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

by Andy H Murray

1. Darby Allin & CIMA Tear It Up

Nobody made greater use of their short Dark time limit than Darby Allin vs. CIMA, who did everything they could within their allotted seven minutes, opening the show with comfortably the best thing on it.

A fast-paced bout began with CIMA blasting Allin with double knees while Darby was sat in the corner, gazing around the arena, but the smaller man soon found a way back in. Allin wrestles at 100mph. He's a propulsive dynamo of a performer who flings his body around as if he's weightless, and he whipped the crowd up with a bunch of consecutive dives to the outside. CIMA largely played the veteran to counter this, looking ground Allin's kamikaze instincts. The Dragon Gate legend countered the Coffin Drop into a Powerbomb at one point, working Darby over with holds thereafter, but Allin did a good job grinding CIMA's knee down himself, showing he's more than just a do-or-die daredevil.

This high energy affair concluded when Darby finally hit the Coffin Drop following a Code Red. If there's one criticism, it's that Allin went for the Coffin Drop thrice in seven minutes and could probably benefit from a more varied approach in that regard, but that's a nitpick. The match was bags of fun.

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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.