'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
AEW got back with another stacked episode of Dark, and it was a special show as Jon Moxley was in action. The former AEW world champion kicked off the episode with a singles match.
#1. Jon Moxley vs. Jon Cruz on AEW Dark
Jon Moxley made his entrance with the IWGP US Championship title. Cruz didn't waste any time as he rocked Moxley with a dropkick right off the gate.
Cruz connected with rights and lefts to Mox's gut before executing a head scissors move. Moxley weathered the early storm, stopped Cruz's splash, and delivered a German suplex. Moxley began to dominate the match as he turned Cruz inside out.
Cruz missed a top rope splash and was stunned by a rolling Moxley elbow. Moxley shut down Cruz's attempts at a comeback and locked in the guillotine to win the match.
Result: Jon Moxley def. Jon Cruz on AEW Dark
Grade: C
#2. Bear Country vs. Chaos Project on AEW Dark
Serpentico and Boulder got the match underway, and it was Boulder who enjoyed the early momentum courtesy of his power. Bronson got the tag and sent Boulder crashing into Sepentico.
Bronson began working on Serpentico, but Luther got involved, and the action spilled to the outside and distracted the referee. Chaos Project took control of the match as Serpentico hit a splash. Luther came in and bulldogged Serpentico onto Bronson.
Chaos Project had Bronson in a world of trouble in their corner. They made constant tags and kept Bronson isolated. Bronson finally created some separation with a shoulder tackle followed by a clothesline to make the hot tag to Boulder.
Boulder took on both his opponents as he executed a Samoan Drop-DDT combo. Luther stopped Bear Country from delivering a double-team move. He took Boulder outside and shoved him against the steel ring post.
Back in the ring, Serpentico had Bronson laid out, and he executed the Senton Atomico for a two-count. Chaos Project looked to pile up the pressure on Bronson, but Boulder came in to save his partner from the Creeping Death. Serpentico was pile-driven onto Luther. Bear Country then hit an assisted splash for the win.
Result: Bear Country def. Chaos Project on AEW Dark
Grade: B+
#3. Jake St. Patrick & Sage Scott vs. The Butcher & The Blade on AEW Dark
As expected, this was a one-sided squash match, as Butcher & The Blade began pushing their opponents even before the contest began.
Patrick was laid out with the powerbomb as soon as the bell rang. Butcher and Blade, as noted earlier, dominated the match and ended it with their neckbreaker-powerbomb combo.
Result: The Butcher & The Blad def. Jake St. Patrick & Sage Scott on AEW Dark
Grade: C
#4. Shanna vs. Renee Michelle on AEW Dark
WWE superstar Drake Maverick's wife Rene Michelle made her AEW debut against Shanna, who came out in Vegeta-inspired in-ring gear.
Michelle gained control of Shanna's arms early on in the match. Shanna fought back with a few arm drags and step-up tiaras. Michelle regained control and looked aggressive in her approach as she connected with rights in the corner.
Shanna created some separation, but Michelle continued to get the better of the exchanges. Shanna finally began her comeback with a series of chops and clotheslines. Shanna connected with a running back elbow and Angel's Wings for a two-count.
Shanna finished the match with a Sunner, followed by a dropkick and the Tiger Suplex.
Result: Shanna def. Renee Michelle on AEW Dark
Grade: B
#5. Eric James & VSK vs. Alex Reynolds & John Silver on AEW Dark
Reynolds and Eric James began the AEW Dark match with a fast-paced exchange. Alex delivered the hip toss, and he rolled through to keep James on his back.
Silver got the tag, and the energetic Dark Order member took James down with a strike. VSK kicked Silver's back when the latter hit the ropes, allowing James to deliver the neckbreaker & a running knee strike.
Silver took some punishment but eventually tagged Reynolds, who came in hot with a flurry of moves. The Dark Order took James out of the equation and hit the Dark Destroyer on VSK for the win.
Result: Alex Reynolds & John Silver def. Eric James & VSK on AEW Dark
Grade: B
#6. Baron Black & John Skyler vs. Jurassic Express on AEW Dark
This one was a very brief contest as Jurassic Express won with an overhead throw-powerbomb combo on Skyler.
Result: Jurassic Express def. Baron Black & John Skyler on AEW Dark
Grade: D
#7. Tay Conti vs. Vertvixen on AEW Dark
Tay Conti went straight for the armbar to begin the match, and Vertvixen smartly countered with a roll-up. Conti used her judo background to great effect, as the throws were a significant feature of her move set.
Chaos ensued after Vertvixen got kicked to the outside, and she used it as a distraction to take control of the match. Conti ate a kick but responded with a knee.
Conti followed it up with two running knee strikes before locking in a chokehold for the win.
Result: Tay Conti def. Vertvixen on AEW Dark
Grade: C
#8. Eddie Kingston vs. Aaron Solow on AEW Dark
Kingston and Solow engaged in a back-and-forth exchange of holds to begin the match. It didn't take time for Kingston to impose himself in with the brawling style.
Kingston methodically worked on Solow with grinding strikes to the head. Solow fought out of a chokehold, but Eddie dropped him with a double underhook suplex.
Solow responded with an arm drag followed by a dropkick and a corkscrew kick. He got a near fall for his efforts. Solow went to the top rope, but Eddie shut him down. Kingston delivered short-range headbutts. Solow returned with headbutts of his own, and he executed a diving foot stomp from the top.
Eddie Kingston managed to kick out. Kingston connected with a knee to the gut after getting back on their feet, followed by a spinning back fist for the win.
Result: Eddie Kingston def. Aaron Solow on AEW Dark
Grade: B+
#9. Ricky Starks vs. KC Navarro on AEW Dark
This AEW Dark match didn't even last for ten seconds as Ricky Starks laid out KC Navarro with a monstrous spear immediately after the bell was rung.
Result: Ricky Starks def. KC Navarro on AEW Dark
Grade: D
Starks secured the record for the shortest match in AEW history.
#10. Brandon Cutler vs. Misterioso on AEW Dark
Misterioso made his AEW debut against Brandon Cutler, and the match began with the usual collar and elbow tie-up. Misterioso looked impressive in the early goings as he laid out Cutler with a dive on the outside.
Back in the ring, Cutler escaped a back suplex, evaded a few more strikes, and delivered a springboard forearm.
Cutler came over the top and executed a senton, followed by the long-distance leg drop for a two-count. Misterioso reacted with a dropkick. The Luchador went to the top for a moonsault press, but Cutler got the boots up.
Misterioso was rocked, and Cutler connected with a series of kicks. Misterioso looked for the monkey flip, but Cutler sent him outside. Brandon followed it with a tope suicida. The action moved back in, and Cutler got a two-count with a crossbody.
Cutler delivered two more crossbodies, but Misterioso still kicked out. Misterioso got a two-count after rocking Cutler with a couple of kicks. Both men were perched up on the top rope as Misterioso looked for a big suplex. Cutler sent him down and delivered an elbow drop for the three-count.
Result: Brandon Cutler def. Misterioso on AEW Dark
Grade: B
#11. Co-Main Event: Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Ryzin on AEW Dark
You know exactly how this one transpired! Powerhouse Hobbs picked up a quick win over Ryzin with the Town Business.
Result: Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Ryzin on AEW Dark
Grade: D
#12: Main Event: Nick Comoroto vs. Fuego Del Sol on AEW Dark
Del Sol used his athleticism to frustrate Comoroto, but the towering wrestler eventually dropped his opponent with a brutal neckbreaker. Comoroto wore Del Sol down with well-placed strikes to the body and head.
Del Sol, however, used his speed again to escape several incoming attacks. Comoroto stopped the onslaught with one effective rising knee strike.
Comoroto reversed a tornado DDT into an incredible power slam for the win.
Result: Nick Comoroto vs. Fuego Del Sol on AEW Dark
Grade: C
Comoroto celebrated the win with QT Marshall and Dustin Rhodes as the show came to a close.
How did Ric Flair spend $1500 at a pizza place? More details here
