AEW Dark: Elevation
Episode 22
#AEWElevation
Original Air Date: August 9, 2021
Event Date: August 4, 2021
(uploaded to YouTube)
City: Jacksonville, FL
Venue: Daily’s Place
Commentary: Tony Schiavone, Eddie Kingston
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Intro Video
Match 1
Red Velvet vs Renee Michelle
(referee: Aubrey Edwards)
Result: Red Velvet wins via pinfall after the Final Slice
Time: 1:14
Match Thoughts
A pretty good squash match. Renee Michelle attacked Red Velvet before the bell, but Red Velvet quickly fought back and put Michelle away easily. This was an easy warm-up for Red Velvet’s title match against Britt Baker on the debut of Rampage later this week.
Match 2
“Pretty” Peter Avalon w/ Cezar Bononi, JD Drake vs “The Captain” Shawn Dean
(referee: Mike Posey)
Result: Shawn Dean wins via pinfall after a powerbomb dropped into a lung blower
Time: 0:44
Match Thoughts
Squash. Peter Avalon never had a chance. Shawn Dead was all over Avalon and quickly destroyed him on his way to a fast win.
Match 3
Hikaru Shida vs Tesha Price
(referee: Bryce Remsburg)
Result: Hikaru Shida wins via pinfall after a modified falcon arrow (more of a Michinoku Driver)
Time: 1:45
Match Thoughts
This was pretty fun. Tesha Price seemed to throw Shida off a little at first with Tesha’s screaming once the bell sounded, but Shida didn’t have any real issues tonight. Price had a few good counters, but it they weren’t enough to put together any real offense against the former champ.
Backstage
From Dynamite last week, Tony Schiavone is with Daniel Garcia and 2.0. Garcia says he could have picked any company to work for, but he chose AEW. However, even though Fuego Del Sol picked AEW, AEW refuses to pick Fuego Del Sol. Garcia also begs for a one on one match with Darby Allin.
Ring Area
Sonny Kiss and Joey Janela come out as a team for a tag match, but Janela superkicks Kiss just after they come out of the entrance tunnel. Their scheduled opponents, Baron Black and DMC, walk over to check on Kiss, but Janela beats them up too. Janela then piledrives Kiss on the ledge in front of the fans on the stage area, then Janela walks away.
Match 4
“The Machine” Brian Cage vs RSP
(referee: Rick Knox)
Result: Brian Cage wins via pinfall after the F5
Time: 1:15
Match Thoughts
This had a quicker pace than I expected, and RSP has some nice agility for a big guy, but Brian Cage had no trouble here. Squash.
Match 5
Jade Cargill w/ “Smart” Mark Sterling vs Amber Nova
(referee: Paul Turner)
Result: Jade Cargill wins via pinfall after Jaded
Time: 0:46
Match Thoughts
Three moves. Squash. Jade definitely looked strong.
Match 6
Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus w/ Marko Stunt vs Cyrus & Carlie Bravo
(referee: Aubrey Edwards)
Result: Jungle Boy submits Carlie Bravo with the Snare Trap
Time: 0:32
Match Thoughts
Cyrus and Carlie Bravo tried attacking Jurassic Express before the bell, but that just made the squash that much quicker. Cyrus was thrown out of the ring and Bravo took a chokeslam and a Snare Trap.
Match 7
Mike Sydal & Matt Sydal vs Lucha Brothers w/ Alex Abrahantes
(referee: Bryce Remsburg)
Result: Penta El Zero Miedo pins Matt Sydal after an assisted butterfly piledriver
Time: 8:18
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Rey Fenix and Mike Sydal had a very nice opening sequence against each other that ended in something of stalemate. Matt Sydal and Penta El Zero Miedo came into the ring next, and Penta started to get the advantage over Matt almost right from the start. Matt got into quite a bit of trouble, and that opened the match up when Mike tried to help his brother. Both teams looked good, but the Lucha Bros. hit more offense, and their offense hit a lot harder.
Show Impressions
The main event was fun and worth watching. The rest of the night was all about squash matches, and that’s fine. Janela finally turning on Sonny Kiss was interesting, but I wonder if that’s just going to be a Dark feud or if it will make its way to Dynamite.
Match of the Night
Sydal Brothers vs Lucha Brothers
This was the only competitive match tonight, but regardless, it was still a lot of fun.