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Matt Hardy (w/ Jora Johl) vs. Brick Aldrige on AEW Dark
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Matt Hardy grabbed the microphone and gave Brick Aldrige an earful before the AEW Dark match.
Aldrige pushed Hardy back, but the veteran exploded out of the corner with a forearm shot. Aldrige used his power to execute a big biel throw across the ring. Hardy turned the tables by dumping Aldrige outside the ring. Jora Johl got involved as he sent Brick crashing face-first into the ring post.
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Hardy rolled over to the outside and dropped a few elbows on Aldrige over the apron. The former WWE star delivered two neck breakers and ordered the crowd to say his name with reverence. Aldrige didn't go down without a fight, as he tried to punch his way back into the match, only to get caught in a sleeper hold.
Aldrige got back to a vertical position, and he desperately backed Hardy up in the corner. Brick headed up top but ate a right punch from Hardy. Matt followed his opponent but couldn't deliver a top-rope suplex as he was sent crashing back down.
Aldrige was right on the money with a diving headbutt, but he was slow to capitalize as Hardy kicked out of the subsequent pinfall. Aldrige blocked the side effect and delivered a brutal shoulder breaker. Jora Johl leaped on the apron but got knocked off with a big punch.
Aldrige couldn't find Hardy with his springboard moonsault as Matt rolled out of the way. He planted Aldrige into the mat with the side effect before starting a "delete" chant. A Twist of Fate followed, and so did the three-count for Hardy.
Result: Matt Hardy def. Brick Aldrige on AEW Dark
Grade: B+
The Acclaimed vs. Lee Johnson & Brock Anderson (w/ Arn Anderson) on AEW Dark
Max Caster's latest diss verse was dedicated to the Nightmare Family, and of course, he did not even spare Arn Anderson.
Brock Anderson did well to catch Max Caster off guard with a few chained sequences of strikes. He fired off some shoulder shots in the corner, followed by the backdrop.
Lee Johnson entered the ring while Bowens received the tag as well. Anthony ripped Johnson in the chest with two chops. Lee responded with a brilliant dropkick, which was called the most underrated in the game by Taz.
Anthony Bowens raked Brock Anderson in the eyes and kicked him outside, where Max Caster was waiting to pile on the pressure. Bowens worked on Anderson's back with a series of forearm shimmers. He dropped Brock down with a modified back suplex. Anderson showed toughness with a spirited kickout, but Bowens got back to business with the chops.
Caster was tagged, and he began with stomps in the corner. Max had Anderson locked in scissor hold as Johnson urged the crowd to get behind his partner.
Brock's selling was on point tonight as he sold his back injury and took a lot of punishment throughout the match. He escaped a big running strike and tried to crawl over to Johnson. Caster smartly distracted the referee just when the tag took place.
Anderson got dragged back to the middle of the ring as Bowens returned to carry on from where he left off. Brock Anderson finally created some space with a snap DDT from him that proved to be the turning point in the match.
When Caster stopped the first attempt at a tag, Anderson pulled off a spinebuster and finally got a fresh and energetic Lee Johnson back into the contest.
Big Shotty took Caster out with a swinging neckbreaker. He gave Bowens a step-up enziguri but couldn't see Caster coming in with a running forearm shot. Caster sprang up to his feet with a kip-up, and so did Lee Johnson.
Johnson executed a rolling senton, followed by a Frog Splash, but Bowens broke the pinfall. Caster continued to take some punishment from Brock Anderson while Bowens reached under the ring for a chain. He slid it over to Caster, who decked Anderson in the face with the weapon behind the referee's back. Max then covered Anderson for the win.
Result: The Acclaimed def. Lee Johnson & Brock Anderson
Grade: B+
Wardlow vs. Rolando Perez (AEW Debut)
We mean no disrespect, but Rolando Perez stood no chance against Wardlow. The Pinnacle member no-sold the AEW debutant's punches.
Perez realized that his offense was ineffective, and he quickly dropped to his knees and pleaded for mercy. He kissed Warlow's feet and got a monstrous powerbomb in return. Ouch!
Wardlow delivered three more powerbombs. Mr. Mayhem put his opponent to sleep with a knee strike.
Result: Wardlow def. Rolando Perez (AEW Debut)
Grade: C
Wardlow wasn't done as he executed two F10s on poor Rolando after the match.
AEW Dark Main Event: Lee Moriarty vs. Nick Comoroto (w/ Aaron Solo)
Nick Comoroto avoided a takedown attempt and slapped Moriarty in the face to kickstart the AEW Dark main event.
Comoroto executed a giant mat return as Moriarty retreated into the corner. This match was all about technique versus brute force, and Comoroto easily won the early battles.
Moriarty came back with chopping kicks, but he couldn't avoid the shoulder attacks in the corner. Moriarty floated over an incoming strike and went for the Fujiwara armbar. Comoroto used his power to block the submission attempts, and he tremendously transitioned to a backbreaker. Inhumane strength! However, the damage had already been done as Comoroto began selling a storyline injury of his left arm.
The Freak Beast delivered another backbreaker and got a two-count this time for his efforts. Nick sent Moriarty outside, where Solo was waiting to land a few cheap shots on the babyface.
Comoroto mocked Moriarty as he dominated the match with a delayed military press slam. Moriarty kept going back to the armbar, and Comoroto continued to reverse the move with power strikes and scoop slams.
Comoroto showcased some textbook execution in his snap suplex, and he kept pinning his opponent at regular intervals. Moriarty had a lot left in his gas tank, as he fired off a few chops. Lee, unfortunately, got caught in the ropes and ate another cheap shot from Solo.
Moriarty escaped a suplex by kicking Comoroto in the head. He mounted a comeback with two clotheslines.
Lee knocked Comoroto outside with a running uppercut. He sprung out to the apron and delivered a painful shot to Comoroto's left arm.
Moriarty kept working on the left shoulder area as he sent him crashing into the steel post. He wrenched Nick's arm around the post before resuming the match inside the ring.
Lee had Comoroto in a Kimura, but The Factory member somehow fought out of the hold with an incredible powerslam. Comoroto looked stunned as Moriarty kicked out of a close pinfall.
"Let's go, Lee," chants kicked off as we approached the final stages of the match. Comoroto faced a lot of trouble using his left arm, and Moriarty capitalized by kicking it from his back.
Lee Moriarty ate a massive right hand from Comoroto, who proceeded to lift his rival with one arm. However, he couldn't deliver a finishing slam as Moriarty caught Comoroto in a cradle pin for a shocking upset win!
Result: Lee Moriarty def. Nick Comoroto
Grade: A
After his big win, Lee Moriarty cut a promo, spoke about his rise with AEW, and vowed to continue his momentum. Taigastyle is here to stay!
Check out the full AEW Dark episode above, and don't forget to leave your reviews and grades in the comments section below.
