Taz and Excalibur welcomed the fans to the latest AEW Dark episode, which featured five women's matches. Cody also made a surprising appearance on Dark to help another AEW star from a beatdown. As always, the AEW Dark episode also had several exciting debuts.
The first match of the night witnessed the in-ring AEW debut of Colten Gunn, son of WWE Hall of Famer Billy Gunn.
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#1. Gunn Club vs. BSHP KING, Joey O'Riley & Sean Maluta on AEW Dark
This was a big day for Colten Gunn as he was set to make his in-ring AEW debut. Billy was up to his usual shenanigans with Aubrey Edwards,
Colten kicked things off with Sean Maluta with a lockup. Sean got some wrist control before sending Colten into the corner. Colten, however, got Maluta down with a clean arm drag. Colten looked impressive as he got Sean down with a shoulder tackle.
He got a two-count with a dropkick. The elevation was eye-catching. Austin Gunn got the tag before their father, Billy, came in. The Gunns exchanged several tags before Maluta created some separation by trapping Austin. O'Riley came in, but he got laid out with a neck breaker.
King and Billy were now in the ring. Gunn got pushed towards the corner, and both men exchanged strikes. They laid each other out with a double clothesline.
The hot tags were made, and O'Riley and Austin entered the match. Chaos broke out as Colten and Maluta got into the action.
Back in the ring, Austin hit O'Riley with the Quick Draw for the win.
Result: Gunn Club def. BSHP KING, Joey O'Riley & Sean Maluta on AEW Dark
Grade: C
Lance Archer and Jake' The Snake' Roberts came out to the ring as a lifeless O'Riley laid vulnerable in the ring. Archer choke slammed O'Riley onto his tag team partners on the outside.
Roberts cut a promo that only he can before handing over the mic to Archer, who went on about life, death, and the painful truth about his actions in AEW.
#2. Travis Titan (Debutant) vs. Ricky Starks on AEW Dark
Travis Titan made his AEW debut against Ricky Starks, and they got the match underway with a hammerlock. Starks cracked Titan in the face with a right, followed by a chop.
Titan's dropkick attempt got blocked, and so did his German Suplex. Starks rocked Titan in the face with a single-leg dropkick.
Starks enjoyed dishing out some punishment on Travis, who did have some fire in him with retaliative strikes. Starks, however, dropped Titan with a hanging neck breaker for a two-count. He rammed his shoulders into Travis' guts in the corner. He took him to another corner and connected with the chops to the chest.
Titan fought back with a few elbow shots to the face, but Starks shut him down with a back suplex. Starks finished the match with his patented full-throttle spear.
Result: Ricky Starks def. Travis Titan on AEW Dark
Grade: C
#3. Joey Janela vs. Marko Stunt on AEW Dark
Stunt took Janela down with a sneaky roll-up. Joey extended his arm for the shake, but it was all a trap.
The comedic elements expectedly were a significant feature of the match. Stunt got Janela on his back with a series of kicks. Stunt attempted a DDT on the outside, but Janela caught him mid-air and suplexed him onto the floor.
Janela executed a brutal brainbuster. He followed it up with another one before going for a cocky pin. Janela attempted another buster, but Stunt reversed it into a hurricanrana.
Stunt took Janela out with the Dragonrana on the outside. Stunt might have hurt his ankle in the process. The action shifted to the ring, and Stunt went up to the top. Janela followed him with a kick.
Janela hit the Sit-out Avalanche Cradleshock for the win.
Result: Joey Janela def. Marko Stunt on AEW Dark
Grade: C
The Waiting Room segment
The very first episode of 'The Waiting Room' featuring Dr. Britt Baker and Rebel aired next. TH2 appeared as special guests during the special AEW Dark segment.
#4. Frankie Kazarian vs. Griff Garrison on AEW Dark
They got things rolling with an aggressive lock-up. Both men exchanged holds before Kazarian rolled over and took Griff down with a toe hold.
Frankie got the better of the back-and-forth exchange with a big clothesline. Kazarian got in a few chops in the corner.
Frankie got a two-count with a Russian leg sweep. Griff and Frankie went on to engage in a battle of chops. Frankie smacked Griff with a big right across the face before Garrison answered with an elbow strike.
Kazarian, however, got a two-count from a roll-up. Back on their feet, Griff took Frankie down with a big boot followed by a facebuster for a near fall. Garrison went for a splash, but no one was home. Griff came in with a springboard, but Frankie countered with a cutter.
Kazarian followed it with a reverse DDT for the win.
Result: Frankie Kazarian def. Griff Garrison on AEW Dark
Grade: B
#5. Penelope Ford vs. Rahne Victoria (Debutant) on AEW Dark
Penelope Ford wasn't messing around as she dropped Rahne with a pump kick right off the bat.
Victoria, however, got a quick roll-up. Ford got back in control with a suplex. She got Victoria in the Fireman's Carry position before dropping gut-first into her knees.
Ford dominated the match, and she attempted the Fisherman's Suplex. Victoria reversed it into a roll-up. Ford sandwiched Rahne's throat against the ropes.
Victoria kept missing her shots, but she finally connected with a roundhouse kick for a near fall. Penelope rolled out of a double wrist lock to deliver a springboard cutter. Ford followed it with two clotheslines before connecting with the Fisherman's Suplex with the high bridge for the win.
Result: Penelope Ford def. Rahne Victoria (Debutant) on AEW Dark
Grade: C
#6. Ryzin vs. Brandon Cutler on AEW Dark
Peter Avalon was in the audience, and he enjoyed booing his former tag team partner.
Cutler and Ryzin got the match underway, and Brandon lit it up with a series of rights. Cutler executed an impressive diving leg drop across the ring. Ryzin dropped Cutler face-first into the top rope.
Ryzin got a one-count with a leg lariat. Cutler connected with a few kicks to the chest before dropping Ryzin with a leaping roundhouse kick.
Ryzin got in a lot of offense as he softened Cutler's neck before delivering a facebuster. Ryzin went up to the top for a senton, but Cutler got his knees up. Ryzin executed an innovative counter before going up to the top. Cutler responded by taking Ryzin down with the body scissors. In the end, Brandon finished the match with the TPK.
Result: Brandon Cutler def. Ryzin on AEW Dark
Grade: B+
#7. Tesha Price vs. Leyla Hirsch on AEW Dark
The early exchanges ended in a stalemate as both women engaged in a collar-elbow tie-up. Hirsch used her power to get a headlock takedown.
Price got back up and sent Leyla into the ropes. The women jockeyed for position with some decent mat work.
Price finally got Leyla down with a leaping enziguri for a two-count. Price went for a backslide, but Hirsch sent Tesha face-first into the corner.
Leyla connected with a few strikes to the face before going for an armbar. Hirsch continued to attack Price's left arm. Price and Hirsch stood and banged in the middle of the ring with a series of elbow strikes.
The counters ended with Leyla dropping Price down with a suplex. Hirsch followed it with an epic springboard moonsault. Hirsch locked in the Juji Gatami cross arm breaker for the win on AEW Dark.
Result: Leyla Hirsch def. Tesha Price on AEW Dark
Grade: C
#8. TNT vs. The Jurassic Express on AEW Dark
WWE Hall of Famer D-Von Dudley's sons were back on AEW Dark for a match against one of the most popular teams in the promotion.
Terrell and Jungle Boy kicked off the match with a high-flying exchange.
Jungle Boy came out on top as Terrence was forced to come into the match. Luchasaurus came in as well, and he got in his popular strikes, which also included a hook kick.
Terrence rolled out of the ring, and the twins did the good ol' switcharoo as Terrence went under the ring.
Terrell wasn't even the legal man, and he delivered some heavy shots from the top on Jungle Boy.
Terrence was back in, and he sent Jungle Boy flying with a belly-to-belly suplex. The brothers made quick tags and isolated Jungle Boy in the corner.
Jungle Boy, however, took both the brothers off their feet with huge clotheslines. Luchasaurus got the hot tag, and he unleashed a plethora of kicks to take TNT down.
TNT reversed a double chokeslam attempt as Jungle Boy got the tag; they delivered a double powerbomb for a near fall. Luchasaurus choke slammed one of the brothers while Jungle Boy trapped the other in a crossface for the tap on AEW Dark.
Jungle Boy might have just debuted a new finisher right there.
Result: The Jurassic Express def. TNT on AEW Dark
Grade: B
#9. D3 & Angel Fashion vs. The Acclaimed on AEW Dark
Max Caster dropped a verse and destroyed D3 with his bars. Fire!
Bowens got the match underway with Fashion.
Angel took Bowens down with a low leg lariat. Bowens, however, got control of the match with a basement dropkick. Caster dropped Fashion on the apron with a back suplex.
Caster was the legal man now, and The Acclaimed were firmly in control of the match. They worked well in tandem by delivering a double team hanging neck breaker combo on Fashion.
Angel was in all kinds of trouble, but he finally leaped over to his corner for the hot tag. D3 dropped Bowens to the canvas with a leaping neck breaker. He took Caster out with a DDT.
D3 was fired up, but Bowens shut him down. The Acclaimed executed the 'Claim to Fame' combo. They ended the match by delivering the 'Critically Acclaimed' on D3.
Result: The Acclaimed def. D3 & Angel Fashion on AEW Dark
Grade: B
#10. Alex Gracia vs. Ivelisse on AEW Dark
Gracia got right in Ivelisse's face in the early goings of the match. Ivelisse shut her down with a back elbow.
Gracia looked great, however, as she took Ivelisse down with a deep arm drag. Diamante helped her partner get some control by kicking Gracia in the head while the referee's back was turned.
Ivelisse was not on top as she trapped Gracia's head in between her legs. Gracia briefly attempted a counter pinfall attempt. Ivelisse assumed control yet again with a choke.
Gracia continued to get in a few sneaky pinfall attempts. Ivelisse flattened Gracia for a two-count. Gracia created some separation with an elbow followed by a backstabber.
Gracia took Ivelisse down with a Cazadora before sending Ivelisse into the middle ropes.
Gracia then delivered Rey Mysterio's 619, and the commentators called it the Area Code Collison. Gracia followed it with a senton for a two-count. Ivelisse avoided a knee strike and laid out Gracia with a flatliner.
Ivelisse, who suffered a small cut on the bridge of her nose. delivered her finisher (Roll through Snapmare) for the win.
A special shoutout to Gracia for putting on a solid performance on AEW Dark.
Result: Ivelisse def. Alex Gracia on AEW Dark
Grade: B+
#11. Thunder Rosa vs. Lindsay Snow (Debutant) on AEW Dark
The usual lock-up began the AEW Dark match. Thunder Rosa's roll-ups and arm drags were as clean as they come.
Snow used her strength to send Rosa to the corner. The AEW debutant stomped on Rosa before following it up with a gut-wrench suplex.
Rosa responded with a powerful dropkick for a two-count. Both women were on the mat, and Snow unleashed some vicious ground and pound. Rosa reversed into the rear naked sleeper hold. Snow got up to a vertical base with Rosa on her back. She sent Thunder Rosa crashing into the corner.
Snow came running in but got tripped face-first into the middle turnbuckle.
Rosa got in a few brutal dropkicks and a two-count with a lateral press. Rosa went up to the top rope, but Snow followed her with an enziguri. Rosa used her quick hands as she attacked the body before going for a spinning back fist.
Rosa finished the match with the Thunder Driver on AEW Dark.
Result: Thunder Rosa def. Lindsay Snow on AEW Dark
Grade: B
A Peter Avalon segment aired next.
#12. Co-Main Event: Big Swole vs. Kylynn King on AEW Dark
The collar-elbow tie-up spilled out to the outside as both women were unwilling to let go. They got back in before the ten count and engaged in a war of words.
They tried to one-up each other before Swole went for the Dirty Dancing, but King bailed. King sent Swole head-first into the steel ring post on the outside.
Back in the ring, King got a one-count from the basement dropkick. King tried to keep Swole down with a headlock.
Swole got back up and drove her knees into the spine and rib cage of King. The back-and-forth exchanges in this match were pretty solid as Swole countered with a slick Cazadora-flatliner combo. Swole locked in the Cloverleaf, and King tapped.
Result: Big Swole def. Kylynn King on AEW Dark
Grade: B
Darby Allin came out to the ring with the TNT title, and he invited Ricky Starks to come to the ring. Starks left the commentary table to head towards the ring, and Brian Cage joined him.
Cody came from the back with his headset on and a chair in his hand. The former TNT Champion attacked Cage with the chair, and Taz's men retreated as Cody and Allin stood tall in the ring. The segment ended with Cody's theme song. Cody and Darby will team up to face Starks and Cage on Dynamite.
#13. Main Event: Jack Evans (w/ Angelico) vs. Christopher Daniels (w/ Frankie Kazarian) on AEW Dark
Evans got the waist lock on Daniels to begin the match. Both men engaged in an intricate series of exchanges and counters in the early goings of the contest.
Daniels dropped Evans with an exploder suplex. He followed it with a hanging vertical suplex for a two-count. Daniels was on song as he got another two-count from a backdrop. Evans got back into the match with a corkscrew kick from the top.
Evans connected with another kick for a two-count before droving his knee into Daniels' face. Evans then scoop slammed Daniels to the mat before locking in the kimura. Evans sent Daniels to the outside.
Back in the ring, Daniels delivered the Blue Thunder Powerbomb. The veteran connected with a few clotheslines as Evans was unable to withstand the storm. Daniels got a near fall with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.
Evans reversed the Angel's Wings into a back body drop. Jack got a near fall with a standing sky twister press, and both men were eventually down with the double clothesline.
The referee began the count as they got back to their feet. The kicks and elbow strikes were exchanged. Daniels rocked Evans with a palm strike. The Fallen Angel trapped Evans in a koji clutch. A few quick near falls were exchanged before Daniels peppered Evans with a few jabs.
Evans stole the victory with an incredible backslide into the bridge pin. He kept Daniels' feet on the mat by pushing the calves down with his own feet. That was great!
Result: Jack Evans, def. Christopher Daniels on AEW Dark
Grade: B+
This week's AEW Dark had more good matches than most other weeks, which was a much-needed development. The women also got to shine under the spotlight, and they thankfully delivered. All in all, another solid AEW Dark is in the books, and you can watch the full episode above.