6 Ups & 0 Downs From AEW Dark (Mar 17)

3. Ford Foils Riho

Penelope Ford
AEW

Dasha and Tony framed Riho vs. Penelope Ford as aa chance for the former Women's World Champion to get back in the title hunt. Here, in her first singles match since dropping the strap to Nyla Rose, Riho flubbed that opportunity, falling to Ford in what must be considered an upset.

Your mileage may vary on this match depending on whether your enjoyment of Ford and Kip Sabian and acceptance that their matches are always going to be very, very Sports Entertainment. Interferences and distractions are the name of the game. Get one of them in singles action and it's effectively a handicap match, as was the case here, with Sabian continually interjecting him on the action. A problem in Dynamite's more focused in-ring world, but not on Dark.

Ford looked good, even throwing in a little Kenny Omega taunt with her finger pistol and failed V-Trigger in the corner. She scored the victory with a bridged Fisherman's Suplex as she looks to move towards AEW's top five. For Riho, a long road to redemption now awaits, with the likes of Hikaru Shida streets ahead of her in the title scene.

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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.