of the recent years behind the scenes in both AEW and previously WWE, gets in front of the camera for a match against Bullet Club Gold’s Juice Robinson and big things were, honestly, expected. Yet whilst it was a solid match it didn’t set the world on fire. Great opener for Dark though!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: The Renegades def. Kiah Dream & Brittany J
My Thoughts: What a surprise, the Renegades face enhancement talent and get a quick, decisive, squash match win. But when they’re the enhancement talent? The same happens to them! I get a steady job is good in the wider “indie” wrestling scene but surely the Renegades need something more than to repeat this cycle of wins and losses depending on which side of the talent coin they are by now in AEW?
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #3: Cole Karter def. Hunter James
My Thoughts: Everything I just said about the Renegades also applies to Cole Karter. Getting wins against enhancement talent and BEING the enhancement talent against bigger names… Seems like a booking issue to me. But hey, I’m not in charge, I’m just a mouth-breathing wrestling fan on the internet.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #4: The Iron Savages def. Jeeves Kay & Sonny Kiss
My Thoughts: I love seeing The Iron Savages in action, even if I do hate their “new” name. I was actually surprised that the duo got the win in this one as they tend to be booked as the losers in matches against more familiar, AEW, names – like Sonny Kiss But no, Bronsomn and Boulder picked up the win in a hard-hitting match that, along with the promo from them that aired on the show, this means bigger things for this tag team.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #5: Marina Shafir def. Dream Girl Ellie
My Thoughts: This was an interesting match. Shafir almost took a page out of Emi Sakura’s book and let Dream Girl Ellie get a real chance to showcase her skills and, in one particular segment, as Ellie landed a bunch of kicks on Shafir on the mat, managed to make her opponent look like she stood a chance. Of course Ellie didn’t this is Marina Shafir after all, who picked up the win in this AEW quasi-squash match.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #6: Jora Johl & Rohit Raju def. Ariel Levy & Jarrett Diaz
My Thoughts: Wow. AEW have dug Jora Johl out of the back of the proverbial wrestling cupboard to team with Rohit Raju. And whilst that – stereotypically speaking – looks like an obvious choice, the duo actually made for a decent, solid, tag team. Jora Johl certainly came out of this one looking better than he ever did as a Matt Hardy stooge. Johl and Raju really dominated this squash match!
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #7: Christopher Daniels def. Angelico
My Thoughts: So this episode opened with a wrestler known for more backstage work these days and ended with the same. Though Christopher Daniels is certainly a different breed of veteran, that’s for sure. Hell he gave Angelico a real run for his money in this one! Got to say, I love seeing Daniels work, even if it is just on AEW’s YouTube shows these days.
