AEW gets Dark in Kansas City!
You thought you’d have to wait for this? No! AEW gives you the dark matches for Dynamite KC just in time for the Revolution on Leap Year Day!
OFFICIAL RESULTS
- Luther VS Sonny Kiss; Luther wins.
- The Dark Order VS Michael Nakazawa & Peter Avalon w/ Leva Bates; The Dark Order wins.
- Britt Baker VS Miranda Alize; Baker wins.
- Private Party VS Brandon Cutler & Shawn Spears w/ Tully Blanchard; Private Party wins.
PLAY BY PLAY
Luther VS Sonny Kiss!
The original Death Dealer wants to “play ball” with Jimmy Havoc, but he needs to give everyone something to see. Will the Concrete Rose wilt in the Dark?
The bell rings and Luther goes right at Sonny with palm strikes and a CHOP! And another CHOP! Luther clubs Kiss then whips, but Kiss slips out of the pop-up. Kiss waistlocks but Luther bucks him off. Kiss ducks the back hand but runs into the BOOT! Luther stomps Kiss’s arms and kicks him in the ribs. Kiss goes to the apron and Luther takes off his jacket, and uses it to CHOKE Kiss! The ref counts but Luther throws Kiss down! Fans boo as Luther drops down to kick and stomp Kiss more. Fans rally up for Kiss and he CHOPS back! And CHOPS! And CHOPS! Kiss gets space but runs into the RING BELL! Luther gets away with that one as his own body obstructed the ref’s view, and then Luther refreshes the ring count.
Luther throws Kiss into railings then into the ring. He drops a knee on Kiss then drags him up for a snap suplex. Cover, TWO! Kiss toughs it out but Luther drags him back up. Luther underhooks for a butterfly suplex then a cover, TWO! Fans cheer but Luther argues with the ref. Kiss rolls Luther up, TWO! Kiss runs, tilt-o-whirls to a school boy, TWO! Luther hurries up and blocks a kick to flip Kiss. Kiss lands on his feet and ducks the clothesline, but not the LARIAT! Fans boo as Luther drags Kiss up again, and back suplexes. Kiss lands on his feet again and dropsaults! Kiss spins Luther to kick, kick and enziguri! Luther staggers and fans fire up as Kiss runs, to BOOT! And do the splits!
Kiss goes corner to corner with a handspring, back elbow! But Luther catches him! Kiss elbows out, blocks Luther’s boots and turns him sideways! Fans fire up as Kiss hits the handspring ax kick! Cover, TWO! Luther survives Axes ‘n’ Oh’s, but Kiss still has more to try! Kiss climbs up, fans fire up and Kiss MOONSAULTS! Luther moves, Kiss lands on his feet, and Kiss goes Matrix to avoid the clothesline! But Luther waits for him to stand back up, and DECKS him! Luther drags Kiss back up, whips, but Kiss tumbles out and ROUNDHOUSES back! Kiss climbs and leaps, but Luther blocks the huricanrana to POWERBOMB! Luther drags Kiss into a camel clutch, and CLAWS at Kiss’s face! Kiss taps, Luther wins!
Winner: Luther, by submission
Luther refuses to let Kiss out of his clutches, but here comes Havoc! Luther’s invitation has been accepted, but Luther bails out. The Death Dealer says he’s too smart to play on Havoc’s schedule. When will these two “play ball”?
Tony Schiavone and Dasha Gonzalez welcome us to this special AEW Dark.
Just a day away from AEW Revolution, and we’ve got one last bit of action. Dasha is afraid of Luther, and Tony jokes looking Luther in the eyes might turn you to stone. But Dasha is more excited to see some championship matches, and would love to see a NEW AEW World Champion in Jon Moxley. But first, Tony gives great praise to our AEW Dark commentary team, Excalibur and Taz! And they send it back to them for our next match.
The Dark Order VS Michael Nakazawa & Peter Avalon w/ Leva Bates!
Evil Uno and Stu Grayson prepare the way for the Exalted One, but also prepare for a match with SoCal Uncensored. Will they kill two birds with one stone as they face one of the Exalted’s targets?
But as always, the Librarians work to hush the crowd. “Uh, pardon me, I said SHH.” Avalon says Kansas City, Missouri is a place known for “lousy barbecue” and being “the City of Fountains.” Avalon made a wish in one of those fountains that they’d never have to come back again. Leva has had it with him insulting the cities they come to! But Leva says she has the perfect book for him to read next: Mark B. Borg Jr’s “Don’t Be a Dick.” Avalon scowls and Nakazawa makes his entrance. The teams sort out and we begin with Grayson and Nakazawa.
Nakazawa already has the Turkish baby oil, but Avalon says “No, no, no, no! I don’t want none of that comedy, hardy-har-har crap!” He tells Nakazawa to come over and he tags in. Avalon is going to show us traditional wrestling, but Nakazawa squirts oil and Avalon slips! Nakazawa tags back in and oils up! Grayson runs him over with big forearms! Grayson tackles Nakazawa into the Dark Order corner and tags in Uno. Uno whips Grayson for Grayson to whip Uno, and Uno hits a big corner splash. Grayson adds on then feeds Nakazawa to Uno’s BOOT! Cover, TWO! Uno argues the count but he stomps Nakazawa’s hand. And then stands on the hand as he and the Dark Order raise their hands. “We are one!”
Grayson tags in and the Dark Order stomps a mudhole into him. Avalon keeps his distance as Grayson storms over. Grayson returns to Nakazawa but Nakazawa hits back. Grayson clubs Nakazawa then goes to suplex, but Nakazawa blocks. Fans rally up as Nakazawa oils up! Grayson slips right off! But then Avalon leaves Nakazawa high and dry! Grayson hits a BIG knee, then torture racks. NIGHT FALL BACKBREAKER! Tag to Uno and fans boo Avalon as Nakazawa takes the FATALITY! Cover, The Dark Order wins!
Winner: The Dark Order, by pinfall
Seems Avalon really does need to read that book. But the Dark Order whispers to Nakazawa that their offer is still on the table. Will Nakazawa shed the oil and don a Creeper mask? Will he #JoinDarkOrder?
AEW takes one more look at Cody VS MJF.
“My relationship with Cody was so close, just because he was the first person who really believed in me. I’m going to be right there ringside with him. I’m going to be cheering him on, I’m gong to be there for him. And come November 9th, history will be made and a legend will be born.” These were the words MJF said in the build to Cody VS Jericho for the AEW World Championship on the way to Full Gear. But when that night came, MJF threw the towel in as Cody endured the Walls of Jericho. And then betrayed Cody by kicking him in the balls! “Cody only wanted not to keep me under his wing, but to keep me under his thumb.”
Cody would retaliate by saying MJF just needed to name a price. MJF gave three stipulations: don’t touch MJF before AEW Revolution; have a steel cage match with Wardlow; take ten lashes from MJF. The lashes came before the cage fight, but Cody went through it all because that is what revenge means to him. And it all infuriated MJF, because he hoped Cody would fall. Now MJF must face the consequences of his actions. Will MJF come to regret making the American Nightmare his worst enemy?
Tony and Dasha remind us where AEW is headed next!
- AEW Revolution 2/29/2020: The Wintrust Arena in Chicago, Illinois!
- 3/4/2020: The 1STBANK Center in Broomfield, Colorado!
- 3/11/2020: The Maverik Center in Salt Lake City, Utah!
- 3/18/2020: The Blue Cross Arena in Rochester, New York!
- 3/25/2020: The Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey!
- 4/1/2020: The University of Wisconsin Milwaukee’s Panther Arena in where else? Milwaukee Wisconsin!
- 4/8/2020: The Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri!
- 4/15/2020: The Agganis Arena in Boston, Massachusetts!
- 4/22/2020: The Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania!
- 4/29/2020: The Fertitta Center in Houston, Texas!
- AEW Double or Nothing 2 – 5/23/2020: The MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada!
- 5/27/2020: AEW Dynamite is also in the MGM Grand Arean for DoN2 fallout!
Britt Baker VS Miranda Alize!
With Nyla Rose defending the AEW Women’s World Championship at Revolution, this match could go a long way to determining the line that forms behind the champ. Will the Doctor treat “Princess” Alize better than she did the Magical Girl?
The bell rings and Baker circles with Alize. They tie up, are in a deadlock, but Baker manages to power Alize back. Alize turns Baker around and puts her on the ropes, but Baker slips through them to get to the apron. The ref keeps Alize back, and Alize dares the dentist to get back in. Baker returns and the two circle. Fans troll Baker with chants of “Brash Your Teeth!” while she gets Alize down with a wristlock and a knee. Baker bends the fingers but Alize rolls to get a headlock. Baker slips out and goes for Alize’s arms! Alize scrambles to the ropebreak! Baker backs off and the two go again. Baker headlocks, Alize powers out and drop toeholds. Alize floats to a facelock but Baker slips right out to get a hammerlock.
Baker cranks on the arm, Alize fights her way up, but Baker shifts to a headlock. Alize powers out but Baker counters the hip toss to a throw. Alize runs but Baker pulls her hair and throws her down! The ref reprimands Baker but she just shrugs. Baker rains down right hands on Alize then stomps her down. She gives toying kicks but fans rally for Alize. Baker throws big forearms and whips to clothesline Alize down. Baker grabs Alize for a cobra clutch but Alize fights up. Alize fights with body shots and forearms, then runs, into the rolling elbow! Baker runs in the corner to shining wizard! Then she chokes Alize!
The ref counts, Baker sweeps the legs, and Baker “apologizes” to the ref while choking Alize with a boot! Baker runs side to side to boot wash Alize! Baker soaks up the heat as Alize gets up. The doctor whips Alize to ropes and clotheslines her down again. Baker clubs Alize to the ropes and chokes her with a smile on her face. She lets up at 4 to then grab Alize’s arms and kick her into the ropes! Alize checks her face, but gets a BOOT from Baker! Baker smiles and “consults” Alize before going in for a fisherman’s neckbreaker! Cover, TWO! Alize still lives but Baker just smiles. Baker reasons with the ref but Alize rolls her up! TWO, and Baker kicks Alize hard for that one.
Baker fires off forearms then whips her corner to corner. Alize reverses but Baker reverses back. Alize goes up and over but gets a mule kick! Baker runs to SLING-DOG! Then the Rings of Saturn, to the LOCK JAW! Alize was already tapping out, but Baker still wants to! Baker wins!
Winner: Britt Baker, by pinfall
Baker makes the ref raise her hand in victory, and then gives the camera a big smile. Will Baker be smiling her way to an AEW Women’s World Championship match?
Private Party VS Brandon Cutler & Shawn Spears w/ Tully Blanchard!
Marq Quen and Isiah Kassidy have cooled off from their hot streak against big name teams like The Young Bucks and Proud ‘n’ Powerful, but there’s always tomorrow. Meanwhile, the Chair Man is still looking for tag partner #PERFECT10N. Will he find it in Mr. Total Party Kill?
Fans are of course on Private Party’s side as Kassidy sees where to throw the beads. Spears flicks something at Kassidy, but Kassidy keeps playing up where he’ll send the beads. In the end, it’s opposite ramp side! But the teams finally sort out, and Cutler starts with Kassidy. Kassidy and Cutler low-five to show respect and already Spears is annoyed. Kassidy offers a handshake to Spears but Spears flips him a dirty bird. Quen gives Kassidy a handshake to make up for it. Cutler and Kassidy circle and tie up, and Cutler wrenches to a wristlock. He shifts to a hammerlock but Kassid reaches back. Kassidy gets elevation and snapmares Cutler. Things speed up, both men are very agile as Cutler rolls off Kassidy’s back.
Kassidy tags Quen then slides under Cutler. Quen gives Cutler an atomic drop but Cutler senses the enziguri! Cutler ducks that then jumps Quen’s sweep. Cutler blocks both kicks and flips both of them! Private Party lands on their feet and dodge the clotheslines, a TRIPLE dropkick cancels out! Fans love the stand off and Kassidy wobbles with excitement. But Spears tags in and scolds Cutler for all the flippy dippy. Fans chant “TEN! TEN!” but Spears ignores them to kick Quen low. Spears throws haymakers and shouts, “That’s how it’s done!” He CHOPS Quen then CHOPS again! Quen falls to his knees as Spears makes sure Cutler is watching. But Quen jawbreakers back!
Tag to Kassidy and Quen turns Spears, but Spears fights out of the neckbreaker. Spears trips Quen and catapults him up, but Kassidy helps Quen land safely on the ropes. Kassidy sunset flips over Quen and the bomb helps Quen FLIP and MOONSAULT onto Spears! Kassidy hurries to get Spears as the legal man and has the collar tie up. Spears knees low and tags Cutler in. Cutler runs into Kassidy’s calf kick! Kassidy kips up and brushes off the shoes. Fans cheer as Kassidy blows kisses, and then Kassidy throws body shots and CHOPS. Kassidy tags Quen and Kassidy whips. Cutler reverses then ROUNDHOUSES Quen. Kassidy shouts “MOMMY!” as Cutler hits a BIG Saido!
Cutler slingshots Quen in and onto Kassidy, then Cutler springboard forearms Quen down! But Spears tags in!? Spears wants to hog the spotlight but Kassidy tags in. Spears bumps Kassidy off buckles and rains down punches. Fans chant, “TEN! TEN!” and that makes Spears stop. Kassidy trips Spears and Spears hits buckles! Kassidy says it’s time for “SHOTS! SHOTS!” Forearm after forearm, and then Kassidy squeals as he runs, into a SPINE BUSTER! Spears drags Kassidy up and throws him out hard. Spears drags Kassidy up to RAM him into the apron, then give him an apron back suplex! The ref counts and Spears goes in. Spears mocks Quen before dragging Kassidy over.
Spears chokes Kassidy on the ropes and tags in Cutler. Cutler drags Kassidy up for a scoop slam, then a BIG leg drop! Cover, TWO! Cutler keeps on Kassidy with a facelock and tags Spears in. Fans rally up as Spears takes the hand-off. Kassidy reaches for Quen but Spears whips him away. Kassidy STUNNERS Cutler! Then he ducks under Spears, crawling for his corner! Spears goes to Quen first, misses, but catches Kassidy in time! Kassidy sunset flips, Spears breaks free, and Spears drags Kassidy up. Spears keeps Kassidy from Quen as both men reach for their tag partners. Kassidy breaks free and hits a spinning roundhouse! Both men are down and fans fire up. Spears and Kassidy crawl, hot tag to Quen!
Quen runs in and PELES Spears! Spears wobbles as Quen runs, flapjack dropkick! Quen kips up but Cutler tags in, only to get a back drop! Spears puts Quen on the apron, but Quen enziguris back! Quen springboards, into a fireman’s carry! No C4 as Quen slips free. Quen wheelbarrows Spears and grabs at Cutler, bulldog famouser combo! Fans fire up as Quen dusts himself off. Spears and Cutler regroup outside but Quen builds speed to FLY! Spears shoves Cutler into the path! Then clobbers Quen from behind! Spears acts like Cutler is the one at fault, shouting “You’re stupid! Useless!” Spears puts Quen in then Cutler in, but Tully advises now is the time to cut and run.
Cutler is just another tag partner left all alone, and Quen leaps! Cutler catches his crossbody for a TPK GUTBUSTER! Cover, but Kassidy swantons in! Cutler moves and Kassidy lands on Quen! Cutler shoves Kassidy out and covers Quen, but Kassidy breaks it! Spears and Tully might be reconsidering as Cutler stands back up. Cutler brings Kassidy up to DECK him! Fans are strongly behind Cutler as he boots Kassidy downt hen hops up. Quen runs in, SUPER STEINER to the CUTTER! Gin ‘n’ Juice! Cover, Private Party wins!
Winners: Private Party, by pinfall
Cutler was too worried about whether or not Spears would return, and it cost him! Private Party gets back on the winning side of things, will they be heading up towards those AEW World Tag Team Championships?
My Thoughts:
A pretty good episode of Dark for AEW to sneak in before Revolution. The only real low point of this episode was Baker VS Alize. Baker was all but squashing Alize, but they really dragged it out. A squash match works when it’s fast, otherwise it’s just a grind. I get they want Baker to be a bigger part of the Women’s Division, but I don’t think they’re going the right way about it. She’s great on the mic as a Heel, but booking a Heel match for her either needs to be swift and brutal squash or something with cheating. You can’t have her be just a bit dirty and then drag it out where Alize just doesn’t get anything in. For Revolution tonight, I would rather Nyla Rose retains, takes on Shida, maybe Shida wins and then just shuts Baker down.
Luther VS Kiss was a good match, and it was great for Havoc to come out as a physical response to Luther’s challenge. Those two should have something on Dynamite after Revolution this coming Wednesday. Dark Order VS Nakazawa & Avalon was fun for the baby oil bits, but of course Dark Order wins and makes their offer to Nakazawa. Are any of the guys they’ve been after going to join up? I sure hope so. Private Party VS Cutler & Spears was a really good tag match, but of course Spears abandons Cutler. I was hoping Cutler was going to win just to prove Spears wrong, but Private Party did need a win. I hope there comes a point that Spears gets abandoned and sees what it’s like.
My Score: 8.2/10
