AEW Dark was All Elite Wrestling’s farm system for five years before the show was ultimately “replaced” on the AEW schedule. Unlike Dynamite and Rampage, which air on television, Dark used to stream exclusively on the promotion’s YouTube channel.
During the course of its existence, Dark saw many great matches that (obviously) got overlooked because of Dynamite and Rampage. The year 2022 alone saw Dark deliver quality wrestling featuring many independent wrestlers and several homegrown talents.
With that being said, let’s take a look at the five best AEW Dark matches of 2022.
Fuego del Sol vs. Powerhouse Hobbs (March 3, 2022)
Powerhouse Hobbs is arguably one of the most underappreciated men on the AEW roster. The former TNT Champion has been part of some amazing matches in AEW’s brief history. He also had a squash match against Fuego del Sol on AEW Dark.
The match wasn’t a technical masterclass per say nor did it feature multiple aerial spots. It did, however, serve to showcase Hobbs’ character as that of an unstoppable monster with no regard for his opponent.
Lee Moriarty vs. Leon Ruffin (AEW Dark – July 7, 2022)
Leon Ruffin didn’t get to prove himself much in WWE, aside from when managed to pull off a surprise win against Johnny Gargano for the NXT North American Championship. In AEW, the 27-year-old squared off against an established name in Lee Moriarty.
This Dark match turned out to be one of the best on AEW’s YouTube show in 2022. Both men showcased the importance of the basics with their solid application of the headlock. The match only got better from there.
Eddie Kingston vs. Joey Janela (January 8, 2022)
Eddie Kingston worked multiple Dark tapings in 2022, where one of his matches came against Joey Janela. This was a solid match from start to finish, with both competitors working hard to keep each other at arm’s length.
Kingston used his striking to dish great punishment on Janela. The Bad Boy used his cunning mind to target the leg of Kingston, who sold the offense incredibly well. The match also featured a fake dive spot that led to an interference from Rossi.
Penta El Zero Miedo vs. Wheeler Yuta (AEW Dark #127)
This match was taped on January 21, 2022, and streamed on YouTube four days later. The bout saw Lucha Bros’ Penta El Zero Miedo square off against Wheeler Yuta, who was associated with Best Friends at the time.
Both competitors brought their unique strikes and submission move set to the ring. Penta relied on his flamboyant and flashy style to take on the technical craftsman in Yuta, who’d go on to join the Blackpool Combat Club several months into this match.
Brock Anderson vs. Daniel Garcia (November 15, 2022)
Daniel Garcia’s ROH Pure Champion run is probably the highlight of his AEW career thus far. From his hard-hitting contests with Wheeler Yuta to career-defining performances against Bryan Danielson, Garcia had the fans believe he was the best technical wrestler on the roster on any given day.
His match against the relatively inexperienced Brock Anderson is another great example of in-ring acumen. The Dark match was contested under Pure Rules and saw the two opponents put on a clinic. The match also highlighted an often overlooked aspect of Garcia’s career; his ability to carry inexperienced opponents during matches.
