Jordan Huie of the Overtimer here with a better-late-than-never recap of AEW Dark! My apologies for the delay for both this and NWA Powerrr. I fully intended to do both on Tuesday, but I was caught up with flight delays and such that kept me out of the house for much longer than expected and when I got back, I was exhausted. But I am getting to it here, blow-by-blow play-by-play!
Tony Schiavone introduces us, today he’s in front of a different greenscreen that sees him standing in front of an empty arena. Says Dasha isn’t with us tonight before running down the card. Tonight, Excalibur is joined on commentary by Shawn Spears.
Pentagon Jr. vs. Trent
“AEW” chant as the bell rings. Pentagon turns it into a “CERO MIEDO” putting the hand right in Trent’s face. He then of course makes a spectacle of tearing off his glove to try it again, Trent grabs the hand and lays in a chop to some heat. Shoots him off, Trent tries to roll through, Penta with a kick to the face! Holds him up, throws up the signal again before kicking him to his knees. Hits the ropes, Trent dodges a shot, driving back elbow takes him to the apron. Wants a forearm, Penta blocks it, WWE Headkick! Penta springs in but Trent catches him out of the air with a Northern Lights Suplex, bridge for 2! Penta slips back to the apron, Trent pursues, wins out an a kick exchange, superkick takes Penta to the floor, running knee strike from the apron lays him out!
Trent throws Penta into the ring, pursues but Penta bails from the ring. Trent with a pescado, but Penta avoids it and superkicks him to the floor. Poses for the crowd. Puts him up against the apron, shushes the crowd and nails a loud chop to the chest! Penta posts Trent! Penta pulls him up, slams his fact into the steps. Rolls in and out of the ring to break up the count, scything leg kick. Takes him into the ring, fishhooks in as the ref has to count him off. Penta gets in the ref’s face for a moment, letting Trent get back up. Exchange of punches, Trent wins out momentarily, hits the ropes, Penta hits them too – but Trent cuts him off with a lariat! Penta bails once more. Trent hits the ropes for a dive, but Penta with an enziguri cuts him off! Penta with a diving foot stomp off the top rope but Trent rolls out of the way, Half Nelson Suplex! Penta slips outside yet again and this time takes every bit of the Tope Con Hilo!
Trent throws him into the ring, running knee strike for a nearfall! Charging back elbow in the corner, wants a Tornado DDT, Penta throws him off, thrust kick. Hits the ropes, slingblade, nearfall. Trent counters a corner charge with a springing Tornado DDT! Nearfall. Penta slips to the corner as the “CIERO MIEDO” chant goes, Trent takes him up top but Penta escapes behind him, kick to the back of the leg strings him up in the tree of woe! Penta with a Diving Double Footstomp for a nearfall! We HEAR a replay but don’t see one, that’s funny. Guess that’s what they meant by production issues. Penta throws Trent into the corner with a power whip, Trent bounces woozily back – into the Backstabber! Springboard Destroyer!!! Very close nearfall! Penta wants a Pumphandle Slam, Trent counters with an inside cradle for a nearfall – Penta with a swift thrust kick to the face! Takes Trent into the corner, Trent bolts right back out with a Buisaku Knee! And another phantom replay.
The two of them slip to the apron, trading forearms and kicks. TRent hoists Penta up, Penta escapes, toe kick to the gut, hooks him for the Package Piledriver! AND NAILS IT RIGHT ONTO THE APRON?! Crowd rises to their feet with a “Holy Shit” as Penta poses! Throws him into the ring, singles out an arm! Armbreaker! Penta signals for the finish, wants another Package Piledriver! But Trent reverses into the Dudebuster outta nowhere and that’s that!!!
Winner: Trent
Man. I had the result of this spoiled for me on AEW Dynamite and yet still it seemed impossible to believe that Trent would’ve taken that at the end, he seemed very much doomed. But hey, real good match, as expected! Gotta like this feud.
We see a video for Shanna. She says she used to watch WWF with her dad when she was little. She always wanted to be a wrestler but there was no wrestling in Portugal. When she moved to France, that changed. Talks about having her first tour in America with Rampage. She was the first Portuguese wrestler to become a champion in Japan. In 2015 she was on a downward spiral where she felt like quitting. She tried out many many times with “the other company” and was always told she’d be signed, but it never happened. Mentions working with TNA/Impact on Xplosion tapings and was told that TV adds 10 pounds and she looked too fat. Discusses depression, eating disorders, conflicts at home. She decided to end her career in October, only to realize that it wouldn’t be the end but the beginning of another adventure. Couldn’t believe getting the call from AEW, heard from Kenny saying she was signed. She had to ask him again the next morning if it was real. Being undeniable to her means that everything that she worked for, nobody can take it away. She wants to prove to everyone that rejected her that they missed out on something. Can’t thank AEW enough for believing in someone like her.
Backstage, Alex Marvez speaks with Big Swole and asks why she’s called this. Swole remarks on Shanna’s story, saying everyone has a story, everyone fought to be her. Speaks of fighting Crohns Disease, escaping death itself to be here. Fought and bled to be here but it’s about what you do once you’re here. Says the name Big Swole is about a big personality and a swole mentality. Flexes and says this is greatness, and you’re not ready for all this.
These two will square off right now!
Shanna vs. Big Swole
Lock-up. Takes her into the corner, the two of them wrestle for advantage. The lock-up pursues into the middle of the ring, each break the hold. Swole offers a taste of swole, calling for the Test of Strength. Shanna goes for it. They each lock hands and press against each other. Shanna pushes her for a moment but Swole wins out and flexes. Pulls her back up, Shanna rolling through the arm wringer, gains the advantage, gets the arm drag. Shanna with a handspring, blocks a hip toss, arm drag, drop toe hold, outwrestling her thus far! Grabs the wist, Swole springs up, trips her up, cover for nothing, Shanna gives the same, the two come eye to eye in the middle!
Swole with a toe kick, irish whip, Shanna ducks a shot, hits the ropes, flying headscissor takedown! Spin kick to the stomach, hits the ropes, Flipping Neckbreaker for a 1 count! Lays in elbows, Swole with a floatover out of the corner, arm drag but Shanna rolls through and hits one of her own, roll-up for 2, pump kick takes Shanna down! Cover for 2. Dueling chant as Swole gets a front facelock in. Shanna escapes, Swole with some wicked elbow strikes! Swole grinds the boot into the back of her neck. Snapmare, neckwringer, driving elbows. Shanna slips behind her, trips her up, Swole avoids a kick, big back elbow takes Shanna limp into the ropes. Throw to the corner, Shanna bounces off as Swole hits the ropes, big clothesline! Lax cover for 2. Swole with a charge, Shanna gets her to the apron, but Swole counters a shoulder thrust with a guillotine choke into the middle rope! Ref has to count to 4, Swole lets her go, WWE Headkick, Springing Cutter countered with a thrust kick right to the chin!
Both on their knees from a Standing 10, exchanging chops as they rise! Shanna catches a kick and shoves her leg away but Swole does the splits and dances her way up! Takes her to the apron, Shanna with a knee to the face, elevating into the ring, hits the ropes for a charging elbow. Shanna stomps on the canvas, running facewashing dropkick. Clearly making no contact, but a fun move anyway. Shanna off the top with a crossbody for 2. Full Nelson, Swole hip thrusts her way out of it. Back elbow in the corner, Swole slides away, charges but gets sent up horizontally onto the top rope. Shanna turns this into an inverted Tree of Woe. Shanna climbs to the top rope as Swole is helpless. Vicious Double Footstomp to the back of the head!! Cover, Swole barely kicks out! Swole wants a discus elbow, Shanna ducks, palm strike! Hits the ropes, Swole with a Blue Thunder Bomb! Nearfall, but an immediate knee to the face for another nearfall! Discus Elbow again but Shanna once more ducks it, Dragon Suplex! Bridge gets the win!
Winner: Shanna
Rough in spots, but far ahead of a lot of other lengthy women’s matches we’ve seen on Dark. Definitely some good stuff. These gals are a lot more TV ready than a lot of the other more green competitors.
After several recaps, Leva Bates comes out with Peter Avalon in tow. Avalon as usual makes several underwhelming shots at the town. Claims that sitting in your car is not a sport. Kong’s dramatic entrance cuts her off.
Awesome Kong w/ Brandi Rhodes vs. Leva Bates w/ Peter Avalon
As the bell rings, Leva offers Kong Justin Roberts’ book. She closes the book onto her nose and throws some shots to no effect. Mongolian Chop, Spinning Backfist. Double underhooks, hoists her up for a loooong time… nails the Implant Buster, now re-named to the Soul Collector! Peter gets onto the apron and thinks about getting in there but Kong just stares him down and he leaves as Kong pins Leva.
Winner: Awesome Kong
Brandi afterwards holds Leva down, Peter does come into the ring now but eats the backfist. Kong clips off a lock of Leva’s blue hair.
Main event time!
AAA Mega Championship: Kenny Omega (c) vs. Jack Evans
Dueling chant, albeit quiet for Evans’ side, as we start. Evans with a drop toe hold, front facelock, already celebrating. Omega looking to escape, denied, Evans turns it into an arm wringer, Kenny reverses. Evans flips over, double push kick takes Kenny away, Evans flips to his feet! Double handed shove to the chest. Omega shoves him right back, Evans kips up cocky as can be! Jack says he’s the real Cleaner, mocks his finger guns – eats a big chop! Evans reverses an irish whip, Omega gets the boot up, trading floatovers, Omega slides behind Evans, hits the ropes, dropkick to the shins! Comes from the opposite side, wants the leaping bulldog but Evans breakdances into a counter!
Evans offers a hand, but Omega slaps him away. Jack with a toe kick, spin kick, taken to the apron, roundhouse kick to the head. Springboard Corkscrew Leg Lariat countered with a Standing Dropkick! Kickout at 2. Double axehandles to the back of Evans’ head. Big chop. Power whip to the corner, Evans just flattened as he falls to the canvas. Omega takes him to his feet, hoists him up, wicked backbreaker for a nearfall. Another power whip, Evans flips into the corner and explodes to the canvas. Omega pulls him up, Canadian Backbreaker locked in, turned into a Gory Special! Evans eventually counters this with a sunset flip for 2, sledging shot from Kenny takes him right down.
Evans with body shots, whip reversed, Kenny with a simple back body drop sends Evans flying. Kenny pulls Evans up, says “That’s it”, but can’t hoist him up. Off the second attempt at the powerbomb, Evans counters into a facebuster, Billy Kidman style! Evans stands on Omega’s chest, for a Standing Moonsault for 1! Irish whip, big hip toss and Evans explodes off it. Cover for 2. Evans shocked that he kicked out of the best hiptoss ever. Omega gets some shots in, shoots him to the ropes, forearm to the back. And then another. Sent to the corner, Evans counters with a springboard but Kenny catches him out of the air with an Argentine Backbreaker! Scything kicks to the back! Shushes, goes for another but Evans catches the leg, up with kicks of his own, Kenny catches one and flips him to his feet, big chop. Hits the ropes, Evans with a cartwheel kick! Evans up with a beautiful springboard moonsault off the top rope to the floor!
Evans with a springing spin kick from the steps! Rams Kenny into the post, snap suplex onto the floor! Evans throws him into the ring, from the apron, springing 450 for a nearfall! Kick takes Kenny to the corner. Kenny reverses a whip, Evans with a big floatover, combo of kicks, leaping corkscrew enziguri to the head! Standing Sky Twister Press for a nearfall! Knees to the face as Kenny gets up, Kenny fights back laying in chops! Evans spits in his face! Push kick sends Evans right into the buckle! Cinches the arms, vicious Snap Dragon! Hooks the arms again but Evans fights out of it, roundhouse kick ducked, Omega with the second Snap Dragon! Evans gets out to the apron, Omega slips behind him, wants the German off the apron! Evans fights it, Omega kicks his hands free, V-TRIGGER TAKES HIM OFF THE APRON!
Kenny pursues him to the floor, third Snap Dragon onto the floor?! Throws him inside, Omega with a Cross-Legged Ushigoroshi for a nearfall! Kenny takes him up, puts out the cigarette onto his back, huge Buckle Bomb, Evans almost falls out of the ring! Shoots him to the ropes, Elevated Spinebuster, nearfall! Kenny sets up for another V-Trigger against the ropes, but Evans with the boot up, springboard Blockbuster for a nearfall! Evans up top. 450 Splash but Kenny barely gets the knees up! V-Trigger, seems like a knock out! Kenny pulls him up, Tiger Driver ’98 for a nearfal!!! Kenny hits the ropes, V-Trigger! Gets him up onto his shoulders, One Winged Angel, that is that.
Winner: Kenny Omega
Real good stuff as you’d expect! I think they might have a better match on TV as the atmosphere would be better and perhaps a faster pace, but still a really great match for what it was! That’s all for tonight!