4 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Dark (Feb 18)

1. Building Nothing

Cody Wardlow
AEW

That AEW has largely abandoned Dark as a hype vehicle for upcoming matches and developing storylines is a big shame and feels like a total waste.

Tony Schiavone spent a minute or two advertising upcoming show dates, but that was the extent of Dark's hype this week. There was next to nothing for the upcoming episode of Dynamite despite the stacked lineup, with Wardlow facing Cody inside a steel cage, Hangman Page/Kenny Omega vs. the Lucha Brothers, and Jeff Cobb vs. Jon Moxley. Surely, the announcers mentioned the tag team battle royal a couple of times, but nothing else.

Dark increasingly feels like it exists on an island. Win/loss records aside, it may as well be independent of the mainline AEW product at this stage. Here's hoping they sharpen it up before bringing it to the network later this year.

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Channel Manager
Channel Manager

Andy has been with WhatCulture for eight years and is currently WhatCulture's Wrestling Channel Manager. A writer, presenter, and editor with 10+ years of experience in online media, he has been a sponge for all wrestling knowledge since playing an old Royal Rumble 1992 VHS to ruin in his childhood. Having previously worked for Bleacher Report, Andy specialises in short and long-form writing, video presenting, voiceover acting, and editing, all characterised by expert wrestling knowledge and commentary. Andy is as much a fan of 1985 Jim Crockett Promotions as he is present-day AEW and WWE - just don't make him choose between the two.