‘AEW: Rampage’ Review (Apr 28th 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: Bullet Club Gold (Jay White & Juice Robinson) def. Ricky Starks & Shawn Spears
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Both teams began brawling at the start of the match. Ricky whipped Robinson into the guardrail. Spears pulled Jay White off the apron and to the floor. Spears hammered Juice with shots. Jay White distracted Spears and then Juice wiped out Spears with an axe kick. Jay White grabbed Spears and planted him hard on the edge of the ring. White and Robinson isolated Shawn Spears in their corner, with Jay White laying in the heavy leather. Jay White cut off Spears’ comeback attempt. Spears turned things around with a suplex on Jay White. Starks and Robinson grabbed tags and Ricky sent Juice for a ride with a back body drop. Ricky blasted Juice with a Northern Lights Driver. Starks charged at Juice in the corner and smacked him with a back elbow. Spears tagged in and hit a diving splash on Juice for a near fall. Spears connected with a thrust kick to Jay White. Spears went for the C4 but Jay escaped. Jay White drilled Spears with the Blade Runner and then pinned him for the three-count! Ricky was looking for the spear after the match but Juice Robinson bailed out of the ring.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #2: Naturally Limitless (Dustin Rhodes & Keith Lee) def. Brady Pierce & Charlie James
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Pierce tried for a trip but Dustin jumped over it. Keith Lee tagged in and he and Dustin double backdropped Pierce. James tagged in and ran into a brick wall—Keith Lee. Keith Lee picked up Charlie and hurled him halfway across the ring. Keith Lee hit a double clothesline on the opposition. Dustin whipped Charlie James into Keith Lee and Lee nailed James with a pop-up spirit bomb! Keith Lee grabbed the pin. As Dustin Rhodes and Keith Lee were celebrating their victory, out walked The Mogul Embassy — Prince Nana, Swerve Strickland, Brian Cage, Toa Leona, & Bishop Kaun – who glared at Naturally Limitless from the stage!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #3: Anna Jay A.S. def. Ashley D’Amboise
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Ashley was making her Rampage debut here tonight. Anna Jay backed Ashley into the turnbuckles. Ashley fired back with an arm drag and then rammed Anna Jay with her shoulders. The tide turned and Anna Jay wrenched back on Ashley, pulling her spine-first against the steel ring post. Back in the ring, Anna hit Ashley with two knee strikes to the back. Anna Jay bent Ashley backwards with a neck breaker. Anna made Ashley tap out with the Queen Slayer!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #4: The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) & Daddy Ass def. Cameron Stewart, Ryzin & a partner
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Billy Gunn smashed Cameron with the Fame-Asser! Bowens hit the Arrival while Caster used the Mic Drop for the pin!
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #5: Jay Lethal def. Cash Wheeler
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Mark Briscoe was the Special Enforcer for this match. Lethal went after Cash with body shots. Lethal followed up with a shoulder block and then a scoop slam. Cash Wheeler took Lethal down with a hip toss. Cash countered the Lethal Injection, avoiding it and then nailing Lethal with a nice dropkick. Cash clotheslined Lethal over the top rope, sending Lethal to the arena floor. Back in the ring, Lethal got the upper hand with an abdominal stretch to Cash Wheeler. Sonjay Dutt tried to get involved but Mark Briscoe pulled Sonjay off the apron, preventing him from interfering. Cash rolled up Lethal for a near fall. Lethal picked up Cash and dropped him across the ropes, knocking the wind out of Cash. Lethal strutted confidently. Lethal was looking for the elbow drop but Cash raised his knees in time. Cash clocked Lethal with an uppercut. Cash plucked Lethal out of midair and power slammed him. Cash rocked Lethal with a DDT for a two-count! Lethal, desperate, pushed Wheeler into Mark Briscoe. Lethal seized the opportunity to blast Cash with the Lethal Injection and steal the pin. Mark Briscoe didn’t realize it was Lethal who shoved Cash into him and began to question Cash.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2.5/5
This was an unremarkable episode of Rampage, one that felt like AEW treading water rather than trying to put on an unmissable episode. But that could be the case… There seems to be a HUGE focus on the Blackpool Combat Club right now and anything that’s not that seems to be left on the side of the road. I don’t get the Bullet Club Gold stuff – they already feel like a shadow of ANY other iteration of the infamous faction. Meanwhile, we get FTR losing singles matches because there’s NO WAY Cash and Dax are losing any tag matches (I seriously think that’s only how they resigned with AEW). After seeing this episode of Rampage I really feel AEW is in a huge state of change… We’ve got a new show coming up, Elevation has [reportedly] ended. Let’s see what the future holds!
