Tag: AEW Dark Elevation

This nine-match AEW Dark: Elevation was filmed last week in Indianapolis before Dynamite. Tony Schiavone, Paul Wight, and “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard were on the call — a perfect team in my humble opinion.

Hagane Shinno defeated Nick Comoroto (w/ Aaron Solo)

This was Shinno’s second appearance on AEW TV and he had quite the test. The match started with each man throwing Comoroto’s lollipop stick at each other. Nothing Shinno could do worked on getting Comoroto down. A massive clothesline made Shinno do a full 360 in the air, but when Comoroto went for another slam, Shinno dragged his shoulder to the ground and got the surprise pin. Comoroto and Solo attacked Shinno after the match.

Marina Shafir & Nyla Rose (w/ Vickie Guerrero) defeated Alice Crowley & Kitty LaFleur

LaFleur looked like she was straight out of the ’70s and ’80s. She was dominated for the entire match until she found a way to get LaFleur in…just in time for Shafir and Rose to hit a double-team neckbreaker for the win.

Kiera Hogan defeated Nikki Victory

Hogan is officially done with Jade Cargill, which seems to be a good thing because she hasn’t lost since June. Victory, who is a Dark regular, got a lot more offense in than I expected. Hogan set her up in the corner and hit two running knees and a slide into Victory’s face for a near fall. Schiavone mentioned that Menard should dye his hair blue like Hogan, which I would love. Hogan connected on a variation of a belly-to-back suplex and dropped Victory right on her neck for a win.

Top Flight (Dante Martin & Darius Martin) defeated Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd

Magnum and Floyd called themselves The Outrunners which is their name on the indies. They are from OVW like most of the other enhancement talent on this show. Top Flight was handling them well until Magnum and Floyd tried a switcheroo like they were the Bella Twins. It ended up working, but Top Flight still shut them down and won with a Dante Martin moonsault off the top rope. The cherry on top was Darius doing a tope under the moonsault and then Dante blowing a kiss to the camera during the pin. 

You have to see it to believe it (second GIF below):

GOODNESS! #AEWDarkElevation #AEWElevation

➡️ https://t.co/UB4xR3bu4o pic.twitter.com/hK4xdVntYr

— TDE Wrestling (@tde_gif) December 6, 2022

– Lexy Nair was in the back with Ethan Page, Matt Hardy and Private Party. Page informed them that their match tonight was off because Marq Quen had ice on his shoulder. He said he had a whole other shoulder and he’ll be fine. Isiah Kassidy made a masturbation joke and that really set Page off. He kept threatening the trio with fines and teasing the “Broken” Matt Hardy gimmick coming back. Hardy just kinda screamed and apologized and that was that.

Emi Sakura defeated Madison Rayne

It’s quite interesting to see a former Impact Knockouts Champion lose for the fourth straight time on Dark: Elevation, but that’s where we’re at. Sakura did her normal Tea Time spot and later, when Rayne was getting back into things, Sakura raked her eyes right in front of the ref and rolled her up for the win.

Lee Moriarty (w/ W. Morrissey) defeated Serpentico (w/ Luther)

Schiavone started the match by reminding us that on the outside of the ring was not Uncle Festus, but actually Luther. Speaking of Luther, he was screaming at W. Morrissey during this entire match in his screeching voice. This was all about Moriarty dominating Serpentico to the point of him nearly passing out. Moriarty locked in the Border City Stretch to get the win.

The Embassy (Bishop Kaun, Brian Cage & Toa Liona) defeated Dan Adams, Facade & Star Rider

This entire match was just The Embassy using their size, except for when Adams came in. The crowd popped big for the man known as “Dan the Dad” on the indies. But no one in this match was enough for The Embassy as they hit the assisted powerbomb onto Rider for the win. After the match, ROH Six-Man Tag Team Champions Dalton Castle & The Boys came out onto the stage, presumably to set up a title match for ROH Final Battle.

Kip Sabian (w/ Penelope Ford) defeated Alex Reynolds (w/ John Silver)

This is the third time we’ve seen this match in the last two months and this was the rubber match. They started out hot with Reynolds getting revenge for being attacked before the last match started. A lot of commentary was about menacing Ford looked on the outside.

Sabian looked really good here. He was on top for most of the match but it was back and forth for the most part. They both were on the top rope when Sabian started biting Reynolds on his face to set up a double stomp for a near fall. Reynolds got back in with a few roll-ups and a sit-down piledriver, but Ford jumped on the apron and mocked Reynolds with the “10” referencing Preston Vance. This set up the torture rack slam by Sabian for the win.

Konosuke Takeshita defeated Aaron Solo

This was Takeshita’s third match for AEW since he moved to America and signed a full-time contract. This was full of interference and heel tactics. Don Callis was again out in the middle of the match to “scout” the new AEW star. The commentary team was condemning him for doing so and not focusing on the Elite’s Best-of-7 series. I know he’s a heel, but it’s not like he’s interfering or anything. 

Takeshita rolled away from Solo’s double knees attempt and hit a beautiful blue angel bomb for a near fall. Solo tried to roll him up after, but Takeshita rolled out and deadlifted him in the air for a German suplex with a bridge for the win. Takeshita looked to the outside at Callis, confused about why he was out there again.

This week’s scorching hot AEW Dark: Elevation action was taped prior to last Wednesday’s Dynamite in Chicago with Ian Riccaboni, Paul Wight and Matt Menard on the call.

The Bunny (w/ Penelope Ford) defeated Blair Onyx

This was Onyx’s fourth AEW outing and she is still looking for her first win. The Bunny won a quick one after hitting Down The Rabbit Hole which Wight noted that he knew someone that did that in the past…himself. This was Bunny’s first singles match since March and just her second match overall since April.

Brandon Cutler defeated Man Scout

The Man Scout was more interested in reading his Boy Scouts book than getting into the action, reading the book while criss-crossing across the ring. As you might imagine, this was all comedy, punctuated by Wight and Menard speculating why the Scout didn’t bring a hardcover book to the ring. Wight said it’s because the younger generation is soft and those from his era would have brought a brick. Cutler picked up the win after rolling up the Scout after both were wobbyling following an airplane spin.

Nyla Rose & Marina Shafir defeated Emi Sakura & Maki Itoh

Sakura’s Dark run with a variety of tag team partners has now come to her facing former tag team partners. This was Rose’s first match since losing to TBS Jade Cargill at Full Gear while Shafir continued to wrestle in bare feet. Wight pronounced her name “Schaefer” at two points. 

The dynamic between Shafir and Itoh was something to behold as were Itoh’s punches. After things broke down, Rose pinned Sakura after a Beast Bomb and after a short main roster run, it’s apparently back to the Dark shows for tag team matches.

Konosuke Takeshita defeated Ari Daivari

None of the other Trustbusters accompanied Daivari. Come to think of it, we haven’t seen Parker Boudreaux in quite some time. I digress.

Don Callis made his way out to ringside to scout the match which was assumed to be for Takeshita. Takeshita looked impressive as always, picking up the win off a roll-through German suplex with a bridge. Daivari was a good dance partner as well.

– Kip Sabian did a filmed promo talking to “Alex” talking about a recent match they had and despite them being good wrestlers, but they are nothing alike. He wants to go for round three. The issue here? If you don’t watch these shows, you would have no idea he was referring to Alex Reynolds of the Dark Order.

Lee Moriarty defeated Robert Anthony

This was Moriarty’s first outing since his loss to FTW Champion Hook a few weeks back. This was Anthony’s 10th AEW outing and he was cheered in front of his hometown fans. He also got a lot of offense in, nearly submitting Moriarty with a surfboard. In the end, Moriarty got the submission win with a crossface.

Jay Lethal & Satnam Singh (w/ Sonjay Dutt) defeated Joe Alonzo & GPA

This was the first AEW outing for Lethal since Full Gear and just Singh’s third match since October. Remember when they were teasing Lethal splitting with Singh and Dutt? Lethal got the win after Singh chokeslammed Alonso off Lethal’s shoulders in an impressive spot. It appears we’re getting some combo of the TNA alumni against AEW Tag Team Champions The Acclaimed. Why? Good question.

– Ethan Page was talking to Lexy Nair when Matt Hardy and Private Party were leaving. They were set to take off to prepare for a match Tuesday when Page said they were booked for a match tonight instead. Mark Sterling and Daivari walked into the frame and said Hardy owes them $50,000 that he took from Daivari to give Page because he used the Twist of Fate. Page then said Daivari can use the Twist of Fate to help make amends.

Best Friends & Rocky Romero defeated Davey Bang, Freedom Ramsey & Yabo

Yabo is a wrestling clown who was going to give Romero a balloon before he took all the air out and laughed. Dastardly! He later started juggling while Chuck Taylor was hurt in the corner and started throwing the balls at Taylor. Evil!

Beretta later grabbed his red nose and delivered a German suplex to send him packing. Taylor and Beretta hit the Soul Food/half and half suplex before hitting their finisher on Bang for the win.

Athena defeated Laynie Luck

This was Athena’s first match since her storyline suspension following her shove of referee Aubrey Edwards last Friday. She laid out Luck with a forearm at the onset and it was on from there with Athena continuing her hard-hitting offense. After some action on the outside, Athena won a squash with a crossface. After the match, she continued her attack on Luck and appears ready to challenge ROH Women’s Champion Mercedes Martinez at next month’s Final Battle once it’s announced.

Matt Hardy & Private Party defeated Chaos Project & Isaiah Moore

There wasn’t much here of note. Hardy hit a DDT/neckbreaker on Moore and Serpentico at one point, leading to some more triple team offense as referee Rick Knox doesn’t follow rules. Hardy hit an Ego’s Edge followed by an Isiah Kassidy swanton and Marq Quen 450 splash for the win.

Afterward, Daivari, Sterling, Josh Woods and Tony Nese came out. Daivari then issued a challenge for a trios match for next week and wanted to hear his music but Hardy’s music played instead.

Eddie Kingston & Ortiz defeated The Factory (Nick Comoroto & Aaron Solo)

I remain baffled as to why Kingston is on the Dark shows more often than not. This is his first match since defeating Jun Akiyama on the Full Gear pre-show and the first tag match since Akiyama and Takeshita defeated Kingston and Ortiz on the pre-Full Gear Rampage.

This was mercifully short and featured Ortiz getting beat up by The Factory for the majority of it. Kingston got the hot tag and delivered a bevy of chops to both Factory members. After tagging out to Ortiz, The Factory took control again and we were right back to the beginning.

After a Kingston DDT on Solo, Ortiz got a win with a unique pin technique to get the victory and end this week’s show.

This nine-match edition of AEW Dark: Elevation was recorded last Wednesday before Dynamite in Bridgeport, Connecticut, with Ian Riccaboni, Paul Wight and “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard on the call.

The Butcher, The Blade & Rush defeated Brett Gosselin, Channing Thomas & Doug Love

Blade started the match against Thomas and just destroyed him. His partners also took turns getting squashed. Rush dominated Love and it was over after the Bull Horns exploder in the corner for a quick trios win.

Hikaru Shida & Willow Nightingale defeated Emi Sakura & Leva Bates

This was similar to last week when Nightingale took on Sakura — just with different partners. Sakura and Bates started by trying to get a cheap shot on the babyfaces, but Shida and Nightingale turned it around quickly. Of course, Sakura used her nefarious ways to get back into things. Shida hit a hurricanrana that led to a Nightingale hot tag. After Nightingale hit a spinebuster and Shida came back into the match with a backbreaker, Sakura raked the eyes to regain the advantage.

Sakura and Bates tried to hit some kind of double-team move in the corner, but Nightingale fought her way back in and set up Shida’s Katana finisher for the win. Nightingale is really over and should go up to the main shows any week now.

Brian Cage (w/ Prince Nana) defeated Brandon Cutler

Can you guess how this one went? Cage started with a shoulder tackle and when Cutler tried a chop, it was one of the worst you’ve ever seen. Cage hit his own chop which was deafening. Cage followed up with a full nelson slam and then Nana suggested that they use Cutler’s own cold spray on him. That failed as he just ended up spraying it into Cage’s face. Cutler got a roll up for a near fall, but Cage followed it up with a clothesline, power bomb and F5 for the win.

I couldn’t tell if they were planting seeds between Cage and Nana or if it was just a comedy thing as part of a Cutler match.

Jericho Appreciation Society (Angelo Parker, Daniel Garcia & Matt Menard) defeated Leon Ruffin, Tony Deppen & Tracy Williams

This team full of former ROH champions got a jobber entrance as they were taking on the JAS. It was still a good back-and-forth match as each one of the babyfaces got their moves in. But, the JAS stayed in it by cheating. Once Ruffin got in the match, he ran wild but got caught and worked over by the entire JAS team. Garcia locked in the dragon sleeper that made Ruffin pass out for the win.

ROH Women’s Champion Mercedes Martinez defeated JC in a non-title match

This was the first match the recently injured Martinez has had on AEW TV since retaining the ROH Women’s Title against Serena Deeb in July. Martinez held a vertical suplex for a good thirty seconds early in the match to show off some power. JC got some chops in, but Martinez countered with a spinebuster and locked in her Brass City Sleeper for the quick win.

Wheeler Yuta defeated Zack Clayton

Clayton has been getting a lot of wins recently, but he got stopped in his tracks here tonight. He still got a lot of offense in during the early going, but Yuta got back in the match with a forearm off the top rope. He started striking Clayton on the neck and then tied him in a pinning combination that he could not get out of for the win.

Private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen) & Matt Hardy defeated The Trustbusters (Ari Daivari & Sonny Kiss) & Encore

Before the match, Daivari offered $50,000 to Encore if he helped them beat Hardy and Private Party. He also emphasized how Hardy could not use the Twist of Fate.

They started out working over Kassidy. Each heel got their moves in until Quen got the hot tag and ran absolutely wild. He almost hit the roof on a cross body and then a tope suicida to the outside. After he connected on a shooting star press, Kiss broke up the pin and hit an impressive press slam. Hardy got the hot tag, hit the Side Effect, and then the assisted clothesline for the win. After the match, Hardy hit the Twist of Fate on Daivari and took his money. Since this didn’t happen in the match, he doesn’t have to pay a Firm fine.

Alex Reynolds defeated Kip Sabian (w/ Penelope Ford)

Sabian attacked Reynolds early, but Reynolds got right back in it by biting Sabian’s head. They started going back and forth, move for move. Sabian hit a twisting suplex and a double stomp off the top rope. When Sabian went for the pin, Reynolds rolled him over and got his own pin for the surprise win. Sabian started to attack him after the match, but the heels then left him alone.

– Lexy Nair was in the back with Ethan Page who thought they were gonna talk about his teammates getting some big wins tonight, but she actually wanted to ask him about the Twist of Fate. It turns out that Hardy did have to pay, but he gave Page the money he stole from Daivari. Kassidy then whispered in his ear that the Twist of Fate was “orgasmic” and then he moaned. Interesting.

Best Friends (Chuck Taylor & Trent Beretta) & AEW All-Atlantic Champion Orange Cassidy defeated The Factory (Cole Karter, Lee Johnson & Aaron Solo)

The Best Friends were making their entrance first, but The Factory came out and attacked them from behind. They had the upper hand through the beginning of this match and even hit the hug in the middle of the ring. The camera, noticeably, did not zoom out though. Best Friends almost got back in, but Nick Comoroto attacked from the outside. After this, Cassidy got the hot tag and ran wild with some Orange Punches and a dive to the outside. 

All the Best Friends set up in the ring with Taylor and Beretta hitting a piledriver while Cassidy connected on a neckbreaker to get the win. In storyline, this was their second victory over The Factory in three days counting Saturday’s Zero Hour pre-show.

This week’s AEW Dark: Elevation was filmed last Wednesday in Boston before Dynamite. Paul Wight and “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard were amazing on commentary tonight.

Gates Of Agony (w/ Prince Nana) defeated Big Cuzo & Teddy Goodz

Cuzo got a hot tag and was able to get some offense in, but before he could really get going, Toa Liona ran him over and Bishop Kaun hit a gutbuster for the win. After the match, Liona briefly attacked Cuzo, but they quickly moved on. This was nothing but a few minutes to put over Gates of Agony.

Tay Melo defeated Paris Van Dale

Van Dale did not look ready for this one at all as the JAS member dominated with her striking. After hitting a big knee off a Gory Special position, she pinned Van Dale with a somewhat provocative pin to win the match, prompting Menard to ask Wight if they teach that in wrestling school. I love Daddy Magic.

Matt Hardy & Private Party defeated Channing Thomas, Kyle Bradley & Smiley Fairchild

I was already down on this match as I didn’t get to hear Private Party’s theme on the way out, but I guess I can make due. Private Party was all over Fairchild in the early going, but they decided not to pin him after an assisted dropkick from Hardy and Marq Quen. Thomas and Bradley had to get their moves in though. After getting rid of the other two members, Hardy locked in the Leech on Bradley for the win. The former HFO team looked great in this one.

Athena defeated Kayla Sparks

This continued the story of Athena being the lovely babyface that completely switches gears and tries to hurt people. Sparks had the upper hand early being relentless, but she got the bad end of a suplex on the outside and a knee to the head against the steel steps. Commentary was quick to point out some people booing in the crowd at this.

Sparks got back in the ring, eventually got a near fall, and got in some more offense, but Athena followed with a forearm and a superkick. She started beating down Sparks and actually pushed the ref away from her. That has to be against the rules, right? She submitted her with a guillotine shortly after for the win, adding an unnecessary O-Face afterward for good measure.

The Butcher & The Blade (w/The Bunny) defeated Waves and Curls (Jaylen Brandyn & Traevon Jordan)

Waves and Curls, from the Northeast indie scene, wanted some camera time, so the psychotic team of Butcher and Blade were quick to attack them. Blade went for an early pin and Jordyn broke it up, slapping Blade on the ass. He was quickly dispatched to the outside, opening up the win for the Butcher and Blade to hit Drag the Lake on Brandyn in a quick squash.

ROH Pure Champion Daniel Garcia defeated Leon Ruffin to retain

This match was contested under ROH Pure Rules. If you’re not familiar, you can’t use closed fists and each wrestler only gets three rope breaks.

Garcia made Ruffin look silly in the early going, but Ruffin got his comeback with a moonsault followed by an armdrag. Garcia took him to the corner, dumped him out, and threw him into the steel guardrails. Garcia continued to fight as dirty as possible while Ruffin kept trying for another comeback. He got a corkscrew cutter off the second rope for a near fall. Garcia had his back in the corner and actually got a warning for using a closed fist to the face. 

The only problem I had with Menard all night was him making fun of the Pure Rules which I didn’t think was a good look. Garcia locked in a rear naked choke shortly after the warning and when Ruffin almost made it to the ropes, Garcia switched to an inverted choke that put Ruffin out for the win. Garcia shook the hand of Ruffin’s lifeless body after the match.

Ten defeated Jora Johl

Johl’s first big move was an Attitude Adjustment-like move that Wight and Menard said was taking a lot from a guy from here in the Boston area (John Cena). After some back and forth, Ten hit a massive clothesline onto Johl for the quick win.

AR Fox defeated Serpentico

I loved seeing Fox making his Elevation debut and he looked great in this one. Serpentico was quickly thrown to the outside and Fox hit a moonsault off the apron. Back in the ring, Serpentico hit a superkick for the two count. Fox got his own two count after a suplex, followed by a cutter, a splash, and another cutter for a near fall. Serpentico countered a DDT into a pinning combination, but he grabbed the rope right in front of the ref. This opened it up for Fox to hit his 450 splash and get the win.

He teams with the reunited Top Flight to take on AEW Trios Champions Death Triangle on Wednesday.

Riho & Willow Nightingale defeated Emi Sakura & Mei Suruga (w/ Baliyan Akki)

I never thought Riho and Nightingale would be a tag team together, but I need more of it. Nightingale and Sakura had a pose off of sorts to start the match as they argued over who looked better in purple. Don’t let this fool you though: they immediately went to the power game. Nightingale hit a double armdrag onto Sakura and Suruga when they tried to interfere while Riho had to deal with her own interference from Akki on the outside. 

Sakura and Suruga posed for Tea Time on Riho, but Nightingale got the hot tag shortly after. She knocked Suruga halfway across the arena, but Suruga raked her eyes after and right in front of the ref. Sakura found her way back in and ate a spinebuster from Nightingale, followed by Riho hitting her high crossbody for a really good near fall. 

Sakura and Suruga got another great double team move in, but Riho countered a moonsault from Sakura to set up her double stomp. There was more interference but Nightingale hit a big double clothesline followed by a double knee by Riho for the pin. This was a great main event to close up the show.

This Halloween special edition of AEW Dark: Elevation was filmed before Dynamite last week in Norfolk, Virginia, at the Chartway Arena. 

Tony Schiavone, Paul Wight, and “Daddy Magic” Matt Menard were at the commentary table joined by myself, Jon Rogers. I’m kidding, I was in the arena but not on commentary. Tony Khan didn’t give me the call this time. 

Madison Rayne defeated Diamante

Diamante got the early advantage using heel tactics and then dumping Rayne to the outside. She controlled most of this match, but when she went for a backslide pinning combination, she slid a little too much and Rayne actually got the pin. It was pretty confusing. They also started this match at about 6:45 PM when the start time was supposed to be 7.

Frankie Kazarian defeated Rhett Titus

Like the first match, this started hot with no lockup or anything. Kazarian got the upper hand early with some chops and shoulder tackles. The commentary team talked about what they would dress up as for Halloween and Menard told Schiavone he should wear a mask more often.

They really put over Titus during the match, who I suspect to be a big part of the eventual Ring of Honor TV reboot. Kazarian hit a springboard cutter for the win.

– Lexy Nair was in the back with QT Marshall who is in the special main event against Danhausen. Nair was dressed in a witch costume which really confused Marshall. He essentially cut a promo on all of Halloween and everyone that celebrates it. Danhausen came in and talked about how he threw Marshall over the top rope recently and said he also has to prepare for the main event…and then just walked into a locker.

Kiera Hogan defeated Skye Blue

Menard was super excited about this one. It was back and forth to start, but Hogan got started with a huge running knee that connected in the corner. They traded pinning combinations after Blue showed some great strength. It didn’t last long as Hogan popped up and hit a variation on the exploder for the win. They called it the sidewinder and Blue sold it perfectly.

Dante Martin defeated Brandon Cutler

This was great. Cutler has been awesome ever since he returned post-suspension. In one spot, Martin started on the ropes and leaped high into the sky over Cutler, but when he came down, he managed to trip Cutler who fell right on his face. When Martin went to the top to capitalize, Cutler tripped and fell onto the ropes. Martin fell and Cutler got back into the match and started dancing. It didn’t last for long as Martin attacked on the outside and then rolled up Cutler for the win.

Athena defeated Janai Kai

Athena was facing off against Kai who is a somewhat big star on the indies that I really like. This was Athena’s first match since her two matches in Toronto which included the much-discussed Jody Threat match.

Kai showed off her great striking and footwork to start. She had Athena down for a two count about two minutes in. Athena turned it around though and put Kai in the tree of woe. She slammed Kai on the apron and then back in the ring, she hit the cutter off the top rope for the win.

Orange Cassidy and Best Friends defeated Anthony Young, Patton & Victor Andrews

Patton started with Trent Beretta in the ring. Patton couldn’t really get much going so he tagged in Andrews. Best Friends started dominating from there. They were doing the usual shtick with the hugs and the pockets and the kicks. Patton and Young stopped a big hug though, but they got double suplexed right which was followed by the big hug. Cassidy & Best Friends used a triple-team power bomb to Young for the quick win.

Cassidy defends the AEW All-Atlantic title against Rey Fenix and Luchasaurus on Wednesday.

Eddie Kingston & Ortiz defeated Breaux Keller & Myles Hawkins

The crowd was electric for Kingston & Ortiz. In the midst of all the domination by Kingston & Ortiz, Keller & Hawkins were still able to show off some great skills. The stretch plum was locked in on Hawkins quickly and the match was already over. Kingston attacked the team after the match and Ortiz tried to get him to stop. Kingston assumed that it was what the crowd wanted so he kept going.

TBS Champion Jade Cargill defeated Trish Adora in a non-title match

The crowd also lost it for Cargill still without her stolen title belt. The commentators pointed out how risky it is for somebody to be in the ring with Cargill and they were right. Adora couldn’t do anything in this match against the champion. Cargill took Adora’s head off with a high kick and then hit her finisher for a quick win. 

https://twitter.com/ConfirmedShoot/status/1587229467864350720

After the match, Rose, Vickie Guerrero, and Marina Shafir came out banging trash can lids and shouting stuff. Cargill chased them backstage and that was that. Cargill defends the title against Shafir this Wednesday.

QT Marshall defeated Danhausen

Marshall was doing nothing in the first few minutes of this match. Just a lot of holds. Danhausen fought out and teased a curse but turned it around into some chops. But of course, Marshall had to stop and make sure that things went as slowly as possible. The crowd was great with chants and even singing about how much QT sucks. 

The match was the same thing over and over again with Danhausen getting some offense followed by Marshall countering and slowing it down. His first big offensive move was a suplex. Danhausen turned things around again and Marshall threw him to the outside. But as he went outside, Lee Johnson ran out and got in Danhausen’s face. Marshall was confused by Johnson’s interference and got a cutter from Danhausen, then tossing him back in the ring.

As Danhausen celebrated, Johnson threw him into the ring post as the ref was tending to Marshall inside. Johnson then threw him inside the ring and Marshall hit a diamond cutter for the pin and win.

It’s Monday and you know what that means. It’s time for AEW Dark: Elevation, taped in Cincinnati, Ohio, last Tuesday with Ian Riccaboni and Matt Menard on commentary.

This week’s show featured a good main event, a good tag team match in the middle, and a bad angle involving Matt Hardy, Ethan Page and Stokely Hathaway.

Preston “Ten” Vance (w/ Evil Uno) defeated Baron Black (0:45)

Jose The Assistant was on commentary. I assume he was there to scout Vance. Black jumped Vance before the bell and paid for it. Vance dispatched of Black quickly with a spinebuster and the discus lariat.

Eddie Kingston & Ortiz defeated Russ Myers & T-Money (1:55)

There was an “Eddie Kingston with a gas can is my spirit animal” sign in the crowd.

The enhancement guys jumped Kingston and Ortiz before the bell and looked great against Ortiz. Money gave Ortiz an airplane spin while Myers popped him with right hands as Money spun him around. They caught Ortiz with a double-team spinebuster, but he came back with a clothesline on Myers and got the hot tag to Kingston.

Kingston hit Money with the machine gun chops in the corner, followed by Ortiz coming back in with a fisherman’s buster on Money for the pinfall.

After the match, Kingston jumped Myers and had to be stopped by Ortiz and referee Bryce Remsburg from beating him with a steel chair.

Serena Deeb defeated Haley J (1:59)

Deeb gave Haley J the twist and shout neckbreaker where Haley came down at an awkward angle. Deeb then locked in the Serenity Lock for the quick submission.

The Blondes (Griff Garrison & Brian Pillman, Jr) defeated The WorkHorsemen (JR Drake & Anthony Henry) (5:45)

Menard questioned how Drake can be both a WorkHorsemen and a member of the Wingmen. Apparently, he wasn’t paying attention during the August 9th Dark when Excalibur and Taz explained how the WorkHorsemen are a subsidiary of the Wingmen.

This was the first match since Garrison & Pillman lost the ‘Varsity’ in their team name thanks to Mark Sterling. They also were wearing different gear, a sure sign the team is about to break up.

Pillman got the hometown pop from the crowd and a fan in the front row had a framed and signed poster from one of the Brian Pillman Memorial events from the late 90s.

The WorkHorsemen jumped the Blondes before the bell and there was some pretty good brawling around the ring. Garrison took both Henry & Drake out with a crossbody out of the ring, but Drake hit Garrison with a rebound forearm to take control. Drake slammed Garrison and dropped a headbutt. Drake got a swinging neckbreaker for a near fall. Garrison hit Drake with a rolling forearm and then caught Henry with a vertical powerslam.

Pillman got the tag and hit Drake with a dropkick and rolled up Drake while suplexing Henry for a double pin attempt. Pillman then caught both Drake and Henry with a tope con hilo to the delight of the crowd.

Drake dumped Pillman to the floor and hit his own tope con hilo. Henry tossed Pillman into a sit-out powerbomb from Drake for a near fall. Drake went for a moonsault off the top, but missed. Garrison hit a rolling forearm, Pillman hit a superkick, and then Garrison held up Drake for a dropkick from Pillman. Pillman cradled Drake for the pin to end a fun match.

Emi Sakura & Mei Suruga defeated Nikki Victory & Jaylee (3:25)

Sakura is clearly a great worker and she’s at every Dynamite taping (since she’s on every Elevation show). So why isn’t she part of Dynamite or Rampage? Ever?

This was Suruga’s first AEW match in the U.S. since December 2021.

Sakura countered a suplex attempt from Victory into a Cross Rhodes and then gave Victory “We Will Chop You” in the corner. Suruga victory rolled Sakura so they landed on both their opponents with sentons — called The Transformer and it was awesome. 

Sakura then hit Victory with a moonsault to get the… uh, the victory. This was fun as well. Put Sakura in the ring on Rampage instead of Leila Grey this week.

Matt Hardy (w/ Ethan Page & Stokely Hathaway) defeated Lord Crewe (1:44)

Page told Hardy, now of The Firm, that he couldn’t use the Twist of Fate in this match. Page and Hathaway joined on commentary which meant all four guys were talking over each other which was awful. Hardy hit the Side Effect and the Twist of Fate for the pinfall.

After the match, Hathaway gave Page the use of the Twist of Fate and renamed it the Page Turner. Then, they fined Hardy $50,000 for using the Twist of Fate and another $50,000 for shoving Page. This pretty awful segment derailed what had been a pretty good show.

Claudio Castagnoli (w/ William Regal) defeated QT Marshall (9:42)

Regal joined Menard and Riccaboni on commentary.

There are some things in wrestling that never get old and one of them is a nearly bald dude like Marshall claiming he’s having his hair pulled. Castagnoli caught Marshall with an impressive tilt a whirl backbreaker, but Marshall caught him with a knee to take control. Marshall hit an ugly dropkick, but Castagnoli reversed a suplex attempt with his own suplex.

Castagnoli continued to rebound with a series of European uppercuts. He went to set up a giant swing, but Marshall dropped to the floor. So, the Swiss Superman caught him with a running uppercut into the barricade.

Back in the ring, Marshall caught him with a handspring enziguri and a neckbreaker for a near fall. Marshall went for a piledriver, but Castagnoli countered with a double leg takedown. Castagnoli gave Marshall the giant swing for a near fall. Riccaboni called Elevation the “best bell to bell action on Monday night.” Marshall raked Castagnoli’s eyes and cradled him for a near fall, followed by a spinning DDT for another near fall.

Marshall set up the diamond cutter, but Castagnoli caught him with a forearm and then a pop-up uppercut. Castagnoli dropped the Blackpool Combat Club-trademarked hammer elbows followed by the Ricola Bomb for the pinfall in a very good main event.

Final Thoughts:

There were three matches that weren’t just quick squashes and actually were kind of fun and worth seeing. Castagnoli vs. Marshall wouldn’t have felt out of place on Rampage, but the whole Hardy/Hathaway/Page nonsense made everyone come off worse (which I didn’t even think was possible after Hardy’s “rap” on Friday).