AEW Dark recap (Oct. 26, 2021): Bryan Danielson vs. Aaron Solo!

Episode 114 of AEW Dark is in the books! If you missed the live broadcast click here for the Cageside Seats stream. Let’s talk about what went down on YouTube. Your commentary team for this edition was Excalibur and Taz.

Bobby Fish vs. Invictus Khash

Fish brought a record of 2-2 since recently debuting in AEW. The good news for him was that his opponent Khash brought a record of 0-2 to the match. Fish gave him a knee to the gut and ate an uppercut right back. Fish put him down with a pump kick and was admonished by the ref for throwing strikes back in the corner. Fish moved him back to the center for a diving lariat and a near fall. Khash nailed him with a forearm but went down again to a knee strike, then Fish gave him an exploder into the ropes before a roundhouse kick finished Khash off, improving to 3-2 ahead of his match with CM Punk on Dynamite.

Fish had a post-match interview. “Mr. Schiavone, you said it! Coming up on Dynamite I’ve got CM Punk, ‘The Best in the World’ — allegedly. So we’re going to find out on Dynamite just how good you really are CM Punk, because in about 24 hours... Tony, you know it, I know it and most importantly he knows it... it’s clobbering time.”

Riho vs. Xtina Kay

Riho brought a 2021 singles record of 5-2 as the former AEW women’s champion. Xtina Kay is 0-1 so far in singles action, but also lost in tag team action on Elevation last night. Riho grounded Kay, twisted the legs, and worked them over repeatedly. Kay responded by picking her up and throwing her around like a rag doll then applying a chin lock and screaming “Give up!” Riho got back to her feet and took Kay off hers with a dropkick before climbing the ropes. Kay caught her crossbody, Riho escaped and hit a flying knee in the corner, then went to the top rope for a crossbody and a near fall. Kay tried a suplex and Riho hit a snap suplex counter, went top rope again, missed with the double foot stomp. Kay hit a spinebuster but Riho got the knees up on a standing moonsault. Riho finished her moments later with the somato (double knee strike).

TNT champion Sammy Guevara came to the ring in Orlando, but a match wasn’t what he had in mind. “Orlando how we doin’? Look I’m excited for tonight’s matches so I’m going to get straight to the point. Tomorrow night Ethan Page vs. Sammy Guevara for the TNT Championship. You politicked, you bitched, and you got the match. You grinded on the independents and you finally got the match, but what’s going to happen in the biggest match of your career when you fail, like you have at everything else at life? Are you going to bitch and complain? Because all that bitching won’t get you the TNT Title. I’ve bleed sweat and tears for 11 years. I hope you’re ready to kill me because that’s what it will take.”

Ethan Page interrupted: “You hope I’m ready to kill? I’ve thrown people down stairs! I know these people love seeing you as the face of TNT don’t you? You guys love Sammy Guevara right? You’re relatable, these people relate to you. You’re a basic ass civilian like everything in this building except me. Buddy, look at me, I’ve got the best smile in wrestling, the tightest tits in the game. I own this room and nobody in here will ever amount to anything. Listen up Sammy, this network is finally going to get a champion they deserve. I’m going to take us places they never though possible especially with you as champion. So tomorrow night Ethan Page becomes TNT Champion, and I’m going to make sure of it tonight.” Scorpion Sky jumped Guevara from tonight and they then did a Jim Ross impression as Guevara stomped on him and did some ground and pound. They got some good color on Guevara before Santana and Ortiz ran down to make the save.

Eddie Kingston vs. Jack Evans

Jack Evans and his newly shaved head back flipped their way to the ring with a singles record of 18-42 in AEW. Kingston brought a record of 27-7 from Yonkers, New York straight to the AEW ring in Orlando. Taz: “The guy with the shaved head is going to win. Either way I’ll be right.” Evans hit a standing corkscrew moonsault for a near fall as the crowd cheered Kingston on. Evans went top rope and was caught for a suplex right onto his head. Evans ate a series of chops as he came charging in and a DDT for 2.9. Kingston sold his right shoulder as Evans kicked out. Evans with a leg lariat and a Michinoku Driver for two. Kingston with a backfist, a back drop driver, and a stretch muffler for the submission. He’s got some momentum heading into a match with Danielson on Rampage this Friday!

Dante Martin (w/ Lio Rush) vs. JDX

Dante Martin brought a singles record of 17-7 and his new mentor Lio Rush to the ring. JDX brought a singles record of 0-2. Excalibur made sure to remind us that Martin and Rush would face Matt & Mike Sydal on Rampage this Friday. Martin dead a leapfrog over JDX and knocked him woozy with a dropkick. JDX hit an enzuigiri and a back heel trip for a one count. Martin hit a dive over the ropes when JDX spilled out. JDX hit a flatliner when they got back in for a two count. Martin hit him with the double jump moonsault for the pin. The most squash-a-licious match of Dark to this point in the show, and it was followed by another in ring interview for his new partner with Tony Schiavone.

Lio Rush: “Yeah Tony! What a match that is gonna be! My man Dante Martin is gonna prove that he is one of the best wrestlers in the game today. I think it’s almost about that time that the Sydal name needs to go away. Sydal hasn’t done what I can do for Dante Martin’s career. He hasn’t done it and he never will.”

They exchanged a fist bump and the show rolled on to yet another interview segment — this time with Adam Cole (bay bay). Schiavone: “Regardless of personal feelings, throwing Jungle Boy off the stage, you’re smirking it seems like you enjoy things like this.” Cole: “First of all, I’m going to be the one who holds this microphone. If you looked closely you heard me say ‘wake up’ and that wasn’t just because I knocked his ass out. Jungle Boy, Christian Cage, Luchasaurus, they’re in denial. Guys like me, guys like Kenny Omega, guys like the Young Bucks, we’re the building blocks of this place. The fact nobody in the locker room recognizes that shows how stupid they are. If you think what we did to Jungle Boy was bad, you ain’t seen nothing yet.” Cole dropped the mic and made his departure.

Backstage “Smart” Mark Sterling was with Jade Cargill. He explained that Cargill deserves a bye in the TBS Women’s Title tournament because she’s undefeated, especially given she’s already ranked in the top five of the women’s division. “New title, new network, new face of professional wrestling.” Cargill: “Just give me the damn title already. You know I’m that bitch and this is That Bitch(‘s) Show.”

Tiger Ruas vs. DJ Brown

Ruas brought a singles record of 1-0 to the ring, where his opponent DJ Brown was waiting to make his AEW debut. Ruas knocked him out with one kick and this was over in seconds!

Schiavone filled the rest of the time with an interview. Ruas: “I’m not here for no reason. I’ve been in competition for my whole life and with all respect this gentleman didn’t have enough technique to offer. We have the All Elite wrestlers and the All Elite fighters in the world. Mr. Tony, please give me more competition, somebody with more technique, because you know my technique is everything.”

Diamante vs. Skyler Moore

Diamante brought a record of 12-8 and a chip on her shoulder after losing a tag team match last night. Moore brought a record of 0-2 and was already waiting for her in the ring. Diamante took her down with a running uppercut and a pair of clotheslines. She hit the standing sliced bread and applied a nerve hold and body scissor as Moore screamed out a verbal submission. Just as much of a squash as the last albeit not quite as fast.

Time for another interview! Tony Schiavone was backstage with “The Premiere Athlete” Tony Nese. Nese: “I heard that AEW is the hottest wrestling company right now. What better place for The Premiere Athlete? What more perfect place to sign to? Half of the roster doesn’t even belong in the ring with me (though). Next week I’m picking off names one by one and I’m starting with Fuego Del Sol. I’m going to prove you don’t belong in the ring with The Premiere Athlete.”

Shayne Stetson vs. Preston “10” Vance (w/ -1 & The Dark Order)

Vance brought a singles record of 30-4 to this contest. Stetson was waiting for him in the ring with an AEW record of 0-1 to date. You know where this is going. He had the Full Nelson on in under a minute. -1 jumped in the ring to kick Stetson’s limp body to the floor, and Vance put -1 on his shoulders to celebrate.

Too Fast Too Fuego vs. Kid Bandit & Dean Alexander

This was the debut of Too Fast Too Fuego as a team. For those who aren’t in on the joke, Fuego Numero Dos has a tattoo of the word “Dream” on his chest, which is something Excalibur made sure to note. I don’t think I need to explain any more than that. Their opponents were “making their AEW debut” so the result was as obvious as who Numero Dos is. Kid Bandit had a head of hair like Tekashi 6ix9ine’s mouth. If you want wrestlers who would stand out in an airport, Bandit certainly does. Bandit and Alexander tried their best to double team Dos and cut the ring in half. Alexander hit a dropkick and a lateral press for two before tagging Bandit back in. Dos power bombed Bandit and rolled through to take the original Fuego. He speared Alexander in the corner, did a springboard off the ropes, kicked Alexander in the head, but Bandit broke up the pin. Alexander hit a tombstone but Dos made the save. Bandit and Dos went to the outside, while Fuego hit a tornado DDT on the inside to pick up the win for his team! Maybe Dos should keep the mask on for a while.

Bryan Danielson vs. Aaron Solo (w/ The Factory)

Solo brought a singles record of 12-19 to the ring for the AEW Dark main event, along with QT Marshall and Nick Comoroto as backup. Danielson brought a record of 4-0-1 to the ring and made sure to high five as many fans as possible on his way down to the squared circle. Marshall was still sporting a black eye following his match with Preston Vance last night. Danielson wasted no time grounding Solo and working over his left arm and wrist. Solo got to his feet and shot Danielson off, and the Dragon took him down with a hard shoulder tackle. Solo rolled out to regroup and get some advice from Marshall. Danielson put a hand up for a test of strength, and Solo responded with a boot to the gut, but Danielson didn’t break the grip. In fact he rolled through and hit a back bridge suplex all while maintaining the hold. Solo kicked out three times until Danielson went for a cross arm breaker. Danielson tried to stack him up in return and got a two count. Danielson worked the shoulder and stomped on the tricept when he let go. Solo and Danielson traded chops. Danielson got a boot up on a charge, but Solo swept the legs when Danielson was on the ropes. The crowd chanted “solo sucks” as he hit a drop kick and got a near fall. Marshall choked Danielson with the ropes while Solo had referee Bryce Remsburg distracted. “What a black eye, so to speak” quipped Excalibur.

Danielson fought back to his feet and threw a few uppercuts. Solo whipped him into the corner but was caught as he came in to follow up. Danielson tried to catapult Solo, but he landed on the ropes and came off with a stomp for a near fall. Marshall threw a right hand from the outside while Remsburg was distracted AGAIN and the crowd in Orlando was getting quite heated. Danielson took down Solo with a running elbow and the crowd got to their feet chanting “Yes! Yes! Yes!” Danielson took him up the ropes and brought him down with a huricanrana, and the end seemed to be near. Danielson unloaded with kicks to the chest and a roundhouse kick to the head. Marshall distracted the ref, Comoroto grabbed the leg, and Solo hit a corkscrew kick for 2.9! Solo tried to whip Danielson to the corner and failed as Danielson hit a suicide dive onto Marshall. Solo went for a facebuster but Danielson countered into the LeBell Lock for the sudden violent submission win! A great main event.

What to watch/skip

This week’s “what to watch/skip” is brought to you by “Born for Greatness.” When the American Dragon is headlining AEW Dark, who needs an obscure pop culture reference anyway? If you want this show once, watch it for Bryan Danielson. If you watch it twice, watch it for Bryan Danielson and Kingston vs. Evans, setting up the match between The Mad King and the American Dragon on Friday. This was as packed an episode of Dark as we’ve had in a while and it was a very hard sell for AEW’s programming on TNT this week, and frankly I’m fine with that. Preemption has been hurting Dynamite when it airs on Saturdays, and Rampage could certainly use a boost on Fridays as well. I’d skip the Tiger Ruas, Diamante and Preston Vance squashes if you need to save time, but they were so fast you really wouldn’t be saving that much anyway.

Cageside commentary crew! Let us know what you thought of the show by leaving your feedback in the comments section below. See you next Monday night for Elevation!