‘AEW: Rampage’ Review (Nov 4th 2022)
It’s Monday, so you know what that means, it’s time for this week’s review of AEW: Rampage! This week’s show was broadcast from the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey and featured Excalibur, Tony Schiavone and Jim Ross on commentary with MIKE TYSON(!) as a guest commentator too! Now let’s get to the review…
Match #1: All-Atlantic Championship Match – Orange Cassidy def. Katsuyori Shibata
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Orange Cassidy was accompanied by the Best Friends and Danhausen. Shibata grabbed a headlock on Cassidy while Cassidy had his hands in his pockets. Cassidy ducked a kick from Shibata. Cassidy took flight with a tope suicida on Shibata! Shibata whipped Orange into the steel guardrails. Shibata and Orange traded forearms outside the ring. Orange Cassidy landed a diving DDT and then a running dropkick to Shibata in the corner! Shibata rallied back, mocking Orange with Orange-style kicks. Shibata blasted Orange with an open-handed shot and then a barrage of elbows. Shibata smashed Orange with his signature dropkick in the corner. Cassidy kicked Shibata but Shibata didn’t even flinch. Shibata dropped Cassidy with a big leaping forearm strike! Shibata applied the flying octopus stretch to Orange but Orange got his foot on the bottom rope. Orange retaliated with the Stundog Millionaire! Shibata planted Orange with a Death Valley Driver! Orange fought back with the Beach Break for a near fall! Orange hit Shibata with the Orange Punch but Shibata didn’t budge! Orange landed a second Orange Punch and pinned Shibata!
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #2: Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D. & Jamie Hayter def. Madison Rayne & Skye Blue
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Skye Blue hit a crossbody press on Hayter for a near fall. Skye landed a thrust kick on Hayter. Britt tagged in but ate a roundhouse kick from Skye. Madison tagged in and used a neck breaker on Britt Baker! Madison caught Baker in a cutter! Hayter ran in and nailed Madison with a backbreaker. Baker nailed Madison with a swinging neck breaker. Britt and Hayter hit double thrust kicks on Madison and Skye. Hayter mauled Madison with a ripcord lariat and pinned her!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #3: WarJoe (Samoa Joe & Wardlow) def. The Gates of Agony (Kaun & Toa Liona)
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Wardlow bull rushed Kaun into the corner! Wardlow grounded and pounded Kaun after mounting him. Samoa Joe tagged in and then Toa Liona tagged in. Toa backed up Joe into the corner. Joe fired in shots at Liona! Toa battered Joe’s ribs with knee strikes. Joe made the tag to Wardlow and Wardlow tossed Kaun back with a suplex/ Wardlow spiked Kaun and then smashed him with a lariat. Prince Nana jumped on the apron but Wardlow hammered him. Kaun got rocked by a headbutt from Wardlow. Wardlow powerbombed Kaun! Wardlow pinned Kaun after a quarter of powerbombs!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Final Verdict: 4/5
Despite the lacklustre main event (why was this so disappointing?) this episode still scores highly – mainly due to that tremendous opening match (truly remarkable!) and a great women’s match. PLUS, turns out Mike Tyson was great on commentary (who knew?!). There was a tease of issues between WarJoe – already – but I hope that’s not the case as we’ve literally just had something similar with Daniel Garcia and Jericho etc. AND they’ve been doing the same with Baker and Hayter… Time for a new concept for splitting teams IMHO. This was easily the best Rampage in a while…
