AEW Dark is Big Money with Matt Hardy!

AEW Dark goes big with Big Money Matt, The Dark Order and Team Taz! Will Hardy have momentum going in his TNT Championship match with Darby?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Tag Career on the Line: SoCal Uncensored VS Jay Lyon & Midas Black; SCU wins and stays a team.
• Matt Sydal VS Luther; Sydal wins.
• Alan Angels & Preston Vance w/ The Dark Order VS Hayden Backlund & Kit Sackett; Angels & Vance win.
• Colt Cabana w/ The Dark Order VS Jake Manning; Cabana wins.
• Red Velvet & Big Swole w/ KiLynn King VS Amber Nova & Queen Aminata; Velvet & Swole win.
• Aaron Solow w/ The Factory VS Fuego del Sol; Solow wins.
• Six Man Tag: The Gunn Club VS Stone Rockwell, Mike Magnum & Andrew Palace; The Gunn Club wins.
• Madi Wrenkowski VS KiLynn King; King wins.
• Matt Hardy w/ The Hardy Family Office VS Ken Broadway; Hardy wins.
• Evil Uno & Stu Grayson w/ The Dark Order VS Vary Morales & Spencer Slade; The Dark Order wins.
• Britt Baker w/ Rebel VS Shawna Reed; Britt wins.
• Brian Cage & Ricky Starks w/ Team Taz VS Carlie Bravo & Dean Alexander; Cage & Starks win.
• Nyla Rose w/ Vickie Guerrero VS Leila Grey; Nyla wins.
• The Varsity Blondes VS Prince Kai and Will Allday; The Varsity Blondes win.
• Lance Archer w/ Jake the Snake VS Cole Karter; Archer wins.
• Ryan Nemeth w/ JD Drake VS Alex Reynolds w/ The Dark Order; Reynolds wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Tag Career on the Line: SoCal Uncensored VS Jay Lyon & Midas Black!

Christopher Daniels & Frankie Kazarian start off Dark by putting their partnership on the line! They’ve been going strong ever since starting this self-challenge, but will the Fallen Angel and Heavy Metal Rebel suddenly fall apart?

The teams sort out, Kaz starts with Midas and they circle. Fans rally up, Kaz and Midas tie up, and Kaz waistlocks to slam Midas down! Kaz facelocks, grinds Midas down, but Midas fights up and around. Kaz hammerlocks Midas to then headlock, but Midas powers out. Kaz runs Midas over, things speed up and Kaz blocks a hip toss to arm-drag then CLOBBER Midas! Kaz stays between Midas and Lyon and he CHOPS Midas down! Kaz CHOPS Midas in the open corner, puts him back in and then bumps him off Daniels’ boot! Tag to Daniels, he stays between Midas and Lyon to gut wrench suplex! Daniels wags his finger at Lyon then goes back to Midas.

Fans rally, Daniels throws hands on Midas then scoops, but Midas slips around to shove Daniels into Lyon’s kick! Lyon tags in, he scoops and spins around, then SLAMS Daniels down! Midas sets up the hoop, Lyon dives through it to SENTON Daniels! Cover, TWO! Lyon drags Daniels up to throw forearms, then whips Daniels to ropes. Daniels ducks and dodges to kick Lyon, and STO! Fans fire up with SCU as Daniels tags Kaz in. SCU mugs Lyon, Kaz brings him around and whips into Daniels’ BOOT! SCU gets Lyon with a HIGH LOW! Midas runs into boots! They whip Midas and pop him up for the NECKBREAKER BOMB COMBO!

Lyon staggers into a gut wrench, and gets the BEST MELZTER EVER! Cover, SCU wins!

Winners: SoCal Uncensored, by pinfall (still a tag team)

And The Addiction continues! They’ll be watching Young Bucks VS Death Triangle very closely, who will they get to face on the other side of Dynamite?

Matt Sydal VS Luther!

The Yoga Monster and SNAKEMAN are staying in the back so that this will be a 1v1 fight of men with third eyes! Whose sight will be 20/20/20 vision and find their path to victory?

The bell rings and the two compare third eyes, but Luther kicks low and fires off haymakers! Luther snapmares but Sydal handsprings through! Sydal deflects a boot, KICKS away on a leg, then STANDING MARIPOSA! Cover, TWO! Sydal CLUBS Luther, KICKS his leg, then whips him to ropes. Luther reverses, Sydal sunset flips, TWO! BUTTERFLY STRETCH! Lyther endures, Sydal pokes his third eye, but Luther fights up! Cover, TWO! Luther BOOTS Sydal, ROCKS him and stomps him! Luther bumps Sydal off the buckles, CLUBS him in the back, and then whips Sydal corner to corner to run in and clothesline!

Sydal sputters, Luther kicks him and digs his fingers into Sydal’s two normal eyes! Luther chokes Sydal on the ropes, the ref counts, Luther lets off. Luther says HE has the third eye! And then he argues with the ref, drags Sydal up, and kicks back. Fans rally and duel as Sydal catches Luther for a roll-up, TWO! Luther kicks Sydal, reels him in but Sydal gets around to waistlock. Luther elbows free, runs but into a WHEEL KICK! Fans fire up as Sydal gets up. Luthre stands to get more KICKS! Sydal SOBATS Luther down and fans fire up again! Sydal drags Luther up, fisherman for the BUSTER! Cover, TWO!! Luther survives and Sydal is shocked!

Luther gets up, Sydal runs in and BRONCO BUSTERS! Sydal has Luther floundering into a drop zone! Sydal springboards but Luther trips him up! Sydal tumbles out to the floor, Luther goes out to KICK Sydal, then whip him hard into railing! Fans rally and duel again, Luther drags Sydal up and scoops him, to SLAM him into railing! Sydal flops down, Luther refreshes the ring count, and Luther stomps Sydal down. Fans rally, Luther drags Sydal up to mock Mike Sydal in the crowd, and throw Matt Sydal into more railings! Mike cheers Matt on but Luther tells him to shut up. Luther puts Matt in, drops knees on his back, and then throws down fists!

Luther drags Sydal up, scoops him, and hits a BACKBREAKER! Luther bends Sydal in a backbreaker rack, Sydal endures, so Luther shoves him down. Luther gets Sydal up to KICK his legs! Sydal KICKS back, and it’s a KICK fight! Sydal KICKS more and more, then fakes Luther out to QUESTION MARK! Luther shrugs that off to GERMAN SUPLEX! Sydal flounders up into a BOOT! Luther drags Sydal back up, reels him in, and calls for his shot, but Sydal slips out! Sydal ducks the kick to ROUNDHOUSE! Sydal hooks Luther up, LIGHTNING SPIRAL!! Cover, Sydal wins!

Winner: Matt Sydal, by pinfall

Luther’s third eye lost its focus and Sydal struck him down! Will Matt be flying higher as AEW moves into the Spring?

Alan Angels & Preston Vance w/ The Dark Order VS Hayden Backlund & Kit Sackett!

Numbers 5 & 10 combine forces again, looking to prove that all of the Dark Order’s tag teams are top five material! Vance won big on his own on Elevation, will he and Angels fly even higher together?

The teams sort out and Vance starts with Sackett. Negative One gives some last minute coaching, then Vance and Sackett circle. They tie up, Vance hammerlocks then headlocks to the takeover. Vance grinds Sackett, Sackett fights up and powers Vance to ropes. The ref counts, Sackett lets off but then comes back to headlock again. Vance powers out and runs Sackett over! Things speed up, Vance gets under the hurdle to hit another headlock takeover! Fans cheer, Sackett fights up but Vance wrenches. Angels tags in, Vance whips Sackett and then back drops him! Angels is up top for a basement missile dropkick!

Angels drags Sackett up, throws forearm after forearm after forearm! Angels unleashes then KICKS Sackett down! Angels glares at Backlund, but Sackett rakes Angels’ eyes! Tag to Backlund, he and Sackett mug Angels to then double whip him corner to corner. Angels goes up and over Sacket, under Backlund, then RANAS Backlund into giving Sackett a spear! Angels then ATHLETIC PLEXES Backlund away! Angels has Backlund on the apron, suplexes him but Backlund slips free! Sackett tags in as Backlund ducks and dodges, and Sackett CLOBBERS Angels! Sackett back suplexes but Angels lands on his feet, tag to Vance!

Vance rallies on Sackett, has him in a corner and BOOTS him! Vance scoops, Sackett slips out and then shoves, only to run into a SPINEBUSTER! Vance powers up but Backlund drags him out! Vance dodges Backlund, Angels ROUNDHOUSES Backlund down! Sackett builds speed but into a KNEE! Angels then adds his “THIS IS GONNA SUCK!” CROSSBODY! FULL NELSON!! Vance thrashes Sackett into going to sleep, the Dark Order wins!

Winners: Alan Angels & Preston Vance, by submission

The Dark Order is three duos deep as the nickel ‘n’ dime package gets another win! Will 5 & 10 be joining the top five in time for Dynamite’s AEW World Tag Team Championship match?

Colt Cabana w/ The Dark Order VS Jake Manning!

BOOM BOOM! The Dark Order continues as Cabana welcomes “Mr. Elite” to All Elite! Will Manning prove he belongs here? Or will he decide to #JoinDarkOrder?

The bell rings and “The Man Scout” reluctantly puts his scout manual away. Manning and Cabana tie up, and Cabana scoop SLAMS Manning! Cabana waits on Manning to get up, but Manning goes back to his book. Manning says his back hurts, and that his manual advises against such situations. The ref gets Manning to put the book back down and continue the match. Manning and Cabana tie up, Manning waistlocks but Cabana reaches down to trip him up. Cabana runs, cartwheels over and scoops Manning to SLAM him again! Manning scrambles back to his manual again, reads but Cabana snatches it away!

Cabana takes the book on a game of cat ‘n’ mouse with Manning, then tosses it to roll Manning up, TWO! Now there’s a tug-o-war for the book! The ref takes it away and Manning CLOBBERS Cabana! Manning clubs Cabana, throws forearms, but now it’s a brawl! Cabana ROCKS Manning, whips but Manning reverses to sunset Cabana into buckles! Cover, TWO!! Manning is shocked but he goes up top. Fans rally, Manning leaps, but into a HAYMAKER! Manning staggers around into DOUBLE CHOPS! Cabana JABS and JABS, flips, flops and flies, BIONIC ELBOW! FLYING APPLE in the corner, and then Cabana goes up top. Cabana leaps, hops again as Manning moves, SPLASH! Cover, TWO!

Cabana stands Manning up to CHOP! And CHOP! Manning ducks the chop to hit a LETHAL COMBINATION! Cover, TWO!! Manning can’t believe it! Manning goes up top but Cabana anchors his foot, to trip him up! Cabana gets the legs, turns Manning around, BILLY GOAT’S CURSE!! Manning taps, Cabana wins!

Winner: Colt Cabana, by submission

Negative One gets Manning’s book to look through it, and then throws it to the trash! Will Dark Order continue to roll on through the rankings in all divisions?

Red Velvet & Big Swole w/ KiLynn King VS Amber Nova & Queen Aminata!

This winning combination is back together again, right before Velvet is about to have her 1v1 rematch with Jade Cargill! Will Velvet and Swole be sweet, not sour, before Velvet takes on the power of #ThatBitch?

The teams sort out, Swole starts against Nova and the two circle as fans rally. Swole and Nova tie up, Swole shoves Nova away, and Aminata tags in already. Aminata says she’s got this, and Swole mocks her. Things speed up, Swole drop toeholds to then basement dropkick! Aminata hits back with body shots and a big forearm, but Swole forearms back! Swole whips Aminata to the corner and ROCKS her with an uppercut! Tag to Velvet, they double whip and trip Aminata up to then hurdle, elbow and Cover, ONE! Aminata tags out to Nova, she and Velvet tie up and Nova headlocks. Velvet powers out, Nova runs her over, and things speed up again, but Velvet calf kicks Nova down!

Velvet drags Nova up, Nova uppercuts! Nova NORTHERN LIGHTS! Bridging cover, TWO! Nova knocks Velvet down, talks trash, then drags Velvet up to bump her off buckles. Tag to Aminata and she fires forearms then a snapmare. Aminata hushes the crowd to then KICK Velvet on the back! Cover, TWO! Aminata brings Velvet up to whip her into Nova’s headscissors and DEADLY NIGHTSHADE! Swole protests, the ref reprimands, Aminata HIP ATTACKS Velvet in the corner! Cover, TWO! Velvet survives but Aminata smirks, runs and kicks but Velvet gets under it! Hot tag to Swole, and Swole CLOBBERS Aminata!

Swole rallies with forearms, ROUNDHOUSES Nova, but Aminata ducks the kicks to get the HEADBUTT! Aminata keeps moving, Swole SPEARS her down! Cover, Nova breaks it! Velvet fires off on Nova, Swole fires off on Aminata, then they trade to EuroUpper! DOUBLE BASEMENT COMPLETE SHOTS! Swole drags Aminata by her legs but Aminata kicks her away! Hot tags to Nova and Velvet! Velvet bobs ‘n’ weaves, kicks and CHEF’S KISS!! Cover, Velvet & Swole win!

Winners: Red Velvet & Big Swole, by pinfall

The combination known as #Swolvet is getting stronger! But here comes Jade Cargill! She wants to stir up trouble again, but Swole and King try to keep Velvet back. She blows past them to DIVE and take out Jade at the ramp! They brawl on the ramp, referees rush to stop this, and both King and Swole stay between Velvet and Jade! This is where it stops for now, but this is definitely going to explode on Dynamite!

Aaron Solow w/ The Factory VS Fuego del Sol!

QT Marshall and Nick Comoroto won big for their brand new faction, and now it’s time for the Extra Talented to get his! Will he put out the Fire of the Sun and prove everyone should come work for The Factory?

Fuego stares down QT and Comoroto, but Solow BLINDSIDES him! The bell rings and Solow stomps Fuego down! Fans jeer as Solow RAMS Fuego into buckles! Solow kicks Fuego, backs off then drags Fuego up to scoop him for a SLAM! Solow runs to drop a BIG knee! Fans boo but Solow blows kisses. Solow stomps Fuego to a corner, drags Fuego up and CHOPS him! Solow brings Fuego up to EXPLODER! Fuego tumbles all the way to the other corner, and Solow grins as he hurries over to choke Fuego on ropes! The ref counts, Solow lets off and drags Fuego back up. Fans rally for Fuego and he throws body shots, but Solow DECKS him!

Solow scoops Fuego to SLAM him into buckles! Solow talks trash, fans still rally but Solow drags Fuego up to stomp and kick him. Solow toys with Fuego but Fuego fires off! Solow blocks a kick, flips Fuego but he lands on his feet to ENZIGURI! Fuego runs corner to corner to UPPERCUT! Fuego keeps going to RAM into Solow! Fuego cradles to the FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Solow scrambles up but Fuego is up top! Fuego leaps but Solow gets under, Things speed up, Fuego tilt-o-whirls but no DDT! SCREW HIGH KICK! Solow fires up now, QT tells him to finish this! Solow obeys, underhooks Fuego’s arm for a TRAPPED ARM PEDIGREE! Cover, Solow wins!

Winner: Aaron Solow, by pinfall

The Extra Talented put something extra on that one! Will The Factory dominate all of AEW?

Ryan Nemeth speaks.

“Every week, every show, every match, every opponent, The Hollywood Hunk proves he is a dominant force in AEW.” Looking at the numbers alone, Nemeth wins nearly half the time. Whether it’s Nemeth and Reynolds with Negative One, Tay Conti, whoever, Nemeth isn’t afraid of the cronies. Reynolds is technically sound, good looking, and a winner. But he is no hunk. Will Nemeth be looking his best against Number 3 of the Dark Order?

Six Man Tag: The Gunn Club VS Stone Rockwell, Mike Magnum & Andrew Palace!

Billy and his boys are still rolling as an undefeated trio! But they’re up against some pretty big guns on the other side! Will the Gunn Club finally be outdrawn in the Dark?

The teams sort out, and after rock-paper-scissors, Colten starts against Rockwell the Indiana Jones cosplayer. Fans rally for Colten as Rockwell offers a handshake. Colten asks what’s going on and Papa Gunn says not to fall for it. Fans want Colten to shake his hand, but Rockwell rushes in! Colten gets the arm, wrenches, but Rockwell pulls hair to get the wrench! Colten wrenches it back, Rockwell RAMS him into a corner! Rockwell lets off to body shot hard! Rockwell whips, Colten runs him over! Colten runs, things speed up, Colten whips Rockwell again and then comes back for a NECKBREAKER! Tag to Austin, Palace tags in but Austin whips.

Palace reverses, Austin dodges and trips Palace up to THROWBACK! Austin fires off hype bullets, tags in Billy, and they whip Palace to body shot and BOOT! Magnum tags in, fans fire up with Billy as he and the “Starving Artist” circle. Magnum kicks and haymakers, runs to duck and dodge, but Billy CLOBBERS him! “SUCK IT!” The ref reprimands but Billy drags Magnum  up. Billy suplexes and SLAMS Magnum down! Cover, Palace and Rockwell break it! Austin runs in to CROSSBODY them both down! Billy tags Colten, he gets Magnum up, COLT 45! Cover, the Gunn Club wins!

Winners: The Gunn Club, by pinfall

The Gunns shoot down the Magnum, and are now 12-0 as a trio! Will this lead them to big things in AEW in the near future?

Madi Wrenkowski VS KiLynn King!

Ms. Reality takes on The King as both of them look to climb the ranks of the AEW Women’s Division! Will Madi make King face the reality that she’s not ready for the big time?

The bell rings, the two circle, King dodges Madi to fire off forearms. King whips, arm-drags Madi around, then kicks low and hard. King runs to basement boot Madi out! Fans fire up as King drags Madi up, but Madi trips King! Madi drags King out but King hits back! King ROCKS Madi with forearms but Madi RAMS King into the apron, RAMS her into the barrier, then RAMS her back the other way! Madi ROCKS King, CHOPS her, but King grits her teeth. Madi puts King in the ring, fires off kicks, then runs, to SWINGING NECKBREAKER! Madi keeps on King with knees and a BIG FACEBUSTER! Cover, TWO! King survives and Madi argues with the ref but the count is fair.

Fans rally, Madi gets King up and clubs her on the back. Madi runs but King dodges the boot to CLOBBER her! Things speed up, King blocks a punch to ROUNDHOUSE then GERMAN SUPLEX! Madi flounders, King runs corner to corner and SHOTGUNS Madi into buckles! King goes corner to corner again but misses! Madi runs in but the monkey flip is caught! Madi fights free of the grip but King hits KINGDOM FALL!! Cover, King wins!

Winner: KiLynn King, by pinfall

Madi ended up facing reality that she isn’t ready to dethrone The King! But will King prove she can be the champion of this division?

Alex Reynolds speaks.

“Tonight, State Farm presents: The Hollywood Hunk, Ryan Nemeth VS The Handsome Devil, Alex Reynolds.” Negative One says Nemeth was his babysitter. He sat on Negative One? Negative One is fired up, and wants to attack! Relax, Nemeth isn’t in the camera. Save it for the ring. Reynolds says that he isn’t taking this lightly. He and John Silver talked with the State Farm Superfan, Aaron, and came up with some moves to debut tonight. Reynolds has tricks up his sleeves. He won’t just win this for him or the Dark Order, but for Aaron and State Farm! Because like a good neighbor~, State Farm is there~! Will Nemeth need insurance for what could happen to his good looks?

Matt Hardy w/ The Hardy Family Office VS Ken Broadway!

The truth is the truth, and the truth is that Big Money Matt is going for gold! But will Hardy be rolling into his TNT Championship showdown with Darby Allin?

Broadway also knows how to make it rain, and the HFO scoop up some of that to add to their revenue. The bell rings and Darby Allin is watching from his usual spot in the bleachers. Broadway and Hardy tie up, Hardy wrenches to an elbow breaker then a wristlock. Broadway spins and wrenches and wristlocks back! Hardy wrenches, headlocks, but Broadway powers out, only for Hardy to pull hair! Hardy headlocks again, Broadway throws body shots and powers out this time, only for Hardy to run him over! Hardy drags Broadway up to bump him off buckles, and again and again and again and again! Hardy stops as the ref counts, and he watches Broadway flounder.

Hardy gets Broadway up to SLAP him in the corner! Hardy runs in but Broadway dodges to CHOP! Hardy turns things around to CHOP again! Hardy throws forearms, but Broadway fires back! Broadway climbs up, but Hardy carries him to HOTSHOT him off ropes! Hardy gets Broadway up to bend him against the ropes, and Private Party mocks Broadway. Hardy CLUBS Broadway, throws forearms in a corner, but lets off to run in, only for Broadway to elbow back! Broadway BOOTS Hardy down, climbs up the corner, and MOONSAULTS, but FLOPS! Hardy gets him for a SIDE EFFECT!

Hardy shouts, “The truth is the truth!” He points to Darby and says, “This is you tomorrow night!” Hardy drags Broadway up for a TWIST OF FATE! Darby dares Hardy to bring it, but Hardy drags Broadway into THE LEECH HOLD!! Broadway taps, Hardy wins!

Winner: Matt Hardy, by submission

The HFO celebrates with Hardy but Darby still dares Hardy to bring it as he holds up his TNT Championship. Hardy gets a mic and tells Darby, “Listen to me very closely. Tomorrow nigh to Dynamite, in Falls Count Anywhere, I am going to show you just how extreme Big Money Matt can still be! And I promise you, Darby, I am going to leech the TNT title from around your waist!” Will Hardy put his money where his mouth is when he and Darby can fight all over Daily’s Place?

Evil Uno & Stu Grayson w/ The Dark Order VS Vary Morales & Spencer Slade!

We saw big wins for the Dark Order with Cabana, Angels and Vance, but now the OG get in the ring! Will Players One and Two not be left behind by their recruits?

The teams sort out, Stu starts with Slade and CLOBBERS him! And again! Stu scoops, Slade escapes and shoves him, tag to Vary! Vary leaps, into Stu’s arms! Stu RAMS Vary into the corner, tags to Uno and he elbows Vary! Uno whips Stu into Vary for a forearm, then Stu whips Vary into Uno’s BOOT! Vary tags Slade, Uno blocks his boot! Uno promises to put the foot down, and then throws Slade to STOMP the hands! Uno DECKS Slade, tags Stu, and they combine for the springboard elbow drop SIDEWALK SLAM! Vary runs into a kick! The Dark Order pinball Vary around, TOSS POWERBOMB! Tag to Uno, they get Slade up, FATALITY!! Cover, the Dark Order wins!

Winners: The Dark Order, by pinfall

The originals win fast, but then have to keep Negative One from tearing into Slade! Will Uno & Stu lead the way for the Dark Order into tag team supremacy?

Britt Baker w/ Rebel VS Shawna Reed!

The Doctor is doing double duty as she’s on Dark after being on Elevation! Though she calls the AEW system BS, will Britt still get another win to head towards the AEW Women’s World Championship?

The bell rings and Reed rushes Britt with forearms! Britt shoves her away, they speed up, and Britt hits a NECKBREAKER! Britt gets Reed up, BUTTERFLY SUPLEX! Reed flounders to a corner, Britt pulls Reed’s pigtails into the corner! Britt lets off to then ROCK Reed! Reed turns things around to fire off furious fists! Reed whips, Britt reverses and redirects but Reed sidesteps, only for Britt to hit SLINGBLADE! Fans boo but Britt spells it out for us, only for Reed to roll her up! TWO, but Reed basement dropkicks! Cover, TWO! Reed drags Britt up, fisherman but Britt wrenches free to kick low! Britt reels Reed in to FISHERMAN NECKBREAKER!

Britt checks her teeth, then drags Reed around by her hair. SUPERKICK! Britt says hold on, and she SUPERKICKS again! Britt gets the glove, puts it on, and drags Reed into the Rings of Saturn, and the LOCKJAW!! Reed taps, Britt wins!

Winner: Britt Baker, by submission

The Doctor smothers the schoolgirl to teach her a lesson: Don’t punch above your proverbial weight class. Will Britt become the role model and the workhorse of the AEW Women’s Division?

Brian Cage & Ricky Starks w/ Team Taz VS Carlie Bravo & Dean Alexander!

The #AbsoluteMachines have been rather dysfunctional lately, but the old saying is that winning fixes everything. Will Cage & Starks take care of the #GoonPlatoon and The Sensation and put the past behind them?

The teams sort out and Starks starts with Bravo. Bravo and Starks circle, they tie up, and Starks headlocks. Starks grinds Bravo but Bravo powers out. Bravo hurdles but Starks whips him hard to the outside! Starks distracts the ref so Hook can CLOBBER Bravo! Bravo flounders up only for Will Hobbs to CLOBBER him! Hook gets Bravo in and Starks drags Bravo up. Tag to Cage, Starks scoops Bravo to hand him over to Cage. Cage does bicep curls then TOSSES Bravo! Alexander runs in but Starks intercepts with a kick! Starks helps Cage get Alexander up, for a POWEBOMB! Starks then gets Bravo set up for Cage and Cage climbs up to DEAD LIFT SUPERPLEX!

Cage fires up, “Who betta?!” Cage sees Starks get in because he wants to get Alexander up. Fireman’s carry and another hand-off, for Cage to F5!! Taz is confused as to why Starks is doing all this, as Starks gets Bravo up and tells Cage to end this! Cage suplexes to DRILL CLAW!! Cover, Team Taz wins!

Winners: Brian Cage & Ricky Starks, by pinfall

Starks gets a lot of assists here, and shares in the win as he hands Cage his FTW Championship. Is this a sign that Team Taz is united? Or is Starks being that passive aggressive?

Nyla Rose w/ Vickie Guerrero VS Leila Grey!

The Native Beast is hungry for another chance at the AEW Women’s World Championship, and she’s got a Top Tier appetizer in front of her! Will this be a bite-sized snack before going after the champ?

As Vickie makes her entrance, she shrilly shouts, “EXCUSE ME!!” Though, when is it ever not shrill? Anyway, Vickie storms down to the ring to tell Justin Roberts SUCKS, and decides to do this right! Now get the HELL out of the ring! Vickie introduces “the most feared and destructive woman in all of wrestling history,” Vickie’s client, NYLA ROSE! Then Vickie demands fans give Nyla a standing ovation just for the entrance. Nyla gets in the ring, the bell sounds, and Nyla CLOBBERS Grey! Nyla bumps Grey off buckles, fires off body shots, then whips Grey corner to corner. Grey goes up but gets caught for a POWERSLAM!

Nyla stalks Grey to the apron, Vickie laughs at Grey’s pain, but Grey hotshots Nyla away! Grey runs and lariats, but Nyla stays up! Grey tries again and again, then dropkicks a leg out! Nyla still stands but Grey knee lifts! Nyla CLOBBERS her again! Nyla drags Grey up, reels her in and LARIATS her down! “I own this ring!” Nyla bumps Grey off buckles, stomps her then tosses her! Nyla fires up, runs corner to corner and back body blocks! Then she runs to SPEAR Grey down! Nyla drags Grey up, reels her in and hits a BEAST BOMB! Cover, Nyla wins!

Winner: Nyla Rose, by pinfall

Grey is going to be black ‘n’ blue in the morning after this one. Vickie says she told us so! Nyla grins as she gets a taste, but will her appetite only be appeased when she gets after Hikaru Shida?

The Varsity Blondes VS Prince Kai and Will Allday!

Griff Garrison & Brian Pillman Jr. have been on a roll, but there’s still a long road ahead of them. Will the Ivy League MVP and Bulletproof BPJ get another A+ after taking on the Prince Charming of Wrestling and Mr. All Day Every Day?

The teams sort out, BPJ starts against Allday, and the two circle. They tie up, go around, and Allday arm-drags BPJ away. BPJ runs back to tie up again, gets the arm and wrenches. BPJ YANKS the arm, wrenches more, but Allday rolls and rolls then handsprings to wrench back. BPJ rolls, handsprings and rolls to then BOP Allday in the head! BPJ arm-drags Allday down to drag him over to tag Griff. Griff elbows Allday’s arm, then wrenches to an arm-drag and armlock. Allday fights up, Griff wrenches, tags BPJ in and the Blondes double wrench to snapmare. KICK and a LEG DROP, brother! Cover, TWO!

BPJ clamps onto Allday with a keylock, wristlock then top lock. Allday fights but BPJ wrenches through. BPJ CHOPS Allday, whips him away but Allday turns things around and Kai gets a cheap shot in! Allday CLOBBERS BPJ, covers, TWO! Kai tags in and clubs BPJ down, though Allday didn’t see that coming. Kai bumps BPJ off buckles, stomps him down, and soaks up the heat. Kai runs into a big elbow! BPJ runs, Kai slides under but BPJ ducks. Kai ducks and NECKBREAKERS! Cover, TWO! Kai seethes but tells Allday, “That’s how you do it!” Kai underhooks but BPJ wrenches free. Kai blocks the kick, BPJ dodges the punch and tags in Griff!

Griff rallies on Kai and Allday! Griff CLOBBERS Kai, CLOBBERS Allday, BOOTS Kai then BACK DROPS Allday! Fans fire up as the Ivy League SPLASH hits! Griff whips Kai into Allday to SPLASH SANDWICH! Fireman’s carry but Kai rolls Griff up, TWO! Kai ROCKS Griff! BPJ tags in, Griff IVY LEAGUE ELBOWS, BPJ springboard LARIATS! Cover, the Blondes win!

Winners: The Varsity Blondes, by pinfall

Griff and BPJ are rolling! Can they get any hotter before going for tag team championships?

Lance Archer w/ Jake the Snake VS Cole Karter!

Much to his surprise, the Murderhawk Monster has Sting’s support in going for the top! Will he use that motivation to maul his way back to a title?

Archer gets in the ring and BOOTS Karter right down! Jake the Snake chuckles on commentary as the bell rings. Karter fires back but Archer knees low, CLUBS him down, and hauls him up to reel him in. Karter dodges, leaps, but bounces off! Archer stomps Karter, hauls him up and puts him in a corner to fire off heavy hands! Archer whips Karter hard into the corner and Karter bounces off again! Archer hauls Karter up for a suplex TOSS! Archer drags Karter up, SLAPS him, but Karter fires back again! Archer ROCKS Karter, then DECKS him! Archer drags Karter back up, bumps him off buckles then holds him in there to run corner to corner and ELBOW!

Archer keeps going, another ELBOW, then another ELBOW! Karter flops down, Archer grins as he paces around, and then Archer looms over him. Karter sits up in a daze, Archer slaps him, and Karter fires off again! Archer KNEES low, then reels Karter in for the short-arm CLOTHESLINE! Jake the Snake likes that as Archer drags Karter up. Archer hoists Karter up top, but Karter fights! Jake the Snake admires the heart, Karter leaps into a choke grip! CHOKE- NO! Karter slips free, elbows back, and then sends Archer into buckles! Karter fires off, Archer shoves him but the ROLLING ELBOW comes back! Karter fires up, but runs into a FOREARM!

Archer reels Karter in, CHOKE SLAM! Archer drags Karter back up, wristlock ripcord, for a SCRAPBUSTER! Cover, Archer wins!

Winner: Lance Archer, by pinfall

Jake thanks Excalibur and Taz for their time, and says he and Archer are gonna go for cheeseburgers. Will Archer only be satisfied when he gets to eat everyone else in AEW alive?

Ryan Nemeth w/ JD Drake VS Alex Reynolds w/ The Dark Order!

We heard the Hollywood Hunk throw some shade on Number 3, but now we’re in the Dark main event! Will Nemeth score lots of points before he gets the 1-2-3? Or will that 50% win-loss ratio tip in Reynolds’ favor tonight?

The bell rings and John Silver joins commentary to watch his tag partner take on Nemeth. Nemeth clobbers Reynolds from behind! Nemeth wrenches, back suplexes and holds him u p before slamming him down! Cover, ONE!! Silver is already upset but Nemeth rakes Reynolds’ eyes. Nemeth throws hands, RAMS into Reynolds in a corner, then whips him corner to corner. Reynolds comes back to CLOBBER Nemeth! Reynolds whips Nemeth but Nemeth reverses to send Reynolds out hard! Nemeth goes out, throws hands, then RAMS Reynolds into the apron! Nemeth puts Reynolds in, drags him up and throws forearms! Reynolds hits back with body shots and forearms!

Reynolds backs Nemeth down, EuroUppers then whips to ropes. Nemeth sunset flips but Reynolds slips through to get the legs! Reynolds puts on the SCHOOL OF FORT KNOX! Nemeth endures the modified Cloverleaf, and gets the ropebreak! Reynolds lets go, Nemeth cheap shots him then dropkicks him down! Nemeth cranks on a hammerlock and digs knees into Reynolds’ back. Nemeth does a headstand to put on more pressure, then falls back to crank the hold! Nemeth pulls hair, the ref reprimands, and Nemeth shifts to a chinbar and armlock. Reynolds arm-drags free, elbows Nemeth away and rallies with clotheslines!

Reynolds whips, Nemeth reverses but Reynolds dodges to FOREARM! Reynolds runs to FLYING BACK ELBOW! Fans fire up as Reynolds kips up! Reynolds gets Nemeth up, wrenches and kicks low, then reels him in. Shout out to Brodie with the BIG OL’ BOMB! Then a leg drop, brother! Cover, TWO!! Reynolds drags Nemeth up, Nemeth CLOBBERS him point-blank! Nemeth drags Reynolds up, swivels hips but Reynolds shoves him into buckles! Scoop and the HONK HONK SWINGING SLAM!! Cover, Reynolds wins!

Winner: Alex Reynolds, by pinfall

Big thanks from the Dark Order to Superfan Aaron for unlocking those moves in Number 3! Will everyone get out of the way of the HONK HONK as Dark Order storms down the tracks?

My Thoughts:

A good Dark, mostly because it was an hour and 35 minutes, but it was still a lot of matches crammed into that time. AEW is probably going to continue to be unpredictable with episode lengths and match totals so I don’t know if I can maintain doing Dark and Elevation when I’m also covering WWE’s Raw and NXT on these same days. I feel like the SCU’s matches need to be Elevation by default because of their self-challenge of “next time we lose, we break up” angle. That said, it’s also a giveaway that these two aren’t losing before getting a title opportunity, so maybe that’s why they’re still being put on Dark.

I also feel like Velvet should be on Elevation if she and Jade are going to be getting after each other. They’re supposed to be the rising stars but they weren’t on the show that’s about rising stars in exchange for… Well, Elevation actually had a lot of solid matches worthy of it, but they could’ve still put this one there since they love going bigger. Team Taz had a good story, too, where now Starks is going past being chippy with Cage to being overly helpful. This has to implode at some point, and they fight for the FTW Championship on at least Dynamite.

I do like that Britt had another match tonight, because she is determined to get wins to play by the AEW rules. I wouldn’t be surprised if she had another double header next week between Elevation and Dark to try and stuff the win-loss record and rankings. Double or Nothing 2021 is still six weeks away, so if AEW had the contenders all fight each other at some point in not a tournament but more a best-of series, that’d be really good to have Britt try and jump over Big Swole and Tay Conti to go after Shida. Also, AEW really just let Swole’s promo of being determined to get her shot drop like a lead balloon. Swole needs to get hungry again and get in all the other contenders’ faces as she takes over the contender race.

The Dark Order tying in the State Farm deal and the superfan Zoom call they apparently had was really nice. They’re definitely Faces doing things like that, and of course Reynolds uses the moves (and their names) suggested by the superfan. WWE gets product tie-ins and sponsorship deals, so AEW can have them, too! Either way, I think Reynolds was going to win because The Dark Order has been on fire. One of these days, one of their tag combinations is going to get at the tag titles, and that is going to be a lot of fun.

My Score: 8.2/10