5 Ups & 3 Downs From AEW Dark (Jun 30)

4. Shawn Spears vs. Max Caster

Shawn DiBiase and his black glove returned with a nice squash victory over Max Caster last night. What started as a straightforward mechanical clash increased in nastiness throughout, as Spears amplified his aggression, adding extra snap to his work. The announcers put over the idea that 'The Chairman' is turning a corner under Tully Blanchard's tutelage and he eventually took the win with his C4 finisher, nailing Caster after a failed roll-up attempt.

There was variety with the glove, too, as Spears didn't load it up until after the match, returning to the ring to knock the already-downed Caster out. Completely unnecessary, thus amplifying the d*ckishness. It was an appreciated step forward after using the loaded glove to beat his previous opponent, too, preventing the gimmick from becoming a one-dimensional crutch.