There were a number of standout promos on AEW Dark Elevation last night (Sept. 27). In between a couple new matches and some behind the scenes & unaired footage (including Max Caster and Tony Khan’s rap battle with special guest star Lil Uzi Vert), mic time served to build on what for Dr. Britt Baker, MJF, Bryan Danielson & Men of the Year did on last week’s Grand Slam shows.
They’re all worth watching. MJF’s will go over well with all who dig the Long Islander’s old school heel schtick. Danielson’s is important as he vows to follow up his draw with Kenny Omega by climbing the rankings to get a World title shot.
But it’s the Scorpio Sky & Ethan Page promos that stood out to me. After they - with an assist from Dan Lambert & American Top Team - took out Inner Circle’s Chris Jericho & Jake Hager, Men of the Year were interviewed. And they let loose.
After @ScorpioSky & @OfficialEGO dismantled @IAmJericho and @RealJakeHager with the help of Jorge Masvidal (@GamebredFighter) and the rest of #DanLambert’s @AmericanTopTeam, #MenOfTheYear make it clear their path of destruction to the top of #AEW is just beginning! pic.twitter.com/pnSkViZ5f7
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) September 28, 2021
Page has long been a good promo, so his gloating about putting down a fellow Canadian didn’t surprise me. But Sky really impresses here. The hole in his game has always been on the microphone. He works well in an ensemble like SCU, but his solo interviews often feel paint-by-numbers. If he can deliver this passionately on a regular basis, AEW may have no choice than to feature him... at least at this upper mid-card level, and maybe even higher up the card.
He’s be a welcome addition to the main event scene. Most of the criticism about All Elite’s lack of diversity has focused on the lack of television time for their women’s roster. But that’s not the only issue - the big men’s angles are usually monochrome. Lucha Bros’ Tag title win was a good first step to changing that, and there are a lot of wrestlers of color like Powerhouse Hobbs, Ricky Starks & The Acclaimed that are on the verge of breaking out.
Scorpio Sky was someone AEW positioned as a future singles star when the company was founded. He’s been given some big spots, like the Jericho feud his promo here calls back to. But they haven’t amounted to much in the long run.
If he starts delivering promos like this on a regular basis, though? To quote one of his bosses, he’ll go from undesirable to undeniable.
Tony Khan can kickstart that effort by making sure a whole lot of people see this video.