name='verify_a78772d791e94fc7f9666f0dd14249cc'/> AEW Dark recap & reactions: Omega finds his vicious streak

AEW Dark recap & reactions: Omega finds his vicious streak

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Episode 8 of AEW Dark from Indianapolis, Indiana featured a surprising finish to Trent versus Pentagon, Shanna and Big Swole stealing the show with promos, an Awesome Kong squash, and Kenny Omega getting vicious in his AAA Megacampeonato defense against Jack Evans.

Here’s the lineup with ratings (watch, okay, pass) on which matches are worth your time:

  • Trent vs Pentagon (okay)
  • Promos from Shanna and Big Swole (watch)
  • Big Swole vs Shanna (okay)
  • Awesome Kong vs Leva Bates (pass, squash)
  • AAA Megacampeonato: Kenny Omega vs Jack Evans (pass, showcase for Omega)

Watch the show here.

Tony Schiavone welcomed us. Dasha Gonzalez will return next week. Excalibur and Shawn Spears were on commentary.

Trent vs Pentagon

Orange Cassidy came out during Trent’s entrance to fluff him then share a thumbs up.

That was all.

Highlights include Pentagon working the crowd with Cero Miedo chants, Trent with a Northern Lights suplex to Pentagon off the ropes, a tope con hilo by Trent, a corner running swinging DDT by Trent, and Pentagon bouncing off the ropes for a Mexican Destroyer.

For the finish, Pentagon crushed Trent with a package piledriver on the apron ledge. Pentagon rolled Trent into the ring for an armbreaker. Pentagon was setting up another package piledriver, but Trent countered into a back-to-belly piledriver. Trent earned the upset victory.

Shanna profile. When she first started wrestling, it was 8 hours per day, every day for a month. Shanna would become the first Portuguese wrestler as champ in Japan. In 2018, she hit a downward spiral and was ready to quit wrestling. She tried out may times for ‘the other company’. She was told they were going to sign her, but it never happened. (Name bleep) from TNA told her TV adds ten pounds and made her look too fat compared to the other girls. That led to depression, eating disorders, and personal conflict. Shanna planned to retire in October, but then Kenny Omega called to tell her she was signed to AEW. Now, nobody can take away everything she’s worked so hard for.

Alex Marvez interviewed Big Swole. Swole watched Shanna’s video but was not impressed. Everyone has a story about fighting to be here. Swole conquered Crohn’s disease. It is about what you do now that you are here in AEW. Big Swole has a big personality and a swole mentality. Shanna isn’t ready for Swole’s greatness.

Big Swole vs Shanna

Highlights include finger dancing for a taste of Swole test of strength, a flipping neckbreaker by Shanna, a hanging guillotine submission by Big Swole, Swole doing the splits then boogying on the feet, and a flying crossbody by Shanna. In the end, Shanna ducked a discus elbow strike to attack with a bridging dragon suplex to win.

Awesome Kong vs Leva Bates

Shhhhhh. Peter Avalon accompanied Leva Bates to the ring. Avalon’s trash talk to the crowd was interrupted by Awesome Kong’s entrance. “8 millions ways to die, she’s one.” Brandi Rhodes appeared from behind the awesome Kong, who was billed from Tokyo, Japan.

Bates was reading a Justin Roberts book in the corner during Kong’s arrival. She approached Kong to reason with her book. Bates snapped it on Kong’s nose then attacked. Kong was not fazed. Mongolian chop, spinning back fist, double underhook delayed front slam. Avalon hopped up on the apron but backed away as Kong gave the evil eye while pinning Bates.

Avalon tried to save Bates from a haircut, but Kong smashed him. Kong proceeded to add Bates’ blue hair to her collection. Shawn Spears advised that all the ladies should cut their hair short to be safe from Kong.

AAA Megacampeonato: Kenny Omega vs Jack Evans

AEW treated this like a proper title fight. Kenny Omega’s AAA Megacampeonato was on the line. He had swagger during his introduction.

Top highlight was Jack Evans breakdancing out of a head crusher.

Other early highlights include a Bane backbreaker by Omega, Evans standing on Omega’s chest for a moonsault, and Omega teep kicking Evans off his feet into the corner after being spit on.

The story of this bout was Omega tapping into a vicious streak to pummel Evans. Omega focused his attacks on Evans’ back to slow down the high-flyer. Omega emptied his arsenal of maneuvers, but there was no quit in Evans. He often kicked out when doom appeared near. In the end, Omega got his knees up on a 450 splash from Evans. V-Trigger, Tiger Driver ‘98, another V-Trigger, and the One Winged Angel finally put Evans away as Omega retained.

The main event AAA Megacampeonato match for AEW Dark episode 8 was a little disappointing for what I was hoping to see, but it was also good storytelling for Kenny Omega’s path. I would have much preferred Jack Evans going move for move, however, it was more important to show Omega finding his vicious streak to pummel a man that would not quit. Omega slaughtered Evans in the final stanza of the bout. It set up momentum for Omega on his path to redemption.

The promos from Shanna and Big Swole stole the show. Shanna touched the heart strings with her story of undesirable to undeniable. Swole made solid points but also came across as a heel punk. Those two promos combined set the mood and gave me enough reason to care about rooting for Shanna. Swole’s style of showboating in the ring makes her an entertaining foe for future faces.

Trent beating Pentagon was (expletive) stupid. I understand AEW has their own style of video game wrestling, but this was ridiculous. Trent executed a back-to-belly piledriver immediately after Pentagon broke Trent’s arm, or whatever damage the armbreaker does in their world. Apparently, the damage isn’t too severe. Way to bury one of Pentagon’s signature maneuvers.

On the win/loss tip, I do find it interesting from a booking standpoint that Trent defeated Pentagon. Pentagon is one of the top stars and he lost clean. I wonder if Trent will get a little push up the ladder soon instead of teaming with Best Friend Chuck Taylor. That may open the door for Orange Cassidy to get more ring action as Taylor’s partner.

Thumbs up to Shawn Spears on commentary. I’ve never given two squirts about him before. Spears showed personality calling the action and cerebral knowledge on analysis. Now, I kind of like him.

Who stood out most in the ring for episode 8 of AEW Dark? Did you enjoy Kenny Omega finding his mojo? Am I making too much of the way Trent beat Pentagon?



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