AEW Dark: Elevation 4/17/2023 Episode 111

AEW Dark: Elevation 4/17/2023 Episode 111

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2023/04/aew-dark-elevation-4102023-episode-110.html

Maki Itoh vs Ashley D'Amboise

I believe Maki lipsynced during her performance. Maki shoulders her over then misses a falling headbutt. Ashley bangs Maki's head off the buckles and she no sells it, then bangs her own head off of it. Maki hits punches then misses a falling headbutt again. Ashley grabs her arm then takes her down with her leg. Ashley dropkicks her then Maki rebounds off the ropes and drops a headbutt on her.

Maki single leg crabs her then turns it into a texas cloverleaf and wins it.

This was short and there wasn't a lot to it before the finish. It was mostly just Maki getting her spots in.

Jericho Appreciation Society (Jake Hager, Matt Menard and Angelo Parker) vs Mike Magnum, Jack Tomlinson and Zack Clayton

Matt back elbows Jack then hits corner punches on him....as a heel. Magnum snapmares Parker then messes up his hair. Parker single leg dropkicks him. Magnum and Jack double team Hager but Hager suplexes both. Clayton gets in and clotheslines his two partners. Hager then slams Jack and Jack takes a double ddt from 2.0 for the loss.

This was just a short squash. Clayton turning on his partners was really weird since it happened on a Dark show and is unlikely to lead to more.

Matt Hardy and Isiah Kassidy vs Brett Gosselin and Bobby Orlando

Kass said he's here for a good time, not a long time. He then asks for a "huh yeah".

Kass headscissors Bobby then Matt did a 2nd rope elbow on Bobby's arm. Bobby takes a double back elbow then a senton + legdrop combo. Kass uses the bottom rope to stun Brett over the top rope. Kass hits corner punches then does a clothesline.

Orlando clubs Kass and gets Brett in. Brett takes a boot to the face and Matt gets in. Matt hits lariats and bangs Brett's head off the buckles. Matt hits a side effect on Bobby then Kass jumps off of Matt's back for a splash. Kass hits a top rope swanton on Brett and wins it.

This was another short squash. Not sure what rlse you could really say about it to be honest except Kass was acting goofy.

Emi Sakura vs Mizuki

This is Mizuki's AEW debut. Emi runs at her and takes her down. She hits punches then chops. Mizuki is thrown by the hair then takes a surfboard. Mizuki headscissors her into a roll-up then twisting crossbodies her off the 2nd rope. Mizuki dropkicks her throw the ropes then Emi tilt-a-whirl backbreakers her outside. Emi puts her against the steps and misses a crossbody. Mizuki top rope double stomps her on the floor then Mizuki hits her twisting crossbody. Mizuki rolls her up then Emi rolls her up for 2. Emi double underhooks her, Mizuki rolls her up then Mizuki is rolled up and pinned.

Mizuki loses on her debut in a stupid moment. Why bring her in just to lose? Nobody watches this show and Emi's never pushed as a threat. And despite having only 5 minutes, they did way too much here as Mizuki hit a top rope double stomp to the floor and it still wasn't enough to pin Emi.

Overall thoughts: Just 3 waste of time squashes and a stupid main event where Mizuki loses on her debut for no reason.

AEW Dark: Elevation 4/10/2023 Episode 110

AEW Dark: Elevation 4/10/2023 Episode 110

I saw everything but the intergender match.

Kip Sabian, The Butcher and The Blade vs Yuki Ueno, Shunma Katsumata and MAO

No entrance for the DDT crew and Big Show messed up their names.

Kip shoulders over Ueno then Ueno counters his hiptoss with an armdrag, but Kip counters that. Ueno shoulders him over and backrolls into a spinning headscissors. Mao and Butcher go at it. Mao tricks him and punches him then Ueno and Shunma hit hurricanrana's. Butcher is triple dropkicked off the apron then we get stereo tope con hilos with an asai moonsault. Shunma hits forearms on Butcher then takes a half-nelson backbreaker.

Shunma is powerslammed by Blade then Kip sentons Shunma in the corner. Big Show confuses Shunma for Mao then Kip misses a corner senton. Shunma superkicks and buzzsaw kicks Kip. Mao top rope kneedrops Kip then shotgun dropkicks him. Mao misses a corkscrew kick and twists out of a waistlock. Mao palm strikes Kip then is brainbustered.

Mao bridges out of a pin then corkscrew kicks Kip. Ueno gets in and sentons Blade in the corner then is powerbombed down. Ueno is suplexed into a powerbomb but hurricanrana's out of it then hits a nice dropkick on Blade. Butcher hits a nasty crossbody on Shunma then Mao 450's Butcher. Everyone hits stuff and Blade hits a spinning neckbreaker on Ueno. Kip arabian moonsaults Ueno and Mao then Shunma takes a suplex into a ddt for the Blade, Butcher and Kip win.

I have no idea why the DDT crew were jobbed out here. Losing is the specialty of Butcher and Blade. Combined with the DDT crew getting no entrance it really made them look like total jobbers when they are all better than these guys. Tony loves to job people out on their debuts and this is just another example of it.

Dark Order (Alex Reynolds, John Silver and Evil Uno) vs Aaron Rourke, Alvin Alverez and Brother Greatness

Alvin's name is not spelled wrong.

Uno facekicks Brother to start then throws him into the buckles. Uno hits a short arm clothesline then Brother takes a double shoulderblock. Silver delay suplexes Brother for 2. silver puts Rourke and Brother on his back and samoan drops both. Alvin takes a boot to the face then Rourke kicks him in the face.

Brother does the sign of the cross as he hits Silver then Alvin slams Silver. Silver wheelbarrow suplexes Rourke then Alex running euros Rourke. Alex spinning forearms Rourke then topes Alvin outside. Alvin pop up knees Rourke then double underhook powerbombs Rourke. Uno running neckbreakers Alvin then Brother takes a double chop and is raised and thrown over with help from Silver. Rourke takes a combo that ends in a german and is pinned.

This was a squash that just went too long. 

Lee Moriarty and Big Bill vs Rex Lawless and Traxx

Rex has too good of a look to be here. tRaxx is wearing a single and shoes with padding around the ankles. Lee grabs the head of Traxx and Traxx shoulders him. Traxx measures him up then Bill gets in. Bill knees him in the gut and clubs his back.

Traxx is thrown hard into the buckles then takes a double knee and a Bill corner splash. Lee hits Traxx with knees to the gut then does a weird twisting elbow drop. Lee facekicks Rex then Traxx hits a nice punch on Lee. Rex catches Lee and rams him into Bill. Rex jumping back elbows Bill then is splashed by him. Bill then hits a big boot to the face and a chokeslam to win it.

It was a short squash but Rex and Traxx didn't look too bad at all here. I have no idea why Rex did the job instead of Traxx, except that Tony is the worst big man booker ever. Someone sign Rex and get him out of here. 

Overall thoughts: I saw 3 of the 4 matches and Tony still managed to make me scratch my head with them. Why have the DDT crew lose in their debut to Butcher and Blade? Those two always lose and this would make no difference. And why have Rex Lawless take the pin? This wasn't good.

AEW Dark: Elevation #81 9/19/2022

AEW Dark: Elevation #81 9/19/2022

Zack Clayton vs Conan Lycan

Two decent sized guys here for a change. Conan's last name is weird but he's wide. Conan poses on the 2nd rope and is hit in the legs and goes down. Zack hits a corner euro. Conona hits some shots thne a running back elbow and lariat. Zack avoids a corner spear and Conan goes hard into the post then is thrown over Zack's shoulder.

Conan gets choked with the ropes then suplexed. Zach knee drops him then catches him off the 2nd rope with a powerslam. Zack chinlocks him and Conan rolls over the back and spinebusters him. Conan goes up top for a 450 but Zack moves. Zack racks him and does a weird F-5 seated drop to win it.

This was fun and wasn't a total squash with two bigger guys.

Private Party vs Aggro and Danger Kid

Kid has purple and pink hair tied up and really has quite the unusual look. Quen takes a big back body drop to start things then Kassidy takes an enzugiri then lariat combo. Quen springboard splashes Kid then Kid takes a neckbreaker + facestomp combo. Matt Menard calls Aggro Prince Iaukea. Quen slingshot elbow drops Kid then Kassidy slingshot sentons Kid.

Kid takes a hard quen kick to the face then Kassidy pounds on Kid when the ref is distracted. Quen dropkicks Kid in the back of the head and Kid upkicks Quen. Aggro gets in and dropkicks Quen off the apron and pump kicks Kassidy. Aggro top rope dropkicks Kassidy and is armdragged off a uranage attempt. Quen jumps off of Kass's back and splashes Aggro in the corner, then tope con hilos outside. Aggro then takes a gin and juice and is pinned.

Mostly a squash here. I thought PP looked good with what they got to do and Aggro/Kid have no future together as a team. Kid just looks like the indiest guy ever. 

Skye Blue vs Chica Carreras

Chica gut kicks her early then Skye shoulders her over. Sky cartwheels over her then rolls her and cartwheels into a kick on her. Chica forearms her and chops her in the corner. Chica then cartwheels into a dropkick, which Menard complains about saying, "Do we really need the cartwheel?". Skye enzugiri's her then side dropkicks her in the head.

Skye superkicks her and does a real good one then lifts her out of the full nelson and twists her down into a drop to win it.

This was short. This wasn't the best of either girl and Chica's kind of green.

Dalton Castle and The Boys vs Bouji, Rick Recon and Omar

Castle's crew was marked as the ROH 6 man tag champs here, so that title is still a thing. Dalton had a nice entrance. I love Rick Recon's name.

Dalton trips Rick and they miss corner lariats on each other. Dalton suplexes him. Omar gets in and goes after The Boys. Brandon and Brent hit a springboard back elbow then one is hiptossed onto Omar. Bouji does a corkscrew pele kick then is dropkicked off a double team. Dalton gets the hot tag in and gets shots on all 3 opponents then does a great suplex on Bouji. Rick is thrown out and Omar takes a german on his neck. One of the Boys is thrown on Omar then Brandon is thrown on Bouji. The Boys are thrown on opponents again then Dalton does a bangarang to win it.

This was all squash here and was entertaining with the Boys being thrown around and Dalton hitting nice suplexes.

Jora Johl vs Frankie Kazarian

I think we have about 13 minutes left and this is one of the last 3 matches, so something's going to have to be short.

Jora hits some shots early then takes a springboard back elbow. Kaz lariats him over the top and chops him outside. Kaz springboard legdrops him then is caught with a cradle shock off a leapfrog. Jora spinning brainbusters him and they say he has the best biceps since Gary Strydom of the WBF.

Kaz goes up and over in the corner and rolls him up then takes a superkick. Jora double underhook backbreakers him and misses a pump kick. Kaz hits a double chop and a spinning heel kick then a flying forearm. They do some messy roll into a crossface chickenwing and Kaz gets the win.

Not bad but Kaz took a little too much here before getting the win. They did botch the finish here.

Mascara Dorada vs Serpentico

Dorada handsprings into a backflip and is kicked in the gut. Dorada hits a boot to the face and a reverse sling blade. Dorada walks the ropes and dropkicks him off the 2nd rope. Serp hits a forearm and slides under him. Dorada then asai moonsaults him outside. Dorada walks the top rope into a springboard swanton for 2.

Serp superkicks him and STO's him. Dorada superkicks him then cradle shocks him for the win.

It was short but Dorada looked good. Dorada didn't get to do all of his best stuff here but it was good to see him outside of WWE.

The Butcher and The Blade vs Liam Davis and Mike Anthony

Butcher locks up with Liam I think and beats him up in the corner. Butcher pumphandle suplexes him then Liam hits forearms on Blade. Blade lariats him then suplexes him. B&B then hit a cool double headbutt, double shoulder and double chop. B&B stomp on them in the corners. Butcher short arm lariats Mike then short arm forearms Liam. B&B suplex + neckbreaker combo Liam onto his partner and win it.

B&B were quite aggressive here and made for a short but interesting squash.

Overall thoughts: It really wasn't a bad hour of wrestling. Mostly squashes and short matches as you expect but they were entertaining for the most part.

AEW Dark: Elevation 9/5/2022

AEW Dark: Elevation 9/5/2022

I saw 5 of the 6 matches:

Julia Hart vs Alice Crowley

Hart grabs the hair early and takes double chops. Hart pulls her down backwards then standing moonsaults her for 1. Hart superkicks her and pounds on her in the corner. Hart hits another superkick and lariats her in the back of the neck. Hart then does a rings of saturn variation and wins it in a quick squash.

Josh Woods and Tony Nese vs Jordan Kross and Renny D

Nese poses early then hits a kick and legsweep combo on Kross. Nese hits a running lariat in the corner then Woods does pendulum knees in the corner. Nese drags Kross' throat over the top and Kross is german'd. Nese then topes Renny outside. Woods and Neese hit a combo olympic slam  + neckbreaker to win in another quick squash.

Nikki Victory vs Serena Deeb

Deeb misses a charge in the corner and takes some shots iwht her jacket on. Nikki top rope crossbodies her and Deeb rolls out. Nikki dropkicks her through the ropes. Back in and Nikki is dragon screwed through the ropes multiple times. Deeb spinning neckbreakers her for 2 with her jacket still on. Deeb finally takes the jacket off and boots her around. Deeb rubs her head in the mat then pulls on her mouth off the indian deathlock.

Deeb face shoves her around then short arm lariats her. Deeb sits on her shoulders and double reverse armbars her to win it.

Nikki got a surprising amount in before her eventual doom here.

Private Party vs Brandon Gore and JDX

JDX takes a shot from behind early then takes a double back elbow into a splash + legdrop. Gore hits lariats on Kassidy then takes a top rope dropkick from Quen. PP hits the silly string and Kass tornado ddt's JDX. Matt Hardy comes out then PP hits the gin n juice on Gore for the quick win.

I'm not sure what the Matt Hardy stuff is about. It wasn't a great combo and I don't know why they'd want to revisit it.

Skye Blue vs Diamante

Skye gets a chant early as they are in Chicago. Skye takes her down then Dia rolls and kips up out of a wristlock. Dia spears Skye on the apron then sliding dropkicks her off to the floor. Dia elbow drops her then puts some knees into her back. Dia back elbows her in the corner then misses a dropkick.

They trade forearms and Skye forearm flurries her. Skye spinning headscissors her then dropkicks her to the side of the head for 2. Dia germans her then holds on for another. Dia then hits a 3rd for 2. Skye superkicks her then hits some weird drop on her chest from the full nelson position to win.

This was short. It wasn't particularly special or anything and there wasn't much to it but Skye's very small trunks.

Overall thoughts: It's Elevation. It's rarely ever anything but squashes and that's all this was for the majority of it. I wouldn't recommend this one.

AEW Dark: Elevation Episode #77 8/22/2022

AEW Dark: Elevation Episode #77 8/22/2022

Anna Jay vs Nikki Victory

Anna side headlocks her and shoulders her over. She stomps on her and running euros her. Nikki gets some chest clubs in and is pounded on. Anna running spinning high kicks her in the corner. Anna hits a sidekick and wins with a grounded choke in a little over a minute.

This was a total waste of time that accomplished nothing. Nikki's decent looking.

Dante Martin vs Jackson Drake

Dante offers to shake hands. Drake accepts and tries to nail him. Dante rolls out of a shot, jumps over him and armdrags him. Drake pump kicks him then fisherman suplexes him for 2. Dante suplexes him then running forearms him. Dante flips from one apron corner to the other then top rope crossbodies him for 2. Dante flips off the bottom rope then does a half-nelson side slam and wins it.

This was another short and pointless squash that didn't help either person. Dante's finisher was unique and Drake got seriously busted open here somehow. 

Serena Deeb vs Megan Meyers

MM has some gothic thing going on with a mini skirt. Deeb full-nelsons her and slaps her in the back of the head. MM rolls out of a wristlock then Deeb escapes her wristlock. Deeb headlock side takeovers her then ties up her legs and pulls on her mouth. Deeb slaps her around and MM comes back with forearms. Deeb then lariats her and hits chops. Deeb puts one of her legs over the middle rope and dragon screws the other leg. Deeb then twisting neckbreakers her and puts her in the tequila sunrise to win it.

Another quick squash. MM got to do a little here and looked okay doing it.

The Dark Order (Alex Reynolds, John Silver & Ten) (w/Evil Uno) vs. Alexander Apollo, D'Mone Solavino & RC Dupree

Silver headlocks RC then shoulders him over. Silver gorilla presses him and throws him neck first on the top rope. He then hits a running euro. RC takes a double hiptoss, then they just throw him back instead of dropping him. 10 hits a delayed suplex on RC and Apollo gets in. Apollo is immediately lariated by Alex then Alex kind of M. Bison stomps his back as he is bent over. Dmone pounds on Alex then RC runs into Alex's boot. 10 comes in and lariats RC and Apollo then running chest kicks RC. 10 pump kicks RC and backdrops Apollo. 10 spinebusters Dmone. RC takes a big sequence of moves from Silver and Alex and is whipped into a 10 spinning forearm.

Another quick one here which didn't do much for anyone. D'Mone maybe was involved in 2-3 moves tops.

Julia Hart vs Hayley Shadows

Hayley looks like she could be hanging with the House of Black. Nobody moves to start and Hart walks slowly into a face kick on her. Hart pounds on her in the corner and makes evil faces. Hayley then pounds on her with forearms. Hayley tries to go up and over but no one is there then Hart criss-crosses her and lariats her.

Hart forward cartwheels into a body press the running back elbows her. Hayley rolls her up for 2 then is superkicked. Hart then does an interesting rings of saturn variation and wins it.

The up and over part was weird, but Hayley looks like maybe there is osmething there if she loses some weight. Hart's new gimmick is at least something.

Andrea Guercio & Logan James vs. Josh Woods & Tony Nese (w/Mark Sterling)

Andrea's definitely doing an italian gimmick. Nese poses early out of a waistlock and kicks James in the knee. James is whipped hard into the buckles then Nese slams him. Josh does a neat back body drop from the side on James then running knees him. Andrea gets in and does some funny looking kicks then is knee'd in the gut. Woods gutwrench bombs him for 2 as James breaks it up. James takes a stiff forearm from Nese and is lariated over the top then Nese plancha's him. Josh and Nese do an olympic slam + neckbreaker combo on Andrea and win it.

I'm really not a fan of Josh's gear. It just doesn't fit what he's doing. The finisher here was cool, but it was another shorter match.

Dean Alexander, Jake Manning & Rosario Grillo vs. Death Triangle (PAC, Penta El Zero Miedo & Rey Fenix) (w/Alex Abrahantes)

I thought Dean had potential like 2 years ago. He still hasn't done squat since.

Pac wristlocks Jake then rolls and headflips out of his wristlock. He armdrags him and slams him. Penta dropkicks Jake low form the top and Jake does a nice sell for it. Penta sling blades Dean then Dead is sandwich superkicked by the Lucha Bros. Penta rolls Fenix onto Dean and Jake is thrown out. Grillo takes a rebound into a hook kick from Fenix. Pac hits gut kicks on Grillo and running side facekicks him. Penta package piledrivers Grillo and wins it.

This was yet again another short and pointless squash.

Emi Sakura & Maki Itoh vs Hikaru Shida & Skye Blue

Shida and Blue are attacked as they enter. Itoh hits one of them with a microphone then tries to do it to Shida. Shida punches her and hurts her hand on Itoh's head. Itoh misses the side headbutt then Blue hits a nice forearm on Emi. Emi mongolian chops Blue then hair throws her. Emi does her stupid we will rock you thing then crossbodies her in the corner. Itoh stomps on Blue and makes faces as she has her in the camel clutch position. She cranks back on the chinlock then Blue step up enzugiri's her.

Shida gets the hot tag in and runs over Itoh. Shida forearms her then corner punches her. Shida delay suplexes Itoh then Shida and Emi fight on the ropes. Itoh headbutts Shida in the back of the head then does her kokeshi falling headbutt. Emi hits knees on Shida and Shida forearms her. Emi running knees her then Shida axe kicks her and brazilian kicks her. Shida hurricanrana's her then Blue forearm flurries Itoh. Itoh no sells getting her head banged off the buckles then bangs her own head off them. Blue swinging kicks her from the mat and Itoh headbutts her.

Blue is dropped on Itoh's knee then Emi does an elevated spinning pedigree. Shida 2nd rope meteora's her then Blue hits a swinging neckbreaker. Emi lariats blue then is nailed by Shida. Emi backdrops Shida then Blue rolls up Emi. Blue accidentally superkicks her own partner then Itoh diving ddt's Shida. Emi tilt-a-whirl backbreakers Blue then Emi lifts her up like a pyramid driver and spins her for the win.

Shida hits Emi after and they grab each other by the hair. They butt heads and Emi motions that she wants her WAVE title.

This was a lot better than anything else on the show. It was quick and stiff and was the best Shida looked and even put Blue over some. Good stuff.

Overall thoughts: It was a one match show with the main event being decent and the rest being a total waste of time that helped nobody.

AEW Dark: Elevation 7/11/2022 Episode 71

AEW Dark: Elevation 7/11/2022 Episode 71

Emi Sakura vs Paris Van Dale

This is the first time I've seen Emi in a long time. Emi grabs her by the hair early and throws her. PVD has some horrible green gear on. Emi does a bad paradise lock on her and sits on her back. She then pretends to drink tea and the ref plays along with it like an idiot. PVD hits chest forearms and facebusters her. PVD bulldogs her for 2.

Emi bites her hand and does a spinning neckbreaker. Emi crossbodies her in the corner then does a pyramid driver into a spinning backbreaker over the knee.

This wasn't good and I don't know why Emi is with the company.

Dante Martin vs JD Drake

JD throws and shoulders him down early. Dante kips up and hops on his back. Dante backflips off of his back and twisting springboard armdrags him. Dante the dropkicks him. Dante goes for a dive, JD walks out and Dante follows. JD then throws him into the ropes from the outside and lariats him. JD slams and headbutts him.

Dante is chopped and fires up out of the corner. He is then kicked and takes a wild release saito suplex. JD chinlocks him. Dante dives on him in the corner and JD catches him with a slam. JD misses a uranage. They play around on the buckles then Dante top rope crossbodies him. Dante flips off the bottom rope and JD flying kicks him. Dante springboards off the bottom rope with a dropkick then Dante does his double jump springboard moonsault to win.

This wasn't bad early, but Dante's flips just got silly here after a while.

Julia Hart vs JC

JC's kind of cute though she could lose a few pounds. Julia yells "boo" and she falls over early. Julia chokes her and pushes the ref then JC hits some chest clubs. JC hits a nice forearm then Julia hits something like a superkick. Julia then climbs on her chest and chokes and pounds on her. Julia then does an elevated rings of saturn and wins in a quick squash.

Ethan Page vs Colin Delaney

Getting old is tough. Colin used to be a tiny dude with long hair and is now bigger with less hair. Colin waistlocks him and hits an armdrag. Colin hits another one then Page eye pokes him and shoulders him over. Page pounds on him and does a jumping stomp. Page then knocks him over with a forearm and running forearms him. Page then pounds on him. Page delay suplexes him.

Page misses a corner splash then Colin hits chops and forearms. Page elbows him out then Colin eye pokes him. Colin then cutters him off the 2nd rope for 2. Page hits an iconoslam and a razor's edge for the win.

This was just a squash with Page using heel tactics. This didn't do much for either guy.

Anna Jay vs Shawna Reed

Anthony Ogogo is on commentary here. Reed bangs her head off the mat then Anna does the same. Anna puts her leg over Reed's arm and kicks her, then is whipped into the bottom rope. Reed hits chest forearms then takes back elbows. Anna flying forearms her then running spin kicks her in the corner. Anna then rolls into a face kick in the corner.

Anna kicks her in the gut then spins her into a grounded sleeper for the quick win.

This was a waste of time that didn't do anything for anybody.

The Factory (QT Marshall and Aaron Solo) vs Best Friends (Chuck Taylor and Trent Beretta)

Oh wow, 2 of my least favorite AEW wrestles here in Chuck Taylor and QT. I'm sure I will love this. Chuck rolls up Solo out of an armdrag and rolls it into a single leg crab. Trent and QT get in and Trent flapjacks QT. QT gets beaten up by the faces then the faces do a double back elbow into a double elbow drop. Best Friend's dosey-do and then suplex QT onto Solo. Solo stops their hugging spot thankfully.

QT bangs Trent's head off the middle buckle then Nick Comoroto bangs Trent's head off the apron outside. Solo knee drops Trent and QT cheapshots Chuck on the apron. Trent hits a big lariat on QT. QT holds up Trent in a backdrop and Solo neckbreakers Trent. The Factory then hugs. Trent dropkicks off of Solo and tornado ddt's QT.

Chuck gets the hot tag in, facekicks Solo then hits a knee on QT. Chuck then tope con hilo's both opponents outside. Solo takes a soul foot into a half nelson suplex. Solo handsprings into the ropes and hits a back enzugiri on Trent. Trent does some twisting crossbody off the 2nd buckle and is caught with a cutter. Nick throws Chuck into the post outside then Trent takes an enzugiri into a piledriver for 2. Solo goes up top and Chuck pushes him off the top. Nick grabs Chuck but Chuck pushes him into the post. QT misses a plancha then Solo takes a peach sunrise + top rope double stomp combo for the Best Friends win.

This wasn't that interesting. Lots of interference here. 

Overall thoughts: This show was pretty much a waste of time. They had a bunch of short squashes and a couple of matches with some underneath guys that weren't great.

AEW Dark: Elevation #64 5/18/2022

AEW Dark: Elevation #64 5/18/2022

Ethan Page vs JD Griffey

JD does an MMA gimmick and is a little taller and thinner than Page. Page is on some steroids and looks bigger than usual, for the better. Page back elbows him  then JD comes back with a punch flurry. JD flying punches him then takes a nice iconoslam. Page mounts and pounds him. Jd hits a nice jumping knee then takes a big shoulder. Page then hits a razor's edge for the win.

This was the best thing I've seen Page in after some time and I liked this one. Page looked good here. JD also does some fun bumps and just moves differently than most wrestlers.

ROH Women's Title - Mercedez Martinez vs Hyan

I've never seen Hyan before and wanted to see what she was all about.

Hyan cartwheels out of a wristlock then MM lariats her. Hyan drops down and MM drops down and headlocks her in a cool spot. Hyan drops back to get out of a headlock then gets her armdragged blocked. Hyan armdrags her and hiptosses her. She hits a single leg dropkick then MM hits forearms and chops on her. MM spinebusters her for 2.

MM butterfly suplexes her twice then they botch something. MM pounds on her and pushes MM into the buckles. Hyan running knees her as she is down then falcon arrows her for 2. Hyan charges at her and gets rammed into the post. MM lariats her in the back of the head which Mark Henry pops for. MM then hits a running forearm to the back of the head then surfboard dragon sleepers her to win.

Hyan needs to drop some weight and needs some other work, but she wasn't a bad babyface here.

The Varsity Blondes vs The Butcher and The Blade

Butcher has sunglasses and a leather jacket on here and looks pretty cool. The Blondes haven't done squat lately and AEW has misued them. Griff hits a nice leapfrog and a hard boot to the face. Butcher runs him over then Griff flying shoulders him.

Brian gets in and hits some armdrags on Blade, then hits la magistral for 2. Griff holds up Blade for a Pillman dropkick. Mark and Big Show over whether Pillman has the hops or the bunnies then Blade spinning neckbreakers Brian. Mark then says B&B should be the villains in a Home Alone remake. Brian then takes a PK/diving lariat combo.

Butcher and Brian try to crossbody each other at the same time and collide hard in air. Griff gets the hot tag in and beats up on Blade. Griff hits his splash in the corner then high back body drops him. Griff then falcon arrows him for 2. Griff hits a stiff lariat on Blade then Brian hits a nice superkick on Butcher.

Brian accidentally superkicks his partner then Griff takes a powerbomb + neckbreaker combo. Butcher and Blade win.

This was a short but fun match with some stiff shots in it.

Lee Moriarty vs Alex Reynolds

Lee does a nice escape out of a headlock early then Alex shoulders him over. Alex hits a nice dropkick then counters his headlock with a backdrop. Lee back elbows him then hits an underhook suplex. He pounds on him with forearms then Alex hits some forearms on him. Alex running face kicks him then misses a moonsault. Lee bangs Alex's head off the mat and wins with a border city stretch in a surprise ending.

There wasn't too much to this. It was short and they didn't get to do much before it ended.

Mysterious Q vs Anthony Ogogo

Q wears a Hayabusa mask with no cover over the eyes. Ogogo headlock takeovers him then Ogogo hits some knees to the gut. Q comes back with a big body slam and a nice jumping elbow. Ogogo then lariats him.

Ogogo takes off a hand wrap then hits a nice overhead belly to belly. Ogogo lariats him and takes off the other hand wrap. Ogogo then pops him up and punches him. He puts the British flag over him and Ogogo wins by knockout.

This wasn't anything special and was a short squash. Q did okay in the few moves he got in.

Overall thoughts: I saw 5 of the 6 matches here: The men's tag wasn't bad and I liked the Page squash.

AEW Elevation 5/30/2022

AEW Elevation 5/30/2022

Ryan Nemeth vs Konosuke Takeshita

Nemeth hits him from behind early. He hits a chop and dances then KT takes him down with a chop. KT springboard dropkicks Ryan then deadlift brainbusters him for 2. Ryan eye rakes him and dropkicks him. Ryan hammerlocks him and headstands for it then pulls on his face. Ryan then backdrops him for 2.

KT runs the ropes and flying clotheslines him then he hits a nice blue thunder for 2. Ryan side steps a knee then hits a nice ddt for 2. KT hits a nice lariat and a hard forearm. Peter Avalon pulls on KT's leg from the outside then Ryan accidentally hits Peter. KT then hits a jumping knee on him and wins it.

There wasn't anything wrong with this. It wasn't great or anything but both guys brought something here in this shorter length match.

 

ROH Women's Championship Match: Mercedes Martinez(c) vs Mazzerati

Mazz won't shake her hand and gets in her face. MM takes her down and gives her a noogie. Big Show says that she might "scrap the pink off" of Mazz's pink hair. Mazz spins out of an armlock then does jumping jacks. She then acts cocky on the apron and is hit then delayed suplexed in.

Mazz misses some head kicks and Mazz hits a short ddt on her. Mazz then chokes her around the middle rope with her legs. Mazz snap suplexes her then takes a crackerjack suplex. Mazz pump kicks her for 2 and chinlocks her. Mazz gets on her back wit hit and misses a knee in the corner. MM comes back with lariats and a back elbow. MM then hits a running facekick and dropkicks her face in the corner. MM hits a spinebuster for 2

Mazz gets caught on a springboard and is suplexed onto the rope, where she flips forward. MM falling forearms her in the back of the neck then does a surfboard with a dragon sleeper to win it.

This wasn't too bad. I thought Mazzerati was an effective heel here and showed some personality. MM was okay as a face here but not great.

Overall thoughts: This went a grand total of about 20 minutes. Both matches were okay here but not must see.

AEW Dark: Elevation Episode 8 5/2/2021

AEW Dark: Elevation Episode 8 5/2/2021

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2021/05/aew-dark-elevation-episode-7-4262021.html

Miro vs Will Allday

Miro throws off Will to start. Will tries to fight back with shots but is knocked down with just one and hits a dropkick. Will tries to splash him in the corner but is caught and takes a belly to belly. Will gets thrown into the buckles hard and takes some knees. Miro has visible grey hair and misses a corner splash.

Will topes Miro on the outside but is pushed back on it and takes a weird landing on his back. Will puts Miro into the post and comes off the top in the ring into a superkick. Miro then wins with the camel clutch in a match that went longer than it needed to. 

Abadon vs Ryo Mizunami

This match should not be happening. Abadon shouldn't take bumps or look weak and Ryo shouldn't be losing here.

Ryo runs her over early and then Abadon scares her out. Ryo does her awful machine gun chops and Abadon bites her arm. Abadon bangs Ryo's head off the mat multiple times. Ryo is sat on the mat and Abadon crossbodies her from that position. Ryo hits some combo forearms and drops her with a lariat, then lariats her against the ropes and she falls over again.

Ryo leg lariats her from behind then lariats her down again later. She goes to the corner and gets a big lariat back from Abadon. Ryo hits a high uranage on her then spears her. She misses a leg drop from the top. Abadon then hits the cemetary driver/gory special neckbreaker for the win.

Abadon took way too much offense here, doing tons of bumping when characters like hers should never be bumping. Her gear is also too revealing for the type of character she is portraying. 

Jon Moxley vs Andrew Palace

Mox hits some shoulders early and does snow angles on the ramp after one. Mox pounds on AP a bit and AP hits a hard backdrop on Mox's head. Mox comes back through with a pile driver and a choke for the win.

10 vs D3

10 drops D3 with a forearm early. D3 then is caught with a rope-assisted wheelbarrow german suplex. D3 then takes a delayed vertical suplex and some clotheslines. D3 is caught with a spinebuster and is put in the full nelson for the quick 10 squash win.

Orange Cassidy vs VSK

VSK thankfully tries to stop OC's pockets stuff early. Somehow OC pulls down VSK's wrists to walk on his back which wasn't believeable. VSK goes for something like an F5 but is brought down with a DDT. VSK blocks an orange punch attempt but takes a beach break right after and loses in a quick squash.

FTR vs The Hughes Brothers

The HB's seem like they have new red and black gear. Cash rides one of the HB's early and rubs his face in the mat. Terell takes a double headbutt. One of the brother tries to climb on the other's back but screws up and does a lame headbutt from it. The other brother then gets a guh punch combo by Dax in the corner.

Terrence blocks a Cash suplex and gives him one of his own then both tag out. Terrell hits some lariats and backdrops Dax, then powerslams Cash. One of the brothers takes a spike piledriver and FTR wins it. The Hughes Brothers still have some work to do but Terrence has some signs of potential.

There's a Madi Wrenkowski match that I'll be skipping thanks to her male opponent. Please get Madi out of this feud, thank you.

Nick Comorto vs Baron Black

Nick hits some big forearms early and Black does this unique slide on the mat after getting his head banged off the buckles. Nick then throws Black.

Black gets a couple of shots in and takes a back elbow. Black spin chops Nick and takes a knee to the gut after. Nick then hits a very hard powerbomb in a decent squash. Black deserves better though.

Red Velvet vs Reka Tehaka

Reka is from America Samoa. She mocks Red by doing her taunt early. Red hits some single leg dropkicks and punch combos her in the gut. Reka hangs her on the top rope and pump kicks her down. Reka hits a samoan drop with no meat behind it at all.

Reka misses a charge in the corner and takes some running lariats. Red double knees her against the ropes and standing moonsaults her. Reka hits a cool headbutt but Red comes back with a spin kick to the face and wins it. It was fine for what it was.

Private Party vs Duke Davis and Ganon Jones

They said Due and Jones are 6'5 and are from Pittsburgh and they do look quite tall. Kassidy slaps Duke and gets punched back. PP takes cheap shots at their opponents and Kassidy dropkicks Duke through the ropes. Quen then flip dives onto him.

PP double teams Duke. Jones gets in and fights off both then does a corkscrew swanton onto both opponents. Quen does a springboard sunset flip on Jones and wins it. Hardy held Duke's foot to stop him from interrupting the count, though it wasn't clear. It's probably just a matter of time until Duke and Jones get signed.

Willow Nightingale vs Thunder Rosa

Rosa trips her and puts her into something like an STF before Willow gets out. Rosa takes over and chops her hard in the corner. Willow hits a big face kick then cartwheels into a superkick on Rosa.

Rosa lariats her in the corner and goes through the ropes then pendulum knees her. She then dropkicks her hard as she lays against the bottom rope. Rosa neckbreakers her for 2 and Willow comes back with a one handed olympic slam. Rosa grabs her from the top and does a seated tombstone for the win. Willow didn't get a lot in here.

Dillon McQueen vs QT Marshall

Dillon McQueer is more like it. Dillon frolicks to the ring. QT slaps him hard and is getting face pops out of me for that. Dillon fights back with forearms then is running lariated. QT back elbows him then hits some short punches to the face. Dillon's nose gets busted open and he comes back with more forearms. He lariats QT and falls over and Solow trips him. QT then cutters him after and pulls him up at the 2 count. QT then hits a cross rhodes for the win. If McQueen had a normal gimmick, he might be all right. QT then piledrivers him on the steps after.

Colten and Austin Gunn vs Chaos Project

Austin and Luther tell each other to shut up to start. Colten hip tosses Serp early then he does his slam dunk splash in the corner. He then does his strutting neckbreaker and Serp goes to hug Luther.

Luther takes over on Austin for a bit and uses Serp as a weapon onto Austin. Luther splashes Serp into Austin. Luther slams Austin and Serp teases coming off the top with something, but drops down then drops a knee in a dumb spot.

Serp has Austin for a DDT then Luther runs over and puts Serp down to finish the ddt. Colten finally gets the hot tag and hits some nice splashes on both opponents. He hits Luther with a nice dropkick. Austin does a high slingshot reverse blockbuster and Colten hits a colt 45 to win. The Colt 45 is a double underhook suplex into a neckbreaker. Colten looked good here but I really have no idea why this went on so long.

5 and Colt Cabana vs The Blade and Matt Hardy

Bryce the ref says only 2 can be at ringside here when he typically might let 10 people at ringside if they want. Colt is thrown out early. 5 hits a lariat on Blade and pounds on him. 5 does corner punches on Blade then throws Blade into a Colt elbow.

Matt tries a cheap shot on Colt, but Blade then hits his own cheapshot and Colt takes on all of Hardy's crew outside. Blade works on Colt for a bit and Hardy joins in on that. Colt hits a butt bump from the buckles on Blade and tags out to 5.

5 gets the hot tag and splashes Blade across the ropes. 5 does a standing spanish fly on Blade and Hardy hits a side effect on him for 2. Hardy takes a spin kick from 5. PP pulls out 5 to the outside as Bunny distracts the ref. Colt dives on PP from the ramp and Uno fights one of the PP members to the back. 5 is pushed off the top by Blade then is put in Hardy's leech hold for the win.

This went too long and wasn't anything too special.

Overall thoughts: It's Elevation. It's mostly a squash match show and rarely is anything special, and this was no exception.

AEW Dark: Elevation Episode 7 4/26/2021

AEW Dark: Elevation Episode 7 4/26/2021

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2021/04/aew-dark-elevation-episode-6-4192021.html

Chuck Taylor w/ Trent? vs. Rey Fenix w/ Penta El Zero Miedo

They go to the mat to start and roll a bit. Rey hits some chops and Chuck comes back with forearms. Rey hits a dropkick and both he and Penta stare down Trent outside.

Rey moonsaults off the 2nd rope and tries a german, but Chuck gets out and hits his own release german. Chuck hits a falcon arrow that Tony calls a powerbomb. Rey bounces of the ropes and hurricanrana's him into the buckles, then rolls into a cutter for 2. Rey slingshots in and rolls over Chuck's back, then he walks up the ropes and is pulled down into a soul foot.

Alex comes out and Orange Cassidy follows. Penta then sneaks a kick in on OC then Trent comes out too and they have to be broken up. Rey then rolls Chuck up out of nowhere and wins it. Uh, okay, this match wasn't that good. Both are faces and they just didn't mesh on top of the finish being odd.

Ryan Nemeth vs. Ryzin

Ryan takes him down then slaps him in the back of the head. they both pull at each other's hair/ears then Ryzin pokes Ryan in the eye. Drake and Cezar get involved and Ryzin is tripped.

Ryan does his headstand hammerlock and corner spears him. Ryan's head is against the middle buckle and Ryzin kicks the ropes. Ryzin goes up top and Avalon grabs at his foot and Ryzin really overshoots a swanton that Ryan got his knees up for. Ryan then hit his neckbreaker for the win. Ryan's a pretty good pick-up with a good look and some charisma.

Orange Cassidy vs Dean Alexander

Dean has a fur coat and glasses on. He throws the fur at OC. Big Show said he could have saved him money and shaved his back instead. OC throws his coat at Dean. OC gets pushed down and puts his hands in his pocket on the mat and Dean does nothing about it even though he is completely exposed. Pockets then hits the orange punch and wins it. Awful.

Avalon, Nemeth and Cezar talk about Ryan's win. JD arrives late and is in a see-thru flower shirt. Avalon tells him to spin around and takes out one of the buttons. JD says it will stya undone when they go to the club. They all put their pinky fingers in together to close the segment.

The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) vs. The Skulk (Liam Gray & Adrian Alanis)

Max did a Jake Paul vs Ben Askren reference. Bowens cut him off at the end like usual. Bowens really stomps on Gray to start and Grey hits a nice dropkick. Acclaimed hit a double team and Max pounds on Gray.

Gray takes a double suplex and Bwoens hits him with some elbows. Max gets caught in a perfectplex and Alanis does a hot tag with a spinebuster on Max. He then does a sling blade over the knee onto Bowens.

Gray takes a hard bump off the top after Alanis is pushed into him, then Bowens spinning forearms Alanis. Max drops the elbow off the top onto Alanis and wins it, then Max does his stupid hand kissing taunt after.

Not a bad showing for the Acclaimed and Alanis could maybe be worked with.

Alex Reynolds talks to 5 in the back. He said they are in the same group but he's not 5. 5 does John Silver impersonations. They weren't really on the same page and 5 wasn't paying attention as they said they would give Page and Sky something to cry about.

Nick Comoroto w/ The Factory vs. VSK

VSK hasn't been seen for a bit. VSK dropkicks him to start but is slammed hard twice. VSK tries to fight back with forearms and a dropkick but takes a hard clothesline. Nick gorilla presses him into a slam to win in a quick squash. Nick then does it again after.

We get a feature on Leila Hirsch. She talked about being adopted from Russia and said she has always been good in sports. She said she discovred wrestling at the age of 14 and decided to get in. She said she went into amateur wrestling as she thought that is how you get in. She said her time in Stardom got cut short due to the pandemic. She said she is here to win.

Leyla Hirsch & Ryo Mizunami vs. Amber Nova & Diamanté

Leyla takes down and rolls Amber around. Dia eye rakes Ryo early and chokes her. Ryo runs her over with a shoulder. Amber and Dia try to whip the two into each other but they get out of it. Nova does her headscissors into the buckles on Leila and takes a Karelin's lift.

Ryo gets in and hits some shoulders on both opponents then double spears them. Ryo hits Nova with her machine gun chops and Hirsch pendulum knee's Nova in the corner. Leyla uses Ryo to get up to the top rope then sentons Nova. Dia does a standing sliced bread on Leyla but it's only for 2. Leyla then fireman's carries Nova and armbars her for the win.

After the match, Dia goes after Leyla but Ryo kicks her off. This was fine but shorter than it could have been.

Scorpio Sky and Ethan Page are interviewed. They are arguing over their tag team name. Sky says they should be called "Ethan Page and Scorpio Sky". Page says "Scorpio Sky and Ethan Page". Why would two ego guys want the other person to have their name first in this? Sky says Page is his best friend and a tag team specialist. Page says good luck to the Dark Order on keeping up with them.

Tesha Price vs Kris Statlander

Kris does the stupid boop on the ref. Kris tries to boop her and Price screams over it. Kris hits a nice bodyslam and german suplexes Price into the buckles. Tesha takes a reverse STO over the knee then a package tombstone for the Kris win. Tesha's coming up with a screaming gimmick and Kris' booping stuff is dumb.

Scorpio Sky & Ethan Page vs. The Dark Order (Alex Reynolds & Alan “5” Angels)

-1 is not here. Sky walks over Alex early then Alex brags after he evades him. Alex does a nice roll into a pin and armdrags him. The D-O double teams both opponents. 5 splashes Sky against the ropes then Alex does a baseball slide kick. 5 then hits a nice dropkick on Page.

5 works on Page's leg a little and Page slams 5. Page gets his razor's edge reversed and 5 fights back against Sky later. 5 hits him with a nice forearm and a spinning lariat. Alex gets the hot tag in and facekicks Sky off the apron. He then tope's Sky on the outside.

Alex hits a spinning punch on Page then cravate-plex's him. Page took a pop-up knee from Alex then a standing sliced bread from 5. Sky threw out Alex. 5 took a razor's edge soon after from Page and Page got the win. This felt like it went longer than it needed to and I didn't really get into it.

Matt Sydal vs Joey Janela

They trade holds early for some reason.  Sydal puts Joey in 2 different bow and arrows then is backdropped. Joey is tripped and takes a corkscrew standing moonsault. They fight on the apron and Sydal is suplexed on the apron.

Joey pounds on Sydal a bit before sydal hits a spin kick. Sydal running double knee's Joey in the corner then Sydal meteora's him from the top for 2. They then double clothesline each other. They trade chops and Joey gives him a right hook. Sydal then flips for a clothesline. Sydal reverses a suplex into a spike hurricanrana.

Sydal comes off the 2nd rope and is caught with a death valley driver. Joey goes for a top rope elbow but Sydal gets his knees up. He then hits a lightning spiral and wins it. This was a bad indy match.

AEW Dark: Elevation Episode #6 4/19/2021

AEW Dark: Elevation Episode #6 4/19/2021

 

 

Last week's episode is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2021/04/aew-dark-elevation-episode-5-4122021.html

 

Hangman Page vs. Spencer Slade

Pages nails Spencer before he finishes his entrance. Slade crossbodies him and is fallaway slammed. They tell us Slade is deaf and he takes a big lariat from Page.

Page hits more lariats then sliding lariats him. Page pop up powerbombs him for the quick win with Slade getting nothing in at all.

Page gives the ref beer after.

 

Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. w/ Rebel vs. Tesha Price

Britt takes her to the mat early and hits her with a hard punch. Tesha high kicks her but Britt ends up hitting her with a flatliner on the middle buckle. Britt puts her head against the post then pulls her arm. Rebel then hits Tesha with a towel.

Britt hits some knees on her and stands on her face. Britt goofs off and is rolled up for 2. She then sling blades her. Tesha comes back with an enzugiri and strikes her for 2. Britt hits a ddt and gets her glove. she hits her with the schwein and lockjaws her for the win. Tesha didn't look too good here except for nice selling while in the lockjaw.

Jurassic Express (Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus) vs. Midas Black & Jay Lyon

Lyon has the stupid steak in his mouth again. JB tries to pull it out but is dragged. Tony asks "what the hell did we just see?" and I concur. Black trips JB then Lyon flips on JB. Lyon runs straight into Lucha's boot and JB makes concerned faces while Lucha punches Lyon.

Lyon tries to offer Lucha his steak and gets high kicked. Black gets slammed on Lyon and they lose in a total waste of time squash. JB then puts the steak in the ref's mouth.

Andre Montoya and Vary Moraels vs The Hybrid2

I said it last week and I'll say it again, why is Andre wearing a mask if he is revealing his real name anyway? Jack dances aroung and shoves Vary in the face. Vary super kicks him while Jack handstands. Vary overhead belly to belly suplexes Jack then Jack does a springboard spin kick. Angelico  lifts and twisting flatliners Vary. He traps both of Vary's arms behind Vary's back and pushes forward.

Vary gets tired up more and comes off the 2nd rope with a dropkick. Andre gets the hot tag in and Show even calls it that. Vary nails Jack with a superkick and sends him over the top. Jack then twisting moonsaults Vary off the apron. Andre handsprings into the ropes and gets his leg swept on the bounce back then Angelico wins with the Navarro Death Roll. Jack does a capoeira after. One of TH2's better showings as they didn't botch anything and the match was short. Vary and Andre still haven't shown too much.

The Acclaimed are interviewed by Paul Wight. They talked about how good they are and Bowens talks about how gay he is, literally. Is that supposed to make me like him more or something? They put themselves over and want the interview to be extended as it ends.

Mike Magnum & Stone Rockwell vs. Team Taz (Brian Cage & Ricky Starks)

Stone needs to team up with Brick Aldridge immediately. Cage hits a nice dropkick on Magnum. Stone pounds on Starks and Starks is wearing some very girly tights. Stone goes to suplex Starks but Cage catches Starks and superkicks him. Starks and Cage argue after a failed double suplex and Starks spears Magnum. Cage then hits a hard powerbomb on Stone and tags out to Starks, helping him with the roshambo on Stone for the win.  Stone had two matches in the last week and I don't think he got anything in past a punch. I guess this was there to put over the Cage and Starks issues.

Abadon vs Skye Blue

Skye does not wear blue for some reason. Abadon crawls around the ring to start, then slams her down and pounds on her. Skye gets caught in a crossbody and is backbreakered. Abadon is showing a lot of her backside here and I really don't get why. Skye cartwheels into a forearm then takes a release german from Abadon. Abadon meteora's her in the corner then crossbodies Skye as she is sitting. Abadon bangs Skye's head off the mat and Skye blows a dropkick to the knee.Skye gets stuck on the middle buckle then hit with the gory special neckbreaker for the win in a total squash.

Orange Cassidy vs Prince Kai

Kai hands the announcer a note and makes him read it, where he puts himself over. Kai poses and OC doesn't look too pleased when he would be normally doing the same thing. OC immediately hits the beach break and wins it.

 

Private Party w/Matt Hardy and Marq Quen vs. Alex Reynolds & Colt Cabana with the Dark Order

Kassidy pounds on Alex to start and alex comes back with a dropkick. Kassidy shoves Uno and the Dark Order gets thrown out. Colt drop toe holds Marq then elbows him in the head. Alex topes Marq outside and when the ref isn't looking, Matt throws Alex into the rails.

Kassidy moonsaults from the 2nd buckle to Alex on the outside.  Alex gets worked on for a while and pops up Kassidy into a knee. Alex tags to Colt and Colt throws PP into each other. He then headscissors Marq and hits some punches, then elbows Kassidy. Marq cartwheels out of a wristlock the enzugiri's Colt. PP does the stupid silly string spot and the logistics of it was done here were so dumb that it isn't even worth going into it.

Marq does something close to a pele kick on Colt then dives on Alex. He then 450's Colt for 2. Alex spinning forearms Marq then gets an assist from Colt on a flipping ddt. Colt tries to pin Marq, but Kassidy was legal and rolls up Colt to steal the win. I thought they put over PP well here as being smarter wrestlers under Hardy's control.

Shawna Reed vs Thunder Rosa

They got to the mat to start and Rosa does a nice trip takedown. Rosa basement dropkicks her for 2 and hits corner chops. Shawna hits a bunch of kicks in the corner then butt charges her head in the corner. Rosa lariats Reed in the corner and pendulum drops double knees on her. She then dropkicks her hard as she is sat against the bottom buckle.

Reed snapmare drivers Rosa but after some strikes, Rosa hits an emerald flowsion over her leg to win. Reed actually showed some aggression and fire here.

Best Friends (Chuck Taylor & Trent) (w/Orange Cassidy) vs. Hayden Backlund & Kit Sackett

Trent hits a big lariat early on Kit and a release saito suplex. Hayden takes a soul foot into a half and half suplex. Chuck short piledrivers Hayden then Trent hits a regular piledriver on Hayden in this total waste of time. What was the point of this, really?

Aaron Solow (w/Nick Comoroto & QT Marshall) vs. Austin Gunn (w/Colten Gunn)

QT sits on the ring steps on the ramp. Gunn pounds on Solow to start then hits a big lariat. Austin lariats Solow and himself over the top. Austin is distracted by Nick then gets kicked in the head by Solow. Solow then suplexes him for 2.

Solow pounds on Gunn more and Gunn comes back with a big lariat. Nick gets on the apron and Gunn is distracted then takes a spin kick. Nick hits Colten Gunn on the outside and ends up charging into the rails after Colten moves. Austin hiptosses Solow into a cutter for the win, which is calle the Quickdraw. QT is doing some godfather or Tony Soprano type of gimmick here where he tells people what to do and watches on and it's really really cringe. The focus here was on anything but this match. Solow still continues not to really show anything.

Ethan Page & Scorpio Sky vs. Carlie Bravo & Dean Alexander

They get off to a lame start early and Dean hits some punches on Page before getting suplexed. Dean and Bravo double dropkick Sky at the same time and Page shoulder blocks Bravo on the outside.

Sky hits a heel hook and wins it completely out of nowhere. Another total waste of time that accomplished nothing.

Dasha interviews Austin Gunn. Gunn said family means naything and QT tore this family apart. Billy Gunn then comes in and gets him out. QT Marshall then comes up to Billy and said this whole thing has nothing to do with The Gunn Club. QT says the Gunns are like boys of his own. Gunn tells him he lost the right to say that when he attacked him. Billy says he went too far then QT decks him and asks if that was too far? The idea of QT being able to drop Billy Gunn, yet alone anyone is funny.

Kenny Omega, Konosuke Takeshita & MT Nakazawa vs. Danny Limelight, Matt Sydal & Mike Sydal

This is Takeshita's 3rd AEW match and his last one as he goes back home. Nakazawa has the stupid headphones on and Kenny does too. They pretend to talk. Screw this amateur hour garbage. Nakazawa and any match involving him is banned from this website until further notice.

Overall thoughts: Another bad show as usual. So many pointless squashes. QT doing Don Corleone impersonations and Kenny and Nakazawa acting like fools. At least the show was under 2 hours.

AEW Dark: Elevation Episode #5 4/12/2021

AEW Dark: Elevation Episode #5 4/12/2021

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2021/04/aew-dark-elevation-episode-4-452021.html

Today's show is 2 hours and 27 minutes long. Why? Who knows, but that is way too long for this.

Zack Clayton vs Dark Order's 10 with -1

Zack is from the Jersey Shore TV show. -1 is back from timeout? From 1st grade? Who knows.

Zack slaps 10 early then is grounded and pounded. 10 german suplexes him then takes a nice dropkick from Zack. Zack hit some nice euro uppercuts and slingshot suplexed 10. Zack then catapulted his throat into the middle rope.

10 came back with a running pump kick and spinebustered him. He posted and -1 came on the apron to pose with him. The ref did not ask -1 to get off the apron for some reason. 10 was almost thrown into -1 but saved himself and was slammed for 2. 10 then hit the full nelson and won it.  Zack didn't look too bad here at all and has a decent but very basic look.

Hayden Backlund vs Miro

They said Hayden is "a distant relative" of Bob Backlund. Miro got big fireworks for his entrance. Miro pounded on him in the corner to start then short arm clotheslined him. Miro then threw him out.

Outside and Miro tried to grab Hayden around the post but was pulled into it. Hayden dropkicked him but he no sold it then hopped the ropes to clothesline him. Miro then hit  a big swinging uranage and camel clutched him for the win in a short squash.

Tay Conti with -1 and Hikaru Shida vs Leila Grey and Katalina Perez

Perez slaps Tay early then takes some chest kicks. Tay monkey flips her then judo throws her. Shida gets double suplexed and is pushed in the corner with Grey's foot. Shida and Perez trade forearms with Perez going down. Tay comes in and hits judo throws on Grey then does a hard pump kick that thankfully Grey blocked some of. Tay pump kicks Perez and Tay and Shida both hipthrow their opponents. They then triangle both as their opponents hit the ropes. Shida then does a bad spinning knee and wins it in another squash.

Carlie Bravo and Dean Alexander vs The Hybrid2

Bravo is usually with Shawn Dean, but is now with Dean Alexander for the 2nd time. We are told Bravo and Dean aren't part of the Nightmare Factory faction wars. We are also told QT's group is now called "The Factory".

Bravo hits a nice armdrag early then Angelico evades his 2nd attempt at it. Jack gamengiri's Bravo then standing twisting moonsaults him. Jack gets whipped into the buckles and double jumps and moonsaults over Bravo. Jack cartwheel elbows Bravo in the corner then springboard rider kicks him.  Bravo rolls out of a clothesline and Alexander gets in. He lariats down both TH2 members and takes a gamengiri to the back. Jack spinning kicks Bravo off the apron then Angelico hits his reverse figure four like move for the win.

Thunder Rosa is interviewed. She said she knows she has a huge target on her back but says she is one of the best in AEW and the world. She then goes off in spanish.

Orange Cassidy vs John Skyler

John tells OC he wants to wrestle. OC is goofing around and instead of just nailing him, he plays along. OC snapmares him down and poses then does his stupid pocket stuff. OC runs the ropes and John thankfully slingshot spears him in.

John slams him and they criss cross before OC hits a satellitle ddt. OC then hits the beach break and wins it. Not a fan of OC's goofing around but at least John got a move or two in.

We get a package on Shawn Dean. He talked about joining the Navy and playing arena football. He said he couldn't find enough bookings in Chicago and moved to Atlanta for wrestling. He said he did better in Atlanta, but then the pandemic hit and slowed him down. He said he lost his job a week before getting signed to AEW. This was a nice segment and far more productive than months of him losing in quick squashes was.

Konosuke Takeshita vs Danny Limelight

I've reviewed a lot of DDT and Takeshita here. He's not a super worker or anything but he's a good looking guy in good shape that does his job as the DDT ace well. I don't really see what he adds to AEW, but it's more of an excursion for him.

They trade roll-ups to start. Danny slaps him and takes a leg lariat and a corner forearm. KT then does his flying lariat and sentons him from the 2nd rope. Danny springboard double stomps the back of his shoulders. KT hits some corner chops and Danny pokes him in the eyes.

Danny slingshot sentons KT for 2 and tries to bully him around and takes a fast and hard blue thunder bomb. KT hits a hard face kick in the corner and a brainbuster for 2. They trade forearms and have a nice little trade. KT pops up Danny for a big sitout powerbomb for 2. DL headscissor chokes him over the top rope then DL double springboard ddt's him for 2.

KT comes back with a forearm and a spinning lariat, then wheelbarrow german suplexes him for the win. They did too much here for a throwaway on a dark show with no build. The selling was also just not here, though KT's offense looked good.

Midas Black and Jay Lyon vs FTR

Black dresses up like a circus host and Lyon is literally wearing a lion mask. Both are small, but credit to them for having actual persona's. And just as I say that, Lyon is wrestling with a fake steak in his mouth.

Lyon has his mask ripped off to start, which is dumb no matter how you look at it. Lyon takes a hard backdrop then Dax drops down and Lyon runs into a hard Cash lariat. Dax does Tenryu's chop and punch combo on Lyon. Lyon is thrown into the ropes and Lyon does a handspring into the ropes and comes back with an enzugiri.

Black comes in and flurries on Dax but is brainbustered. Black takes a spike piledriver and FTR wins it. Black and Lyon didn't look that good, but at least they have colorful costumes. FTr looked good.

Andre Montoya and Vary Morales vs Pac and Rey Fenix

Montoya is wearing a mask. Revealing your identity while wearing a mask is counter productive and just stupid. Rey slaps Andre to start then Andre running hurricanrana's him. Vary gets in and headscissors Rey from the top. Andre blows a spot and Rey and Pac double superkick their opponents before doing The Young Bucks' pose.

Rey hits a hard spinning forearm to Vary's face then runs the ropes fast to knee Vary. He then picks him up from the pin attempt. Andre gets some punches in and is thrown into the ropes, where he handsprings and double back elbows his opponents. Vary then flip dives Pac on the outside. Andre takes some double kicks and Vary is release german suplexed. Rey frogsplashed Andre for the win. This went way too long.

Dante Martin vs Baron Black

Black has new white gear here. He's 0-7 this year in singles matches. They couner each other to start and do the indy standoff. Dante jumps up to the top rope and flips off of it from a seated position into an armdrag. Dante gets caught in a nice german suplex from Black. Black atomic drops Dante and takes a big lariat.

Dante dropkicks him and hurricanrana's him. Dante double springboards into a moonsault for 2. Dante moonsaults out of a top rope german then flips out of an exploder. Black gets mad and pulls down his straps and is superkicked. Dante then 450's him for win.

Fun match here with Dante doing some good flying. I hate to tell Darius Martin, but at this rate, they are going to say heck with Top Flight and give Dante a singles push instead.

Britt Baker with Rebel vs Skye Blue

Blue is decent looking and if she can work, it is just a matter of time until she gets hired. Why is she not wearing blue though? Blue matrix's out of a lariat and Britt has a noticeable tan here. Britt gets kicked hard in the knee and is dropkicked. Britt superkicks Blue hard on the outside and does a sloppy twisting neckbreaker out there.

They trade forearms when they get back in. Blue cartwheels into a forearm then takes a flatliner into the middle buckle. Britt hits a schwein then curb stomps her for the win.  

This was your basic women's match and wasn't too bad but not really good or memorable.

Andrew Palace & Cole Karter vs The Factory’s QT Marshall & Nick Comoroto with Aaron Solow

Cole is a decent looking dude with a good build and good looking gear. Cole tries to leapfrog but is caught with a dropkick. Palace takes a hard back elbow from QT then is backbreakered. Nick then sends Palace into the buckles hard. Nick slingshot elbows Palace and knees him hard in the gut.

Nick throws Palace in while Cole is still in there, then he gorilla presses him into a powerslam. QT then cutters Cole for the win in a quick squash.

Shanna vs Legit Leyla Hirsch

Shanna is from France. You would think she would get the easy heat with a french gimmick, but no. Leyla takes her down early. Shanna turns her back on her and is taken down again. Shanna slaps her and is taken down again and Leyla tries to pound her.

Shanna chokes Leyla with her shirt and has her pyramid driver reversed into an armbar. Leyla then submits her. It was sloppy and a little longer than it needed to be since it wasn't really even.

I'm going to call the review there. The rest of the card doesn't look that good and the show is just too long this week.

AEW Dark: Elevation Episode #4 4/5/2021

AEW Dark: Elevation Episode #4 4/5/2021

 

 

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2021/03/aew-dark-elevation-episode-3-3292021.html 

 

Ryzin made the intro video somehow. Good for him.

Hangman Adam Page vs Bill Collier

It's spring and it's still light out as the show starts, which is cool. They trade chops and Bill hits an awesome straight punch. Bill delay suplexes him then legdrops him for 1.

Bill goes for a swinging slam but is tossed out and dived on by Page. Page hits some facekicks and fallaway slams Bill. He then hits a running SSP for 2. Page hurricanrana's Bill off the top and hits a buckshot lariat for the win. Kind of a short squash here. Page and Bill then drink.

 

Dean Alexander & Carlie Bravo vs. Varsity Blonds

 

Pillman does a nice headlock takeover on Dean. Dean is tripped then double stomped on the back. Griff gets his leg worked on a bit and Dean russian legsweeps him. Then they double dropkick a kneeling Griff.

Pillman gets in and dropkicks Bravo through the ropes. Griff holds up Bravo in the powerbomb position and Pillman dropkicks Bravo from the top for the win. I think Griff legit hurt his leg here. This was another short squash.

Britt Baker vs. Alex Gracia

Britt gets on the mic and calls her "enhancement talent", which I hate. She said she wants to give her "her best showing" and said she's not going to win..well yeah, she's enhancement talent, right? So why do we need to see this?

Britt gets on all fours and invites her to make a move. Britt immediately gets out and puts her in the rings of saturn. She tells Rebel to get the glove and puts her in the lockjaw. This was a burial like I've never seen and it broke kayfabe. Awful stuff.

Danny Limelight vs Dark Order's 10

DL hits a nice forearm early. He was then back body dropped and fallaway slammed. Danny starts dancing and gets popped.  10 was put against the middle rope and Danny kicked the rope. Danny took back over with kicks.

10 came back with some clotheslines then diving clotheslines him off the 2nd rope. 10 then hit his spinebuster. Danny came back with a hip throw but then 10 pump kicked him for 2. Danny put 10 in a triangle choke but 10 got out and put him in the full nelson for the win. This wasn't that good and it was very odd that Danny didn't do any flying when that is usually most of his offense.

 

Big Swole vs Jazmin Allure

We're really moving along here. Jaz is 0-4 and I don't think she's leaving here 1-4. Jaz was slapped in the stomach and hiptossed. They went outside and Jaz had her back thrown into the apron and rails. Swole then put her in the camel clutch.

Jaz got a little comeback in with a leg sweep and a dropkick. Jaz charged into the corner and took a uranage, then Swole did a double hunderhook powerbomb into a texas cloverleaf in another very short squash.

The Sydal's were interviewed by Dasha. Mike says he bends but doesn't break. Matt called Scorpio Sky a phony and a fake. He said they would have payback coming their way tonight. Matt said he sees through the fake partnership of Ethan Page and Sky.

Michael Nakazawa vs Vary Morales

Nakazawa as usual is wearing full work clothes here with a lanyard and a headset. There is nobody I hate more in wrestling right now than him.

Vary pulls on Michael's headset then does a spinning headscissors and a springboard armdrag. He then walks the rope into a flipping rope walk armdrag. Vary goes up again and is pulled down hard. Michael rakes Vary's crotch across the top rope and back elvows him for 2. Michael then chokes him with the headset.

Vary dropkicked Nakazawa then did a dive on him off the top rope. This is the most offense Vary has ever gotten. Michael then spears him and does thrusts. Vary superkicks Michael and is hit with a laptop after the ref was pushed. Michael then did more thrusts in his face and hit the tombstone for the win. This was a total embarassment and this gimmick is awful. I got the sense Paul Wight didn't like this either.

Baron Black vs Lance Archer with Jake Roberts

Black is 0-27 so far in AEW through singles and tags. Would it seriously have killed AEW to give him a win once in a while?

We start this with Lance having a hold of Black and walking him to the ring. Lance criss cross pounces him. Jake is on commentary but is very hard to hear. Lance leans Black across the top rope and lariats him.

Lance does his awful 180 splash from the corner. Black fights back but gets nailed, then hits a few chops. Lance then hits a big chokeslam and the blackout for the win in another short, waste of time squash.

Jake grabs the mic after. He said they are here to see if anyone wants to try and get rid of them. Lance complains about not getting interview time. He then starts talking about Sting and says Sting's time is his time.

Tesha Price vs Ryo Mizunami

Ryo shoulderblocks her early and slams her after Tesha grabs her hair. They trade some chops then Ryo hits machine gun chops. Tesha smartly gets her arms up and Ryo just starts slapping her arms. Tesha then bites her arm.

Tesha does her bad cartwheel into a kick. Ryo comes back with a chop and a lariat, then she powerslams Tesha. Ryo puts her in the torture rack but Tesha eye rakes her to get out of it. Tesha takes another lariat for a 2 and Ryo spears her to win. This wasn't any good.

Colt Cabana vs Max Caster with Anthony Bowens

Max raps on Colt during his entrance and talks about how Colt's podcast sucks. Colt goes back through the entrance and grabs Evil Uno to watch Bowens.

Colt satellite headscissors Max and tries to monkey flip him but Bowens holds onto Max. Bowens throws Colt back into the ring when he goes out and the ref watched without ejecting him. Max hammerlocked Colt over the 2nd rope.

Max continued to work the arm and Max ate turnbuckle on a failed charge in the corner. Colt came back with some punches and an elbow. Colt jumped off the 2nd buckle but Max moved so he bounced again off the mat to splash him. Colt did a hip attack on Max for and Bowens and Uno got on the apron. Bowens threw Uno the chain and Max tripped Colt onto the boombox and won. I liked Max sticking to the armwork here but this wasn't that good. The finish stunk and it just felt slow. The crowd was also not that into it.

Adam Priest, Ryzin, D3 & Fuego Del Sol vs. Private Party, The Butcher & The Blade with Matt Hardy and The Bunny

The jobbers get jumped to start. Kassidy combos then stomps on D3 in the corner. D3 takes a stun gun on the top rope and takes a great dropkick from Marq Quen. Bunny stomps on D3 on the outside. D3 tags out to Sol and Sol hurricanrana's Kassidy into Quen.

Sol takes double enzugiri's from PP then a suplex + neckbreaker combo. This was a waste of time as Priest and Ryzin never even officially got in before losing.

SHOWCASE with Paul Wight - Special Guest John Silver

Silver talks about being part of tag team with Alex Reynolds called "The Beaver Boys". He talks about Brodie Lee and then talks about his match with Darby Allin. As I thought, Silver hurt his arm on bump over the rails he took. He said he wants win a title this year and makes dumb faces to end the segment.

Matt Hardy vs Alan "5" Angels

-1 is still nowhere to be found. 5 gets german suplexed into the 2nd buckle and hits his head off the 2nd buckle. Hardy then clotheslined him hard. Hardy elbowed him off the 2nd rope and tried for a razor's edge, but 5 hurricanrana'd out of it.

5 hit some kicks and basement dropkicked Hardy. He then hit a sliced bread for 2. 5 went for an asai moonsault but Hardy moved then Hardy hit the side effect for 2. Alan did a back cracker with his feet into Hardy's back and Matt rolled out.

5 and Hardy went back in and 5 was crotched on the middle rope. Hardy hooked him and double underhooked him in a submission called "the leech" for the win. This wasn't too good and Hardy's new finish is kind of weak.

Hardy did a promo after. He said people were watching the NCAA final tonight instead of him, but said they should be watching him instead. Hardy said he was angry at the D-O for costing him money when he lost to Page. He said he will destroy the Dark Order one by one. He then said the Hardy Family Office would dominate AEW. Hardy then went off on Darby calling him a sellout. He said he didn't sell out but smartened up. He then said he would take Darby's TNT Title and said Darby is on his list.

Scorpio Sky & Ethan Page vs. Matt & Mike Sydal

Matt and Sky trade forearms to start, then all 4 fight. The Sydal's double limbo out of a lariat then take out both opponents. Mike trips Sky into a Matt baseball slide. Sky is bridged over the top rope then double stomped and Mike standing moonsaults him.

Mike is outside and Page drops Mike on his knee on the apron. Mike gets his leg worked over for a while by both opponents. Matt gets the hot tag in and combo's Sky with kicks, then cart wheel kicks Page. matt hits Sky with a brainbuster for 2.

Matt hurricanrana's Sky out but then Page runs him over. The Sydal's double wristlock takedown Page. Page comes back and deadlift's Mike into a razor's edge for the win. This was kind of short for the main event here but there wasn't anything wrong with it.

Overall thoughts: This was a little over 90 minutes but was long and had 2 awful matches. Britt buried Alex Gracia like I haven't seen for some time and Nakazawa's gimmick is easily the worst gimmick in wrestling right now.