AEW DARK: August 10, 2021

The PG Era Rant for AEW Dark, Episode 102 (“Balancing? What’s That?”), August 10, 2021.

From the AEW Arena.

Your hosts are Excalibur and Taz. Today’s descriptor: “Absolutely massive.” And he’s not lying…

TONIGHT! We prep for trios action at Dynamite as Private Party faces Chuck Taylor and Wheeler Yuta! Cezar Bononi and JD Drake represent the Wingmen as they hope to overpower the Lucha Brothers! Someone’s “0” has to go as Team 2.0 faces Liam Gray and Adrian Alanis! Alan Angels steps up to face QT Marshall! Bear Country is back together and ready to beat up Chaos Project! And Daniel Garcia looks for his first AEW win by taking on Fuego Del Sol!

PLUS – (takes deep breath) – Nyla Rose, TH2, Thunder Rosa, Tay Conti, Penelope Ford, Spears and Wardlow, Darby Allin, Red Velvet, Hikuleo, and two, count’em, TWO Dark Order trios matches!

Opening match: Thunder Rosa (#1 women, 21-2) vs. Zeda Zhang (debut). Heck of a way to start – Zeda was in the Mae Young Classic and has experience in MLW. She represented China, but she’s from Richmond and announced as such.

Lockup, and they exchange waistlocks. Zeda with a snapmare and crucifix for one, and they grpaple until Rosa gets an ankle-pick. Zeda rolls through for a reset. Rosa with a waistlock and she shoves down Zeda, asking for more. Rosa with a kick and clothesline, then a chop. Another chop follows, but Zeda ducks a clothesline and gets a kneelift and ripcord knee smash. Another try is reversed to a cradle for one, and Rosa takes over with a dropkick. Rosa out-boxes Zeda and fights her over a snapmare, instead carrying her into the corners instead. She follows with an Oklahoma Stampede (hitting two corners) for two.

Arm-trap and elbow strikes by Rosa, into a keylock. Rosa cradles it for one, then runs Zeda over with a clothesline. Mizline by Rosa, then the double-knees and shotgun dropkick. Butterfly suplex gets two. Rosa’s done playing with Zeda, and the Peruvian Choke wins it at 4:16. These two seemed off at times, not really on the same page, and Rosa seemed frustrated as the match went on. 1/2*

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Red Velvet (next challenger, #3 women, 14-2) vs. Skyler Moore (0-1 in 2021). Oh, cool, I haven’t seen Moore in quite some time. That title match will be on the first episode of Rampage against Britt Baker in Britt Baker’s hometown. Funny bit as they cut to Moore for her entrance, and Tesha Price is behind her mocking Velvet’s stir-it-up taunt.

Moore with an armlock to start, but Velvet reverses. Moore rolls through and re-reverses, so Velvet does the same thing to re-re-reverse. Moore just breaks and says Velvet jacked her style, so Velvet shoves her and cradles her for one. Armdrag by Velvet, then a leg lariat as Moore goes to the ropes. She’s allowed to reset and lock up, so Moore gets knees to the gut. Hammer Throw follows, then a Strongest Slam for one. Moore chops away in the corner and mocks Velvet’s pain, even acting like she hurt her own hand between chops… then DOES hurt her hand missing a chop.

Velvet stomps her down and does the stir-it-up boot choke, but Moore fights back and they slug it out. Velvet with a Flatliner for the comeback. Drop toehold into the middle rope and Velvet with double knees to set up a SUPERKICK. Final Slice ends it at 3:00. They had a slight pause in the middle of the comeback, but this match was perfectly fine and Moore’s heeling added to it. *

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The Skulk (Liam Gray and Adrian Alanis, though not named as such) (0-5)vs. 2.0 (Matt Lee and Jeff Parker) (first time in a 2v2). Believe it or not, I’ve never seen 2.0 before. They come out with their arms raised the whole way down the ramp as though they’re showing they’re unarmed.

Parker and Alanis start. Parker with an armlock into a hammerlock, and he musses Alanis’ hair before holding the hands up. Parker with a headlock, but Alanis with a Northern Lights for one, then a dropkick. Parker retreats to get advice from Matt Lee (“Stay out of the cigarette business back home”), then gets his headlock again as Lee tags himself in. Big knee to Alanis from Lee and Parker knocks Gray away. Lee with a release German suplex and he stomps a mudhole as Parker taunts Alanis. Hammer Throw by Lee, and Parker comes in to punch down Alanis.

Lee back in, and they get the Nasty avalanche into a drop toehold/elbowdrop combo. Parker in, but Alanis fights out of the corner and cradles Parker for one before getting the hot tag to Gray. Gray runs 2.0 together and goes up top, landing a cannonball off the top and adding a flying kick to Lee for one. Gray gets a headlock and brings in Alanis to keep Lee under control, but Lee runs the Skulk together and gets a back suplex. Backbreaker/running knee combination leads to a double Hotshot for the win at 4:19. FIRST WIN ALERT! I mean, they looked all right in the four minutes they got, but with so many tag teams, where’s the room for them? 3/4*

Chaos Project (Luther and Serpentico) (10-18) vs. Bear Country (Bear Bronson and Bear Boulder) (6-2). Please send your cards and flowers to Serpentico when this match is over. This is Bear Boulder’s first match back after the Godzilla vs Kong match against Jurassic Express.

Serpentico reluctantly starts against Bronson. He finds himself in the wrong corner prior to contact and can’t get past Bronson to tag out, as Bronson catches him and tosses him into the corner. Charge misses and Serpentico chops Bronson, giving Luther a thumbs-up before realizing his chop did nothing. Serpentico tries to run away and only runs into a powerslam by Bronson. Boulder back in for the first time in months, and he gives Serpentico an avalanche and big splash. Luther in and he gets caught in a sidewalk slam.

Bronson returns and elbowdrops Luther, then tosses Serpentico into a BACK body drop from Boulder (.8 Warlord). Serpentico is freaking out as Bronson works him over in the Bear Country corner. Hammer Throw, but Serpentico escapes a charge only for Bronson to slam on the brakes and smash Serpentico into the corner. Serpentico falls out of the ring, so Bronson follows and chops him against the guardrail. Back in, but Luther trips out Bronson on the apron and Serpentico gets a slingshot double-stomp. Luther then tosses Serpentico into a cannonball senton on Bronson. Luther is tagged in, and he goes after Bronson on the outside and slams him into the guardrail again.

Back in, soccer kick by Luther and Serpentico tags in only for Luther to toss Serpentico’s corpse with a suplex onto Bronson. Serpentico somehow crawls over for two, with Bronson doing the Massive Kickout. Serpentico rakes at the face, then brings Luther back in. Luther kicks the rope into Bronson’s throat before slamming him and tagging poor Serpentico back in. Assisted legdrop by Chaos Project gets two, as Serpentico can’t even hook the leg. Serpentico slugs down Bronson and tags in Luther, who tells him to go up. Rougeau Bomb gets Luther two. Luther brings Serpentico back in AGAIN, but Bronson tries to fight back from both. He’s cornered, but Bronson kicks over both men and lands a half-senton on the pile.

HOT tag to Boulder, and Luther tosses Serpentico in only for him to get pinballed. Slams to everyone, and a cover on Luther gets two, Serpentico saves with a double-stomp. Serpentico thinks Chaos Project has the edge and taunts Boulder, but Bronson got rid of Luther. They actually do the “he’s right behind me, isn’t he” bit before Boulder picks both men up, one over each arm, and powerslams both at once! Bronson in, and the Totem Pole Splash ends Luther at 8:08. Serpentico is a national treasure, and Bear Country is a fun hoss team. **1/4

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Darby Allin (#3 men, 16-2) vs. Invictus Khash (debut). Allin is here alone – I guess Tuesday night is canasta night at the WCW home. Taz still doesn’t like Allin. Khash is the first person from Iran to compete in AEW.

Lockup goes nowhere. Allin gets a hammerlock on round 2, and Khash can’t snapmare out of it. Allin spins it into an armlock, and Khash spins it back into a keylock snapmare hybrid before holding the arm. Allin gets a cravat out of that and snapmares Khash, but Khash stil has the wrist. Allin breaks and reverses, so Khash uses the hair to try to back him into the corner. It doesn’t work, as Allin takes down Khash, then monkey flips him into a cradle for two. WRESTLING!

Allin with a pari of armdrags, but Khash holds the ropes and gets a massive backbreaker out of it. Khash slugs away on Allin, giving him a reverse on the Hammer Throw and snap suplex for one. We HIT THE CHINLOCK, but Allin fights out of it and gets an O’Connor Roll for two, into a jack-knife cradle for two, reversed for two. Allin with the Last Supper pinning move to win at 3:36. It’s too bad Allin’s past is so checkered, because he’s crazy over. 1/2*

Dynamite in Houston August 18.

Alan Angels (10-13) vs. QT Marshall (20-3). Taz notes that Angels was partly taught by Marshall, so there’s an extra twist in this one. The entire Dark Order is out with Angels, and Solow/Comoroto are out with Marshall. (Only Solow, Comoroto, Cabana, and Vance stick around.) Again, someone should “reward” Marshall for that gaudy record by feeding him to Miro.

Lcokup, and Marshall with a waistlock throwdown. Angels smokes Marshall with a forearm and works him over with chops in the corner, then goes up and over Marshall only to get run over on the rebound. Angels reverses a hiptoss to an armdrag, but Marshall swats away the dropkick. Big chop in the corner, and Marshall slugs away only for Angels to fight back after the referee admonishes him (Marshall) for a closed fist. Five-punch count-along, then Angels with a drop toe hold to set up This Is Gonna Suck… but Marshall rolls out of the ring to stop it.

Angels dropkicks Marshall off the apron when he tries to come back in, then dives onto Marshall and all but dares Solow and Comoroto to do something about it. But it allows Marshall to throw Angels into the guardrail before calling a huddle with the Factory (“Okay, when Anthony Ogogo comes back, nobody mention the Italian soccer team.”). Angels tosses Marshall in, but Comoroto distracts Angels and Marshall knocks him down before stomping away against the ropes. Back elbow by Marshall gets two.

Cross-face forearms, but Angels with a jawjacker to stop him before running into a tilt-a-whirl backbreaker by Marshall for two. He adds another shot to Angels against the ropes, then boxes him down in the corner. Angels escapes a back suplex and lands an enzuigiri to get back into it, and when Marshall falls into the ropes, Angels lands This Is Gonna Suck for real. Spinning heel kick by Angels, but he walks into the Lethal Combination for two. Marshall puts Angels up top and follows, but Angels fights out of it and knocks Marshall back down.

Diving cross body by Angels leads to a step-up rana. Angels flips through a German suplex try by Marshall to land a diving dropkick and running knee. Top-rope moonsault gets two. Marshall dumps Angels to the apron only to get kicked, and Angels tries a lungblower only to get caught. Marshall with a powerbomb out of it for two. Diamond Cutter is called for as the elbowpad comes off, but Angels with the Ali block and he gets a Buzzsaw Kick. Angels goes back up, but Solow gets on the apron and allows Marshall time to crotch Angels. Cabana and Vance have had enough of this and everyone not in the match fights to the back.

Back in, Angels is still stuck on the top rope and Marshall goes up with him, but Angels headbutts out repeatedly. Now Angels picks Marshall up, and a Spanish Fly gets what by all rights should have been three, but wasn’t. Angels pumps himself up with the salute and looks for the Wing Snapper, but Marshall makes the ropes and elbows out. He then RIPS THE MASK OFF, but as he gloats, Angels with a small package for two. Angels re-applies his mask, but the time it took means he walks into the Diamond Cutter for the pin at 10:40. OUTSTANDING! ***1/2 An incredible face/heel matchup, with Marshall being a total jerk heel and Angels getting great comebacks and timing. Marshall may not be Dynamite material, but he has value.

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The following paragraphs are paid for by Bullet Club.

Hikuleo (0-1 in AEW) vs. Thad Brown (debut). Hikuleo is the very large son of King Haku, and if he’s half as tough as Dad, everyone will die.

Hikuleo runs over Brown to start and sends him into the corner. He launches Brown into another corner, then goes for the chokeslam, but Brown escapes and dodges a blind charge. He goes to the apron and flips over Hikuleo, then tries for a lucha armdrag, but Hikuleo just doesn’t go with it. Short-arm clothesline by Hikuleo, and a soccer kick and Falcon Arrow end it at 1:40. FIRST WIN ALERT! And in style, too. NR

The preceding paragraphs were paid for by Bullet Club.

Nyla Rose (w/Vickie Guerrero) (16-3) vs. Valentina Rossi (0-2). Get your mute button ready, Vickie’s here. Wait, no, we’re fine – someone made sure Vickie didn’t have a mic, so Justin Roberts got to do the full intro. Rossi is doing the Jersey Italian thing, which makes for an interesting contrast.

Rossi with a waistlock, but Nyla elbows out and yanks her down by the hair. Rossi tries to fight up, but Nyla gives a 12-to-6 elbow followed by a slam and legdrop, brother. Middle rope choke by Nyla, and Vickie adds a cheap shot. Nyla puts her head down and gets kicked, and Rossi tries to hook a dragon sleeper only to get crushed in the corner. Blind charge eats boot, but a second one is caught and Nyla yanks the leg so hard Rossi’s knee may be hurt. Nyla with a ground-to-ground chokeslam to set up the Beast Bomb for the win at 1:50. It’s a Nyla Rose match, whaddya want? NR

Daniel Garcia (0-2 singles) vs. Fuego Del Sol (1-24). As you recall from yesterday, Garcia will face Darby Allin on Dynamite. Also, as you recall from yesterday, Garcia mocked that Fuego Del Sol wasn’t under contract despite what he tried. And as you recall from my prior reviews, Garcia is part of the Buffalo Boys group that came back from a frightening car crash to become great wrestlers. Only having the other trainees around disguises how over Fuego has become.

Garcia with a waistlock throwdown to start and he kicks around Fuego. This brings Fuego in to charge, and this time he escapes the throw and gets a kneesmash and armdrag. Standing star press gets one. Garcia takes over with big chops, but Fuego handsprings over a trip and tries the Tornado DDT. Garcia shoves him off and gets a running boot to floor Fuego. Knee to the back follows, then a European uppercut for two. He then steps on Fuego’s arm to stop him from crawling to the ropes before giving him a stomp, snapmare, and soccer kick in order for two.

Fujiwara armbar by Garcia, but Fuego wiggles out and gets a prone kick and prone headscissors. Running uppercut in the corner, then a corner spear, but when he moves back for the third charge, Fuego is met with a shotgun dropkick by Garcia. Brainbuster try, but Fuego cradles through and reverses when both roll to their feet. Garcia avoids the Tornado DDT again and gets a four-limb lock for the submission at 3:24! FIRST WIN ALERT! This match needed a few more minutes. Garcia is technically incredible – just check out his Broadway with Wheeler Yuta from this weekend if you don’t believe me – but I wonder how he’ll survive in sports entertainment. 3/4*

Rampage ad #3.

Penelope Ford (9-2) vs. Sahara Seven (0-1). I’ve seen both of these women in person, though not against each other. Excalibur teases Taz about if his singlet would have looked like Penelope’s – including the stomach cutout.

Ford backs Sahara into the corner and gets shoved for her trouble. Sahara tells her to lay off the hair, but Ford simply ducks a charge and shoves her away again. Ford Matrixes away from a clothesline and gets the split Stunner. Middle-rope leg choke by Ford, then she sends Sahara hard into the corner before delivering a snapmare and PK. Ford goes ground and pound on Sahara, then mocks the crowd. Gut Check is escaped and Sahara gets the Edge-O-Matic to counter.

Avalanche in the corner, but the hip check misses and Ford rakes her eyes on the top rope. She ties Sahara up like Sheamus would tie someone up and kicks away at her throat before getting the catapult throat attack for two. Hammer Throw by Ford sets up the handspring elbow and running boot, then Ford lands a German suplex for two. Sahara stops Ford with some nasty forearms, but she runs into a pump kick. Mutalock wins it for Ford at 4:06. One of Ford’s better efforts lately, actually. 3/4*

Wardlow and Shawn Spears (3-0 as a team) vs. Seth Gargis and Ripper Zbyszko (first time teaming). I’d ask if that’s Larry’s son, but it might actually be his grandson given how old Larry Z is. Wardlow is the Fourth Labour of Jericho, and MJF will be either at ringside or the referee – I’ve heard conflicting reports on that. Excalibur confirms Ripper is Larry’s son.

Spears and Ripper start. Knuckle-lock, but Spears uses his knee to power down Ripper by the arm before getting a wristlock. Ripper switches to a waistlock, only for Spears to reverse and smash Ripper in the back. Top wristlock by Spears, and Ripper tries to reverse only to use it to set up a spinning heel kick. Gargis in, but Spears escapes the armlock and resets. Gargis may be bigger than Spears, so Spears wisely brings Wardlow in for a staredown.

Lockup is a stalemate. Shoulderblock is another stalemate. They criss-cross, leading to Wardlow pouncing Gargis and giving him a suplex toss. Ripper tags himself in and gets a forearm, but Wardlow catches him and tosses him, too. Now Spears wants back in, and he pulls down the kneepad to get a bunch of strikes in the corner. Wardlow cuts off Gargis, and the C-4 to Ripper wins it at 3:03. Even in three minutes, Spears got his character over; gotta give him props for that. 1/2*

T…H…2 (Angelico and Jack Evans) (3-4) vs. Jay Freddie, Marcus Kross, and Marcus Kross’s ridiculous hair (first time teaming). Gotta get the jokes out of the way early so I can vibe with Angelico. Freddie, I believe is from Buffalo but isn’t one of the four who was in the car crash.

Evans and Freddie start. Freddie gets the headlock and we go International~!, with Freddie ending on a monkey flip and hiptoss into a suplex for one. Kross in, and he gets a dropkick on Evans. Double-stomp into an elbowdrop gets two. He works the arm, but Angelico smashes Kross in the back. Kross floors Angelico before walking into a clothesline from Evans, who sends Freddie packing before pounding on Kross and messing with the hair. Angelico in now, and it’s an STO/neckbreaker combo into a Flatliner by Angelico for two.

Butterfly lock with the legs and added headscissors by Angelico, and Kross HAS to make the ropes. Evans back in, and a double-stomp/back suplex combo allows Evans the time to roundhouse kick Freddie back off the apron. Hammer Throw by Evans, but a charge eats elbow and Kross with a second-rope back elbow to get the hot tag to Freddie. Shotgun dropkick on Evans, but Angelico tags in only to get dragon screwed.

Uppercut on Evans, and he bulldogs Evans while clotheslining Angelico. Kross goes up top and they tease a Doomsday Device, but Evans sends them into each other and Kross crash lands. Evans with a Space Flying Tiger Drop to Kross, and Angelico with the Navarro Death Roll on Freddie to win at 4:02. They packed a LOT into those four minutes. *1/4 Freddie looked good in action, but I think the fact he looks like Verne Gagne may hold him back.

The Wingmen (Cezar Bononi and JD Drake) (w/Peter Avalon) (0-2) vs. The Lucha Bros (Penta El Cero Miedo and Rey Fenix) (w/Alex Abrahantes) (16-8). I mentioned before that I think Ethan Page’s face is highly punchable, but NOBODY has a face desiring of a fist like Peter Avalon. Also, I was skeptical of sticking Alex Abrahantes with Penta, but darned if it isn’t working.

Drake and Penta start. CERO! MIEDO! It’s a shoving match that goes nowhere, and then some shoulderblocks that just lead to Fenix tagging in with a crossbody. Double SUPERKICK on Drake and Fenix smiles at his work before covering, and the delay means it’s only a one-count. Drake with a nasty chop and Hammer Throw, but Fenix cuts off the blind charge and gets the triple-jump springboard armdrag. Drake pops back up with a Claymore, though, getting two. Another nasty chop follows, and Bononi comes in with an overhand chop of his own. Another big chop floors Fenix as Bononi taunts Penta. Fenix’s weak comeback is cut off, and Drake enters for the Manhattan Drop/big boot combo that almost bends Fenix over backwards. Drake gets two off of it. Drake taunts Fenix, who pulls himself up and chops Drake.

Drake charges Fenix, who ducks and allows Penta to get the gamengiri and tag. Wazzup Stomp follows, and Penta Sling Blades Bononi. Sacrifice is set up, but Bononi boots to stop it. Bononi with a pumphandle overhead throw to set up Drake to deliver the cannonball for two, Fenix saves. Bononi tries to toss Fenix, who tiger feints back in to SUPERKICK Bononi. A shot to Drake as the latter goes up, and Penta tags Fenix in before they double SUPERKICK Bononi. Penta up top, and the double stomp on Drake brings Fenix in for the Frog Splash for the win at 4:47. Drake and Bononi are a pretty good hoss tag team, and the Lucha Bros may be the best duo in all of wrestling, so of course this was good. **1/2

Tay Conti (#2 womwn, 20-3) vs. Robyn Renegade (0-6). That reminds me, when is Anna Jay due back? Conti has added a smile and wave to her dancing entrance. Robyn mocks Conti’s dance.

Renegade refuses to be caught in a headlock to start. Conti cinches it in on second try, but again Renegade shoves off. She then slaps Conti, which everyone knows is a VERY BAD IDEA, and Conti slaps back before slugging her into next week. Inverted facelock and Conti chops the paste out of Renegade, but Renegade bull rushes Conti into the corner. Blind charge misses and Conti goes up, grabbing a charging Renegade so she can get a springboard sunset flip for two. Conti ducks a clothesline and Hammer Throws Renegade, but the running pump kick misses.

Renegade with running double knees and she pummels Conti before throwing her to the center. She goes with the mat slams by the hair for two. Half-nelson chinlock by Renegade, but Conti backs her into the corner. Renegade stops her with the hair, so Conti grabs the wrist and gets a monkey flip. Sayonagis by Conti, then a lariat. Now the pump kick connects in the corner, and it’s followed by a pair of running boots. DDTay ends it at 3:38. The AEW women’s division has a lot of talent – they need more than just one match per TV show, Tony. 1/2*

Private Party (w/Jora Johl and TH2) (#5 team, 7-1) vs. Chuck Taylor (13-5) and Wheeler Yuta (3-4). I dunno, TH2 doing Private Party’s dance doesn’t have the same oomph that Private Party doing TH2’s dance did. Chicago is hosting an entire week of TV leading to All Out. Everything but All Out has tickets available.

Yuta and Kassidy start. Kassidy with a waistlock, but Yuta drop toeholds out only for Kassidy to slide away before Yuta can get the ground headlock. Both guys smile as they lock up again, and this time Yuta rides Kassidy down with arm control into a keylock. Kassidy handsprings into a reversal, so Yuta does it back to him to get a snapmare for one. Kassidy calls time before getting up, and Yuta goes over and back to get a dropkick on Kassidy for two. Taylor in, and it’s a Hart Attack to the back of Kassidy’s head to set Taylor up for the half-crab.

Quen breaks it up, and both men are slow to get up, but Kassidy ranas Taylor into a gamengiri by Quen. Springboard clothesline follows. He sends Taylor into the boot in the top corner before choking him against the bottom buckle. (Kassidy adds a shot of his own behidn the ref’s back.) Kassidy in, and both men work over Taylor’s gut in the corner. Do-si-do into a back elbow by Quen, and Kassidy follows with Poetry in Motion for two. Blind charge eats boot, and Taylor turns it into Sole Food before getting the hot tag to Yuta.

Quen is sent packing, and Kassidy whips Yuta into the corner only for Yuta to come back with a double-jump dropkick. Kassidy blocks a German suplex with back elbows, and the 540 kick rocks Yuta. He uses the ropes to rebound, and a German suplex with a bridge gets two. Quen enters again to get tossed again, and Kassidy eats a back elbow on a charge. Yuta goes up, but Quen gets the boot to allow Kassidy to recover and shove Yuta off the top. Quen tags in and stomps a mudhole at Yuta after the latter crawls back in. He then tosses Yuta outside and follows, sending him into the guardrail right in front of a very agitated Tesha Price. (Hey, she’s maximizing her minutes!)

Kassidy adds a cheap shot, and back in, he tags in to kick Yuta around for a one-count. Quen tags back in, and Kassidy has a full nelson, but Yuta boots Qunen and back body drops him. Hot tag #2 to Taylor, who runs over both guys with clotheslines. Private Party recover to Hammer Throw Taylor, but Taylor vaults a charging Kassidy and gets an overhead throw on Quen into Kassidy. Corner clothesline on Quen and Yuta’s back in, as a uranage/superfly splash gets two, Kassidy saves.

Yuta cinches in the Royal Octopus Hold (think Black Widow), but in an attempt to cradle through it they tumble into the ropes. Taylor back in, and he has Quen up, but Kassidy drags out Yuta and sends him into the post. Quen elbows Taylor down and tries a Twist of Fate, but Taylor tosses Quen into Kassidy for the Silly String into a tornado DDT on Taylor. Kassidy mooonsaults Yuta on the outside, and Quen adds a somersault plancha to him. Back in, Swanton Bomb on Taylor gets two (and a well-earned shocked face).

Quen tags in, but the Shooting Star Press is avoided and Taylor gets a rising knee. Kassidy enters and is dumped, and Yuta tags in and knocks Kassidy down. Angelico distracts the ref, allowing Evans to kick Yuta mid-dive attempt. Quen then cradles Yuta, with the tights, and feet on the ropes, and Kassidy holding Quen’s feet on the ropes, to get the win at 10:02. Hey, never cheat by half. **1/4 The HFO looks to attack Yuta more, but Orange Cassidy and Kris Statlander stop that.

Dark Order (Colt Cabana, Evil Uno, and Stu Grayson) (3-0) vs. David Ramos, Jake Manning, and Joey Sweets (first time as a trio). Excalibur says the Dark Order has to figure out how to recuperate from the ten-man loss. Ramos, Manning, and Sweets are the single most mismatched trio I’ve seen.

Grayson and Sweets start, with Grayson running over Sweets repeatedly and rushing him into the corner. Uno in with a big chop, then Colt in as they whip Grayson for an avalanche. Colt catches Sweets with an atomic drop and Uno adds a dropkick. Manning tags in, but Colt ducks a right and does Flip, Flop, and Fly. Manning cuts it off with a chop that Colt no-sells before getting a headscissors and the Bionic Elbow to floor Manning. Ramos in, but Colt tanks a lariat before a chop hurts him. He catches a Ramos boot with his head down, and Uno comes in after a legsweep to step on his hands. Grayson with a flying DDT to Ramos, and Sweets in only for Uno to SUPERKICK him. Colt in, and Uno and Stu hands Sweets to him for the Chicago Skyline to win at 2:00. NR

Hey, let’s have another: Alex Reynolds, John Silver, and Preston Vance (2-0 together) vs. Dean Alexander, Arjun Singh, and T.I.M. First time we’ve seen T.I.M. in any way. It’s great seeing Silver back in action. Grayson forgets to give the salute with the others. Excalibur “T.I.M. Stands for The Infinite Male.” …Wait a second, that’s Timmy Lou Retton in a new gimmick!

TIM and Reynolds start. Lockup, and TIM offers a break only to miss an overhead right. He charges, but Reynolds catches him. TIM elbows out, but Reynolds stops his momentum with a pop-up knee strike. Drive-By dropkick follows. Vance in, and he runs TIM over before landing a back elbow on Alexander (who tagged in). Hammer Throw leads to a corner clothesline. Alexander tries a crossbody, but Vance catches him in a fallaway slam. Silver and Singh in, and Silver rides him down with a waistlock. Singh escapes, but Silver recovers with a flapjack. Yes Kicks by Silver, and he does the martial arts pose to a nice pop.

He charges, but Singh gives him a flapjack in the corner for one. TIM in, and he gets some kidney punches before distracting the ref so his partners can work over Silver more. Silver fights out of the corner, though, but TIM catches him with a backslide only for Silver to roll through, get more Yes Kicks, and land a release Northern Lights suplex. Hot tag Reynolds, who cleans house and gets Torpedo Moscow on Alexander into a dropkick and kip-up. Vance tags in as Reynolds slides into Singh, and Alexander eats all the clotheslines and a corner pump kick. A charge eats elbow, but Vance recovers with the SPINEBUSTAH! Silver in, and he and Reynolds to the four-part locomotion (right hand, enzuigiri, Stunner, German) to send Alexander into Vance’s arms for a full nelson for the win at 4:36. The more I see of Dark Order, the more I wish they’d won that match in Charlotte. *1/4

HOW I’D BOOK DYNAMITE:

1. Evil Uno and Stu Grayson beat the Good Brothers by DQ, so Gallows and Anderson retain, when Cutler is caught spraying Grayson in the eyes.
2. Darby Allin over Daniel Garcia.
3. Dan Lambert’s backup gets into a massive brawl with Lance Archer. No, I don’t know who it is.
4. Kris Statlander over Nyla Rose.
5. Best Friends over HFO – Hardy tries to hook the Leech on Taylor only to get Orange Punched.
6. Chris Jericho survives the Fourth Labour and defeats Wardlow. MJF’s final Labour is in Houston… he must stand back and watch as Sammy Guevara is beaten up in a 5-on-1 handicap match against the Pinnacle. If he helps his friend, he can’t face MJF.

STATS:

BELL-TO-BELL – 77:07 over SEVENTEEN matches (average length 4:32)

MATCH OF THE NIGHT – Marshall/Angels

FIVE STARS:

1. QT Marshall
2. Serpentico
3. Dark Order in general
4. Wheeler Yuta
5. Hikuleo/2.0/Daniel Garcia (first time winners)

Hey Tony, if you can read this – CAN WE BALANCE THE TWO SHOWS OUT LENGTH-WISE PLEASE?