AEW Dark Episode 37
June 9th, 2020
Daily’s Place, Jacksonville, Florida
By: Davie Portman
Commentary by: Excalibur and Taz
Low Rider & Fuego Del Sol vs SCU
SCU takes both Del Sol and Low Rider down early with double team maneuvers. Del Sol hits a Running Shooting Star Press to Sky for a two count. Low Rider makes the tag and hits a Springboard Missile Dropkick for a two count. Sky ducks a clothesline causing Del Sol and Low Rider to collide. Kazarian sends Low Rider out of the ring and hits SCU Later to Fuego Del Sol for the win.
SCU defeat Low Rider & Fuego Del Sol via Pinfall in 2 mins 58 secs
Davie’s thoughts: This was a typical Dark squash match however both Low Rider and Fuego Del Sol proved that they are entertaining Luchadores with the little they were able to do.
The spokesman of the Dark Order hands Alan Angels a mask and renames him “5”. Brodie Lee welcomes “5” to The Dark Order.
Lee Johnson vs 5 w/ Alex Reynolds, John Silver & 10
5 charges Johnson as soon as the bell rings. Johnson comes back with a series of Arm Drags and a Dropkick sending 5 to the outside. 5 throws Johnson off the entrance ramp into the ring post shoulder first. 5 continues to target the injured left arm of Johnson. 5 slams Johnson to the mat for a two count. Johnson makes a come back with a big Clothesline followed by a Hanging Neckbreaker. Johnson sends 5 to the outside and follows up with a beautiful looking Tope Con Hilo. In the ring, Johnson follows up with a Blue Thunder Bomb for a two count. 5 comes back with a Draping DDT on the ring apron. Brodie Lee comes out and gestures to 5 to finish the job. 5 hits a modified Back Stabber and picks up the win.
5 defeats Lee Johnson via Pinfall in 5 mins 20 secs
After the match 10, Silver and Reynolds attack Lee Johnson as Brodie Lee watches on.
Davie’s thoughts: A fairly entertaining match between two guys we have seen work as enhancement talent over the last few weeks. I’m glad to see The Dark Order is starting to pick up some wins and actually quite like the gimmick of regularly recruiting new members and giving them numbers for their names.
Musa & Brady Pierce vs Santana & Ortiz
Ortiz and Musa start the match and have a fun back and forth where they keep countering Waist Locks. Ortiz breaks the hold by raking the back of Musa. Santana gets involved by hitting a vicious knee to Musa and follows up with an Asai Moonsault on both Musa and Pierce. Santana and Ortiz double team Musa by hitting a Stomp to the back of the head. Brady Pierce is talking a load of trash to Santana and Ortiz, so Ortiz throws Musa towards him for the tag. Pierce makes a bit of a comeback but misses a second rope Moonsault. Pierce and Musa are stacked up in the corner and hit by a leaping Cannonball Senton by Santana. Proud n Powerful hit The Street Sweeper for the win.
Santana & Ortiz defeat Musa & Brady via Pinfall in 5 mins 10 secs
Davie’s thoughts: Yet another strong win for Santana & Ortiz. I did enjoy the trash-talking between Brady Pierce and Santana & Ortiz, which lead to Proud n Powerful allowing Musa to make the tag to him. I would like to start seeing more competitive matches though.
QT Marshall approaches Dustin and Brandi and says that the tag match is now a singles match. Allie convinced QT that Dustin is a legend and therefore should sit it out. He then presents them both with a Natural Nightmares t-shirt that Allie designed that features QT in the middle of the shirt and a much smaller Dustin and Brandi below him.
Anthony Catena & Pineapple Pete vs The Butcher and The Blade
The Butcher and The Blade dominate Pineapple Pete by isolating him in their corner and making constant quick tags. Pete tries to do some comedy by posing before hitting a Crane Kick but Blade catches it and hits two Fisherman Neckbreakers. Catena eventually gets the tag but gets overpowered immediately. Blade hits a Stunner and Butcher follows up with a Clothesline. Butcher hits a Running Powerslam but the pin gets broken up by Pineapple Pete. The Butcher and The Blade hit the Vertical Suplex into the knees for the win.
The Butcher and The Blade defeat Anthony Catena & Pineapple Pete via Pinfall in 4mins
Davie’s thoughts: So far every match on this show have been nearly identical with the main roster talent winning in convincing fashion in under 5 minutes.
Zack Clayton vs QT Marshall w/ Allie, Dustin & Brandi Rhodes
The Natural Nightmares and Allie are all wearing the new T-shirt with Brandi’s being far too big for her. Allie joins commentary and Taz asks her what the deal is with The Butcher and The Blade but she ignores the question. Every time QT hits a big move he looks over to Allie. QT attempts a springboard move but gets Dropkicked to the ramp. Allie leaves commentary to join QT. Clayton gets in Allie’s face and tells her to leave. Clayton hits an impressive Delayed Vertical Suplex followed by a Knee Drop for a two count. Marshall comes back with a Rebounding Gamengiri, attempts the Cutter but gets caught in a Powerslam for a two count. Clayton attempts to remove the turnbuckle padding but Brandi gets on the apron to tell him to stop. QT bumps into Brandi, knocking her to the floor and she sells that she has an injured wrist. Allie pretends to also have an injury and QT immediately goes to check on her. Allie trips Zack Clayton by grabbing his ankle, which allowed for Marshall to hit the QT Cutter for the win.
QT Marshall defeats Zack Clayton via Pinfall in 4 mins 28 secs
Davie’s thoughts: This was the most enjoyable match of the night so far. Zack Clayton looked impressive in his AEW debut match showcasing some impressive power moves and some personality. The continuing story between Allie and The Natural Nightmares made the match a lot more interesting for me amongst a show of predominantly squash matches.
Sonny Kiss vs Christopher Daniels
Daniels hits a Scoop Slam for a one-count early on and immediately transitions into an Armbar. Sonny Kiss manages to counter out of it with a series of exciting flips and Arm Drags. Sonny ducks a Clothesline with an impressive bridging Matrix Escape but gets caught with an Exploder Suplex right after. Daniels starts showing some frustration after not being able to secure the win and begins to get more aggressive with his offense. Daniels locks in a Crossface but Kiss gets to the ropes. Daniels punches Sonny Kiss and hits repeated stomps in the corner. Aubrey Edwards pulls him off and he gets into her face. Kiss comes back with a Hurricanrana and a Slingshot Splitting Leg Drop for a two count. Sonny hits a Standing Moonsault for another two-count. Daniels plants Sonny Kiss to set up for the Best Moonsault Ever but is unable to get to the top to hit his finisher. Both trade roll-up pin attempts until Daniels is able to hit Angels Wings for the win.
Christopher Daniels defeats Sonny Kiss via Pinfall in 8 mins 27 secs
Davie’s thoughts: Easily match of the night so far. Sonny Kiss had a really good showing and proves to be a unique talent with his unorthodox move set. The Matrix Escape and Slingshot Splits looked very impressive. Daniels also showed that he is going through a character change and I really enjoyed his more aggressive side. I wouldn’t be surprised if we start to see this on Dynamite and maybe lead to him leaving SCU.
Peter Avalon & Brandon Cutler vs Jurassic Express (Luchasaurus & Marco Stunt)
Luchasaurus and Brandon Cutler have a fun exchange at the start of the match until Cutler gets Chopped down in mid-air after he attempts a springboard move. Luchasaurus hits a Wheelbarrow German Suplex and makes the tag to Marco Stunt. Marco hits a Hurricanrana followed by a Dropkick. He goes to the top but gets distracted by Leva Bates and Avalon throws him down to the mat. Stunt counters a Gorilla Press into a Hurricanrana and follows up with a Satellite DDT to Avalon and makes the tag to Luchasaurus. Luchasaurus takes out both Cutler and Avalon with a load of kicks, attempts a Double Chokeslam but gets Dropkicked. Marco climbs to the top and hits a Splash on Avalon for a two count. Avalon hits a Tornado DDT on Luchasaurus for a two count. Cutler hits his Springboard Elbow Drop but still only gets a two count. Marco hits a Chokeslam to Avalon (with the help of Luchasaurus) and Luchasaurus follows up with a Standing Moonsault for the win.
Jurassic Express defeats Peter Avalon & Brandon Cutler via Pinfall in 10 mins 28 secs
Davie’s thoughts: Really fun match between all four men. There was a lot of fast-paced action and it was a lot more competitive than all the other tag matches on this show. I feel they are building Avalon & Cutler up so each week they get closer and closer to their big win.
Robert Anthony vs Jon Moxley
Brian Cage comes out to watch the match by the commentary desk. Unlike all the other matches on the show, we had people in the crowd for this main event. On commentary, Taz is pointing out all the mistakes Moxley is making and how Cage will take advantage of it at Fyter Fest. Moxley is trying to show off more of his technical wrestling ability than his brawling style until he sends Anthony to the outside and follows up with a Tope Suicida. Moxley hits two great looking Dragon Screw Leg Whips followed by a Taz-esque Suplex, which Taz picks up on. Moxley continues to apply numerous submissions including a Figure Four Leglock around the ring post, continuously wearing down the leg of Anthony. Anthony makes a brief comeback and attempts to apply the Romero Special. Moxley comes back with a clothesline and goes for the Gotch Piledriver but gets Backdropped and then hit by the Death Valley Driver. Anthony jumps off the top but gets caught in a Powerbomb for a two count. Moxley applies the Texas Cloverleaf and taps out Robert Anthony.
Jon Moxley defeats Robert Anthony via Submission in 13 mins 11 secs
Davie’s thoughts: This was a surprisingly competitive match between Anthony and Moxley. Taz on commentary was selling that Moxley’s showing tonight proves that he is beatable. What I’ve enjoyed about Moxley during his AEW run so far is how he will try and work a different style depending on who his opponent is. In this match, he wrestled a lot more technical than he usually does and could explain why he didn’t put his opponent away quickly. I also like that he has now added a submission finisher to his game.
Overall, I think 90-mins is far too long for an episode of Dark. The first three tag matches were pointless and don’t serve anyone. I would rather they just upload them as individual videos on their YouTube page. The show picked up a lot with the QT Marshall match and had four fun and competitive matches that held my interest and also progressed some storylines.
5 Natural Nightmare T-Shirts Out of 10