9 Ups & 2 Downs For AEW Dark: Elevation

Ups...

9. The Show At Least STARTED In Typical AEW Fashion...

Jungle Boy
AEW

In a development that reiterated that AEW do know what they're doing, Dark: Elevation didn't begin with a rambling, exposition-heavy WWE-style opening segment - not that "Hey, it's not as bad as WWE!" is an argument fans should be making in 2021.

This company can set a tone like no other, and Jungle Boy Vs. Danny Limelight was the exact, effervescent mini-banger with which this company can get you fired up from the jump.

The company is also excellent at something far more complex than the 101 basics that have somehow eluded the competition: Jungle Boy in another masterful performance measured his inexperience against his spirit to create momentum shifts, and he's experienced enough now to use this is as a story beat. Limelight proved a fine opponent, honing in on his chest with gruesome precision and the intelligence to realise that to get over in a Jungle Boy match, it's a smart idea to beat the sh*t out of him.

It was a match as fun as it was flawed - that inexperience is also real, and accounted for some ugly, hesitant transitions - but it existed to sharpen his game.

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Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!