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12/29 AEW DARK REPORT

We start off with a graphic in memory of the Exalted One Brodie Lee. 

I’m expecting this show to feel a little weird, after the tragic news this weekend with some pre-recorded commentary and graphics no longer being accurate with the changes to Wednesday’s card on Dynamite.

No banter from Excalibur and Taz, as we are immediately introduced to Vary Morales, who is making his AEW debut. His opponent tonight is Rey Fenix. Penta is on the outside, and Paul Turner’s in the stripes. Taz and Excalibur mention Fenix’s challenge for the AEW Championship as Morales gets the early advantage. Fenix takes over and gets the win.  

Lindsay Snow heads to the ring to face Penelope Ford, accompanied by her fiance Kip Sabian. Ricky Starks joins commentary. Mike Posey is the official. Sabian and Ford make out to the point that Sabian is now wearing lipstick. Ford hits an inside-out double knees to Snow laying on the apron. That does not look fun. For either person. Ford wins with a handspring cutter. 

Shawn Dean, who is rivaling Peter Avalon and Brandon Cutler’s losing streak, and Tyson Maddux are making their debut as a tag team. Their opponents are the recruitment specialists of the Dark Order, John Silver and Alex Reynolds. Frank Gastineau is the official. Excalibur mentions the former Beaver Boys’ former success prior to coming to AEW. Tyson Maddux uses his power advantage on Reynolds, before 3 and 4 double team to take the advantage. John Silver reminds us that he is freaking jacked. Maddux is finally able to get the tag, and "The Captain" Shawn Dean is on fire. Dean tags Maddux back in, and Taz mentions that Maddux probably didn’t get enough of a breather. And Taz is right. A flurry of combo moves from Reynolds and Silver gets the win. 

Dave’s favorite referee is in the ring as Jazmin Allure takes on Anna Jay. Tay Conti comes to the ring, but returns to the back before the match. It’s so wild to think Anna Jay is probably still in her first 50 matches. Anna Jay wins. 

A promo for Wrestling with the Week with James Willems and Scorpio Sky, coming in January. 

Rebel welcomes us to the Waiting Room. Dr. Britt Baker is doing her monologue about matches that have since been postponed, and Rebel does her impression of Tony Atlas on the Abraham Washington Show. Baker does have a good line about Cody stealing Moxley’s thunder with the baby announcement. She introduces her guest, Matt Sydal. Sydal is seemingly calling out Cody Rhodes. TBS has sent a poster for the Go Big Show, but Sydal draws all over Cody. So sounds like we’ll have Matt Sydal vs Cody in the future. 

Our next makeshift trio is Ryzin, Nick Comoroto, and James Tapia. Team Taz come to the ring with Hook in tow. Bryce Remsburg is the referee. Comoroto tries to outpower Hobbs. Ryzin tries to use some speed against Cage. Starks takes his turn with Ryzin and throws him to the floor where Hook connects with a lariat. Tapia finally tags in, connects with some offense, and immediately celebrates, so he misses Cage tagging in. Drill Claw from Cage on Tapia to get the win. 

Commercial for the Young Bucks’ book, Killing the Business.

Pretty Peter Avalon, with his martini and smoking jacket, heads to commentary for Fuego del Sol vs. Griff Garrison. Avalon is here to scout Garrison for his pageant. Garrison blocks Fuego’s tornado DDT and connects with a discus forearm for the win. Avalon approaches Garrison and tries to give him a signed 8x10, but Garrison drops it and walks off. 

Up next is Santana and Ortiz vs Terrence and Terrell Hughes. Aubrey Edwards is the referee. This is Santana and Ortiz’s first tag team match together in over three months. TNT hits a 3D on Ortiz, but Santana is able to make the save. A powerbomb from Ortiz and a knee to the face from Santana gives Proud n’ Powerful the win. 

Sammy Guevara vs. Aaron Solow is next with Rick Knox in charge. Guevara tries for some kind of slingshot maneuver, but is met with a dropkick from Solow, which connects to Guevara’s man region. Solow hits a splash to the floor while Guevara tries to walk it off. Solow heads back to the top, but is met with a knee to the bridge of the nose. GTH gets the win for Guevara, and not surprisingly, the Inner Circle is 2-0 tonight. 

Guevara has the microphone and says this win is another step on the way to get back into the rankings. Tonight is his 10 year anniversary. 10 years of working and limping into shows. He will show he’s the man here in AEW. Odd promo that felt kinda babyface until the last sentence turned heel. 

Chaos Project vs Ariel Levy and El Cuervo de Puerto Rico. Cuervo has a pretty cool looking crow mask, because Cuervo means crow in Spanish. Thanks, Excalibur. Taz likes Luther, but not Serpentico. Frank Gastineau is back as referee. Luther enjoys using Serpentico as a weapon, but always hurts Serpentico just as much. Serpentico tries to stop Luther’s attempts to use him as a projectile, to no avail. Creeping Death on Cuervo gets Chaos Project the win. Luther talks to the camera, but we can’t hear him. (Wrestlers: please stop doing this.) 

Madi Wrenkowski is out next to face Leva Bates, who gives Madi the Young Bucks’ book. Madi starts to rip pages out of the  book. Taz and Excalibur question that business decision. Wrenkowski gets control and returns to the book. Leva superkicks it into her face and locks on the small cradle. Mike Posey makes the three count. Excalibur notices that Leva was wearing her Apple Watch during the match and wonders what her heart rate was. 

Danny Limelight comes out for his match with Matt Sydal. Here’s the thing: Sydal told us during the Waiting Room he won this match, so that’s good continuity. Excalibur announces Sydal vs Cody Rhodes is made official for the second night of New Year Smash. Taz says he actually likes Bryce Remsburg (when he’s not giving Team Taz crap). This is actually a good match with solid counter action and smart strategy, despite being spoiled by one of the participants an hour ago. Sydal wins. Like he said he did. An hour ago.

Vertvixen takes on Tay Conti, and Anna Jay returns to the back. Taz is dropping his judo knowledge as Tay Conti shows off her skills. We have a double down as both competitors connect with kicks. Conti uses a trio of judo throws to disorient Vertvixen, Then, Conti hits TCO, and Knox counts three. 

Royal Money, Baron Black, and Mike Verna are the next makeshift trio. Good to see Mike Verna on Dark again. Check out his interview with Mike from a couple weeks ago. I’ll admit I don’t get Baron Black’s crown thing. Their opponents are the Gunn Club, and Billy gives Aubrey Edwards a hug. I feel a competition committee would look into that. Very weird feeling to the end of this match. Colton goes for the pin on Royal Money after a full nelson slam. Verna and Black make the save (although a little delayed). While Verna and Black are beating down Colton, Billy and Austin attack and send both to the floor. Colt hits his finish (which I won't name since Colt Cabana used his Colt 45 first) on Royal Money and gets the pin. Austin grabs the mic and says, if you attack the family, they’ll beat your ass. Very odd.

The main event is SCU vs The Hybrid 2. We are reminded that Kazarian would end his partnership with Daniels the next time they lose. And somehow, Ricky Starks is back on commentary. Jack Evans blocks Celebrity Rehab and ducks a clothesline, making Kazarian hit Daniels. Kazarian is able to kick out of an assisted 450, and Daniels recovers to connect with Celebrity Rehab to get the pin. After the match, The Acclaimed attacks, but the Young Bucks runs The Hybrid 2 and The Acclaimed off. 

 

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