Coming at you a little late this week, it’s our recap for the June 1 episode of AEW Dark! I could blame the NBA for disrupting the AEW schedule, but the truth is it’s summer and I was just lazy. It’s a quickie this week, too! Click through for all the pops and botches.
Last time on Dark…
KiLynn King’s fury stole the show in a women’s tag match. Julia Hart got her first win. Joey Janela left Sonny Kiss to the wolves. We didn’t get to find out what was in Kal Herro’s fanny pack. Catch up in our May 25 recap.
Elsewhere in the AEW Arcadia…
Last week’s Friday Night Dynamite was the go-home show for Double or Nothing and it wasn’t very interesting. That’s okay though, because the PPV itself was pretty great. Robert was so blown away he’s still collecting his thoughts, but check back here soon for the main roster pops and botches.
For me one of the underrated highlights of Double or Nothing was the preshow. Serena Deeb retained the NWA title in a match with Riho that I think was stronger than the AEW championship match. It was also a delight to watch Jungle Boy get a big win in the battle royale. Cody Rhodes versus Anthony Ogogo didn’t really go over as massively as it should’ve, although perhaps I was expecting too much. I feel particularly invested in QT’s faction, who seem custom-built for the Dark fanbase, so it was a shame to once again not really get an epic blow-off.
Being The Elite episode 258 was understandably shorter this week, dropping less than 12 hours after Double or Nothing wrapped. Brandon Cutler found time to retain the BTE Championship between splicing together (behind the) scenes from the PPV. Matt Hardy and Private Party cut a promo on Christian Cage. Isiah Kassidy spoke of ass-pounding. It was good.
Episode 322 of Sammy Guevara’s vlog also showed some behind the scenes bits. In a nod to the Internet Wrestling Community’s obsession with debating every damn thing Cody Rhodes says and does, this week’s Friendlympics opened with a “Cody’s Focus Group” title card. Dustin Rhodes licked Fuego del Sol’s new mask. Mark Henry’s son sang a few bars, then got beaten up by Negative One.
Ethan Page’s vlog is usually a couple weeks behind so it can be a bit confusing, but his first Double or Nothing Weekend episode is worth a look. It opens with him and Rebel carpooling and talking candidly about how excited they are to see the crowds again, and closes with the post-Dynamite glow.
During the weekend they also filmed a few Elevation and Dark matches. Let’s cue up episode 91.
Dim the lights, it’s time for Dark.
POP: For the feel-good vibes
Live from Double or Nothing Fan Fest, it’s The Wingmen! It seems they finally settled on an official stable name. Cezar Bononi and Ryan Nemeth are teaming to take on Billy and Colten Gunn of Gunn Club. Billy Gunn looks overjoyed to be back in front of a real crowd.
Actually, you know, they all do. Bononi, Nemeth, the Gunns, Peter Avalon on the outside, they all strut about playing to the crowd for several minutes before the match properly gets going.
Colten comes out on top of his exchange with Nemeth, then Billy and Bononi start with their daddy hoss routine. They’ve worked well together since they first faced off all the way back in September last year. It almost looks like Billy will win it with the Famouser, but Nemeth saves his partner only to get taken out by Colten’s Colt 45 instead.
This was far from the best match any of them did, but their joy was palpable and it put a smile on my face.
POP: Stat in charge
Next up “Galaxy’s Greatest Alien” Kris Statlander versus Robyn Renegade. Renegade is another new talent coming out of Nightmare Factory, and she’s had a couple of appearances on Elevation.
Statlander does a fun cartwheel routine and boops Renegade on the nose, leaving her distinctly unimpressed. Renegade gets serious but Stat’s mood flips on a dime, and she takes Renegade outside for some chops and the sloth splash off the apron.
This is a serious squash. Renegade eats a suplex, power slam and Big Bang Theory piledriver ahead of the pin. God, it looks brutal. Despite being in control for most of the match, Stat still ends up with a bloodied lip.
POP: Chaotic trios
Next up we have the odd team of TH2 and Serpentico (accompanied by Luther). They’re playing the Chaos Project theme song, which robs us from the opportunity to watch Angélico dancing. Maybe it was intentional to save the crowd pop for their opponents: Dark Order’s Stu Grayson, Alex Reynolds and Alan “5” Angels. And the crowd pops BIG for these dudes.
#DarkOrder's @Alan_V_Angels was PUMPED to be out in front of the #AEW crowd tonight on Dark
Watch #AEWDark now – https://t.co/t2daiGx7Xk pic.twitter.com/36xnaQQB1E
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 1, 2021
Serpentico and 5 start us off with some quick lucha. It’s arm drag city! Eventually the Dark Order get Serpentico over to their corner and everyone wails on him. Luther interferes to grab 5 and smash his balls into the steel ring post, then hightails it out of there, chased off by Evil Uno, Colt Cabana and John Silver.
That clears the decks for some more serious fighting, as Jack Evans and Angélico tag in to continue the beatdown. Next time Serpentico is in he looks around for Luther, realizes he has nobody who will use him as a battering ram, so he lifts his own head up and drives it into 5’s body. A beautiful bit for us long-time Dark fans.
When @KillLutherKill isn’t around and you have to do stuff on your own. #AEWDark pic.twitter.com/MjBd9yfmqB
— SNAKEMAN (Television Goon) 🐍👑 (@KingSerpentico) June 2, 2021
Eventually the match breaks down in glorious AEW trios fashion. Everyone hits spots on everyone else, the crowd goes wild and Grayson hits a massive Knightfall backbreaker on Evans for the win.
POP: Diamante gets serious
Next up, Red Velvet versus Diamante.
There’s no playing to the crowd here – Diamante quickly sets up a wrist lock and twists Velvet into various uncomfortable positions. Velvet breaks free and connects with a few hits, but Diamante is just too tough. She hits the Three Amigas, leg sweep and a cool plank-like splash, with her arms at her sides.
But then Diamante misses a drop kick, lands on her back and Velvet gets a few shots in. Velvet never quite takes control of the match, but she does finally win it with a spinning heel kick. Diamante really came out looking like the stronger contender here.
POP: A boy and a bear
Our headliner for this short and sweet episode is Jungle Boy versus Bear Bronson.
These are busy times for @boy_myth_legend
Tonight he faces @bearbronsonBC on #AEWDark
Watch Dark now – https://t.co/t2daiGx7Xk pic.twitter.com/ylcxVOaoKN
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) June 1, 2021
Jungle Boy comes out to Baltimora’s Tarzan Boy, accompanied by Luchasaurus and Marko Stunt. Stunt grabs a Jaguar cheerleader’s pom poms to stretch out the entrance till the second chorus, much to the delight of the fans.
I really hate @realmarkostunt 😒#AEWDark pic.twitter.com/tClP4b9j0v
— Bear Bronson (@bearbronsonBC) June 2, 2021
Bronson tosses Jungle Boy to the corner, silencing the crowd. Jungle Boy sets up a great sequence, escaping through Bronson’s legs, then going for an arm drag, but the bear is not having it. But Jungle Boy ain’t giving up! He runs up on top of the ropes to get more leverage on a second arm drag, and this time it connects!
Bronson and Jungle Boy have pretty good chemistry together. Admittedly, Jungle Boy is able to coax a good match out of pretty much anyone. Jungle Boy gets the win with a diving elbow.
This was a fine little episode built mostly on sharing the joy of being back up close with live crowds. There weren’t as many wacky pairings and indie visitors as pandemic era Dark, which is a shame, but understandable given how much other filming happened over the weekend. It will be interesting to see if Dark ends up being much shorter as the shows go back on the road. It’s possible the show will go back to something similar to what it was at the beginning – a handful of matches from the signed talents who didn’t make Dynamite that week. I hope not, because the grab bag of wrestling lunacy is part of the appeal for me, but we’ll have to wait and see.
Not much has been announced for this week’s Friday Night Dynamite. PAC and Penta el Zero M of Death Triangle will be facing Young Bucks. Nick Comoroto will take on Dustin Rhodes. Surely some other stuff will happen. The promotion has a bit of momentum now, so whatever happens should be good. Keep an eye on Steel Ring Post for more AEW recaps. And if you loved our WWE and retro coverage, let the writers know on the Discord, perhaps they’ll be inspired to craft a few more articles! Till next week, wrestlefans.
