‘AEW: Rampage’ Review (Apr 14th 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: IWGP Tag Team Championship – Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis) def. Best Friends (Chuck Taylor & Trent Beretta)
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Aussie Open used tandem offense on Trent, but Trent fought his way out of their grips. Chuck Taylor took to the skies, taking out Aussie Open on the outside. Best Friends got the upper hand with Trent using a cross body press for a near fall on Kyle Fletcher. The momentum was short lived as Aussie Open planted Best Friends on the ring apron and then rammed them into one another. Aussie Open gave the “United Empire” sign. Davis used a senton on Trent and followed up with a cocky cover. Davis handed Trent over to Kyle with a delayed vertical suplex, good for a near fall. Davis and Chuck Taylor brawled outside the ring. Trent was looking for a superplex on Fletcher and got the assist from Chuck Taylor. Best Friends chokeslammed Davis. Trent connected with the Doomsday Knee Strike on Fletcher for a near fall! Chuck went to the top rope but Kyle sent Trent into Chuck. Kyle nailed Trent with a spinning tombstone piledriver. After sandwiching him with stereo elbow strikes, Aussie Open used their finisher and pinned Chuck Taylor!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: Mark Briscoe, Jay Lethal, Jeff Jarrett, & Satnam Singh def. “Manscout” Jake Manning & The Spanish Announce Project (Angelico, Luther & Serpentico)
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Jake got his legs swept out from Jarrett, who tripped him from outside the ring. Jarrett got in the ring and blasted Angelico with the Stroke! Serpentico jumped at Satnam but Satnam caught him and threw him over the top rope! Satnam chokeslammed Jake Manning. Mark Briscoe hit the Froggy Bow and pinned Manning. It was clear by his facial reaction that Mark didn’t agree with his teammates bending the rules.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #3: Taya Valkyrie def. Emi Sakura
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Sakura chopped Taya but Taya turned it around with a chop of her own, and then a second blistering shot. Taya charged at Sakura with a double knee strike in the corner. Taya used a short-arm lariat. Taya was looking for the Road to Valhalla when TBS Champion Jade Cargill and Leila Grey walked out onto the ramp. As Taya was distracted by Cargill and Grey on the ramp, Emi capitalized from behind with a shot. Taya fired back with a low trajectory German suplex. Taya approached Jade and Leila outside the ring and again Emi used this to her advantage. But back in the ring, Taya turned things around with a blue thunder bomb. Taya speared Emi and then dropped her hard with the Road to Valhalla, good for the pin!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #4: “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry def. Shawn Spears
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Jack Perry dropkicked Spears. Jack Perry lured in Spears and threw him into the barricade outside the ring. Spears returned the favor, whipping Jungle Boy into the guardrail. Shawn Spears was looking for a superplex but Jack Perry fought his way out of the predicament and came back with a lateral press. Jack caught Spears flush with a thrust kick. Spears caught Perry with a DDT for a near fall. Spears was looking for the C4 but Perry escaped. Jack Perry rocked Spears with a leaping flatliner. Spears rolled up Perry but Perry put on the brakes and pinned Shawn Spears!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3.5/5
Just like last week’s show, this week’s episode of Rampage opened strong and continued with aplomb right until the close of the show. Not sure what the deal is with the Mark Briscoe story that’s brewing but I can let it slide for now – though not thrilled he’s working with Double J and Jay Lethal, mainly due to my personal distaste of the duo. Love the Taya/Emi match, which was hard-hitting and felt like a real fight. Plus I’m loving seeing Emi Sakura get some TV time given she’s been holding it down on Dark and Elevation for years now! As for the main event, it was great to see Shawn Spears back in action and he really made Jungle Boy look good – like championship match good. All round great episode of Rampage once again this week!
