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AEW offered a packed episode of Dark tonight as the card features 12 matches and some big names in action. Unlike most weeks, the company wasted no time going to the action as the show kicked off with an Anthony Ogogo promo.
The Olympic bronze medalist took shots at Cody Rhodes and spoke about his brief hiatus. Ogogo also targeted his opponent for the evening before the match finally got underway.
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Anthony Ogogo vs. Marcus Kross on AEW Dark
Ogogo knocked Kross down with a shoulder block to begin the match. Marcus took him in the corner with a hurricanrana, but he missed the Cazadora as the British wrestler smashed him face-first into the turnbuckle.
Ogogo landed a running shot, followed by a diving European uppercut for a two-count. Kross got a quick two-count from a roll-up, but Anthony reacted with an Ogogo Slam out of nowhere.
Anthony Ogogo delivered a right-hand pop-up punch. Kross failed to beat the 10-count as his opponent picked up a rare count-out victory in AEW.
Result: Anthony Ogogo def. Marcus Kross on AEW Dark
Grade: B-
Penelope Ford vs. Angelica Risk on AEW Dark
Angelica Risk looked pumped for her second AEW match as Penelope Ford locked up with her. Risk landed a few successful shots until she was yanked down to the mat with a hair pull from Penelope.
Ford stomped away in the corner but missed a hip attack as her opponent rolled out of the way. Angelica came back with a leg lariat for a one-count.
Penelope recovered quickly and connected with a high boot before slowing the pace down with a chin lock. Risk broke free and hit three pump kicks, followed by multiple clotheslines. Ford reversed the hammer throw. However, she ran into a back elbow and ate a big missile dropkick off the second rope.
Ford evaded a corner attack and came right back with a big boot, followed by a back handspring elbow strike. Penelope trapped Angelica in the Muta lock for the submission win.
Result: Penelope Ford def. Angelica Risk on AEW Dark
Grade: B+
Despite being on the losing end tonight, Angelica Risk got in a lot of offense and looked solid.
The Factory's QT Marshall (w/ Nick Comoroto & Aaron Solo) vs. Toa Liona on AEW Dark
A 'QT sucks' chant echoed around the arena as Marshall took his time to engage with Toa Liona. Both men finally got into the collar and elbow tie-up, and Liona unsurprisingly overpowered QT.
Toa popped the crowd with a massive Samoan Drop. He then looked for the finishing blow, but QT sneaked out of the ring. Marshall absorbed a headbutt as the action spilled over to the ringside area.
QT worked his way back into the match by sending Liona into the steel ring post. Marshall connected with a missile dropkick from the top rope back in the ring. He also dictated the flow of the match and punished Liona with a variety of punches and elbow strikes.
Liona began his comeback with a monstrous body block. He channeled his inner Hulk Hogan and no-sold a few punches before responding with a hell-stab strike. Toa then sent QT across the ring with an overhead throw.
QT avoided the splash in the corner but missed his version of the maneuver only to get laid out with a running tackle. Toward the end, he swiftly countered Liona's finisher with the Cutter and picked up the final pin in the AEW match.
Result: QT Marshall def. Toa Liona on AEW Dark
Grade: B
2point0 (w/ Daniel Garcia) vs. Ish & Kidd Bandit (AEW Tag Team Debut) on AEW Dark
Kidd Bandit was fired up during the match's opening stages, but 2point0 showcased some classic tag team wrestling to take control.
Ish also got beat up as the heels made quick tags and even hit a double Russian leg sweep. Kidd Bandit tried to use his speed to get back in the match but was dropped down with a German Suplex. Parker and Lee hit their 'Two for the Show' finisher for the win.
Result: 2point0 def. Ish & Kidd Bandit on AEW Dark
Grade: C
Lance Archer vs. Jordan Costa on AEW Dark
Lance Archer came out with his opponent all battered down, and he shoved Jordan Costa towards the ring. Archer's theme song continued to play as he rolled Costa into the ring and resumed the onslaught after the bell rang.
Jordan briefly countered the Blackout with a sleeper hold, but Archer broke him down with a series of clubbing blows. The Murderhawk Monster played up his heel character and drew heat from the crowd throughout the match.
Costa landed a few strikes, but he was stunned by a chokeslam. Archer finished the AEW Dark match with his E.B.D Claw (Iron Claw) move.
Result: Lance Archer def. Jordan Costa on AEW Dark
Grade: B-
Fuego Del Sol cut an energetic backstage promo during an interview with Alex Marvez.
Marina Shafir vs. Reka Tehaka on AEW Dark
Marina Shafir's well-crafted entrance makes the former WWE star a unique talent in AEW, and she continued her rise in the company on Dark with another impressive performance.
Shafir and Tehaka started with a strong lock-up, and the opening sequences were evenly-contested before Reka got the upper hand. Tehaka executed a clean fisherman neckbreaker, followed by a spinning heel kick.
Reka looked polished in the ring as she got Shafir down with a side headlock takedown. Marina got control down on the mat with the leg scissors, forcing her opponent to grab the ropes. Shafir finally utilized her Judo background for a hip toss, followed by a big boot to the face.
She then trapped Reka in a modified chin lock, and it took a while for the latter to get back to a vertical base. Marina screamed into Tehaka's face and received multiple headbutts in response.
Marina also caught Reka in a leg capture/kesa gatame combination move, and the brilliant submission got her another AEW win in the books.
Result: Marina Shafir def. Reka Tehaka on AEW Dark
Grade: B+
Reka Tehaka had a great showing on AEW Dark, and a maiden win might be around the corner for the Samoan wrestler.
Cameron Stewart & Dante Casanova (AEW Tag Team Debut) vs. Nick Comoroto & Aaron Solo on AEW Dark
Aaron Solo and Cameron Stewart got the match rolling with a grappling exchange. The Factory dominated from the get-go as Solo showed off his striking game before delivering a perfect back body suplex.
Comoroto got tagged into the match, and the powerhouse toyed with his opponent. Stewart created some space with a jawbreaker and got Dante Casanova in. Comoroto knocked them down with double clotheslines before scoop-slamming the duo across the ring.
It was all about the Nick Comoroto show in the match as he executed a single-handed Gorilla Press slam on Casanova while simultaneously delivering a DDT to Stewart. Inhumane strength! Solo called for the tag, went up to the top, and completed the job with an assisted foot stomp from the top rope.
Result: Nick Comoroto & Aaron Solo def. Cameron Stewart & Dante Casanova on AEW Dark
Grade: B
Tony Nese vs. Zack Clayton on AEW Dark
Tony Nese used his incredible aerial ability to outsmart Zack Clayton during the early goings of the contest. Nese made it look easy as he knocked Clayton off his feet.
Zack strung together a few moves and got a two-count following a good dropkick. However, Nese stopped his opponent's momentum by targeting Clayton's left knee. Nese concentrated the attack on the injured body part and worked on it diligently throughout the match.
Clayton got the crowd behind him as he looked to mount a comeback. After escaping a springboard splash, he created an opening and landed two right-hand strikes. Clayton even got a two-count with a seamless powerslam off the corner.
Sadly enough, Zack hobbled and couldn't find the power for the fisherman's suplex. Nese caught him with a big kick and set the stage for his running knee strike finisher.
Result: Tony Nese def. Zack Clayton on AEW Dark
Grade: B+
Kiera Hogan vs. Mazzerati (AEW Debut)
Mazzerati took the fight to Kiera Hogan in the corner and forced a count from the referee. The AEW debutant was aggressive but paid for her recklessness as Hogan used a variation of kicks to get on top.
Hogan's sliding boot across the jaw got her a two-count. Mazzerati had a few minutes of control with a chin lock, but her opponent escaped using her elbows. Kiera connected with a dropkick from the second rope that sent Mazzerati inside-out.
She also delivered a hanging neckbreaker and a leg drop for a near fall. Mazzerati blocked Hogan's finisher and missed two kicks. She managed to get in a massive hook but couldn't foresee Hogan's high roundhouse kick, which was sufficient for the three-count.
Result: Kiera Hogan def. Mazzerati
Grade: B
Dark Order's Alan "5" Angels & 10 vs. Ariya Daivari & Invictus Khash (AEW Tag Team Debut) on AEW Dark
The Dark Order members got a solid pop as they interacted with the fans during their entrance. It was also great to see former WWE star Ariya Daivari in action for Tony Khan's promotion; he formed a new team with AEW Dark regular Invictus Khash.
Alan Angels and Daivari kicked off the match as fans sang happy birthday to Preston Vance. Ariya punched his way to a dominant position until Angels returned with a few arm-drags. Daivari talked trash as he chopped Angels across the chest. The latter responded with a leg lariat for a one-count.
Vance entered the match and executed a back body drop on Daivari, followed by a mid-rope dropkick from Angels. Vance started a '10' chant in front of Invictus Khash as both men engaged in a battle of shoulder tackles. Khash could not knock Vance off his feet and was taken down with two clotheslines.
Daivari came back into the ring and ate a pump kick in the corner. The heels worked together and caught Vance with a forearm smash. They then wore Preston down in their corner with impressive tandem moves, including a double vertical suplex.
Khash and Daivari controlled the ring and prevented Vance from tagging out on a few occasions. The fans got behind Vance, who executed an up-kick to create some distance. The Dark Order member knocked down both his opponents with a double shoulder block off the middle turnbuckle. He made the hot tag to Angels, who executed a double crossbody, followed by a set-up hurricanrana on Kash.
Alan stomped Daivari on the back and delivered a follow-up sliced bread for more impact. Although Khash blocked the sliced bread, he couldn't evade the Northern Lights suplex, which almost got Angels the three-count.
Khash caught Angels with a mid-air powerslam, and Daivari followed through with a frog splash from the top. The Dark Order star somehow kicked out of a pinfall at two-and-a-half as Vance called for the tag.
Angels landed on his feet from a backdrop suplex, and Vance quickly got the blind tag. The latter speared Daivari before dropping Khash down with the spinebuster. Angels wiped out Daivari on the outside with the tope suicida while his partner finished the match with the Full Nelson on Khash.
Result: Dark Order's Alan "5" Angels & 10 def. Ariya Daivari & Invictus Khash on AEW Dark
Grade: A
The Factory interrupted Tony Schiavone's post-match interview segment with The Dark Order. QT Marshall offered Vance and Angels to join The Factory and put forth his hand forward for a handshake.
The Dark Order members did their signature hand gesture and became victims of an assault by Comoroto and Solo. The Factory had the last laugh tonight.
Dante Martin & Matt Sydal vs. Bear Country on AEW Dark
Matt Sydal and Bear Bronson started the co-main event of the evening. Sydal failed with the single-leg takedown but scored style points with a kip-up. Bronson knocked him across the ring with a shoulder tackle.
Boulder and Martin got the tags and resumed the match with a lock-up. Martin got right in Boulder's face and landed multiple kicks to get his opponent on the ground. The latter took a breather on the outside and caught Dante in mid-air before slamming him on the ring apron.
Bronson assisted his partner as they neutralized the opposition. However, their plan backfired as Matt and Dante took out Bear Country with a double moonsault off the stage.
Back in the ring, Bronson blocked a double suplex attempt and decked Dante with a clothesline, followed by a Bossman slam on Sydal. Martin was in serious trouble as Bear Country isolated him in their corner.
Boulder stretched out Martin in a backbreaker submission followed by rib-shattering slams. Bronson came back in and faked a moonsault before nonchalantly sitting on Sydal's chest. The sequence got a sarcastic 'holy sh**' chant from the audience.
When fans called for a moonsault, Boulder bit the bait and paid for it dearly. Martin rolled out of the way as Boulder came crashing down onto the mat. Fans erupted when Martin reached out to Sydal for the hot tag.
Sydal unleashed a barrage of kicks on Bronson, including a rolling sole butt and a question mark kick, which got him a near fall. Sydal said he would suplex Bronson, but he settled for a roll-up.
Bronson rocked him with a stiff lariat, but he missed the cannonball in the corner. Martin came in for the assisted dropkick, followed by a standing sky twister from Sydal. Dante's attempt to block the pin failed as he accidentally canceled the count after a shove from Boulder.
Sydal and Martin attacked Boulder with elbow strikes. However, the latter changed gears and executed a massive double powerslam over his opponents. A loud 'Bear' chant kicked off as Sydal got Boulder out of the ring with a rising knee strike.
Dante flew over the ropes and laid out Boulder with a crossbody splash. Back in the ring, Bronson ate a knee strike, followed by the Nose Dive finisher from Dante Martin.
Result: Dante Martin & Matt Sydal def. Bear Country on AEW Dark
Grade: A
AEW Dark Main Event: Joey Janela (w/ Kayla Rossi) vs. Lee Moriarty
This week's AEW Dark headliners began the match with a technical mat exchange. The early moments featured several reversals and quick pins.
Both men seemed to have equal amounts of supporters in attendance as Moriarty stunned Janela with a brutal stomp on the chest.
Kayla Rossi got involved in the match by getting in Moriarty's face, and the distraction eventually worked as Janela took control with a backbreaker on the floor. The Bad Boy followed it with a backdrop, which looked even more painful.
Janela hooked the near leg in the ring and worked on Lee's back with a precise forearm and elbow shots. Lee Moriarty blocked a lariat but couldn't reverse Janela's stalling German suplex.
Joey was in the driver's seat and continued to attack Moriarty with back-based submission moves. However, Lee fought back with a few high boots and a low-angle dropkick to the elbow.
Moriarty executed an arm-capture back suplex for a two-count. He then charged through for a tope suicida between the second and third ropes. Janela struggled to get back to his feet.
A wobbly Joey still won the battle on the apron by driving Lee's back into the exposed turnbuckle. He wasn't done as the Bad Boy dropped Moriarty on the apron with a nasty Death Valley Driver. Joey signaled for the elbow drop from the top rope, but he instead went for a spinning uppercut to Lee's back.
Moriarty stayed in the match with a kick-out as Janela finally looked for the elbow drop. Lee desperately got Janela crashing down, and the referee started the ten-count. Janela drew the ref's attention while Rossi entered the ring and took Moriarty down with a hurricanrana off the ropes.
Janela executed a Liger Bomb, but Moriarty kicked out yet again! Joey and Lee exchanged pinfalls before trading strikes in the center of the ring. They canceled each other out with big shots, and the referee started another count.
Moriarty rocked Janela with a big enziguri and a looping right hand, but Joey threw a thrust kick out of nowhere. He ran through for a massive lariat, and Janela looked to put Moriarty away with the brainbuster. Lee reversed the finisher, floated behind Janela, and locked in the flying Octopus hold.
Moriarty transitioned to the European clutch pinfall and got the three-count! Huge upset!
Result: Lee Moriarty def. Joey Janela on AEW Dark
Grade: A
Lee Moriarty cut a promo after his match and reminded everyone why he is the future of AEW. Moriarty promised to unleash a new attitude in his quest for a winning streak, as he celebrated with fans to end another explosive episode of AEW Dark.
