AEW Dark Elevation recap (Aug. 2, 2021): Darby takes a trip to Bear Country

Episode 21 of AEW Dark: Elevation is in the books! If you missed the live broadcast click here for the Cageside Seats stream. Let’s talk about what went down.

Elevation may have the most predictable results of any program, and I don’t consider that a bad thing. Wrestlers who are moving up the rankings stack up wins here when there’s not enough time to do it on the regular editions of Dark or Dynamite. It’s also one of the easiest shows to watch. This particular edition of the show only took 48 minutes bell to bell.

Paul Wight, Tony Schiavone and Eddie Kingston were your commentary team this week. After Kingston stepped on everyone’s toes and Wight showed off an embarrassing shirt he had to wear for losing a bet (“Waxxed and Vaxxed”), the action moved down to the ring.

Red Velvet vs. Angelica Risk

Angelica Risk was twerking to get heat for mocking Red Velvet. I think that would have the opposite effect on some of the hornier members of the crowd. Moments later Red Velvet planted her with the Final Slice for three. This was a bit sloppy and the best move of the match was Velvet hitting double knees to the back of Risk’s head. You should skip this.

“Big Shotty” Lee Johnson (w/ Dustin Rhodes) vs. Marcus Kross

“Potential doesn’t pay the bills. You gotta get those W’s.” The wise words of Eddie Kingston. Kross had the most ridiculous haircut I’ve seen in professional wrestling in a long time. It’s like he tried to cross a mohawk with a mullet and ended up with a feather headdress. Johnson made quick work of him and was interrupted by Miro just to remind us they’ll be competing on Wednesday night for his TNT Title.

Kris Statlander cut a promo explaining why she’s the best woman in AEW and why the Best Friends are “a mess of quirks that just works.” David Crockett joined the commentary booth.

Ashley D’Amboise vs. Kris Statlander (w/ Best Friends)

Watching Statlander do cartwheels all around the ring while her confused opponent stood there was fun. This was followed up by a face plant, a dead lift German, and the Big Bang Theory to end the match. It went exactly as long as it needed to. This was the second best match of the night just because of Statlander’s antics and impressive athleticism.

Aaron Solo & Nick Comoroto vs. Rosario Grillo & Hunter Knott

The announce booth got a little too crowded at this point as QT Marshall joined the proceedings. Comoroto looked like a modern day Bruiser Brody and everyone calling this was obsessed with his size and power. He stacked everyone like cord wood and Solo came off the ropes for a double stomp to get the pin. I like a squash but this was almost overkill. Book Comoroto and Solo in a more competitive bout.

Dani Jordyn vs. “Magical Girl” Yuka Sakazaki

Sakazaki picked up the win with an airplane spin, which was fine albeit somewhat anticlimactic. As much as I like Sakazaki something seemed to be off here. I think she was trying to give Jordyn some offense to make her look good, but Jordyn didn’t capitalize on what she was given enough to look credible, which by extension led to Sakazaki’s short diving clotheslines not looking very crisp. I’d still recommend this one though.

Bear Bronson (w/ Bear Boulder) vs. Darby Allin (w/ Sting)

Is it a little cliche that Bear Bronson did a bear hug spot to get heat? Allin had the crowd all the way behind him for this one, popping for every near fall that he got. Sting pumped up the crowd further by slapping the mat after Bronson turned Allin inside out with a lariat. Bronson rammed Allin into the turnbuckle to break up a choke, at which point Sting and Boulder had a staredown before throwing their friends back in. In the end Allin prevailed over the bigger man with a top rope coffin drop. A fine main event and the best thing on Monday’s show by leaps and bounds.

Who did you think shined the brightest on episode 21 of Elevation? What was your favorite match this week? Get up off your Cageside Seats and sound off in the comments below.