3 Ups & 4 Downs From AEW Dark (Jan 7)

1. Awesome Kong Lumbers To Victory

Awesome Kong met newcomer Skyler Moore in the first of Dark's two matches. It was a well laid-out squash, with Moore mustering only a few slithers on offense against the pushed Nightmare Collective monster, though sluggish execution rendered it a tough viewing experience.

Kong attacked Moore with Mongolian chops, corner splashes, Biel throws, body blocks, and other similar offense. Fine, given her style and character, but wrestling loses its fun when you can see the sausage being made. Kong looked off. She's slower now, which is understandable (given her tenure in the sport), but not all that fun to watch. Even these simple moves looked clunky and awkward, undermining her dominance and what was intended to be an exclamation point victory.

Whether this is a product of ring rust or a performer too far removed from her prime remains to be seen. Let's hope it's the former, as the AEW women's roster needs its mauler.