7 Ups & 0 Downs From AEW Dark (Mar 31)

4. Squashing From Beneath

When is a squash match not a squash match? When Darby Allin is the victor.

Allin's bout with Preston Vance was very him, with Darby absorbing more punishment than any other winner on the card. Vance attacked from with a suplex from the turnbuckles while Allin was still taking his coat off, battered him around ringside, and controlled big chunks of the bout. He used his superior size and power to great effect in a match distinct from anything else on the show and it worked, because Darby is Darby. He doesn't dominate. He gets the p*ss kicked out of him, feeds off the pain, finds openings, and attacks with propulsion. He's a different cat; this is how he should squash.

The Coffin Drop spelt the end for Vance, who looked decent throughout. Perhaps AEW will give him another look later down the line.