5 Ups & 3 Downs From AEW Dark (Oct 8)

1. Women's Tag Fails To Impress

Comfortably the worst thing on Dark's first episode was Bea Priestley and Penelope Ford vs Alli and Britt Baker, which did a solid job of highlighting the ongoing Baker vs. Priestley feud, but little else.

This is unfortunate. Women's wrestling is clearly something AEW want (and need) to invest in long-term and Dynamite's Riho vs. Nyla Rose clash stole the show, but bouts like this haven't worked out. This was another slow, clunky offering from a division that has delivered only sporadically, and it felt much, much longer than its ten-minute runtime.

Highlights included Ford occasionally lighting things up with her athleticism, Allie's personality, and a few Priestley/Baker interactions. Regardless, they couldn't hook the crowd. Seconds passed like minutes and Dark delivered a match that should probably have been chopped up and presented as a highlights package with Tony Schiavone's narration, with the extra time alloted elsewhere.

The finish saw Ford verbally submitting to Baker's Crossface after Allie had Speared Priestly. Perhaps this means Britt's getting the advertised shot at Riho on Dynamite's 16 October episode.

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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.