AEW Dark
Episode 1
Original Air Date: October 8, 2019
Event Date: October 2, 2019
(uploaded to YouTube)
City: Washington DC
Venue: Capital One Arena
Commentary: Jim Ross, Excalibur
Ring Announcer: Justin Roberts
Studio
Tony Shiavone welcomes us to AEW Dark and explains that this show will air matches recorded at Dynamite that we didn’t see live on TNT.
Match 1
Darby Allin vs CIMA
(referee: Rick Knox)
Result: Darby Allin wins via pinfall after the Coffin Drop
Time: 6:59
Match Thoughts
Good match. Allin took his time to start, and CIMA made him pay right away. CIMA would continue to show his sizable experience advantage throughout the match, but Allin was able to put together some extended sequences of fast, risky offense. I liked how Allin went after CIMA’s knees early in the match, because that played a big factor in multiple ways as the match went on, including causing CIMA’s signature knee strikes to backfire on him in certain ways. This was a smart match, and it was fun.
Match 2
TheHybrid2 & The Lucha Brothers vs Privte Party & Best Friends w/ Orange Cassidy
(referee: Bryce Remsburg)
Result: Pentagon Jr. pins Chuck Taylor after a tandem double stomp (Fenix) and package piledriver (Pentagon Jr.)
Time: 8:47
Match Thoughts
This was chaotic fun. The referee never had control of the match, and it was essentially an eith-man tornado tag. The Best Friends and TheHybrid2 seemed to have the most ring time, though Private Party and the Lucha Brothers had some of the biggest, most impactful moments. There wasn’t really a clear focus in the match, but it was fun to watch regardless.
Match 3
Penelope Ford & Bea Priestley vs Allie & Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D.
(referee: Paul Turner)
Result: Britt Baker submits Penelope Ford with Lockjaw
Time: 10:12
Match Thoughts
Good match. Baker and Priestley were the focuses here, but Allie and Ford both had a good showing as well. This was a solid match.
Match 4
Jurassic Express vs SCU
(referee: Aubrey Edwards)
Result: Frankie Kazarian pins Marko Stunt after a tandem powerbomb (Kaz) and lung blower (Sky)
Time: 9:16
Match Thoughts
Very good match. Both teams work very well as three-man units (though SCU is probably a bit better). I loved all the matchups, and I loved all the extended sequences involving all six men.
Show Impressions
This was a fun first episode of AEW Dark. I think I’m going to like this series.
Match of the Night
Jurassic Express vs SCU
Super fun.