Top Independent Wrestling Star Debuts On AEW Dark
AEW showcased another of the indie scene's gems on last night's Dark.
Indie wrestling standout Lee Moriarty debuted on last night's AEW Dark, working Dante Martin in the night's main event.
Moriarty, 27, was wrestling in his Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania hometown, as Dark was taped when AEW hit the Steel City last week. He lost to Martin in just under five minutes, falling to an elevated sunset flip given extra legitimacy by Dante putting his legs across Lee's arms to prevent a kickout.
A brisk, fluid match of targeted limb work, crisp technical exchanges, and a handful of popping spots, it gave Moriarty the opportunity to give the audience a taste of his abilities in a short window.
Another rising indie star also debuted on this week's Dark. 23-year-old Masha Slamovich lost to Penelope Ford in 4:30, setting Ford up for tonight's Dynamite match with Thunder Rosa, which was announced on the show.
Moriarty and Slamvoich continue AEW's recent theme of utilising some of the brightest names on the national independent circuit, with Daniel Garcia and Wheeler YUTA becoming TV regulars over the past few weeks. This follows Tony Khan's May claim that he would utilise a broader range of indie talent from different markets upon returning to the road.