After Dark Elevation - AEW Dark Elevation recap for January 2, 2023

Hikaru Shida beats Tyra Russamee.

Before the next match, "Smart" Mark Sterling brags about The Varsity Athletes ("The Premier Athletes" Tony Nese and "The Technical Beast" Josh Woods) testing their strength and conditioning in the high altitudes of tonight's video while bashing the fans for not being able to go up a flight of stairs without losing their breath. He then says that he asked for "the biggest and baddest athletes Colorado had to offer," and says that there must be some sort of mix-up before stating that they will wrap this up so they can leave Colorado and "breathe some real air."

The Varsity Athletes ("The Premier Athletes" Tony Nese and "The Technical Beast" Josh Woods) beat The Pillars of Destiny (Hunter Grey and Paul Titan).

Isiah Kassidy and Matt Hardy beat Manny Lemons and Atiba. (Manny Lemons will also appear on WWE Raw later that night, making him the sixth wrestler to appear on both shows on the same night.)

"The Problem" Marina Shafir beats Lilith Grimm by submission.

Backstage, Lexy Nair interviews Isiah Kassidy and Matt Hardy. Isiah Kassidy says it felt "orgasmic" to win, and Matt Hardy says that he and Kassidy worked together like a well-oiled machine. He says that he and Kassidy are coming for everything, then "All Ego" Ethan Cassidy shows up and chews them out for going through the wrong entrance tunnel and "not following the hierarchy." Matt Hardy appeases to Ethan Page and says that this will not happen again, then tells him that he and Isiah have a good thing going. Ethan Page is impressed and says he did not expect this, then says he feels like a jerk now, then allows them to take the spotlight and finish the interview. Ethan Page leaves, and when Isiah questions Matt, Matt winks at him.

Angelico guests on commentary for the next match.

Athena beats Gypsy Mac by submission, then slams her face first into the Ring of Honor Women's World Championship belt on the outside after the match.

The Dark Order (Evil Uno, John Silver, Alex Reynolds) beat "The Hollywood Hunk" Ryan Nemeth and Chaos Project (Luther and Serpentico) in a trios match.

Julia Hart beats Leva Bates with Hartless.

Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal beat Justin Andrews and Ryzin. After the match, Satnam Singh choke slams Ryzin.

The House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King, Buddy Matthews) beat Hagane Shinno, Rosario Grillo, and Dean Alexander in a trios match.