9 Ups & 2 Downs For AEW Dark: Elevation
6. Much-Needed Reps For The Lower Reaches Of The Women's Division
The thing about Dark - and now Dark: Elevation - is that it doesn't really exist for the enjoyment of the viewing experience. It is a filmed house show with few of the amusing non-canon japes that make a house show worth attending. It functions to develop talent gradually for the ultimate benefit of the company. The odd good match is a byproduct; not the purpose.
That said, the show has at least recognised which talents require development, and booked several of them in showcases of reasonable (and theoretically productive) length.
The AEW fanbase hasn't been given enough of an idea who Big Swole is. At times, she doesn't really warrant the name; the back-and-forth modern hybrid match layouts imposed upon her don't have much personality to them. Her match with Skyler Moore was different, situating her as a powerhouse who won't take any posing heel sh*t. It was uplifting just to see her back following her recent troubles with Crohn's disease.
Abadon remains a rough prospect, but she was more selective in her no-sell spots. It's much cooler when she doesn't budge for a stiff kick than a gentle forearm, as was the case here.
Red Velvet's creativity and fire once again positioned her as the break-out women's worker of the Dark set.