7 Ups & 3 Downs From AEW Dark (Jan 26)

by Andy H Murray

1. Wrecking Balls

Powerhouse Hobbs
AEW

Three two-minute maulings in a single episode of Dark? What a joy.

Powerhouse vs. Jake St. Patrick, Santana and Ortiz vs. RYZIN and Mike Verna, and Danny Limelight vs. Sean Maluta. Each of these was the right kind of shellacking. The full-timers got in, beat the jobbers up, and got out with minimal fuss. All of them looked dominant, composed, and completely in control, and that's often a lot more beneficial than the more competitive bouts Dark throws up.

Hobbs was the most fun to watch out of the above. The big man has developed a snarling attitude since turning heel and joining Team Taz, looking like a bully against St. Patrick. Santana and Ortiz recovered from the disappointment of last week's Dynamite by beating Verna before RYZIN could even tag in. Limelight, meanwhile, dispatched Maluta in less than two minutes, which is surprising given his card position (but not talent).

More bulldozings, please. Dark would feel a lot brisker as a result.

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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.