2/15 AEW DARK TV REPORT: Fuego Del Sol vs. Anthony Bowens, Nese vs. Bravo, Sakura vs. Risk, more

AEW DARK TV REPORT
FEBRUARY 15, 2022
RECORDED AT UNIVERSAL STUDIOS, ORLANDO FL
AIRED ON YOUTUBE.COM
REPORT BY RYAN HOWARD, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Paul Wight, Mark Henry, Eddie Kingston

Ring Announcer: Dasha Gonzalez

-Excalibur and Taz on the call, welcoming us to the show.

(1) JOHN SILVER & ALEX REYNOLDS vs. ARIYA DAIVARI & INVICTUS KHASH

Khash tried a shoulder block to start, but Silver didn’t budge, pun intended. Silver hit a shoulder block, bodyslam before Reynolds jumped in and Khash was planted with a double leg lock slam. Reynolds hit a corner back elbow, spinning uppercut and nice dropkick to complete the combo. Reynolds went up top, but was distracted by Daivari long enough to get slammed to the mat by Khash. Daivari made a tag and hit a huge splash off the top for two. Khash & Daivari isolated Reynolds, cheating with extra leverage off an abdominal stretch, but were caught by the ref. Silver made the hot tag and absolutely planted Daivari with a powerbomb for two. Silver fought both men off before he ate a superkick from Daivari and Air Raid Crash by Khash for two. Reynolds made the save and Daivari was planted with an assisted uppercut. Reynolds & Silver hit the Wombo Combo for the victory.

WINNERS: John Silver & Alex Reynolds in 5:30

(Howard’s Analysis: Strong showing for Reynolds & Silver, who now make the duo of Daivari & Khash 0-2 against Dark Order teams. I hope Uno & Grayson start teaming more often. They can push Daivari & Khash to 0-3 if they ever wrestle.)

(2) QT MARSHALL (w/The Factory) vs. PAT BRINK

Brink is a former FCW Tag Team Champion with Big E back in the day. Brink got a fast start, as he clobbered QT with a big boot and corner strikes. QT took a Bret Hart style chest bump in the corner and Brink unleashed ten clubbing forearms. QT finally bailed to the floor and Brink was immediately distracted by The Factory, which let QT post him. Back inside, QT hit a diving elbow off the top, but Brink made a comeback. QT cut him off with a dropkick for two, but Brink answered with a diving shoulder block. Brink hit a series of clotheslines and powerslam, but ran into a corner boot. Brink tried a suplex, but QT hit an enziguri, superkick, but missed a Cutter and Brink hit a Cobra Clutch slam for two. Brink tried a bodyslam, but QT spun out into a Diamond Cutter for the win.

WINNER: QT Marshall in 5:00

(Howard Analysis: Pretty even match this was. Brink got in a lot of offense. Taz & Excalibur kept talking about Hook and QT, so it’s only matter of time before those two face off. I’d like it to happen at Revolution honestly with Hook getting a PPV win under his belt.)

(3) MAX CASTER (w/Anthony Bowens) vs. CAMERON STEWART

Stewart didn’t let the verbal beatdown from Caster early affect him, as he got an early head scissors, but Caster kipped out of. Caster hit a dead lift back suplex of sorts and Taz wishes Caster luck at doing that against Wardlow tomorrow night. Caster dared Stewart to hit him and the forearms had no effect, as Caster hit one elbow and uppercut to drop Stewart. Caster pulled Stewart off the second rope into a clothesline and wanted a superplex, but Stewart avoided it. Stewart tried a cross body off the top, got caught, but spun into a DDT. Stewart missed a corner splash; Caster hit a spinning fisherman’s buster and the Mic Drop for the victory.

WINNER: Max Caster in 3:30

(Howard’s Analysis: Good win for Caster heading into his battle with Wardlow tomorrow night. Something tells me Platinum Max won’t be having a pleasant Wednesday Night Dynamite.)

(4) TONY NESE vs. CARLIE BRAVO

While Nese showed off his power early, it was Bravo who used his speed to get a misdirect punch. For some reason Bravo took way too long to follow up, which allowed Nese to hang up Bravo on the top and hit his springboard moonsault for two. Bravo was caught up in the Tree of Woe and Nese did bicycle sit ups while kicking the sternum of Bravo. Nese applied a Torture Rack, but Bravo got free and hit a stalling back suplex for the reset. Bravo tried a sunset flip from the apron into the ring, but Nese rolled through into a spin kick to the face. Nese hit a nice pump handle piledriver for the three.

WINNER: Tony Nese in 4:00

(Howard’s Analysis: I really liked the finisher for Nese in this one. I have no idea what’s in the cards for Nese going forward, but I’d like him to start a feud on Dark that would last a month or two.)

-Alex Marvez talks to Fuego Del Sol backstage about being on quite a roll in AEW after his one win last week against Serpentico. They talk about Fuego’s match with Anthony Bowens and Fuego does a terrible rhyme on Bowens.

(5) EMI SAKURA vs. ANGELICA RISK

Risk is from Albuquerque and Taz informs us a lot of stuff happened to him in Albuquerque back in the day. Sakura lit up Risk with chops and hair mare as she got the crowd to do her Queen chant while Risk was locked in a Romero Special. Sakura no sold some strikes, but Risk hit a head scissors into the corner. Risk nailed a corner hip attack that would make Ryusuke Taguchi happy and spinning neck breaker for two. Sakura quickly responded with Queen’s Gambit and cross body in the corner. Sakura hit a stalling double arm underhook Queen’s Gambit and almost a Storm Breaker variation for the victory.

WINNER: Emi Sakura in 3:00

(Howard’s Analysis: Poor Angelica didn’t stand a chance here tonight as this was all Emi Sakura. The finish was similar to Will Ospreay’s Storm Breaker, but Sakura just let Risk spin to the mat instead.)

(6) 2POINT0 (Matt Lee & Jeff Parker w/Daniel Garcia) vs. THE METRO BROTHERS (JC & Chris)

Excalibur & Taz were talking more about who is Canada’s greatest athlete, which is what Matt Lee calls himself. Excalibur thinks it’s Wayne Gretzky and Taz thinks its Iron Mike Sharpe. I’m inclined to agree with Taz on this one. Parker clobbered JC Metro early and Lee hit a huge release German suplex on Chris. Parker & Lee hit a double Russian leg sweep on Chris, wiped out JC on the apron and Two For the Show put away Chris for the quick win.

WINNERS: 2point0 in 2:00

(Howard’s Analysis: 2point0 squashes continue to rule, there’s not a lot more that needs to be said.)

(7) MT NAKAZAWA vs. JOEY SWEETS

Joey Sweets is the second person tonight to pelvic thrust before his match began, as Cameron Stewart was the first. Nakazawa wrestled with his headset and took calls, which let Sweets to hit a top rope walk into a takedown. Nakazawa did a titty twister and a Maki Itoh stalling headbutt for two. Sweets tried for a dive over a charging Nakazawa out of the corner, Nakazawa grabbed his legs in the air and Sweets landed on his face. This broke Excalibur and they had to bleep out a curse as Taz & Excalibur had no idea what the hell we just saw. Nakazawa raked Sweets by the crotch on the top rope, but Sweets answered with the weirdest back breaker ever for two. Commentary has lost control, as Nakazawa pulled Sweets into the ref and hit him with his laptop. The Tombstone piledriver into the 69 position mercifully gave Nakazawa the win.

WINNER: MT Nakazawa in 4:00

(Howard’s Analysis: The positive? Excalibur broke on commentary and couldn’t recover. It was hilarious. The negative? Practically everything else, as I have not missed seeing Nakazawa in the ring. He also finished the match with that awkward Tombstone pin, which is a reference to a Kenny Omega & Don Callis joke nearly a year ago, which is about how long it’s been since Nakazawa has wrestled. I’m sorry, but hopefully it’s another year.)

-Tony Schiavone is backstage with Jora Johl and talked about his successful 2021 being the first Indian wrestler in AEW. He said in his language that 2021 taught him a lot and now it will be Jora’s force.

(8) FRANKIE KAZARIAN vs. LUKE SAMPSON

Sampson tried to get one over on Kazarian early, but got hung up in the ropes and hit with a springboard leg drop for two. Sampson fought back with a nice half nelson slam. Sampson was sent into the corner and Kazarian wasted absolutely no time getting the Cross Faced Chicken Wing for the quick submission.

WINNER: Frankie Kazarian in 2:30

(Howard’s Analysis: I mentioned Tony Nese needing to be in a feud on Dark and I wouldn’t mind if that someone was Frankie Kazarian. I think those two would have a nice series of matches.)

(9) JORA JOHL vs. AXEL RICO

Johl tried to send Rico outside, but Rico made a nice little comeback. That was short lived, as Johl drove Rico back first into the side of the ring before going back inside. Rico tried a hurricanrana, but Johl dead lifted Rico into a buckle bomb. Johl hit a double arm under hook into a back breaker. Rico fought out of a fireman’s carry and hit a standing dropkick to the corner. Rico foolishly did a Spin-A-Roonie, but Johl hit a pump kick out of the corner to win it.

WINNER: Jora Johl in 2:30

(Howard’s Analysis: This was one of the stronger showings for Johl in his time on Dark. Despite there being what feels like 20 members of the A.H.F.O. none of them were out with Johl tonight.)

(10) ALAN “5” ANGELS & 10 (w/-1) vs. CHAOS PROJECT (Luther & Serpentico)

Serpentico got a running start to flip off Angels, who immediately took him down. Angels got a few pin attempts, but only managed two. Angels hit a leg lariat and Luther demanded his partner punch Angels in the brain. Luther chanted he wanted 10, but told Serpentico to stay in there as the big man made the tag. 10 no sold strikes as 5 & 10 hit a dropkick into a fall away slam combo. Angels ran into a corner boot and finally Luther made the tag, as he turned Angels inside out with a spin kick. Luther immediately tagged Serpentico, who got about 12 seconds of a breather. Angels fought off both men, tried a dive, but Serpentico sent him into the ring steps. Back in the ring, Luther got back in with a punt to the midsection and screamed Angels is ugly, should’ve kept the mask on. Luther sent Angels throat first into the ropes and used his partner for an assisted leg drop for two. Luther slammed Serpentico onto Angels, then demanded Serpentico slam Luther, but Serpentico collapsed. Angels countered a springboard bulldog into a Blue Thunder Bomb and made the hot tag to 10. Luther was planted with a spinebuster, Angels wiped him out with a dive and Serpentico dove off the top, but 10 hit a Spear in mid air. The full nelson was applied and Serpentico passed out.

WINNERS: Alan “5” Angels & 10 in 8:00

(Howard’s Analysis: I don’t think Chaos Project needed to take like 85% of this match, but the heat on Angels was about 6 minutes. The team of 5 & 10 have been getting quite a few wins, so hopefully they start getting stronger competition as the weeks go on.)

-Similar to the videos Lee Moriarty and Lee Johnson had last week highlighting their new entrance music from the Who We Are album, tonight featured Anthony Bowens, who just so happens to be in the main event.

(11) FUEGO DEL SOL vs. ANTHONY BOWENS (w/Max Caster)

Bell sounded and Fuego bolted out of the corner with a Spear and dropkick off the top. Bowens rolled outside and Fuego hit a Tornillo to the floor. Back inside, Caster took the ref, Fuego was distracted and Bowens hit a strike combo to take control. Fuego fought back inside with a tilt a whirl abdominal stretch. Commentary points out how Bowens has too much strength to be in it long and he spun Fuego into an airplane spin slam for two. Cobra Clutch applied by Bowens, but Fuego battled back with a series of dropkicks. Kick combo by Fuego led to a standing shooting star for two. Fuego tried a roll up, but Bowens rolled through into a charging knee. Bowens hung up Fuego in the ropes and hit a spinning double arm DDT to pick up the victory.

WINNER: Anthony Bowens in 4:30

(Howard’s Analysis: Max Caster referenced Fuego 2 in his rap. I know it was taped a few weeks ago, but that line must cut a lot deeper today for Fuego after the departure of the artist formerly known as Fuego 2 from AEW. This was a quick and fun little main event, but it’s weird Bowens got the main event slot, when it’s Caster who has the high profile match tomorrow night.)

FINAL THOUGHTS: This was just an ok episode of Dark tonight with very little in the way of anything important coming out of it. Max Caster faces Wardlow tomorrow night, but aside from that, not much else. I guess that’s what happens when you tape so many episodes of Dark ahead of time. The opener would probably be my match of the night, but the rest was a very squash oriented episode.

I’d be remiss if I didn’t mention at the end here how this has been quite the newsworthy day for AEW with the departure of Cody & Brandi Rhodes. You know it’s a big story when it overshadowed yesterday’s news of Stone Cold Steve Austin potentially returning to the ring for the first time in 19 years. I hope whatever Cody & Brandi do, they make a lot of money and more importantly are happy. The wrestling fan in me hopes this is all storyline and they return in to AEW in 6 months to a year, with Cody having a new contract that allows him to challenge for the World Title. However, if they do indeed show up to WWE again, I hope they are utilized well. Which, considering who is still in charge in WWE, leaves me incredibly skeptical. Regardless, it’s gotten the wrestling world buzzing in a positive way, which isn’t always the case.

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NOW CHECK OUT LAST WEEK’S AEW DARK REPORT: 2/8 AEW DARK TV REPORT: Moriarty vs. Henry, Yuta vs. Solo, Hart vs. Heather, more