8 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Dark (Nov 26)

1. Evans & Omega Step It Up

Kenny Omega vs. Jack Evans was a victim of expectations. Overhyped by those fortunate enough to be in attendance for last week's tapings, the rampant enthusiasm conditioned many to expect a pay-per-view calibre bout. This isn't what it was, though it was still a hoot of a contest, a great way to close the show, an appropriate showcase for Evans, and one of Dark's best matches so far.

The match's appeal came from three places:-

1. Watching Kenny wrestle an old cult favourite and influential high-flyer who was doing all your favourite flippy sh*t for smaller audiences 20 years ago.

2. Seeing Kenny Omega doing Kenny Omega things.

3. The satisfaction of seeing a bag-of-p*ss heel getting the tar kicked out of him by the babyface.

Jack was in tremendous form here, coming off as the snottiest weasel in the room as he swaggered around the ring, talked smack, and breakdanced his way out of a Kotaro Crusher. He did a great job of making viewers want to see him get slapped around as he snaked his way out of all kinds of perilous situations and eventually got his comeuppance via V-Trigger and One-Winged Angel, having ragdolled like a motherf*cker for 'The Best Bout Machine.'

A genuine turnaround for Kenny's struggling character ahead of the PAC match, or a red herring? We'll find out on Dynamite.