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AEW DARK TV REPORT
MARCH 29, 2022
RECORDED AT DAILY’S PLACE, JACKSONVILLE, FL
AIRED ON YOUTUBE.COM
REPORT BY RYAN HOWARD, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
AEW Dark Announcers: Excalibur and Taz
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
-Excalibur and Taz on the call, welcoming us to the show.
(1) THE FACTORY (QT Marshall, Nick Comoroto & Aaron Solo) vs. ADAM PRIEST & INVICTUS KHASH & GUS DE LA VEGA
Solo & Priest started things off with both men trading dropkicks before Comoroto made the tag. Priest foolishly tried a cross body off the second, but was pressed high over Comoroto’s head and slammed onto De La Vega. Solo jumped back in and hit a quick corkscrew kick until QT made the tag to hit a cheap shot on Khash. Solo was right back in and was lit up with Khash jabs, low bridge to Comoroto and back drop on Solo. QT blindsided Khash with a Cutter, one for Priest and another to a leaping De La Vega off the top. Solo & Comoroto hit a double team back breaker knee drop combo before Solo hit a Pedigree on De La Vega for the win.
WINNERS: The Factory in 4:30
(Howard’s Analysis: Rare dominating performance from all three Factory members, as Hook will dispatch all of them soon, I’m sure.)
(2) EMI SAKURA vs. LEILA GREY
Sakura immediately locked on a Romero Special, which allowed Taz to sing to us. Leila tried to fire off a few shots, but Sakura clobbered her down and worked the 5 count off a hair pull. Sakura tried Queen’s Gambit, but Leila wiggled free and hit a pump kick. Leila missed a X-Factor and Sakura revved up the band and chopped away with Taz singing We Will Chop You. Sakura hit a double arm back breaker and corner Vader Bomb for the quick win.
WINNER: Emi Sakura in 3:00
(Howard Analysis: I love whenever Emi is on AEW Dark, as she not only rules, but gives us a chance to hear Taz sing to us.)
(3) DIAMANTE vs. KELSEY HEATHER
Diamante lit up Heather with chops in the corner before hitting a few short arm clotheslines. A Northern Lights Suplex got a two count, as Heather was sent outside after she ate a knee. After a quick clothesline, Heather was sent back inside and we see Heather has had her nose busted open. Diamante wrapped Heather with the straight jacket body scissors for the submission.
WINNER: Diamante in 2:00
(Howard’s Analysis: I say this after every Diamante win on AEW Dark, but I want to see her start a new feud. She hasn’t had one since the Big Swole feud ended last year. Give us more Diamante!)
(4) EVIL UNO & STU GRAYSON & ALAN “5” ANGELS (w/-1) vs. JAY MARTE & RICHARD KING & ALEXANDER ZANE
Zane tried a cheap shot, but Grayson quickly turned the tables and isolated Zane in his corner. Grayson & Uno unleashed their quick offense until Marte made the tag and suffered the same fate. Marte did hit a leaping spin kick to the head of Uno, who hit the shoulder block, stomp of the hands, ear boxer and eye poke. Angels entered with a dropkick, but was quickly shoved into the wrong corner. King hit one boot, but Angels wiped everyone out and hit a sliced bread on King. Zane was hung up on the ropes, Angels hit a STO and Grayson hit a scary slingshot senton on the apron. Grayson hit The Nightfall on King and Angels hit a Frog Splash for the easy win.
WINNERS: Evil Uno & Stu Grayson & Alan “5” Angels in 3:00
(Howard’s Analysis: Quick and dominant showing from the Dark Order Trio, two of which will be battling House of Black this week on Rampage. Something tells me they won’t have the same result on Friday as they did tonight.)
(5) FRANKIE KAZARIAN vs. KAUN
Kaun showed off his power early with a nice shoulder tackle and corner chop, but Kazarian used his speed to gain control. After working a headlock, Kaun battled back with a nice charging back elbow and very nice lung blower. Kazarian responded with a few shots and cross body off the second. Kazarian hit a running double knee to the back and huge lariat. Kaun was trapped in the Chicken Wing and quickly submitted.
WINNER: Frankie Kazarian in 3:00
(Howard’s Analysis: Frankie has been stacking wins fairly often on Dark & Elevation, which makes me believe something might be in the cards for him in the near future.)
(6) TAY CONTI (w/Anna Jay & -1) vs. SHALONCE ROYAL
Conti tried an early sunset flip, but Royal sang right in her face. Conti wrapped Royal up in a submission, but Royal escaped. Royal hit a nice jawbreaker, hooked a headlock and sang into the ear of Conti as she started singing at -1. Conti potatoed Shalonce with a punch on the apron and back inside hit a few throws. Conti hit a few pump kicks in the corner and connected with the Gotch Piledriver for the win.
WINNER: Tay Conti in 3:00
(Howard’s Analysis: It is always a joy to see Shalonce Royal on AEW Dark, as Taz is at his best whenever she’s in action. Tay probably shouldn’t do the Gotch piledriver anymore as a finisher, her DD-Tay is a perfectly fine finish.)
(7) JOHN SILVER & ALEX REYNOLDS & 10 (w/-1) vs. FOXX VINTYER & BRANDON BULLOCK & JAMESON RYAN
Taz said with Dark Order being on the whole show -1 should just stay ringside and ride a bike around, which popped Excalibur. Reynolds hit a quick dropkick on Ryan and it led to 10 and Vintyer have a quick staredown before the match broke down and everyone not in the Dark Order was clotheslined outside, which allowed Silver, Reynolds & 10 to pose. The posing allowed 10 to be isolated briefly, but the big man fought his way free. John Silver made the hot tag and hit a nice Liger Bomb on Bullock. 10 hit a spinebuster on Vintyer, while Ryan was hit with a double arm drag to the corner. The Pendulum Bomb on Ryan spelled the end as 10 got the pin.
WINNERS: John Silver & Alex Reynolds & 10 in 3:00
(Howard’s Analysis: To the surprise of no one, Dark Order had a clean sweep tonight on AEW Dark Order. That Pendulum Bomb was pretty cool looking, I’ll give them that.)
(8) NYLA ROSE (w/Vickie Guerrero) vs. KIERA HOGAN
I give credit to Hogan for trying to get a quick start, as she lit up Nyla with strikes until Nyla bailed outside to regroup. Hogan tried a tope, but Nyla caught her and rammed her into the post, but got a two back in the ring. Nyla missed a splash off the second and follow up elbow. Hogan hit a shotgun dropkick, corner clothesline and nice sliding single leg dropkick. A step up leg drop only got Hogan two. Nyla blocked a kick and hit a chokeslam off of it. Nyla mowed Hogan down with a Spear and hit the Beast Bomb for the victory.
WINNER: Nyla Rose in 3:00
(Howard’s Analysis: Hogan had her moment in the beginning, but once Nyla got her grips on her, it was game over. Nyla keeps stacking wins on her way to being the first challenger for Thunder Rosa’s Women’s Title.)
FINAL THOUGHTS: They promoted Eddie Kingston vs. Bear Boulder on this show, but it didn’t happen. I was looking forward to seeing those guys beat one another up, but it makes sense to keep it off, since Eddie has yet to return to TV following the Jericho attack. I don’t know what to give Match of the Night tonight, as every match was essentially a squash and the longest went 4:30. I guess I’ll give it to the main event, as Kiera Hogan got off the most offense against Nyla, even though the match only went three minutes.
To say this episode of AEW Dark was banked is an understatement, as this was filmed right after Christmas last year when they were at Daily’s Place. I know matches on Dark don’t amount to more than just upping win records most of the time, but I can’t help but feel let down by this episode. It’s not the fault of the talent involved by any means, but if matches taped in Universal Studios were spread out more, then I don’t think they would have this problem. I’m hopeful this next set of tapings is less squash heavy and more competitive matches, which is what I always want for Dark. They certainly have the talent for it.
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