‘AEW: Rampage’ Review (Dec 30th 2022)
It’s Monday so you know what that means, it’s time for our weekly review of AEW: Rampage! This week’s show was broadcast from the 1stBank Center in Broomfield, Colorado and featured Excalibur, Tony Schiavone and Paul Wight on commentary. Now let’s get to the review…
Match #1: All-Atlantic Championship Match – Orange Cassidy def. Trent Beretta
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Orange used arm drags to take Trent down. Trent fired back with a hip toss to Orange, sending Orange spilling outside the ring. Orange got back into the ring and shoved Trent to the arena floor. Trent attempted a tope suicida but Orange moved. Chuck Taylor was there to help absorb Trent’s dive, helping his best friend. Chuck and Trent brawled outside the ring, with Trent whipping Orange into the barricade. Trent attempted a spear but Orange evaded it, sending Trent crashing hard. Orange came back with a dropkick to Trent. Trent used a delayed superplex to bring Orange Cassidy back into the ring. Orange and Trent traded strikes in the center of the ring. Orange blasted Trent with a thrust kick. Trent got to his feet and rocked Orange with a lariat and then a half-and-half. Orange rallied back with a Michinoku Driver for a near fall! Trent flew into Orange in the corner with a back elbow. Orange shifted gears with a DDT and then a diving DDT on Trent for a two-count! Orange attempted the Orange Punch but Trent intercepted it. Trent nailed Orange with the twisting tombstone piledriver for a near fall. Trent spiked Orange with a piledriver for a two-count. Penelope Ford walked down the ramp to ringside. She jumped on the ring apron. Trent turned to confront Penelope, which gave Orange enough time to drop Trent with the Beach Break for a near fall. Orange capped it off with the Orange Punch and then pinned Trent!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: Kip Sabian def. Atiba
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Kip headbutted Atiba in the chest. Sabian swept out Atiba’s legs and then delivered a big cannonball strike. Kip followed up with diving foot stomps, right on target. Penelope Ford tossed Orange Cassidy’s elbow pad to Kip, who then tossed it down, mocking Cassidy. Kip clocked Atiba with the Orange Punch and then pinned Atiba!
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #3: TBS Championship Match – Jade Cargill def. Kiera Hogan
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Jade booted Kiera in the midsection. Jade shut down Kiera with a back elbow. Cargill chokeslammed Hogan. Kiera jumped off the turnbuckles but Jade caught her. Hogan escaped but Jade answered with a pump kick. Outside the ring, Grey held back Kiera while Jade went to slap Kiera, but Red Velvet grabbed Jade’s arm to stop her. Kiera seized the opportunity to kick Jade in the stomach. Jade wasted no time with a thrust kick to Kiera though. Kiera reversed Jaded with a bulldog and followed up with a hip attack on the ropes. Kiera clocked Jade with two thrust kicks and a sliding dropkick in the corner. Kiera connected with a diving cross body press. Jade rallied back with Jaded and pinned Kiera Hogan!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #4: Swerve Strickland def. Wheeler Yuta
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
They chain wrestled at the start, both men jockeying for position. Swerve grabbed a single leg crab but Yuta countered with up-kicks. Yuta sat out with a senton on Swerve. Yuta grabbed a single leg crab of his own, but then transitioned to a bow and arrow stretch on Swerve. Yuta jumped out with a tope on Swerve. As the Affiliates tried to intimidate and misdirect Yuta, Swerve dropkicked Yuta from the apron into the back of the knee. Swerve slammed Yuta’s leg with a corkscrew leg driver. Swerve followed up with a back breaker, and then a second back breaker, and then a third! Wheeler fought on one leg with back body drops to Swerve. Yuta nailed Swerve with a German Suplex for a near fall. Swerve smashed Yuta with a brainbuster for a two-count! Swerve swarmed Yuta in the corner and the dropkicked Yuta on the inside of the knee. Yuta was looking for the seat belt but Swerve kicked Wheeler in the head. Swerve was looking for the JML Driver but Yuta pushed him back, inadvertently knocking Swerve into the ref. As the referee tended to himself, Swerve kicked Yuta with a low blow! Swerve finished off Wheeler with the JML Driver and pinned Yuta.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3.5/5
A decent enough last Rampage for 2022, with some decent matches but better storytelling. Between the Jade Cargill/Red Velvet tension AND the fact that Kiera Hogan actually looked like she gave Cargill a run for her money; and the teased break up of the Best Friends thanks to some shenanigans of Kip Sabian; there are some great future storylines built on this week’s show. Plus we got a fantastic main event between Swerve Strickland and Wheeler Yuta – a man who’s had one HELL of a year!
