AEW Dark results: Konosuke Takeshita vs. Bronson
Excalibur welcomed us to AEW Dark alongside Taz from Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida, taped toward the end of January.
Angelo Parker & Matt Menard defeated Fuego Del Sol & Leon Ruffin
Parker & Menard tried attacking at the bell, but were quickly sent to the floor by the opposition. Ruffin & Del Sol showed off their speed on Parker with a double back suplex as Menard’s loud commentary during this match annoyed Taz just as much as it delighted him.
Del Sol was sent to the floor by Menard and turned inside out by Parker. While Del Sol was isolated, Taz reminded us to set our VHS machines to record Rampage beginning at an early time this Friday due to NBA All-Star Weekend.
Del Sol battled back with a gutwrench suplex on Parker and made the hot tag to Ruffin, who ran wild briefly before Del Sol hit Menard with his signature tornado DDT for two. Ruffin called for a Del Sol dive outside, but Parker held up Ruffin and Del Sol collided with his own partner. This allowed Parker & Menard to spike Del Sol with this double DDT for the victory.
This was a rare extended match for “Daddy Magic” & “Cool Hand Ang” as their matches usually last pretty quick. It was refreshing to see them in action for longer than a minute.
– Lexy Nair was backstage with Christopher Daniels who said this is his 30th year in professional wrestling. Everyone wants to be in AEW and just because of his experience doesn’t mean he should be just given a spot — he has to earn it. Experience trumps youth every time and he’s signed an open contract, so whoever answers, better say their prayers, he explained.
Mei Suruga (w/ Baliyan Akki) defeated Hyena Hera
Hera tried to show off her size early, patting Suruga on the head which resulted in Suruga biting her arm. Referee Bryce Remsburg tried to scold her and almost got his finger bit off as a result. This became a trend as Taz & Excalibur went on an apple riff since her nickname is “The Apple Girl.” Hera loaded up for a right hand, but Suruga cowered in fear, apologizing, until she suckered Hera in.
Hera had enough of the antics and fired back briefly until Suruga did a walk on the top rope into an armdrag and springboard twisting double stomp for two. This led to the Propeller Clutch applied to give Suruga her fist singles win in AEW, following the heels of her BestBros partner Akki’s first win last week.
Varsity Athletes (w/ Mark Sterling) defeated Allen & Kameron Russell
After Tony Nese took turns alternating between poses and strikes, it was Josh Woods that struck one of the Russell brothers down with a big boot off a leapfrog attempt. Nese & Woods isolated Allen for most of this match until Kameron made the tag and ran wild for just a few moments before Woods dropped him with a nice suplex.
Allen saved his brother, but was hung up by Nese and launched with a German suplex by Woods. Kameron was easily put away with the assisted Angle Slam for the win. Woods is on his way to Dynamite tomorrow to face off with Mark Briscoe.
Kip Sabian (w/ Penelope Ford) defeated Gravity
Gravity is the brother of Bandido and Sabian, listed at 5’11″, towered over him. Taz was given information that Gravity is John Mayer, popping both Excalibur and I. After controlling early on, Gravity took the fight to Sabian with his speed until he was sent to the floor and leveled with a Sabian dive. Sabian said he just defied gravity as the puns and references in this match from competitors and commentators were top notch.
Gravity sent Sabian outside, did the Shawn Michaels corner flip, and turned it into a dive to the floor, which was very unique. Sabian answered with a gnarly half-and-half suplex, but only managed two. Gravity was able to string together some offense until Sabian responded with a charging knee for the victory leading to his showdown with Hangman Page tomorrow night.
– Lexy Nair was with Mark Sterling & the Varsity Athletes as Sterling said domination is what’s next for them. Nese said Woods is the best partner he’s ever had. Trent of Best friends was shown working out, sort of, saying he teamed with Nese in 2007. Nese called him the Marty of the team and challenged him to a match next week.
Zack Clayton defeated Dan “The Dad” Adams
Dan the Dad got in a couple quick jabs before being leveled by Clayton. Excalibur made a Kurt Rambis comparison based on the glasses Adams wore before they were knocked clean off by Clayton, who had his way until a corner boot cut off the momentum. A nice exploder suplex into the corner led to a spinning fisherman’s suplex slam to give Clayton the quick win.
Brock Anderson & Brian Pillman Jr. defeated Jeeves Kay & Sonny Kiss (w/ Slim J)
Pillman and Anderson used their speed for fast tags early to isolate Kiss until Kiss avoided a spinebuster and sent Anderson into the corner to crotch Pillman. Slim J attacked Pillman outside as Kiss distracted the ref which allowed the Trustbusters to get in control. Kay hit a nice corner boot and leaping dropkick before Kiss connected with a nice slingshot split leg for two.
Pillman fought back for the Anderson hot tag until he was rocked with a Kiss corkscrew kick and Kay frog splash for two. A blind tag led to an Anderson spinebuster and Pillman swanton that landed flush for the victory.
There’s something here with Pillman & Anderson. Having them get wins and ring time together as a team on Dark & Elevation is perfect for them right now.
– Lexy Nair was with Ryan Nemeth, who just wants to get back to the glitz & glamour of Hollywood. He did the quick Andy Kaufman promo telling fans who hate him to go buy soap and wash themselves for two minutes. Nemeth did the “Let’s Go Hunk” chant and left. This was pointless.
Christopher Daniels defeated Serpentico (w/ Angelico & Luther)
Remix Jones showed up tonight as Taz sang along to the Spanish Announce Project theme. Daniels cut off Serpentico with an exploder as Luther slid into the ring to distract literally everyone in the building with his screeching. Serpentico then hit a quick Flatliner as Daniels was sent outside.
Luther and Angelico double teamed Daniels with ref Bryce Remsburg distracted as Serpentico hit a low DDT for two. Daniels fired back with a STO before trading near falls into a double clothesline. Serpentico avoided Angels Wings and took the ref again, but this time. the distraction blew up in the heels’ faces. Miscommunication allowed Daniels to hit the BME to put away Serpentico.
Ari Daivari (w/ The Trustbusters) defeated J. Spade
Daivari said if Spade could beat him in any way tonight, he and the entire crowd will get $1000 of Daivari’s money. This immediately made Spade both Taz and Excalibur’s favorite wrestler. Spade was able to fire off a dropkick as Taz demanded Excalibur run in and hit a Tiger Driver 99, but Excalibur wasn’t warmed up.
After the Trustbusters put the boots to Spade outside, Daivari controlled the action. Spade had a hope spot with a spin kick and series of roll-ups, but Daivari cut him off with a superkick and Pepsi Twist for the win.
Diamante defeated Ultra Violette
It’s always good to see Diamante in singles action. She dropkicked Violette in mid-air before putting the boots to her in the corner. After ten punches and a charging clothesline, Diamante hit a corner dropkick for two. Violette fought back with a clothesline, back fist and missile dropkick, but only managed a near fall. Diamante ducked a lariat and leveled Violette with the comeback, hit a series of suplexes, and stacked Violette with a German suplex for the win.
Dalton Castle & The Boys defeated Larry Lazard, Terry Yaki & Jay Lucas
We need more Castle in our lives. There’s just no other way around it. This match also brought back the best name in pro wrestling as Terry Yaki made his triumphant return to Dark. Taz said he’s no relation to Whoa Sabi. It’s only fitting Castle and Yaki started things off with Castle easily grounding him.
The Boys fired off quick offense until we got an awkwardly messed up looking spot as one of the Boys tried to leapfrog the awfully tall Lucas and the less said about that the better. The other Boy was isolated until he used his speed to tag Castle, who cleaned house with throws. Castle chucked his Boys to the floor onto the opposition as Castle put away Lazard with the Bang-A-Rang for the three.
Konosuke Takeshita defeated Bronson
Bronson offered a handshake, but Takeshita has learned his lesson trusting people and ducked a strike that led to an early chop battle. He fired off a quick leg lariat and snap hurricanrana that sent Bronson outside where he wiped him out with a somersault dive.
Back inside, Takeshita rolled through a dive, but ran right into a boss man slam. Bronson didn’t stay in control for long as a Takeshita-line connected, followed by a blue thunder bomb. Bronson avoided the home run knee as both went for rolling lariats multiple times. Bronson won the battle, turning Takeshita inside out and hitting a pumphandle suplex for two. A stalling German suplex by Takeshita, helluva kick and massive power bomb set the stage for the home run pump knee for the victory.
This was a solid main event and Takeshita’s third win in that slot in as many weeks on Dark. He’s back in the win column following his loss to MJF and needs to get that huge singles win under his belt soon. He’s one of the hottest babyfaces AEW has right now and needs to not become just another guy on the roster. I’m hoping they do something with Don Callis as they started to briefly on social media. If only they would continue it on AEW TV.