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AEW returned for a loaded 14-match edition of Dark: Elevation and, as always, Tony Schiavone and Paul Wight welcomed viewers to the show.
David Ali vs. Lee Johnson on AEW Dark: Elevation
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Ali and Johnson locked up to begin the evening's in-ring proceedings. Ali escaped a head-scissors headlock, and he looked pumped up for the contest.
Ali kept getting knocked down, but he had the quickness to spring right back up. Johnson responded by nailing Ali with a perfect dropkick. Both men switched positions, but Johnson rolled to the outside. Johnson missed the springboard attack as Ali caught him with a shot to the chin.
Ali got a two-count and followed it with body kicks in the corner. Ali executed a double under-hook suplex, followed by a European flying uppercut.
Ai dropped Johnson with a slam for a two-count. Johnson ate a big forearm shot, but he dug deep to deliver two lariats and a cutter.
Ali was kicked out of a backslide but got caught with a superkick in mid-air from the springboard. Big Shotty Lee finished the match with the Blue Thunder Powerbomb.
Result: Lee Johnson def. David Ali on AEW Dark: Elevation
Grade: B+
Ali and Johnson put on a solid match to start a promising-looking episode of Dark: Elevation.
Eddie Kingston vs. VSK on AEW Dark: Elevation
Kingston didn't waste time and got VSK on one knee with a tight headlock. VSK broke free and connected with a strike to the lower back.
Kingston, though, lived for the dirty brawls, and he punished VSK with clubbing blows to the face. Kingston executed a clean, delayed vertical suplex that kicked off a deserved round of applause and an 'Eddie' chant.
VSK fought back with a European uppercut and a pump kick. Kingston responded with a few downward elbows, but he ate a step-up enziguri. VSK then delivered a sweet Ushigoroshi to Kingston for a two-count.
He dropped the knees for a one-count. Eddie absorbed a few strikes, channeled his inner-Hogan, and laid out VSK with a combination of strikes.
VSK, however, reacted with a backstabber. He proceeded to the top, but the brief indecision proved costly for him as Eddie moved out of the splash. Kingston rolled up VSK for the three-count.
Result: Eddie Kingston def. VSK on AEW Dark: Elevation
Grade: B-
VSK had a strong showing tonight, and a roll-up finish hints towards a possible push for the AEW Dark regular.
Scorpio Sky & Ethan Page vs. Baron Black & Fuego Del Sol on AEW Dark: Elevation
Sky took the fight to Black in the corner with a series of disdainful punches and uppercuts. Black reacted with a reverse atomic drop and a spinning chop to the chest.
Black pulled his straps down, but a diversionary tactic from Ethan Page helped Sky take control of the match. Page came in and stomped away on Black. The heels worked fluidly together as they made quick tags and wore Black down in their corner.
Black slipped away from a fireman's carry and executed a waistlock rollover. Black didn't get the three-count, but he did manage to tag Del Sol.
Fuego took both Sky and Page down with a double moonsault from the top. Page blocked the Tornado DDT before delivering the Ego's Edge for the win.
Result: Scorpio Sky & Ethan Page def. Baron Black & Fuego Del Sol on AEW Dark: Elevation
Grade: C
Paul Wight sat down with Danny Limelight on the latest episode of AEW Showcase. RAW superstar John Morrison was also mentioned during the segment as Limelight was in a movie with the WWE star in the past. Morrison helped Limelight get a tryout with New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Limelight spoke about the effects of the pandemic and how he ended up in All Elite Wrestling. The Radioactive Papi wrestler ended the segment with a motivational message about his AEW future.
Thunder Rosa vs. Renee Michelle on AEW Dark: Elevation
Early on in the match on AEW Dark: Elevation, Thunder Rosa countered a few back locks by stretching her body before transitioning to the single-leg bulldog. Michelle regained control with a hammerlock and two bridges.
Rosa executed a hammerlock takedown in response as the crowd chanted for the former NWA Women's Champion. Rosa delivered two deep arm drags and a good dropkick.
Thunder connected with multiple chops, and she thoroughly enjoyed it. Michelle returned with a facebuster on the knee and a three-piece kick combo for a two-count.
Michelle lured Rosa into the corner and caught her with a stiff up-kick. Rosa, however, drove Michelle down with a side slam. Rosa followed through for a running lariat in the corner and a leaping dropkick.
Rosa got a two-count with a double underhook suplex. However, Michelle showed incredible strength to lift Rosa and slam her down with a bridged German suplex.
Rosa reacted with a knee lift and a high running boot. She quickly locked in a neck-based submission move (Peruvian Choke), forcing Michelle to tap out. No Fire Thunder Driver tonight, folks.
Result: Thunder Rosa def. Renee Michelle on AEW Dark: Elevation
Grade: B-
Eddie Kingston cut a typically brilliant promo on the Young Bucks.
Chuck Taylor (w/ Trent, Orange Cassidy & Kris Statlander) vs. Vary Morales on AEW Dark: Elevation
Chuck used his power to get wrist control on Vary in the early goings of the match.
The initial minutes of the match were all Chuck until Vary used his classic Lucha Libre offense to take out Chuck. Vary soared from the top and laid out Chuck with a splash.
Chuck caught Vary with a big knee before delivering the Awful Waffle (a sit-down spike piledriver) for the win.
Result: Chuck Taylor def. Vary Morales on AEW Dark: Elevation
Grade: C
Leya Hirsch vs. Dani Jordyn on AEW Dark: Elevation
Dani Jordyn surprisingly got the better of Hirsch in the early mat exchanges. However, Leyla executed a trip and got some back control.
Jordyn executed a snap mare takeover, followed by a dropkick and a suplex for a one-count. Dani put on a solid performance as she rocked Leyla with a big uppercut.
Hirsch evaded a punch and executed a German suplex out of nowhere, followed by a vicious kick. Jordyn kicked out and answered with a few forearm shots. They slugged it out in the center of the ring, but Leyla countered by locking in a cross-arm breaker for the win.
Result: Leya Hirsch def. Dani Jordyn on AEW Dark: Elevation
Grade: B-
Dasha Gonzalez interviewed Ethan Page and Scorpio Sky next.'
Matt Sydal vs. Manny Smith (AEW Debut) on AEW Dark: Elevation
Matt Sydal executed a quick takedown on the AEW debutant to begin the match. Sydal used his veteran experience to keep Smith grounded.
Smith had no answers for Sydal's innovative mat-work as the former WWE superstar continued to dominate the match. Smith used some old-school punches and a flying shoulder tackle to create some operation.
Smith called for the finish, but Sydal countered with a step-up enziguri and a knee drop. He hit the Lightning Spiral for the win.
Result: Matt Sydal def. Manny Smith on AEW Dark: Elevation
Grade: C
Jade Cargill vs. Reka Tehaka on AEW Dark: Elevation
Jade Cargill connected with a knee strike to begin the match. Cargill then executed a fallaway crucifix slam, which she almost botched due to apparent mistiming. Jade managed to pull it off and continued her offense with a pump kick on her opponent.
Cargill picked Tehaka up and dropped her down with the "Jaded" for the win.
Result: Jade Cargill def. Reka Tehaka on AEW Dark: Elevation
Grade: D
Mark Sterling, 'the most famous professional wrestling lawyer,' came out with a microphone, and he tried to coax her into becoming his client. We might have just seen the formation of a new alliance.
Matt Hardy & Marq Quen (w/ Isiah Kassidy) vs. Dillon McQueen & Dean Alexander on AEW Dark: Elevation
Marq Quen wasn't even in his usual in-ring gear as he chose to wrestle in regular street clothes. Dillon McQueen wasn't intimidated by Matt Hardy, and as expected, Quen executed a blindsided attack.
The Hardy Family Office wore McQueen down in their corner. Quen hit a splash from the outside, and he looked really proud of himself.
Hardy got the tag, and he delivered a downward elbow from the middle turnbuckle. McQueen countered a sleeper hold with a jawbreaker, and he finally made the tag to Dean Alexander.
Dean connected with multiple punches on Quen, but a cheap shot from Hardy helped Marq hit an enziguri.
While McQueen broke the pin, he was taken out of the ring. Alexander was also sent to his partner. Quen then leaped off the top and took out both his opponents.
Alexander was rolled back in, and he tapped out to the Leech.
Result: Matt Hardy & Marq Quen def. Dillon McQueen & Dean Alexander on AEW Dark: Elevation
Grade: C
Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. (w/ Rebel not Reba) vs. Raychell Rose on AEW Dark: Elevation
Raychell Rose tried to outwrestle Baker, but the doctor was a step ahead in the AEW Dark contest. Rose showed great intelligence to escape the head scissors lock, and Baker didn't look too pleased.
Baker wasted no time and hit the Curb Stomp to wrap up the AEW Dark: Elevation match.
Result: Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D., def. Raychell Rose on AEW Dark: Elevation
Grade: D
Tay Conti vs. Madi Wrenkowski on AEW Dark: Elevation
Madi turned down the fistbump request, and Conti did what she does best by taking her opponent down.
Conti used her Judo background and caught Madi in a standing armbar. Wrenkowski was a great athlete, too, and she got a one-count on Conti with a sequence of moves.
Madi ate two lariats before getting taken down with a Judo throw, followed by a German release suplex. Conti followed through with two high running boots in the corner.
Conti positioned Madi on the top turnbuckle, went up herself, and executed a senton. That looked insane! Madi's back wasn't supposed to bend that way!
Conto was putting on a clinic as she hit another pump kick, followed by the TayKO for the win.
Result: Tay Conti def. Madi Wrenkowski on AEW Dark: Elevation
Grade: B
Alex Marvez interviewed Thunder Rosa, and the star opened up about her new finisher, which she called the "Peruvian Calavera choke," aka the Peruvian Choke.
Chaos Project vs. Jungle Boy & Marko Stunt on AEW Dark: Elevation
Luther and Jungle Boy kicked off the match, and the veteran got the upper hand with two punches and a headlock.
Marko Stunt made a blind tag and came in to drop Luther with a step-up enziguri. Serpentico came in and got laid out with a dropkick. The common trait shared by both teams was that Serpentico and Marko Stunt were both used as weapons by their teammates.
Stunt used his speed to execute a head scissors takedown, followed by a dropkick in the corner. Stunt dropped an elbow from the top for a two-count. Jungle Boy came back, and they executed an atomic drop-dropkick combo. Jungle Boy rolled over for a two-count.
Jungle Boy used Stunt as a battering ram by dropping him over Serpentico. Stunt, however, briefly lost focus, and Chaos Project took control.
Luther executed a running buckle bomb on Stunt before tagging Serpentico. Marko fought out of a chin lock and connected with two elbow strikes. Serpentico countered with a front power drop for a two-count.
Luther scoop slammed Stunt before slamming Serpentico on his opponent. Serpentico, as always, suffered more damage than his rival. Stunt desperately needed to tag himself out as Jungle Boy looked on. Luther sent both Jungle Boy and Marko near the ringside area. Stunt elevated Serpentico into the crowd, and he rushed back into the ring.
Luther blocked the sunset flip with a belly-to-belly suplex on Marko. Luther sent Serpentico flying off the top, but Marko moved out of the way and tagged Jungle Boy.
Jungle Boy rocked Luther with a big lariat before hitting a brainbuster on Serpentico. Luther broke the three count and executed a Luther bomb on Jungle Boy.
The landing was botched as Jungle Boy seemed to have taken a nasty bump on his neck. Marko Stunt backed his partner with an enziguri and a splash on Luther.
Meanwhile, Serpentico connected with a Swanton dive on Jungle Boy for a near fall. Jungle Boy stopped Serpentico in his tracks with a stiff elbow before tagging Marko.
Jurassic Express hit a top-rope double team move for the win on AEW Dark: Elevation.
Result: Jungle Boy & Marko Stunt def. Chaos Project on AEW Dark: Elevation
Grade: B+
Britt Baker and Rebel were involved in a backstage segment next. The doctor hyped up her upcoming AEW Women's title match against Hikaru Shida.
Alex Reynolds (w/ John Silver & Colt Cabana) vs. Isiah Kassidy (w/ Matt Hardy & Marc Quen) on AEW Dark: Elevation
Reynolds moved Kassidy back into the corner, and the referee had to break the hold quite early in the AEW Dark match. Reynolds hit a nice back elbow and kept up the pressure with a few kicks and a vertical snap suplex.
Reynolds executed a drop toehold, followed by a basement dropkick. He got a two-count with a crossbody from the top rope.
Reynolds' momentum came to a stop with a calculated distraction from Kassidy. Matt Hardy attacked Reynolds on the outside, and the match was now in Kassidy's hands.
Isiah executed a rolling springboard senton for a two-count. Reynolds fought back with big forearm shots from the corner, but Kassidy kicked him to the outside and suplexed him on the guard rail. That looked like an incredibly painful bump!
Reynolds beat the ten count and rolled himself back into the ring. Kassidy attempted two pinfalls before going for a butterfly stretch. Kassidy transitioned to the back and kept hold of it until he threw Reynolds into the turnbuckle pad.
Reynolds fired back with two rights and a complete lariat. Alex came in with a running elbow shot, another spinning elbow strike, and a dropkick. Reynolds was hurting with a busted back, but he still managed to deliver a modified suplex for a two-count.
The Dark Order member failed to pick Reynolds up, but he succeeded in his second attempt. Kassidy escaped and hit a step-up enziguri, followed by a sling blade for a near fall.
Kassidy went to the top turnbuckle, but he missed the leg drop. Reynolds almost picked up a roll-up win, but Kassidy kicked out.
Kassidy also had an unsuccessful inside cradle pin. All hell broke loose both in and outside the ring as Kassidy took his belt off. Matt Hardy tried to distract the referee, but Silver and Cabana confronted him.
Reynolds took advantage of the chaos by rolling up Kassidy for the win on AEW Dark: Elevation.
Result: Alex Reynolds def. Isiah Kassidy on AEW Dark: Elevation
Grade: B+
The Hardy Family Office attacked the three Dark Order members after the match.
Jon Moxley vs. Danny Limelight on AEW Dark: Elevation
Jon Moxley closed out this week's AEW Dark: Elevation, and he made his entrance with the IWGP United States Championship. Mox is scheduled to defend the title against Yuji Nagata on the upcoming episode of AEW Dynamite.
The opening moments of the match were quite even as both men canceled each other out. Limelight used his quickness, floated over Moxley, and hit a beautiful dropkick.
Moxley appreciated good competition, and he took Danny down and connected with a brutal kick to the back. Mox followed it with a basic yet very effective vertical suplex. Moxley resorted to old-school tactics by working on Limelight's fingers and nostrils.
Moxley kicked Limelight in the chest and constantly talked trash at his opponent. The former AEW World Champion was humbling Limelight.
However, the Radioactive Papi had a lot of fight left in him as he connected with a few kicks. Moxley changed gears and executed an insane combination of strikes which ended with a monstrous lariat. Limelight was sent flying inside-out onto the mat.
Mox placed Limelight on the top turnbuckle, and he scratched his back for some weird reason. Limelight knocked Mox off the top, bounced off the ropes, and hit the double knee strike.
Moxley looked stunned, and Limelight now had an opening to exploit. Danny connected with a big pump kick, followed by a forearm shot. Both men exchanged nasty forearm strikes. Ouch!
Mox missed the pump kick and ate a few hamstring kicks. Limelight delivered a high knee lift, which sent Moxley outside. Limelight then took flight and laid out Mox with a massive splash.
Back in the ring, Limelight landed on his feet from a Moxley German suplex and reacted with an enziguri. Danny went up to the top and executed a Blockbuster for a near fall. "This is awesome," chants echoed around the arena.
Limelight blocked the rear-naked choke and hit a vertical knee lift. Moxley, however, bit the bridge of Limelight's nose before hitting the Paradigm Shift from the middle turnbuckle for the win on AEW Dark: Elevation.
Result: Jon Moxley def. Danny Limelight on AEW Dark: Elevation
Grade: A
Danny Limelight gave Moxley a run for his money, and he was very close to pulling off an upset on multiple occasions during the AEW match. The Radioactive Papi walks away looking strong despite losing on AEW Dark: Elevation, and that's a great takeaway.
