‘AEW: Rampage’ Review (Apr 7th 2023)
It’s Monday so you know what that means, it’s time for our weekly review of AEW: Rampage! This week’s show features Excalibur, Tony Schiavone and Jim Ross on commentary. Now let’s get to the review…
Match #1: FTW Championship Match – HOOK def. Ethan Page
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Ethan Page booted Hook as Hook was making his entrance. They began to brawl around the ring, with Hook headbutting Page. Hook followed Ethan Page up the arena steps, fighting each other among the fans. Hook clubbed Page with cross face strikes. Ethan Page swung a steel pipe at Hook, but Hook countered by pummeling Page with a metal garbage can. Hook hit a t-bone suplex on Page on the arena floor. Page attempted the Ego’s Edge on a table but Hook escaped and countered with a lariat. Ethan Page powerslammed Hook through the timekeeper’s table! Matt Hardy and Isiah Kassidy watched on the monitor backstage. Hook blasted Page with the Twist of Fate on a steel chair for a near fall. Page smacked Hook with a wicked pump kick. Ethan Page hoisted up Hook for the Ego’s Edge but Hook countered with the RedRum, forcing Page to tap. After the match Hook added insult to injury by tossing Page through a table with a t-bone suplex!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: The J.A.S. (Angelo Parker & Matt Menard) & The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) def. The Infantry (Shawn Dean & Carlie Bravo), Bobby Orlando and LSG!
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Bowens nailed LSG with a thrust kick. Bowens came down with the Scissors-Me-Timbers. Menard and Parker knocked the Infantry out of the ring. Bowens used the Arrival and then Caster finished things off with the Mic Drop for the pinfall victory. After the match, Jake Hager leveled Daddy Ass with a cheap shot! Menard and Parker drilled Bowens with a double DDT!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #3: Darby Allin def. Lee Moriarty
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Darby used a side headlock takeover on Moriarty. “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry was shown watching backstage. Sammy Guevara was also seen scouting the match backstage. Darby went for a rollup pin but Lee managed to kick out. Lee Moriarty rammed Darby into the steel guardrail. Lee jumped at Darby but Darby dodged it and Lee landed on the top of the barricade. Big Bill blasted Darby with a massive boot as the ref had his back turned. Darby rallied back with a shotgun dropkick to Lee Moriarty. Darby climbed the top rope but Moriarty swept out Darby’s legs. Darby crashed hard on the top ropes. Lee picked up Darby and threw him onto the ropes again. Moriarty used a superplex on Darby Allin. Darby surprised Lee with a Code Red, and then rocketed out of the ring at Big Bill, neutralizing him! Darby scored the pin after a Coffin Drop to Lee!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #4: Julia Hart def. Anna Jay A.S.
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Anna Jay hit Julia from behind as Julia was making her entrance. Anna Jay stomped on Julia. Anna Jay whipped Julia headfirst into the barricade. Julia showed her resiliency, ramming Anna Jay into the turnbuckles. Julia cracked Anna Jay with a thrust kick and then a standing moonsault press. Anna attempted the Queen Slayer but Julia escaped. Julia Hart suplexed Anna Jay off the turnbuckles and then followed up with a moonsault. Anna Jay tried for the Queen Slayer again but Julia moved forward and both wrestlers spilled out of the ring. As the ref was distracted, Julia Hart sprayed black mist into Anna Jay’s eyes! Julia Hart rolled up Anna Jay and pinned her!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
This episode of Rampage opened strong with a great rematch between HOOK and Ethan Page and followed that with a great mid-card match between Darby Allin and Lee Moriarty (which was even more amazing given Allin had apparently been hit by a car the day before!). As for the other to matches – the JAS/Acclaimed thing was merely an angle to further the storyline between the two teams and our main event was… different. Kudos to Tony Khan for allowing these relevant “youngsters” go at it in the main event. It was a huge chang from seeing more experienced wrestlers in the main event and was, despite the issues in the match, a refreshing change.
