Is Dark declining?

[Deleted]

I'm not talking about the actual quality of the performances put on. I mean is it like Heat and Main Event before it, where the first few weeks it was big stars but now its turning into the jobber show? I get that Kenny Omega was on this week, but it wasn't exactly a big deal dream match or anything for him to face Kip Sabian.

So do you think this is the direction they are heading, or have the last couple weeks just been "off"?

[eJm]

I mean...to call it the jobber show is harsh but Dark's intention was always to showcase the people to YouTube who weren't usually on the main show and remind you of what happened on Dynamite if you didn't watch.

Sure, you got some big names there, way more consistently then I expected, but the second episode of the show had Kip Sabien/Sonny Kiss/Peter Avalon. Episode three had Janela/Cutler.

[Dr. Bolty, Disaster Enby]

Yeah, the main purposes of Dark seem to be showcasing the talent somewhere that can be linked (Omega featured doing long matches against JTTSes), trying out new talent (Big Swole vs. Shida), and doing maintenance on win/loss records (Darby Allin and Scorpio Sky getting decisive wins after losing title matches). They have also started a few midcard angles, like Nyla vs. Shanna and Trent vs. Lucha Bros.

This week also began integrating the social media exclusive content into the show, which I felt was a good idea.

[Finish Uncle Muffin’s Story]

Dark's purpose is to build on AEW/BTE's existing YouTube audience to introduce/spotlight talent that might not always be on Dynamite. I wouldn't necessarily call it a decline, more about the show settling into a sustainable approach.

For instance, there's no world in which a match the level of Omega/Janela should be given away on YouTube. That should have been on Dynamite without question IMO. But I think you can have the likes of Sabian, Janela and others on there and then also throw in a fun match featuring some of your top guys, too. I just think it's not great to give out bigger matches on no notice.

That said, let's have this conversation in a few months, too, because there's always a possibility it could go south. I don't think AEW has enough of a track record for me to judge for sure. I hope it's more the normalization point, though.

[HMARK Center]

As long as Dasha is one of the hosts, it will remain the A show in the hearts of all people of good taste.

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

I thought this episode ended up being a good return to form where a lot of the guys got their acts more over and didn't just have matches. It definitely has fallen into the kind of show where a title won't change hands but it still does a solid job of supplementing Dynamite.

[Hypnosis]

My only complaints are the numerous recaps (which cause the show to overrun into Impact by main event time), and that there haven't been women's matches on Dark lately, even though there was some spotlight on the division this week, like with Swole's backstory.

[Deleted]

I just watch the matches and fast forward through the rest

[thirteen3]

Have they fixed their audio issues? Seriously it was quite bad for a few weeks.

Hey Cody, maybe get more than that apple eating guy to handle audio, Eh?

[Fade]

I tend to forget about ‘em TBH.

[Dave the Dave]

If it were only 30 minutes I’d love that

[The Legendary Ring Troll {BLM}]

I mean, based off the name alone, I always just assumed it was a show for the dark matches. So any angles, stars, etc, on Dark just happen to be an extra bonus since it’s literally just the dark matches.

That said, isn’t there always a main star in the last dark match of a show?

[Dub H]

2 Weeks ago we had a match that kickstared Best Friends vs Lucha Bros and of the Trent push.

The show is gonna have slower times and episodes where it is more of a "win fodder". But that is to be expected

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Nah, it's fine. Maybe a little recap happy lately but the overall structure has been fun, it's an easy watch live or otherwise

[Facetious]

It's been hit or miss for the most part.

[Mozenrath]

I wouldn't say so. I mean, we're only a few weeks removed from them doing a title shot on there. I think that it is supplementary to Dynamite, sure, but that it ought to be.