On this coming Tuesday’s Dark, PAC, who hasn’t been seen since he and Fenix lost against the Young Bucks last month, returns to singles action, facing Serpentico. Penta El Zero Miedo and Rey Fenix will be in PAC’s corner, and Luther will be in Serpentico’s corner.
Luther will also be in action on the card, as he will face Lance Archer. Serpentico will be in Luther’s corner, and Jake Roberts will be in Archer’s. Archer in recent weeks has been clearing the ring whenever Darby Allin and Sting are attacked. Archer has also confronted Sting in recent interviews.
The Bunny, part of Matt Hardy’s Hardy Office, will take on Leila Grey. Team Taz will also be in action, as Powerhouse Hobbs and Ricky Starks will team up to take on Brick Aldridge and Aaron Frye.
Excalibur and Taz were the commentary team for this show. Dasha Gonzalez did the ring announcing.
Colt Cabana defeated Shawn Dean
This was a fine little opener. I had no idea why they were going so long at the outset but the extended opening sequence played into the story of the match.
Bryce Remsburg was the referee for this bout. He wore a mask.
They opened with a long sequence of British-style mat wrestling. Cabana tied up Dean in various holds. Dean got tired of being outclassed on the mat and fired up with strikes.
Dean hit a straight right hand and covered for a one count. Cabana answered with flip, flop and fly and a flying apple.
The finish saw Cabana launch himself out of the corner into a Superman pin on Dean.
Jurassic Express (Luchasaurus & Jungle Boy w/ Marko Stunt) defeated Ryan Rembrandt & Mike Reed
This was quick. Jungle Boy looked great with his dives. Luchasaurus was moving well.
Mike Posey reffed this match and also wore a mask.
Jungle Boy opened with a series of spectacular dives. Luchasaurus hit a tail whip. Dean and Rembrandt cut off Jungle Boy for the heat.
Rembrandt hit a belly-to-belly for a near fall. Jungle Boy made his comeback on Reed and made a hot tag to Luchasaurus.
Luchasaurus hit a yakuza kick on Rembrandt. He used a headbutt to set up a chokeslam and a standing moonsault on Reed for a near fall.
The finish saw Luchasaurus and Jungle Boy use an elevated assisted cutter for the pin on Reed.
Private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen) defeated Musa & Lee Johnson
Private Party looked good in the opening and closing segments of the match. They looked super green when Quen was selling and when Kassidy was making a comeback. They probably just need a few matches to get their timing back.
Aubrey Edwards refereed in a mask.
Quen hit a slingshot senton at the outset. He hit an assisted double stomp and an assisted dropkick as well. Quen hit a knee strike and a dropkick on Johnson.
Musa pulled down the top rope which sent Quen to the floor. Johnson hit a great tope and his team went to work on Quen.
Quen blocked a sunset flip attempt and managed a tag to Kassidy. Kassidy ran wild with kicks and a cutter. Quen got a tag and hit a diving splash over the top rope to the ramp.
The finish saw Kassidy hit a flatliner. Quen tagged in and hit a shooting star press for the pin on Johnson.
10 defeated Jon Cruz
This was a squash match. 10 is very green and not ready for any kind of push.
10 hit a pump kick and a flatliner. Cruz rolled to the floor to regroup. 10 missed a charge on the floor and ran his shoulder into the ring steps.
10 made his way back inside. Cruz hit one kick before 10 cut him off.
10 used a spinebuster for the pin.
After the match, Mr. Brodie Lee made his way to the stage and applauded 10.
Rey Fenix defeated Alan Angels
This match ruled!
Fenix is absolutely spectacular. He also gave Angels a ton of offense which was extremely selfless. Fenix should be on Angels’ Christmas card list after this one.
They opened with chain wrestling. Angels grabbed two quick near falls off cradles. Fenix hit a dropkick and cut Angels off.
Fenix used a series of chops to the neck. Fenix hit a massive missile dropkick for a two count. Angels answered with three kicks and hit a modified powerbomb for a close near fall.
Fenix hit a kick to the knee of Angels as he rolled to the apron. Angels dropped Fenix on the apron with a lariat. Angels hit a diving double stomp off the top and used a moonsault for a near fall.
Fenix hit a series of crazy springboard moves before using a spinning muscle buster for the pin.
Kris Statlander defeated Dani Jordyn
Statlander obviously has all the potential in the world but we are watching her learn her craft on global TV. There are going to be growing pains and this match was an example of that. This just didn’t work.
Statlander missed a senton and Jordyn used a crucifix for a near fall. Statlander used a sunset flip for a near fall.
Statlander booped Jordyn.
Jordyn sent Statlander into the barricade. Back in the ring, Jordyn used an uppercut and a mare for a two count. Statlander answered with a back elbow in the corner.
Statlander hit a running knee which sent Jordyn outside. Statlander hit a dropkick through the ropes and Jordyn hit the barricade.
Statlander hit something resembling a Pele kick. Jordyn went for something or other but had to adjust her grip on Statlander. Statlander booped her again.
Statlander then immediately hit the Big Bang Theory for the pin.
Orange Cassidy (w/ Chuck Taylor and Trent) defeated Jason Cade
This was extremely short but they managed to work in a few trademark Cassidy spots.
Taylor and Trent unfurled Orange Cassidy beach towels during the entrance.
Cassidy teased his pockets spot but Cade blocked it. Cassidy used a wristlock with one arm and put his other hand in his pocket.
Cade ripped off Cassidy’s sunglasses. Cassidy hit a dropkick with his hands in his pockets. Trent handed Cassidy another pair of sunglasses.
Cassidy used a chinlock and gave the thumbs up. Cade turned the thumb downward and Cassidy sold like he was enraged.
Cade hit a back elbow and a jumping knee.
Cassidy trapped Cade’s arm and stacked him up for the pin.
Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. defeated Skyler Moore
I was not a huge fan of the Baker heel turn. I was wrong. She is a natural heel and has come into her own as a performer since turning.
They went to lock up. Moore hit Baker in the nose. Baker stepped to the ropes and complained that Moore hurt her nose and broke one of her fingernails in the same spot.
Baker went into rage mode after being irritated by the opening spot. Baker said “If you mess with my nails, I’ll break your face.”
Baker stretched Moore around a ring post. Baker used a headscissors on the mat, then used a chicken wing.
Moore went for a sunset flip but Baker blocked. Moore used an inside cradle for a near fall. Baker hit a shin strike to the face and a spinning neckbreaker.
The finish saw Baker ask the referee for a latex glove. Baker put the glove on and locked on Lockjaw. Moore tapped out.
Jimmy Havoc (w/ Kip Sabian and Penelope Ford) defeated Luther in a no DQ Match
This was just okay.
Sabian distracted Luther from the apron. Havoc attacked off the distraction. Havoc bit Luther’s hands. Luther hit a fallaway slam. Sabian passed Havoc a chair. Luther punched the chair.
Havoc teased Pillman-izing Luther’s left arm. Luther escaped and threw the chair at Havoc. Luther hit a senton off the post to the floor onto Havoc and Sabian. Luther continued to beat Havoc around ringside.
In the ring, Luther hit a pump kick. Luther used a chair. Sabian tried to pass Havoc a chair but Luther intercepted it. Luther hit a hip toss on Havoc onto a chair.
Luther hit a slam on a chair for a two count. Luther hit a snap suplex for another two count.
Luther set up two chairs. He laid Havoc across the chairs and climbed to the middle rope. Sabian cut Luther off.
Havoc tried a hurricanrana off the top onto the chairs but they over shot the chairs an Luther flew over them. Havoc used a chair and hit a double stomp.
Luther came back with a hip toss on the stage. Luther hit a springboard bulldog on a chair for a near fall.
Luther used a camel clutch while fish-hooking Havoc’s eyes. Ford threw a bottle of water on Luther to distract him. This led to the finish.
Ford took the referee. I don’t know why Ford had to take the ref in a no DQ match.
Sabian jumped on the apron and threw a chair at Luther’s head. Havoc then hit Luther with an implant DDT for the pin.
This week’s AEW Dark will feature nine matches, nearly all of which include talents making their first in-ring appearances in nearly two months.
In one of the featured matches, Luther will face Jimmy Havoc for the first time ever in a match that was supposed to happen back in February and got remade on this past week’s Road to Double or Nothing YouTube show. Luther was last in action on the February 26th Dark in a win over Sonny Kiss while Havoc has been a regular on both Dark and Dynamite during the pandemic.
In other matches announced:
Orange Cassidy vs. Jason Cade: This will be Cassidy’s third solo outing (1-1) and first since a win over Jimmy Havoc on the April 22nd Dynamite. This will be Cade’s AEW debut after last being seen on the March 3rd WWE Raw in a losing effort to Aleister Black.
Fenix vs. Alan Angels: Fenix was last seen on the March 18th Dynamite as the Lucha Bros defeated Best Friends. This will be his first AEW singles match since a January 15th Dark loss to Joey Janela. This will be Angels’ third AEW match (0-2) and his first since his much-discussed loss to Kenny Omega on the April 22nd Dynamite.
Private Party vs. Lee Johnson & Musa: PP have been on the shelf since the March 11th Dynamite when they teamed with Joey Janela in a losing effort to the Death Triangle. Johnson and Musa teamed up in a losing effort to Best Friends on the April 28th Dark.
Britt Baker vs. Skyler Moore: A day before she’ll be in a four-way on Dynamite, Baker will look to start a winning streak against Moore. This will be Moore’s sophomore effort in AEW as she lost to Awesome Kong on the January 1st Dark.
Kris Statlander vs. Dani Jordyn: Statlander has been out of action since the March 18th Dynamite when she lost in a four way. This will be Jordyn’s AEW debut.
Jurassic Express vs. Mike Reed & Ryan Rembrandt: A day before they return to tag team action on Dynamite, the Express will team up for the first time since the March 18th Dynamite when they defeated The Butcher & The Blade. Reed teamed with Corey Hollis in a losing effort to Joey Janela and Sonny Kiss on the March 18th Dynamite while this will be the promotional debut for Rembrandt, a Nightmare Factory trainee.
Colt Cabana vs. Shawn Dean: Cabana will be looking to snap a two match losing streak against Dean who is 0-3 in his young AEW career.
#10 vs. Jon Cruz: The newest Dark Order member and former Preston Vance will look to go 2-0 in his new gimmick as he faces Cruz who was last seen on the March 18th Dynamite, teaming with Matt Sells in a losing effort to QT Marshall and Dustin Rhodes.
Following his debut for the promotion earlier this year, Dr. Luther has officially signed a contract with AEW.
Chris Jericho announced Luther’s signing in a post on Instagram. Jericho wrote that Luther will be working both in the ring and behind the scenes:
After 30 years of riding the roads and taking bumps worldwide, @dr.luther signed his first national US contract today w @allelitewrestling! #Luther has impressed a lot of people over the last 4 months and finally was rewarded with the chance of a lifetime, not just in the ring but in the @aewontnt office as well. Can’t think of anybody more deserving of this shot and even tho he is one of my closest friends, be warned…he’s gonna TEAR OFF SOME FACES in #AEW! #PrayForBlood #OriginalDeathDealer #LovelyLads
Though the group has since disbanded, Luther debuted as part of the Nightmare Collective on the January 8 episode of Dynamite. The stable also featured Brandi Rhodes, Awesome Kong, and Mel.
Luther had his first match for AEW on the AEW Dark episode that aired on February 28. He defeated Sonny Kiss, with Luther then bailing when Jimmy Havoc made a save for Kiss after the match.
The Big News: Death Triangle ran in after the main event to lay a beating on five babyfaces. It took three more, in the form of Best Friends and Orange Cassidy, to run them off.
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When looking up this episode on YouTube I couldn’t help but notice the large number of episodes (including this one) where the thumbnail is of the Jurassic Express.
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Jurassic Express (with Marko Stunt) defeated Kip Sabian & Peter Avalon (with Penelope Ford & Leva Bates)
Speaking of the Jurassic Express, they are here to kick off Dark this week. Avalon, who comes into this match at 0-10, took forever to start his promo. He got as far as saying we were in Denver before the Express’ music began. This doesn’t seem right, but the graphic indicates this is only the second time Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus are teaming together in a two-on-two tag match.
Jungle Boy ran wild on both heels and was going for some sort of slingshot maneuver, but Penelope tripped him up and Sabian took over. Sabian and Avalon worked well together. Avalon missed a beautiful moonsault, giving Jungle Boy room to crawl for a tag. However. Ford grabbed one of Leva’s books and threw it into the ring to distract the referee, so the heels kept control.
Unfortunately for Sabian and Avalon, their ladies could not get along. Bates and Ford began arguing with one another, which distracted the team long enough for Luchasaurus to get the tag. He had it almost had it won with a moonsault to Avalon, but Sabian bum-rushed into the pile, breaking up the cover. Luchasaurus gave Sabian the tail whip, allowing Jungle Boy to pin Avalon following an assisted cutter.
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Tony Schiavone and Dasha Gonzalez previewed the rest of the show. Dasha wanted to know why Tony was wearing a Nightmare Family shirt. Turns out 20% of the proceeds of that shirt up until March 14 will be donated to Planned Pethood.
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Jimmy Havoc defeated Severino Corrente
I believe “Severino Corrente” loosely translates to “lamb being led to slaughter.”
Corrente had his fingers yanked back. Most people would be like “I’m done”. Instead Corrente punched Havoc to no avail. Jimmy used a discus elbow to the face and went for some sort of fireman’s carry, but Corrente raked the eyes.
Corrente started to build momentum, but then he ran chest-first into Jimmy’s feet. He did duck an Acid Rainmaker and used a German suplex into the corner turnbuckles. He tried to fishhook Havoc, but instead Jimmy bit his fingers. A series of impact moves followed, including a leg hook DDT and finished off Corrente with an Acid Rainmaker for the pin.
Havoc beckoned to the back, daring Luther and Mel to come out. Unfortunately, you get what you ask for, as Luther flew down the ramp and attacked Havoc from behind, eventually laying out Havoc with a DDT on the ramp.
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Hikaru Shida defeated Abadon
Abadon is one of the most unique looking wrestlers on the roster. She has done her face paint to look like blood is seeping from her forehead into her eye and down her cheek. She is certainly a sight to behold. By comparison, Hikaru Shida does not look like she has blood coming out of her eye.
Some of the crowd chanted for Abadon to “eat her soul” despite being the heel and Shida being very well liked. Abadon tried to eat Shida’s hand, which threw off the number one ranked contender. Abadon looked really good here and I really hope she’s not one and done. Abadon had her tied in the ropes and licked Shida’s face. Shida was not happy about this, possibly for more than one reason.
Abadon didn’t sell for much, but she definitely felt it when Shida used a running knee in the corner and a missile dropkick. Shida nailed a knee to the back of the head, but Abadon almost won with the Edge-a-matic. Shida finally managed to hit a Shining Wizard for the win.
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Backstage, Dasha asked Jimmy Havoc for an update on his injuries. Havoc thanked Luther for doing it, so being the nice guy Luther is, he attacked Havoc again and had to be dragged away.
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The Librarians were telling us about the newest book of the month, which is Written In The Stars. They came upon Colt Cabana, who was listening to a podcast instead of reading a book. Avalon kept recommending authors, so Colt recommended podcasts. This led to a challenge for a match.
Leva went back and told Colt she loves his podcast.
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Private Party defeated Sonny Kiss & Brandon Cutler
A few weeks ago, Cutler almost beat Private Party by himself when his partner, Shawn Spears walked out. So how will things be when he has a loyal partner? Either way, Cutler is dueling it out with Peter Avalon for the worst record in AEW at 0-9.
Cutler did a great job countering Isiah Kassidy and Marq Quen, much like he did the last time they met. This time Sonny got involved and it ended up in a standoff. Excalibur wondered if Quen and Sonny got their hair done at the same place, which led Taz to say he thinks they go to the same “Dye-ist”. While this conversation was going on, Kiss went down to a combo Rude Awakening/Double Foot Stomp, giving Private Party the advantage.
Private Party mimicked Kiss while getting the heat on him. Cutler got the hot tag and used a beautiful springboard double clothesline. Cutler looked good, laying a beating on both men. We did have a contrived spot where Kassidy was laying on the middle rope and had to stay hanging there while Cutler did moves to Quen first.
Get out the hammer and nails, because this team of Cutler and Kiss are BUILDING MOMENTUM! Kiss went for a boot on Quen, but Marq moved and Kiss ended up in the splits. Quen went for what turned into a Moonsault with double knees. Cutler got in and started doing moves without getting a tag. The referee kept telling him he’s not legal, but Cutler ignored him and hit the TPK on both members of Private Party. Kiss went to the middle rope, but Kassidy prevented him from leaping off. Quen tagged in as Private Party nailed Kiss with the Gin and Juice for the win.
Suddenly, from out of nowhere (or just off the camera), Death Triangle ran in to attack Private Party! PAC, Pentagon and Fenix ended up laying out not only them, but also Cutler and Kiss, who tried to make the save.
PAC took the mic and told all of AEW that if they continue to disrespect athletes of their caliber, they’ll get exactly what they asked for. Joey Janela tried to run in for the save, but was also laid out. Best Friends and Orange Cassidy then hit the ring to send the Death Triangle reeling as the show closed
