AEW Dark Episode 180- 1/24/2023 Women's Matches

 By Mark Rodriguez

This episode has Madison Rayne getting some in-ring action, and surprisingly, even Britt Baker DMD gets a match. This match in particular ended up affecting an upcoming match on AEW Dynamite.

Match 1- Britt Baker vs Billie Starkz

Both women grapple and Britt gets Billie in a headlock takedown and attempts a pin. Billie is able to escape. Britt goes for a second pin attempt that Billie kicks out of. The DMD then goes for a lateral press and another pin, but she still can't keep her down. 

Billie grabs Britt and flips her upside down, but before she can do anything, Britt takes her down for another pin. This time Billie reverses for a pin of her own and Britt barely kicks out in time. Billie reaches out for a handshake and Britt agrees to it. As Britt pulls away, Billie doesn't let go and pulls her back in. Britt socks her with a forearm strike.

Britt grabs her and hits her several times and then knocks her down with a running slingblade. She goes for the pin but Billie kicks out. Britt starts choking Billie up against the ropes and then plants her boot against her throat. Rebel chokes Billie while Britt keeps the ref distracted. Britt hits Billie with a couple of forearm shots and then whips her across the ring. As Billie comes back, Britt knocks her down and goes for another pin. Billie is able to kick out.

Britt takes a swing at Billie, but she ducks it. Britt is still able to grab her and hairwhip her to the mat. Britt gets her in a painful hold as she wrenches Billie's jaw open. Billie gets to her feet and starts hitting Britt with forearm shots and chops until the DMD pushes her back.

Both women run towards each other and Britt slams Billie with the neckbreaker. Britt runs towards Billie, who keeps the DMD at back with a back elbow to the face. Britt runs at her again and Billie kicks her in the face. Billie hits Britt with an enzuigiri off the ropes and then gets her in a suplex bridging into a pin. The DMD kicks out.

Billie drags Britt closer to the ropes and goes up top. As Billie leaps off with a flying swanton, Rebel pushes Britt out of the way and takes the hit for her. While Billie is distracted, Britt hits her with a thrust kick and takes her down for a cover. Billie still kicks out. Britt grabs Billie, but her opponent grabs her instead for another bridge suplex. Britt still escapes the pinfall.

As Britt gets up, she is now bleeding from her nose. Billie grabs her and slams her face into the top turnbuckle. Billie gets Britt up on her shoulders and Britt wipes her blood off on her forehead. This distracted Billie long enough for Britt to get off of her and hit her in the face. Britt grabs Billie with the Butterfly Edge and goes for the pin, but she can't keep her down.

Britt runs in for the Curb Stomp but Billie moves out of the way. She then grabs the DMD and spikes her with a Tombstone Piledriver. She goes for the pin for Britt surprisingly kicks out. Rebel tries to distract Billie as she grabs onto Britt and starts kicking her in the chest. Britt grabs Billie's leg, spins her around and clocks her in the face. Britt grabs Billie in a Canadian Destroyer and then mashes her into the mat with the Curb Stomp. Britt goes for the pin and wins the match. Rebel runs in to celebrate her win with her.

Britt is set to be in a three-way match against Toni Storm and Ruby Soho on Dynamite.

Match 2- Brittany J vs Harley Cameron

Brittany runs in and Harley slams her with a headlock takedown. Harley starts boasting as the crowd boos her and Brittany grabs her in a roll up pin. Harley escapes this as well as a second pin attempt. Britanny throws back Harley's own insults and gets the crowd to chant 'she's a loser' while she gets her in a headlock. Harley shoves her opponent up against the ropes and starts attacking her. She then runs across the ring with her and hits her face into the top turnbuckle. With Brittany up against the ropes, Harley starts throwing kicks at her.

Harley bounces Brittany against the ropes, then picks her up and slams her. She goes for a cover but her opponent kicks out. Harley keeps taunting Brittany and whips her up against the ring post. Harley runs towards her but Brittany kicks her in the face, knocking her down to the mat. Harley runs towards Brittany, who knocks her down with a dropkick.

Brittany goes for the ropes but Harley gets out of the way as she leaps off. Brittany misses the mark but rolls safely back to her feet. Harley knocks her down with a lariat. She then grabs her and slams her with a Backstabber and goes for the pin. Harley Cameron wins the match.

Match 3- Kaci Lennox vs Madison Rayne

Both women come in for a grapple as Kaci pushes Madison up against the ropes. Kaci goes in with a swing but Madison gets out of the way. Madison hits her with a few forearm shots. She whips Kaci across the ring but ends being whipped towards the ropes herself. Kaci runs towards her and stops before Madison can hit her with her boot. Kaci catches her boot but Madison kicks her with her other leg. Madison runs at her but Kaci grabs her and picks her up in a fireman's carry. She slams her down and goes for the pin but Madison is able to kick out.

Kaci picks up Madison again, but the Queen Bee is able to escape her grasp. Madison dodges Kaci's kick and lands a kick of her own to the midsection. Madison runs in with a kick to the side of the head. With Kaci rocked, Madison grabs her and slams her face-first into the mat. She goes for the pin and wins the match.

My Opinions- 

It was surprising to see Britt on Dark, but she put out a decent match against Billie Starks. Poor Rebel having to run in and take the hit for Britt though. There were some cool moves here and there and Billie pulled off a perfect Tombstone Piledriver. I also liked the drawn out handshake between the two and how Billie kept smiling in Britt's face even while she was trying to intimidate her.

The Brittany VS Harley match was something different, and if Harley didn't come in with her theme music while Brittany was already in the ring, it would have been harder to guess who'd win. Brittany definitely had the crowd behind her, so here's hoping we see more of her and she can pull off a win.

It was cool to see Madison back in the ring, though I was surprised the match was so short. This is the type where you can miss it while going to grab a drink. 

Back to Britt, we see that she busted her nose up after one of Billie's suplex bridge attempts. This would eventually lead to the 3-way match between Britt, Ruby and Toni now becoming a regular one on one match between Ruby and Toni. 

It was a cool match between the two, as Toni Storm was now acting more like a heel. Toni pretty much had the win until Britt Baker's theme started playing. As the DMD headed down the ring, Ruby grabbed Toni with her Destination Unknown slam and won the match. This left Ruby very confused as she pretty much owes her win to Britt Baker, someone she's not exactly on good terms with. We'll see how Britt's feud with Saraya and all the parties involved continue to heat up.