AEW Dark Episode 177- 1/3/2023 (Women's Matches)

 By Mark Rodriguez

We have two matches tonight as Emi Sakura and Kiera Hogan get some in-ring action to finish ringing in the New Year.

Match1- Emi Sakura w/ Baliyan Akki vs Jada Stone 

Jada goes in for the lock up and Emi dodges her and flicks her hair. Jada didn't take kindly to this and grabs her for a few forearm strikes to the face. As Jada poses for the crowd, Emi grabs her by the hair and knocks her down with a chop. Emi then folds Jada up, slaps her on the butt and sits on her for some tea time with Baliyan. Emi offers some to the ref, who refuses, and she then turns and kicks Jada down. Emi starts stomping and kicking Jada around. She then grabs her legs and pulls her back for a surfboard hold. Emi kicks her off and just lets her drop. 

Emi taunts her as Jada tries to get back up. Jada fires back with some shots, but Emi knocks her back own with another chop. Emi runs at her but Jada dodges it by leaning backwards. She then grabs Emi with her legs and flips her across the ring with a tijeras. With Emi down and up against the ropes, Jada hits her with a running double-knees to the face. 

Jada climbs on the top rope getting ready to do something, but Emi gets up and rakes her across the back with her nails. Emi then gets into position for the We Will Rock You chops, which knocks her down. She waits as Jada struggles back to her feet to run at her with a flying crossbody splash. Emi gets her in the delayed vertical backbreaker. Emi goes for the ropes and tells the crowd she's 'their Highness' and hits Jada with a Moonsault Press. She gets the win and celebrates by sitting on the ref's lap.

Match 2- Kaci Lennox vs Kiera Hogan

Kiera slips behind Kaci and gets her in a waist lock. Kaci hits her with a back elbow, which gets her up against the ropes. Kiera kicks Kaci back, and when Kaci runs at her, she gets out of the way. Kiera then runs in and knocks Kaci back with a dropkick. Kiera hits her with a running hip attack, and then circles the ring to come back with a sliding dropkick. 

Kiera comes in with a kick that Kaci ducks. Kaci goes for a swing but Kiera avoids it and grabs her for a German Suplex. Kiera gets the pin and wins the match. She runs off to greet the fans and even sign an autograph.

Dude, that is super awesome!

My Thoughts- 

Oh my god, did they do Kaci Lennox dirty. They honestly had her lose to a simple German Suplex? I sometimes do wonder about these super short matches. I wonder why they even bother. Even in squash matches, the winner still uses their finisher. At least have Kiera do the Legdrop or something. I do feel Kaci can do so much better, and appearance-wise she looks like someone that should have given Kiera a run for her money. 

Kiera had another match on Dynamite, a tag match with Skye Blue as they faced Jade Cargill and Red Velvet. They didn't get the win and Jade did get the pin on Kiera. However, Jade and Red Velvet have had their own friction as of late. Near the end of the match Red Velvet walked out, leaving Jade to fight alone. At this rate, Jade won't have any baddies left.

The Emi Sakura match was fun as always. I never get tired of her antics and she hasn't used the surfboard move in a while. Plus after so many times either missing, or having the opponent put their knees up, it was satisfying to finally see Emi nail the Moonsault and get the win that way.