AEW shifts into overdrive with a bonus Dark!

Before AEW Full Gear kicks off, Dark rolls a seven! Will Brandon Cutler keep on winning now that he finally stopped losing?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Big Swole VS Tesha Price; Swole wins.
• Christopher Daniels VS Matt Sydal; Sydal wins.
• Brandon Cutler VS Michael Nakazawa; Cutler wins.
• Griff Garrison VS Ariel Dominguez; Garrison wins.
• The Dark Order’s Evil Uno & Stu Grayson VS Sean Maluta & Ryzin; The Dark Order wins.
• Ricky Starks VS Trevor Read; Starks wins.
• Chuck Taylor VS Lee Johnson; Chuck wins.

PLAY BY LAY

Big Swole VS Tesha Price!

Aerial Monroe had her shot at the AEW Women’s Championship, missed the mark, but isn’t letting that throw her off track. Will she “welcome” the newest woman in AEW with some Dirty Dancing?

The bell rings and Swole circles with Price. They tie up, go around, and then break. Swole dares Price to do something, they tie up again and Swole shoves Price down hard! Fans cheer and Swole chuckles as Price gets up. Pride gets behind, Swole switches and slams! Swole drives knees into Price’s back, but Price sits up and switches to a seated full nelson. Swole gets up, breaks free but Price SLAPS her! Price goes to ropes for defense then elbows Swole back. Price bumps Swole off buckles, throws elbows then snapmares Swole down. Cover, ONE! Price keeps her cool as she goes after Swole with a sleeper hold.

Fans rally for Swole as Price thrashes her around. Swole fights up, throws elbows and gets free. Swole whips, but Price reverses to kick back and run, basement dropkick from the side! Cover, ONE! Swole flounders but Price is on her with a straitjacket stretch. Fans rally again as Swole endures. Swole fights up, fights out and uppercuts! Price reels Swole in but Swole turns it around. Swole runs, Price follows but Swole CLOBBERS her! Swole fires off palm strikes but Price ducks the roundhouse, jumps the sweep, but the HEADBUTT hits! Swole reels Price in, TIGER DRIVER, to CLOVERLEAF!! Price tags, Swole wins!

Winner: Big Swole, by submission

Price paid the price for disrespecting Swole, and now Swole is one step closer to another shot at the title! But will it be Hikaru Shida or Nyla Rose that she aims for after Full Gear?

Christopher Daniels VS Matt Sydal!

The Fallen Angel has had a rough time dealing with braggadocios opponents, from The Chair Man, Shawn Spears, to the rather high-on-themselves Hybrid2. Will Daniels bring the high-flying Sydal down to earth tonight?

The bell rings and the two shake hands to show there is respect here. The two circle, Sydal points to his third eye but ties up with Daniels. Daniels headlocks, shifts to a wristlock and wrench. Sydal rolls, handsprings, steps through and wrenches to a hammerlock. Daniels reaches back, headlock to a takeover! Sydal fights his way up, Daniels cranks on the headlock to snapmare but Sydal handsprings through to arm-drag Daniels around! Sydal rolls, brings Daniels up to an inside cradle, TWO! Sydal hits a headlock takeover and grinds Daniels down. Fans cheer the exchange as Daniels endures. Daniels gets up and powers out but Sydal runs him over! Things speed up, Danielis hurdles and scoops to slam Sydal! Cover, ONE but Daniels headlocks and grinds Sydal down.

Sydal fights up, powers out but Daniels runs him over. Things speed up again, Sydal hurdles and scoops but Daniels cradle counters, TWO! Daniels swings but Sydal dodges to JUMPING SOBAT! Sydal drags Daniels up with a chinlock to KICK hard in the back! Cover, TWO! Sydal KICKS a leg, has Daniels on ropes and kicks him more. Daniels throws forearms back, backs Sydal down but Sydal reverses the whip to sweep the legs! Sydal hits the STANDING TORNILLO! Cover, TWO! Sydal keeps his focus and KICKS Daniels in the back again! Sydal points to his third eye again then covers, TWO! Sydal keeps Daniels down by going after an arm but Daniels resists. Fans rally up, Daniels fights up and fights out, but Sydal clubs him then KICKS the leg!

Sydal whips, Daniels reverses but Sydal slips through the tilt-o-whirl, only for Daniels to EXPLODER! Fans rally up again as Daniels stalks Sydal. Daniels rallies with big forearms and clotheslines, but Sydal reverses the whip, only for Daniels to STO! Fans fire up with Daniels and he drags Sydal up. Daniels whips and scoops Sydal for the BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Cover, TWO! Sydal is still in this as Daniels drags him up. Sydal swings into the COMPLETE SHOT, and KOJI KLUTCH! Sydal gets the ropebreak with a leg and Daniels lets go in frustration. Daniels drags Sydal up to headbutt him to a corner. Daniels CHOPS Sydal then whips him corner to corner. Sydal reverses but runs into an elbow! Daniels goes up but Sydal NO HANDS STEINERS! And then windmill kicks!

Sydal scoops Daniels for the Sidewalk DRIVER! Cover, TWO!! Daniels survives and Sydal grows frustrated. Sydal drags Daniels up but Daniels shoves him away. Daniels wings into the roll up, TWO! Sydal KICKS the leg again, then whips Daniels to a corner. Daniels puts Sydal out but Sydal ROUNDHOUSES! Sydal climbs, leaps, but Daniels catches him for an URENAGE! But TH2 shows up to talk trash. They stay on stage, Sydal KICKS and KNEES! Daniels ducks a kick, gives a kick, Angel’s Wings COUNTERED! Sydal RANA CLUTCH, Sydal wins!!

Winner: Matt Sydal, by pinfall

TH2 laugh at Daniels for being distracted, and then take their leave. Will Jack Evans and Angelico keep messing with Daniels until Daniels gives up? Sydal does show Daniels respect by bowing to him and shaking his hand. Daniels shows respect by back raising Sydal’s hand. Will Sydal find his way to big opportunities in AEW’s near future?

Brandon Cutler VS Michael Nakazawa!

The Dungeon Master FINALLY got a win on his record, but he can’t stop with one! Will he get the all important second win on his record at the expense of the Turkish Oil Master?

The bell rings and Nakazawa tosses the bottle of oil aside! This is going to be clean as these two circle and tie up. Nakazawa headlocks, Cutler powers out but Nakazawa runs him over! Things speed up, Cutler hurdles but Nakazawa kicks and whips. Cutler goes up and over but Nakazawa gets under. Cutler runs at Nakazawa again but Nakazawa dodges. Nakazawa runs in but Cutler gets to the apron to ROUNDHOUSE back! Cutler slingshot enziguris Nakazawa down! Fans cheer as Cutler brings Nakazawa up for BLOODY SUNDAY! Cover, TWO! Nakazawa survives but Cutler drags him back up. Cutler standard suplexes but Nakazawa slips out to waistlock. Cutler bucks the O’Conner roll back, but his springboard is disrupted!

Nakazawa goes out to drop double ax handles! Nakazawa goes to bump Cutler off the apron but Cutler blocks to bump Nakazawa instead! Cutler scoops, Nakazawa slips out and waistlocks to RAM Cutler into the railing, and even some fellow wrestlers watching ringside! Nakazawa goes into the ring, and he uses his spare bottle of oil to slick up ropes! Cutler grabs on but slips off! So Cutler goes around the side to get in on the clean ropes! Nakazawa was not clever enough, but he still dumps Cutler out to the ramp! Cutler hits back, springboards on these dry ropes and hits the FLYING FOREARM! Nakazawa flounders, Cutler runs in but into a big elbow! Nakazawa SPEARS Cutler down! Cover, TWO! Cutler survives and Nakazawa is furious!

Nakazawa stalks behind Cutler, reels him in, but Cutler escapes the Olympic Slam to scoop! Nakazawa grabs at ropes, but those are the slippery ropes he oiled up! No grip means no ropebreak and Cutler hits the TPK GUTBUSTER! Cover, Cutler wins!

Winner: Brandon Cutler, by pinfall

It was a Total Party Kill and Cutler is on a winstreak of two! Will Cutler finally turn this all around?

Backstage interview with Frankie Kazarian.

Dasha notes how last time she tried to interview him about his goals, there was an interruption by TH2. Would he like to try again? Kaz says he must apologize on behalf of Angelico and Evans. He respects what they do in the ring, but not their stupidity. But as he was saying, the goal is the same: to prove he is elite, to prove he belongs at the top, to prove he is the best. But he isn’t the guy asked to do cute commercial shoots or promotional material photoshoots. That’s fine, because what he’s here to do is wrestle. If this sounds like he has a chip on his shoulder, that’s not the case. It’s an ice block! It’s the ice that runs through his veins and what propels him to get to the top! He didn’t come this far to only come this far! If anyone disagrees with that, he dares them to prove him wrong!

Griff Garrison VS Ariel Dominguez!

Last Dark, the Ivy League MVP won alongside Brian Pillman Jr, but they both ended up casualties of Lance Archer’s wicked whims. Will Griff rebound in solo action before Full Gear?

The bell rings and Griff stands face to face with Dominguez. Dominguez points out that he is shorter than Griff, and just short in general, but he SLAPS Griff to show he’s got a big attitude! Griff nods and then whips Dominguez for a HUGE back drop! Dominguez gets to ropes, Griff runs at him but Dominguez drops down to headscissor Griff away! Griff chases Dominguez, Dominguez goes up and over but Griff BOOTS him down! Fans rally with Griff as he runs corner to corner at Dominguez for a HUGE SPLASH! And then a whip corner to corner, but Dominguez dodges the second splash! Dominguez goes up, leaps, but into Griff’s arms for a pop-up, toss and DISCUS! Griff drags Dominguez up to a torture rack and thrashes him about, TOWER HACKER BOMB! Cover, Griff wins!

Winner: Griff Garrison, by pinfall

For once, Griff was the giant in the match and he got a big win for it! But “Everybody dies…!” Oh no not again! Archer is here and Jake the Snake tells Griff to get out now. “Save your ass, get out of here!” Griff doesn’t back down, and it seems some people just never learn. Jake can’t believe Griff “beat up a little kid.” But now he’s throwing forearms on Archer?! Griff runs and Jake says this ain’t no little kid! Archer BOOTS Griff then clotheslines him out of the ring! Archer picks up Dominguez for a HUGE FALL AWAY SLAM! Jake jokes that Archer should’ve tried to get him up and over the top rope with that. Does he want another shot? But speaking of another shot, Archer wants another shot at the world title.

What happened when Moxley and Kingston got face to face? Where they there to fight or… Oh, well Jake shouldn’t say what he was going to say. There was a wall keeping them apart but those two will fight it out soon enough. Jake says that if Kingston wins, Archer wants the shot. Jake will DDT Kingston’s mom if he has to! Jake’s career was always him being moved aside, never given the top title shot. He doesn’t care why anymore, because now he understands. “It’s because they’re afraid!” Are they afraid Jake and Archer would take their marbles and go home? Go off to Japan and never return? No, that wouldn’t happen. There are at least 50 blank contracts sitting on the desk and no one is grabbing one! “Can’t we just have some fun?”

Archer says he’s having fun. Is Jake having fun? Just a little, right? It’s like Halloween is still going and they’re trick-or-treating. Halloween is over but Archer is still here and he’s a scary SOB. If you were a raging bull, you might. If you were a pack of wolves, you might. If you a train, a hundred cars long, barreling down the tracks, you might. But you’re not and you can’t stop this. That brings Archer to Mox and Kingston. They’re so emotional~! But they’re not paying attention! They’re too worried about Mama and not him. Because you’re not seeing the predator in the weeds. And when he pounces, he’ll rip them apart. He’ll rip the family apart one by one by one!

Archer will chop the Butcher, break the Blade, burn the Fenix and put fear in Penta’s heart like he’s never felt before. If he needs to, he’ll even bounce the Bunny. Then it’ll just be Kingston and Archer. “And it’s going to be blood for blood, by the GALLONS!” The Murderhawk Monster has sent a message to Kingston, but what about Moxley?

The Dark Order’s Evil Uno & Stu Grayson VS Sean Maluta & Ryzin!

The OG of this maniacal organization are getting back on track in hopes of another AEW World Tag Team Championship opportunity. Will they slay the Samoan Dragon and Pastor of Sin in order to reach the next level?

The teams sort out and Stu starts with Maluta, to clobber him over and over with forearms! Stu carries Maluta to the corner, Uno tags in and CHOPS then ROCKS Maluta! Uno bumps Maluta off buckles, but Maluta gets mad! Maluta ROCKS Uno then bumps him off buckles! Uno throat chops Maluta, whips him corner to corner, but Maluta goes up and headscissors back! Maluta dodges to back kick then run, and kicks to a neckbreaker! Cover, ONE! Maluta keeps on Uno, wrenches to a wristlock and tags in Ryzin. Ryzin goes up and drops double ax handles on the arm. Ryzin yanks the arm, whips Uno but Uno reverses to rake the eyes! Uno pulls hard on the nostrils!

Tag to Stu, Stu gets Ryzin up but Ryzin arm-drags back! Ryzin leg lariats then NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, ONE, but Ryzin keeps on Stu with the wrench. Stu CHOPS, shoves Ryzin and Uno holds ropes so that Ryzin tumbles out! Uno drags Ryzin up to RAM him into the apron! Uno puts Ryzin in, Stu tags him in, and Uno brings Ryzin up. Stu springboards, elbow drop sidewalk slam! Cover, TWO! Fans rally for Ryzin and Ryzin throws body shots. Uno bell claps then whips Ryzin to an open corner. Uno runs in to CHOP, then he whips Ryzin to BOOT him down! Tag to Stu, Uno brings Ryzin up for a backbreaker! Stu goes up and slingshot sentons to the apron! “See me now?!” Stu goes back to Ryzin, brings him up and suplexes him. Ryzin slips out, Stu swings into Ryzin’s HEADSHOT neckbreaker!

Ryzin crawls, hot tags to Uno and Maluta! Stu KNEES Maluta then feeds him to Uno’s toss, Electric Chair toss to a BOMB! Stu takes Ryzin “for a ride” into railing! Uno drags Maluta up and in, spinning COMPLETE SHOT! Cover, the Dark Order wins!

Winners: The Dark Order, by pinfall

The top two of the Dark Order keep on rolling! Will they be the next challengers to the AEW World Tag Team Champions?

Ricky Starks VS Trevor Read!

Team Taz gave an ultimatum to Will Hobbs, Tony Khan, and all of the AEW officials in regards to being disrespected! Will Absolute make sure “Golden Boy Tech” respects him?

The bell rings and Starks rushes Read to fire off fists and stomps! The ref backs him off but Starks comes back to stomp and CHOP Read at ropes. Starks whips, Read slips out of the scoop and waistlocks but Starks elbows free and dropkicks Read to the apron! Read sits up, Starks shakes his head and goes after him. Starks brings Read up, suplexes him up and in, holds him for 5 before the SLAM! Fans can’t help but like that as Starks looms over Read. Starks stomps Read’s face! Fans boo that now but Starks brings Read up to throw body shots. Starks brings Read up, Read throws a forearm back! Read kicks and kicks but Starks blocks to spin him for a BIG atomic drop! Starks runs and runs and runs and SPEARS! Then he strikes a pose, brings Read up, and ROSHAMBEAUX! Cover, Starks wins!

Winner: Ricky Starks, by pinfall

Read might be past tense now as Starks finishes him off! Will Starks be poised and ready for another shot at the TNT Championship, regardless of who holds it after Full Gear?

Chuck Taylor VS Lee Johnson!

Best Friends have beef with The Best Man and his Superbad buddy, but that will have to be settled later. Will the Kentucky Gentleman get a big win over Big Shotty, aka the newest recruit to the Nightmare Family?

The bell rings and Chuckie T circles with Big Shotty. They shake hands to show there is respect and fans rally up. They tie up, Chuck wrenches to a wristlock but Johnson slips through to a hammerlock. Johnson spins Chuck, snapmares but Chuck slips out to hammerlock. Johnson rolls, reaches up to headscissor but Chuck pushes him away. Johnson gets around to another hammerlock but Chuck drop toeholds him down. Chuck floats to a facelock but Johnson reverses to his own, Chuck fights up to slip out and wristlock. Johnson rolls, rolls and gets free. Fans cheer the exchange and Chuck nods respect. The two reset, tie up again, Chuck headlocks but Johnson powers out. Chuck runs Johnson over and flexes. Johnson applauds because that was good, and the two reset again.

They tie up, Chuck puts Johnson in a corner but lets off to wrench and whip. Johnson goes up and over and rolls to get around and shoves Chuck. Johnson hurdles, drops down then dropkicks! Johnson takes a second to give thumbs up to Orange Cassidy. Cassidy nods, that was good. Johnson throws forearms, whips but Chuck reverses and BOOTS him down! Johnson goes to a corner, Chuck stomps him, and stomps him, and stomps a little more. Chuck even stomps the air around Johnson! Chuck brings Johnson up, back suplexes high and hard then covers, TWO! Johnson is impressing Best Friends and Cassidy but Chuck brings Johnson back up. Chuck CHOPS Johnson in the corner, but Johnson CHOPS back! Chuck CHOPS harder!

Chuck whips Johnson corner to corner, Johnson boots him back then goes up top. Johnson reels Chuck in but Chuck crisscross arm-drags Johnson down! Chuck rolls and reels Johnson in for a modified arm triangle! Johnson endures, fans rally up but Chuck pulls on the arm for a half straitjacket modification! Johnson still endures so Chuck lets go to KICK him! Chuck drags Johnson to a drop zone, climbs up top, and fans rally up with him for the MOONSAULT! Johnson moves, Chuck flops! Johnson rallies with forearms and clotheslines! Johnson runs corner to corner to CHOP and clothesline Chuck! Then the other way, but Chuck reverses. Johnson drop toeholds Chuck into buckles! Johnson goes to the apron, side to side and KICKS Chuck back in!

Johnson springboards but into a waistlock! Ripcord, SOLE FOOD! Johnson wobbles but he gets around Chuck for a BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Cover, TWO! Chuck survives and Johnson grows frustrated. Johnson brings Chuck up to chop, then he runs, into a BIG POP-UP BOMB!! Cover, TWO!? Chuck grins, he’s impressed Johnson survived that. Chuck drags Johnson up, suplexes for the FALCON ARROW! Cover, TWO!! Johnson survives again and Chuck has to give more respect. Chuck goes up top now, leaps, DOUBLE STOMPS! Cover, TWO!?! Chuck still can’t believe it! Johnson crawls, Chuck follows him to ropes and brings him up. Chuck brings Johnson to the corner, but Johnson resists the lift! Johnson fights back and enziguris hard!

Johnson springboards and missile dropkicks Chuck out! Johnson FLIES and takes Chuckie T down! And Cassidy high-fives him!? Trent is upset with Cassidy, but then Trent admits that was great and high-fives Big Shotty, too! Johnson goes back to the ring but gets a SEXY CHUCKIE KNEE! SNAP PILEDRIVER! Cover, TWO!?! Chuck keeps his cool, brings Johnson up and says this is done. AWFUL WAFFLE!! Cover, Chuckie T wins!

Winner: Chuck Taylor, by pinfall

That Awful Waffle had some extra syrup on it! Cassidy helps Johnson up and gives thumbs up, and then Chuck gives Johnson a hug! Johnson impressed, even in defeat, when will he finally get up and over to get that first win?

My Thoughts:

This is how Dark should be. I know Dark is for giving more wrestlers opportunities just to be seen on a mainstream platform, but keeping it to roughly an hour is easier for everyone, mostly me. There were still matches with obvious result, like Starks beating Read, Swole beating Price and even Griff beating Dominguez, but it was still good. Archer seems to like picking on Griff, though. Jake and Archer had a really good promo together after Archer mauled Griff and Dominguez, but they are really harping on it being Kingston as the target. I think regardless of what we see on Full Gear, Archer wants after Kingston and “the family,” and that will help Archer bide his time while other world title plans play out.

Dark Order winning was also obvious, I have a feeling that with as many combinations they have within the faction, those guys could just overwhelm the contender rankings so that whoever the champions are will basically run a gauntlet of Dark Order matches. That would actually make for a great story, especially if it’s the Young Bucks as Faces with an edge to the highly entertaining Heels like John Silver and even Colt Cabana. Also I should’ve noted, Maluta was saying “Uce” as if by habit, but could also be his way of teasing his cousins in the WWE. Cutler getting another win was a natural move, he needs to get a good streak going before losing again.

Johnson did great against Chuck Taylor, it makes sense both in kayfabe and reality that the Nightmare Family recruited him to help him get what he needs to finally win. In fact, there’s a lot the Nightmare Family can do now that they’ve expanded, and I look forward to seeing where they go in the near future. Daniels and Sydal was the one match that could’ve gone either way, but it makes sense for TH2 to cost Daniels that win. There’s more there for SCU VS TH2, I wonder if things crossover with the Scorpio Sky VS Shawn Spears story for a Six Man Tag, Spears has to team with TH2 in order to settle things.

My Score: 8/10