The question as to the immediate future of both AEW Dark and AEW Dark: Elevation has been answered.
Andrew Zarian reported Wednesday that both shows are done “for the time being.” Part of that is due to an exclusivity clause as part of the new deal between AEW and Warner Bros. Discovery that will see AEW Collision soon debut on Saturdays.
Zarian said as of now, that clause doesn’t include Ring of Honor content which currently streams on Tony Khan’s HonorClub platform.
AEW Dark and Dark Elevation have ended for the time being.
This in part has to do with AEW signing a new deal for AEW Collision to air on Saturdays.
Part of the new deal is that AEW Wrestling content will exclusively air on WBD.
Both shows didn’t air this week on YouTube and there was no announcement by the company, or Khan, as to why. Content for Dark: Elevation had previously been filmed prior to Dynamite but in recent weeks, that spot has been reserved for ROH.
While sometimes filmed prior to live editions of AEW Rampage, Dark has been filmed recently in six-hour marathon sessions at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida. The next taping sessions are scheduled for this weekend, but for ROH content instead.
AEW Dark debuted on YouTube in October 2019 the week after Dynamite did and ran for 193 episodes, primarily on Tuesdays. Dark: Elevation debuted in March 2021 for 115 episodes, primarily on Mondays.
Throughout their runs, both shows featured hundreds of indie wrestlers getting their opportunity to work against AEW contracted talent in a bigger spotlight — some of which went on to be signed by the company.
It’s Monday and you know what that means: an four-match episode of AEW Dark Elevation from Long Island, New York, with Paul Wight and Matt Menard on the call.
Maki Itoh defeated Ashley D’Amboise
Itoh made her way to the ring singing as she always does. I think she might have showed the most charisma out of anyone tonight. She flicked off D’Amboise and started driving her right hand into her head. The whole match was just Itoh going for her headbutt off the ropes and D’Amboise avoiding it. Itoh finally hit it and locked in a single-leg Boston crab which she converted into a Texas Cloverleaf to win the match.
Jericho Appreciation Society (Angelo Parker, Jake Hager & Matt Menard) defeated Jack Tomlinson, Mike Magnum & Zack Clayton
Menard exited the desk area and walked over to meet his teammates, immediately starting off the match with Tomlinson. The JAS kept mocking the other team with Parker proclaiming he has the best hair in the business and then slapping Magnum around. Tomlinson entered with Magnum and tried to take on Hager by themselves. Not only did it not work, but referee Aubrey Edwards let it happen.
Clayton was not impressed so he got in the ring and clotheslined both his teammates. He hopped out of the ring and the former 2point0 hit the double DDT onto Tomlinson to get the win.
Hardy Party (Isiah Kassidy & Matt Hardy) defeated Bobby Orlando & Brett Gosselin
Of course, there was no Ethan Page with Hardy and Kassidy this week after the recent split. Hardy grabbed a mic and led the crowd in a “delete” chant followed by Kassidy moaning.
Orlando (from Beyond Wrestling and other Northeast indies) started with Kassidy, but most of the moves were of the double-team variety that included Hardy. Gosselin tried to get involved, but they rid of him quickly. Hardy got the tag and hit the Deletes in the corner and a Side Effect. This set up the swanton bomb and win by Kassidy, surely intentional with the return of Jeff Hardy even though he returned after this was taped.
Emi Sakura defeated Mizuki
Mizuki, like Itoh, is from Japan’s TJPW. I actually saw this exact same match in Raleigh at DPW last year. This was obviously not as good as that one, but still fun.
Mizuki was just a Sakura punching bag for the start of this match. Mizuki finally ducked a chop and rolled her up for a near fall. Mizuki followed with a double stomp to the outside, but Sakura countered with a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker.
After Mizuki hit another double stomp, they went back in the ring and went back and forth for a little bit until Mizuki tried to roll up Sakura, which she countered with her own roll-up for the win.
Monday’s show will feature four matches taped on April 5, 2023, from the UBS Arena in Elmont, New York.
Maki Itoh will face Ashley D’Amboise on this week’s episode. D’Amboise is coming off a loss to Athena in a proving grounds match on ROH TV last week. For Itoh, this was her first match in AEW this year. She’s back in Japan now and wrestled on a TJPW show this weekend. Also on that TJPW show was Princess of Princess Champion Mizuki, who will face Emi Sakura in her AEW debut on Dark: Elevation tonight.
Matches involving The Jericho Appreciation Society, Matt Hardy & Isiah Kassidy are also scheduled to air.
AEW Dark: Elevation 4/17 lineup:
The Jericho Appreciation Society (Matt Menard, Angelo Parker, & Jake Hager) vs. Mike Magnum, Jack Tomlinson, and “The Reality” Zack Clayton
Emi Sakura vs. Mizuki
Matt Hardy & Isiah Kassidy vs. Brett Gosselin & Bobby Orlando
This week’s AEW Dark: Elevation was taped at the UBS Arena on Long Island, New York, last Wednesday with Paul Wight and Matt Menard on the call.
They mentioned this is the most exciting hour in pro wrestling, so exciting, in fact, that it only lasted 25 minutes tonight. These tapings actually had eight matches, but presumably were split in two as only four aired this evening.
The Butcher, The Blade & Kip Sabian (w/ Penelope Ford) defeated MAO, Shunma Katsumata & Yuki Ueno
MAO, Katsumata & Ueno are part of the DDT faction Sauna Club that is led by Konosuke Takeshita. After a quick start by Sabian, Butcher made the tag and no sold a dropkick by MAO, only to get popped with a no look punch. Triple dives connected from Ueno, MAO & Katsumata, as back inside, Butcher used his strength to run through the opposition.
A snap powerslam by Blade led to fast tags, but a missed corner cannonball by Sabian allowed MAO to hit a series of kicks. The hot tag was made to Katsumata who connected with a diving splash and rolling cutter to Butcher on the apron. Ueno tried to keep the momentum going, but was caught with a Blade pop-up powerbomb.
Ueno countered Drag the Lake as MAO hit a 450 splash, but the tide turned with Blade planting him with a rolling neckbreaker. The second Drag the Lake attempt connected to give Butcher, Blade & Sabian their first win as a trio.
Marina Shafir & Nyla Rose defeated The Renegades
Shafir used an early throw to drop Robyn Renegade who tried to respond with an enzuigiri, but Shafir kept on an ankle lock. Charlette Renegade was able to make the tag and a double team by the Renegades only made Shafir angry who flat out punted Charlette in the liver.
Rose cleaned house immediately with a corner splash and double snap suplex on both Renegades followed by a spear. Robyn avoided the first Beast Bomb, but as Charlette ran to help, Shafir clocked her and Rose planted Robyn with the second Beast Bomb attempt for the victory.
Shafir & Rose are now 14-1 in standard tag team action.
Dark Order (Alex Reynolds, John Silver & Evil Uno) defeated Aaron Rourke, Alvin Alvarez & Brother Greatness
Uno wasted no time clobbering Greatness with a running boot and short arm lariat. This show was taped in Long Island last week, so Silver got a big hometown pop. After a delayed vertical suplex, Rourke tried to cut off Silver’s momentum, but was caught in a fireman’s carry along with Greatness in a demonstration of Silver’s power. The numbers were too much for Silver as he was isolated, but Rourke, Alvarez & Greatness were playing to the crowd too much, thus Silver made the hot tag to Reynolds.
A discus punch, dive to the floor and leaping boot on the apron led to Reynolds hitting a power bomb on Rourke for two. Uno made the blind tag and Greatness was dropped with the triple slam. Rourke suffered the Wombo Combo from Reynolds & Silver to get the win.
Big Bill & Lee Moriarty defeated Rex Lawless & Traxx
Wight questioned if Traxx was wearing ankle weights while Menard wondered if he was Scott Norton. Bill got a nice reaction being from Queens, dropping Traxx easily in the corner. Moriarty was able to easily pick through the pieces with corner knees and snap elbow drop. Traxx got in one shot as Lawless used Moriarty to squish Bill in the corner, but tried it again and ate a running Bill big boot and chokeslam for the easy quick three count.
Here are AEW Dark Elevation and ROH spoilers from Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite tapings in Long Island, New York.
AEW Dark Elevation:
Jake Hager, Matt Menard & Angelo Parker defeated Zack Clayton, Jack Tomlinson & Mike Magnum
Kip Sabian, The Butcher & The Blade defeated Shunma Katsumata, MAO & Yukio Ino from DDT.
Nyla Rose & Marina Shafir defeated The Renegades
Dark Order defeated Alvin Alvarez, Brother Greatness & Aaron Rourke
Big Bill & Lee Moriarty defeated Rex Lawless & Traxx
Maki Itoh defeated Ashley D’Amboise
Matt Hardy & Isiah Kassidy defeated Bobby Orlando & BRG
Emi Sakura defeated Mizuki
ROH:
Mark Briscoe & The Lucha Brothers defeated Shane Taylor & The WorkHorsemen
ROH Pure Champion Katsuyori Shibata defeated Christopher Daniels to retain the title. Judges for the match were Dean Malenko, BJ Whitmer and Jerry Lynn.
Brian Cage defeated Ortiz
Jay Lethal defeated Darius Martin. The finish had Matt Taven, who was doing commentary at ringside, superkick Martin while the referee was distracted.
Rush & Dralistico defeated Carlie Bravo & Shawn Dean
Daniel Garcia defeated Tracy Williams
ROH Women’s Champion Athena defeated Miya Yamashita to retain
Willow Nightingale defeated Notorious Mimi
The Righteous (Dutch and Vincent) defeated Steve Somerset & Steven Azul
It’s Monday and you know what that means: AEW Dark Elevation. Since last Thursday’s Ring of Honor TV was taped prior to Dynamite, this week’s episode was the first to emanate from Orlando’s Universal Studios.
Tony Schiavone and Matt Menard were on the call as Paul Wight was “on assignment” in South Carolina.
Action Andretti defeated Nick Comoroto
Andretti used his speed throughout until he tried a tope suicida and was caught by Comoroto and then slammed onto the apron (the hardest part of the ring if you didn’t know.) Comoroto got cocky with consecutive backbreakers and consecutive nearfalls.
Andretti got back into things with an enziguri and another tope suicida. He followed it up with a spinning torneo off the middle rope and a split-leg moonsault. Comoroto caught him with a clothesline off the ropes but when he went for a power bomb, Andretti caught him in a pinning combo for the surprise win.
Skye Blue defeated Angelica Risk
Risk didn’t take too kindly to Blue early, so Blue started beating the crap out of her. Risk turned things around with a neckbreaker off the ropes and then used the ropes to choke her. Blue rallied with an enziguri in the corner and on the mat, but Risk kept grabbing the hair. But after a superkick, Blue hit her Code Blue for the win.
Gates Of Agony (w/ Prince Nana) defeated The Qrown (Leonis & Maximus)
Four big sweaty men in this match — you love to see it. Every move in the early going was just a strength contest and as you might expect, Toa Liona won those matchups. When they went for a double-team move in their corner, Kaun slapped Liona in the face to wake him up and then threw him into Maximus. He was then able to fight out of a headlock to get Leonis in on a hot tag, but they got caught and Gates of Agony just drove his face into the mat for the pin and win.
Julia Hart defeated Kelsey Heather
Hart came out singing her theme song and Menard called her a real freak. Heather was already in the ring and it appeared she is a cheerleader like Hart’s former gimmick. Heather started by leading the crowd in a House of Black chant, which I did not understand at all.
Hart pounded on Heather and whenever the cheerleader went for something, Hart just stopped it and smacked her around. After a vertical suplex, it looked like Hart was gonna go for a pin, but she just kept beating her instead. Heather finally connected on a neckbreaker in her only offensive move of the match. After Hart moved out of the way of a moonsault, she locked in the Hartless for the quick tap and her 20th straight win.
Kip Sabian (w/ Penelope Ford) defeated Leon Ruffin
The commentary team was also weirded out by Sabian and Ford. When asked who runs things in this duo, Schiavone said, “Well, I know who runs things at my house.”
They started with their own test of strength and when Sabian won, he kicked the arm of Ruffin and he looked more offended than hurt. Ruffin turned it around with a tope suicida, but he started playing to the crowd and let Sabian get back up. When Ruffin got back in the ring, Sabian locked in an arm stretch. Ruffin hit a middle rope cutter after a second try, but when Sabian kicked out, he hit a brainbuster and a flatliner for the win.
Lance Archer (w/ Jake “The Snake” Roberts) defeated Bryce Cannon
If you were to look up “people who don’t have a chance” in the dictionary, it would be a picture of Cannon. He had a goofy hairdo that Archer played with until he threw him to the outside. Roberts actually gave him a clothesline and then threw him back in. Archer went to do the chop spot in the corner where he rips off your shirt, but this Cannon guy had three different shirts on. After that, Archer hit the chokeslam and clothesline for the win. Everybody, in fact, dies.
AEW Tag Team Champions The Gunns defeated The Infantry (Carlie Bravo & Shawn Dean) in an eliminator match
Schiavone made sure to comment on The Gunns’ atrocious outfits. Austin Gunn then called a guy down from the crowd and just started yelling at everyone.
A lot of this match was each man and team showing off to the crowd. Of course, the Gunns got booed each time and The Infantry got cheered. The Infantry got the advantage early and set up a cool spot where they yanked both champions’ legs wide open. When they went to fight on the outside, The Gunns got the advantage back with some dirty tactics. They just worked over Dean until he hit an enziguri and the hot tag to Bravo.
Bravo ran wild on both Gunns, hitting a cutter on Colten for a two count. When he tried to follow up with a stomp, Colten rolled him up and Austin got involved. Bravo hit a double DDT after a double-team move. Bravo kept trying to get something going, but the champions simply got him up for the 3:10 to Yuma for the pin and win.
After the match, Schiavone was in the ring to talk about Wednesday’s Tag Team title defense against FTR. Gunn just started singing “Na na na, hey hey, kiss him goodbye” and said FTR will be gone forever on Wednesday.
Ahead of their titles vs. careers match against FTR on Dynamite, The Gunns will be in action on Monday’s show. They are scheduled to wrestle The Infantry (Shawn Dean & Carlie Bravo).
Also set to air on this week’s episode is Action Andretti vs. Nick Comoroto, Kip Sabian vs. Leon Ruffin, and Skye Blue vs. Angelica Risk. The Gates of Agony, Julia Hart, Kip Sabian, and Lance Archer are scheduled for the show as well.
This week’s edition of AEW Dark: Elevation was filmed on March 24, 2023, from Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida.
AEW Dark: Elevation 4/3 lineup:
Action Andretti vs. Nick Comoroto
Skye Blue vs. Angelica Risk
Gates of Agony (Toa Liona & Bishop Kaun) w/Prince Nana vs. Leonis & Maximus
House of Black’s Julia Hart vs. Kelsey Heather
Kip Sabian w/Penelope Ford vs. Leon Ruffin
Lance Archer w/Jake “the Snake” Roberts vs. Bryce Cannon
AEW World Tag Team Champions The Gunns (Austin & Colten Gunn) vs. The Infantry (Shawn Dean & Carlie Bravo) in a title eliminator match.
It’s Monday and you know what that means: AEW Dark Elevation from the Cable Dahmer Center in Independence, MO, with Paul Wight and “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard on the call.
Ari Daivari & Tony Nese defeated Campbell Myers & Lane Summers
There was no special entrance this week for the Varsity Athletes. Nese started by showing off his “sweet bod.” The Athletes put on a clinic in this one, whether it was fair or not. Lane Summers (aka Kody Lane) finally got the hot tag, but it took one boot to shut him down. They connected with a cutter and frog splash on Summers for the quick win.
Marina Shafir & Nyla Rose defeated Briar & Sage Hale
The commentary team heavily emphasized again this week that Shafir doesn’t wear shoes. The Hales had zero chance in this match. Shafir hit Briar with an exploder and pin attempt, but Sage broke it up. She actually kept breaking up pins until Rose finally had enough and threw her into the steel steps on the outside. Shafir locked in a triangle choke that included Briar’s leg for the tapout.
Willow Nightingale defeated Maggie Lee
There was a big pop for Nightingale, as usual. Nightingale used her size for most of her offense. They went for a test of strength, but Lee, who is considerably taller, just held her hand over Nightingale. Nightingale took offense and fired up, hitting Lee with a cannonball in the corner and a power bomb in the middle for the pin. She moves on to face Ruby Soho on Wednesday’s Dynamite.
The Firm (Big Bill & Lee Moriarty) defeated Anaya & Zack Clayton
Clayton was the one who started on the offensive, but Moriarty was too much for both he and Anaya. Anaya got the most of it with some rough knees and an enziguri. The crowd chanted for Bill and he finally got the tag. He threw around Anaya like a rag doll until both he and Moriarty hit an assisted Blue Thunder bomb for the win. Both Bill and Moriarty even did a little jig after the match
ROH Women’s Champion Athena defeated Tootie Lynn in a Proving Ground match
Lynn came out of the gates with a dropkick and a lariat. When she went for a wraparound DDT, Athena caught her in the air and turned it into her own. Lynn looked knocked out and Athena even checked on her, but she was out cold. Athena pinned her to win the match.
Afterward, Athena went to help her up but just took her to the outside for a back suplex on the apron. While Athena was on the outside attacking Lynn, Emi Sakura was in the ring grabbing the title belt and attacking Athena with it. They will meet for Athena’s title this Thursday with the winner moving on to defend against Yuka Sakazaki on Friday’s Supercard of Honor.
The Firm (Ethan Page, Isiah Kassidy & Matt Hardy) defeated Spanish Announce Project (Angelico, Luther & Serpentico)
The SAP got their own entrance followed by The Firm coming out and Hardy giving Ethan Page a hug to start. Apparently, Page was sad so Hardy and Kassidy tried their best to get him to feel better by moaning and partying hardy with Hardy Party.
Angelico and Kassidy started with some chain wrestling. Hardy got the first tag, hitting Angelico with an elbow from the middle rope. The domination continued as the fans started chanting for Page. There was wrestling going on, but it didn’t seem like anybody cared as they were more focused on Page. He finally got the hot tag and they set up the triple team onto Serpentico in the corner. Page went for the power bomb, but Hardy let him hit the Twist of Fate. Before going for the pin, he tagged in Kassidy to let him get the pin and win the match. This is an awesome team.
Riho defeated Diamante
Wight and Menard mentioned how great Diamante looks and how Riho is the no. 1 contender for Jamie Hayter’s AEW Women’s title. Diamante used her power in the early going, going up for a top rope move before Riho shoved her off and hit the top rope double stomp.
Riho followed up with a high knee, but Diamante fought back in with a nec breaker and a few Germans. Every time Diamante tried to get something going, Riho was able to counter and after a big uppercut from Diamante, Riho rolled her up to get the surprise win. I’m not sure why they did it this way instead of just giving Riho a clean pin, but whatever.
Ari Daivari & Tony Nese (w/Josh Woods & Mark Sterling) defeated Jay Lucas & Terry Yaki
Lee Moriarty defeated Invictus Khash
Evil Uno defeated Cezar Bononi
Toni Storm defeated Kiera Hogan
Top Flight defeated WorkHorsemen
Matt Taven defeated Brian Pillman Jr.
Lee Johnson defeated Blake Li
Michael Nakazawa defeated Baliyan Akki
Josh Woods (w/Tony Nese, Ari Daivari & Mark Sterling) defeated Daisy Kay
Willow defeated Diamante
Juice Robinson defeated Pat Buck
The Renegades defeated Kaya Dream & Brittney Jay
Cole Karter defeated Hunter James
Iron Savages (w/an unnamed manager [Jameson Ryan]) defeated Sonny Kiss & JVS-K (w/Slim J)
Marina Shafir defeated Dream Girl Ellie
QT Marshall & Aaron Solo (w/Harley Cameron) defeated Austin Green & Vary Morales
AR Fox defeated Isaiah Kassidy
Christopher Daniels defeated Angelico
Slim J (w/Ari Daivari, Sonny Kiss & JVS-K) defeated Action Andretti via ref stoppage after an apparent injury. Action Andretti was able to stand on his own but was helped to the back after the doctor rushed in to the ring. I wouldn’t expect this to air.
Brian Pillman Jr. & Brock Anderson w Arn Anderson defeated Ryan Nemeth & Cezar Bononi (w/Peter Avalon)
Emi Sakura & Mei Suruga (w/Baliyan Akki) defeated Reka Tahaka & Ashley D’Amboise
Zack Clayton defeated Jake Logan
John Silver & Alex Reynolds of the Dark Order defeated Tony Nese & Josh Woods of the Varsity Athletes (w/Mark Sterling). Both Ari Daivari and Evil Uno got involved towards the finish.
It’s Monday night and you know what that means: AEW Dark Elevation from Winnipeg’s Canada Life Centre with Matt Menard and Paul Wight on the call.
Skye Blue defeated TFA
TFA attacked Blue before the match started, which seems to happen to her a lot. If you were wondering what TFA stands for, it’s Taryn From Accounting.
TFA had some of the crowd behind her, being from Canada and all, and went for a couple of quick pins that Blue kicked out of. Blue rolled her up and then hit a few elbows and followed with a high crossbody for a two count. Blue kicked out of a side slam-esque move out of a shoulder carry, landed a kick, and hit her running sunset flip bomb for the win. She moves on to take on Toni Storm Wednesday on Dynamite.
Jake Hager defeated Adam Knight
Hager was joined by Angelo Parker and, of course, had his purple hat on. Hager made sure to connect on a belly-to-back suplex before he took it off. Knight hit a wraparound on Hager and a lariat off the ropes that stunned him. Hager came back with his own lariat followed by his running middle rope splash for the win.
Emi Sakura defeated Zoe Sager
Fun fact: Sager is the LPW Grand Champion out of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. She was taking on the queen here tonight and it didn’t go very well. Sakura toyed with Sager early on with hair pulls, back rakes and chops, but Sager still kicked out of a pin attempt. Sakura quickly got her up for a tiger driver, but Sager fought out. After absorbing a dropkick off the top rope, Sakura kicked out and then hit a neckbreaker off a counter. She followed it up with a crossbody in the corner and a submission hold you have to see to believe:
Cutler got a big reaction from the Canadian crowd, probably because he is miraculously undefeated on Dark Elevation this year. (He may be 1-0 but still undefeated.) Geiger showed off some technical wrestling early with a vertical suplex and a kneebar, but Cutler found the ropes. Cutler was in the corner trying to fix his shoes as Menard and Wight suggested that he might be pumping them up. Impossible since he’s wearing Jordan 1’s, but I digress.
Cutler hit a couple of elbows, some dance moves, and an airplane spin that made him dizzier than Geiger. When he hit a second airplane spin, they both fell onto each other. Geiger turned the pin into a rear naked choke, but Cutler flipped over into a pinning combination for the win to extend his winning streak to 2-0 on Elevation.
The Firm (Ethan Page, Isiah Kassidy & Matt Hardy) (w/ Stokely Hathaway) defeated Massive Damage, Mo Jabari & Sebastian Wolfe
Man, I love The Firm. The music hit for a big pop, but Page had to shut it off, as always. He tried to get the crowd on his side with his Canadian gear. Somebody yelled shut up, so Page called him an assh*le and handed the mic over to Kassidy. Menard sounded like he feared for his life thinking Kassidy was about to moan. He led the crowd in some moans and they went to the ring.
Kassidy got things going with Jabari and some great wrestling. Hardy then got to deal with Wolfe, who actually got the upper hand on Hardy until the Three Courses of Deletion started in the turnbuckles. Next, both Page and Hardy hit elbows off the middle rope. Damage distracted Kassidy while he was hitting shots in the corner, so Page got the hot tag and ran wild on all three men. After Jabari kicked out at two, each team was in the ring and The Firm hit a triple Side Effect followed up by an Ego’s Edge for the win.
Hathaway was out there the whole time but looked miserable, nervous and out of it. After the match, he got in the ring and locked in a rear naked choke on Jabari. He takes on Hook in a no DQ match on Wednesday.
Top Flight defeated Michael Allen Richard Clark & Shaun Moore
Yeah, you read that right. This guy has four names which is very unique if you ask me. Turns out Wight was bleeding at the desk at the start of this match, so I’m not sure what happened there. But for the actual wrestling, Darius Martin took most of the match like usual and looked good. Clark and Moore double-teamed Darius but he moved under for the hot tag to Dante who ran wild with help from his brother, ending the match with his between-the-legs frog splash.
ROH Women’s Champion Athena defeated Taylor Rising in a Proving Ground match
Athena headbutted Rising immediately take her out. She disposed Rising to the outside and threw her into the new, harder barricade but Rising threw Athena into the steel steps. Athena was not happy, so she hit Rising with an Alabama Slam on the concrete floor. Back in the ring, Rising actually hit Athena with a few kicks and a pedigree for a near fall that actually got me. But, Athena quickly hit her double knees and then locked in the crossface for the win. After the match, Athena threw Rising over the top rope and then threw her face straight into the belt.
Dustin Rhodes & Keith Lee defeated Jessie V & Levi Night
This is the new team’s second match together after beating Parker Boudreaux & Swerve Strickland on Rampage a few weeks back. They showed off some great teamwork early on. Both V and Night got the worst of it from both men. Lee never even left his feet, not even on a belly-to-belly suplex. They finished off Night quickly for the win.
Dark Order (Alex Reynolds & John Silver) defeated Varsity Athletes (Ari Daivari & Tony Nese) (w/ Mark Sterling)
Daivari and Nese got UFC-style comedic entrances from Sterling. He used the mic time to make fun of the Winnipeg Jets and their absence of retired numbers. He pointed out that Nese is a better athlete than Jets winger Blake Wheeler. No offense to Wheeler, but he’s probably right.
Nese and Daivari attacked Dark Order before the bell rang. Silver fought out early, but referee Rick Knox was easily distracted by Sterling. The athletes used the opportunity to lay their boots to Silver. Silver fought back and tagged Reynolds who hit both men on the outside and tried to pin Daivari before Nese broke it up. After Dark Order disposed of Daivari, they connected on their stunner/German suplex/float-over combo onto Nese for the win.
Matches set to air on Monday’s show include Tony Nese & Ari Daivari vs. Dark Order’s Alex Reynolds & John Silver, Athena vs. Taylor Rising, and Dustin Rhodes & Keith Lee vs. Jessie V & Levi Night.
Skye Blue, Emi Sakura, Brandon Cutler, Jake Hager, The Firm, and Top Flight are also scheduled for this week’s episode.
AEW Dark: Elevation on Monday, March 20, 2023, was filmed on Wednesday, March 15, 2023, from the Canada Life Center in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
AEW Dark: Elevation 3/20 lineup:
Tony Nese & Ari Daivari w/ Mark Sterling vs. Dark Order’s Alex Reynolds & John Silver
ROH Women’s World Champion Athena vs. Taylor Rising in a Proving Grounds match
Brandon Cutler vs. Jason Geiger
Dustin Rhodes & Keith Lee vs. Levi Night & Jessie V
Emi Sakura vs. Zoe Sager
Jake Hager vs. Adam Knight
The Firm’s Matt Hardy, Isiah Kassidy & Ethan Page vs. Massive Damage, Mo Jabari & Sebastian Wolfe
Skye Blue vs. TFA (Taryn From Accounting)
Top Flight (Darius & Dante Martin) vs. Michael Allen Richard Clark & Shaun Moore
The following are AEW Rampage and AEW: Dark Elevation spoilers taped as part of their debut in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, Wednesday.
AEW Rampage (Friday)
Powerhouse Hobbs defeated Rey Fenix. After the match, Hobbs grabbed Alex Abrahantes, which allowed QT Marshall to drop Abrahantes with a diamond cutter.
Taya Valkyrie defeated Eva Lawless. Jade Cargill, Leila Grey, and Smart Mark Sterling were taking notes on stage.
Matt Menard and Angelo Parker defeated The Bollywood Boyz.
Daniel Garcia defeated Brody King. The finish of the match had Chris Jericho attack King with a baseball bat.
This was Hobbs’ first title defense since defeating Wardlow for the title on last Wednesday’s Dynamite.
This was Valkyrie’s AEW in-ring debut after appearing on Dynamite to confront TBS Champion Jade Cargill.
AEW Dark Elevation (Monday)
Skye Blue defeated Taryn From Accounting
Jake Hager defeated Adam Knight
Emi Sakura defeated Zoe Sager
Brandon Cutler defeated Jason Geiger
The Firm (Matt Hardy, Ethan Page & Isaiah Kassidy) defeated Sebastian Wolfe, Massive Damage & Mo Jabari
Top Flight defeated Shaun More & Michael Allen Richard Clark
ROH Women’s Champion Athena defeated Taylor Rising
Athena was coming off a successful title defense over Willow Nightingale on last Thursday’s Ring of Honor TV.
Jabari wrestled on the October Dark filmed in Toronto and co-founded Dungeon Wrestling with Bret Hart’s sons, Blade and Dallas.
It’s Monday night and you know what that means: an episode of AEW Dark: Elevation taped last week at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, CA, with the wonderful Paul Wight and Matt Menard on the call.
Emi Sakura defeated Zyra
Sakura started the match with a surfboard submission. The queen continued with chops and slaps when Zyra avoided one and countered into a DDT. But, Sakura got back up and used part of her outfit to whip Zyra. After that, she went up to the top, proclaimed herself “your highness,” and hit a moonsault for the win.
Jake Hager (w/ Angelo Parker) defeated Levi Shapiro
I used to think Michael Cole used to be biased toward heels back in the early 2010s when he was doing that weird gimmick in a glass box. But this commentary job had the epitome of bias with Hager’s JAS teammate on the call.
Hager got started by taking off the hat that he loves so dearly. He hit Shapiro with hard right hands in the corner and started yelling at him to quit. When Shapiro tried to fight out, Hager took him down and locked in the triangle choke for the win.
Marina Shafir defeated Mighty Mayra
Shafir made her way out to ringside where she sat down on the ring steps and took off her shoes and socks. She actually threw her socks out into the crowd and Wight commented, “I bet someone in the crowd really appreciates that” to which Menard replied, “A real pervert I bet!” Hilarious.
Shafir let Mayra put her in a headlock who tried to turn it into a crucifix, but Shafir just threw her around like a ragdoll. A judo throw was followed by some shadowboxing and the crowd chanted “put some shoes on.” Mayra tried to get the crowd behind her and get back into it, but Shafir lifted her up onto her shoulders and started squeezing until she tapped.
Brian Cage (w/ Prince Nana) defeated Jack Cartwheel
GCW and AAA regular Cartwheel was making his Dark Elevation debut here and looked absolutely fantastic in doing so. After he did some, you guessed it, cartwheels, Cage used his power to turn the match around. He slammed Cartwheel onto the apron and chopped him on the outside. Back in the ring, Cage used him to do some curls. Cartwheel, though, avoided a few clotheslines and swept Cage’s legs with a really impressive move you would only see on American Ninja Warrior.
Cartwheel went straight to the top for a senton, but Cage caught him and planted him for a near fall. When Cage went for the Drill Claw, Cartwheel flipped out and went for the surprise pin but Cage kicked out. Cartwheel went to the top again for a shooting star press, but Cage moved out of the way and locked in his new submission for the win to end an awesome match.
The Butcher & The Blade defeated Midas Kreed & Vinnie Massaro
Massaro started with Blade, who was absolutely brutal in this match. When Massaro had to fight out of some chops to get Kreed in the match, he suffered the same fate. Butcher dropped a leg that would make Terry Bollea sweat. After some more domination, Butcher and Blade hit Kreed with the Full Death to get the quick win.
ROH Women’s Champion Athena defeated Inder Mundi in a Proving Ground match
This was another ROH-style title eliminator match where if Mundi beat Athena or lasted long enough for a draw, she earned a future title shot.
Mundi tried to get it done quickly with a roll-up, but Athena kicked out, fought into the corner, and destroyed Mundi with a right hand. Athena started to question if her competition is the best she could get.
The ROH Women’s champion started hitting repeated clotheslines in each corner and finished it with double knees. Athena then caught Mundi off the ropes for a spinning back suplex and a choke for the win. After the match, Athena laid down her belt like usual and drove poor Mundi’s head face-first into it. There was no help for the aggrieved this week.
Best Friends defeated Olumide & Starboy Charlie
I loved this match. Not only is Charlie another GCW regular but, no offense to Danhausen or Orange Cassidy, I love the classic Chuck Taylor and Trent Beretta tag team.
The crowd was chanting for Best Friends when the bell rang. Beretta started with Olumide who was absurdly athletic. He countered an Irish whip and hit a dropkick by jumping an estimated 50 feet in the air both times. Charlie, wearing nothing but boots and overalls, got the tag and immediately took off the overalls. Taylor came in and did the same thing. Olumide tried to help his teammate, but Best Friends double-teamed both guys until Olumide recovered and knocked Taylor off the ropes.
Charlie hit Beretta with a sunset flip for a near fall, but their offense didn’t last long as Best Friends threw the two into each other and hit them both with piledrivers for the win. A second hug followed the bell.
Lucha Brothers (w/ Alex Abrahantes) defeated The Wingmen
The Wingmen have a very underrated theme song with “The Walk of Fame.” Awesome song, but not many beat the Lucha Brothers’ “Zero Miedo.”
The featured match started with Rey Fenix and “Pretty” Peter Avalon. For some reason, Avalon called for Penta to tag in, but right when he did, he turned around and let Ryan Nemeth take over. Penta called Avalon a word I can’t repeat here and Nemeth tagged him right back in. Avalon actually got the better of Penta while Nemeth attacked Fenix on the outside. When they went to double-team Penta, he destroyed each with a superkick and a sling blade, respectfully.
This match started going a million miles a minute. Fenix and Penta hit both Wingmen with more superkicks and tried pinning them both, but they kicked at two. Each team got outsmarted at every turn, but I don’t know if I would use the word “smart” when I refer to The Wingmen.
While Nemeth was holding up Fenix for a move, Penta tripped Avalon and drove his crotch into the ring post that led to Avalon letting out a scream that only he could. This helped set up an insane double stunner by the Lucha Brothers to win the match.
AEW has announced the lineup for Monday’s episode of Dark: Elevation.
Notable matches scheduled to air include The Lucha Bros vs. The Wingmen, The Best Friends vs. Starboy Charlie & Olumide, and Brian Cage vs. Jack Cartwheel. ROH Women’s World Champion Athena will also face Inder Mundi in a Proving Grounds match.
Jake Hager, Marina Shafir, Emi Sakura, and The Butcher & The Blade are advertised for the show as well.
AEW Dark: Elevation this week was filmed on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, from the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California.
AEW: Dark Elevation 3/13 lineup:
Jake Hager /w Angelo Parker vs. Levi Shapiro
Marina Shafir vs. Mighty Mayra
Brian Cage w/ Prince Nana vs. Jack Cartwheel
The Butcher & The Blade vs. Vinnie Massaro & Midas Kreed
ROH Women’s World Champion Athena vs. Inder Mundi in a Proving Grounds Match
The Best Friends (Trent Beretta & Chuck Taylor) vs. Starboy Charlie & Olumide
The Lucha Bros. (Rey Fenix & Penta El Zero Miedo) vs. Peter Avalon & Ryan Nemeth
