‘AEW: Rampage’ Review (Aug 25th 2023)
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 Rupp Arena in Lexington, Kentucky and featured Excalibur and Tony Schiavone on commentary. Now let’s get to the review…
Match #1: AEW International Championship Match – Orange Cassidy def. Aaron Solo
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Solo kicked Orange in the midsection. Orange countered with a side headlock takeover. Orange had Solo’s ankles trapped and then he sent Solo to the arena floor with an arm drag. Solo pulled Orange out of the ring. Orange went to strike Solo when Solo used Harley as a human shield. Orange wasted no time, moved around them, and connected with a tope suicida on Solo. Cassidy climbed to the top rope, but Harley interfered and pulled Orange down. Solo seized the opportunity to go on the attack. Solo closed the distance, charging at Cassidy in the corner with a running elbow. The champ took flight, jumping off the top rope and connecting with a crossbody press. Solo ducked the Orange Punch. Orange nailed Solo with the Stun Dog Millionaire and followed up with a DDT for a near fall. Harley grabbed a microphone and began to sing to distract Orange. Solo landed a corkscrew dropkick and then planted Orange on his shoulders. Solo squashed Orange with a diving double stomp for a two-count. Harley removed her boot and while the ref was distracted, Solo struck Cassidy in the head with it. Orange rocked Solo with the Orange Punch. He followed up with the Beach Break and pinned Aaron Solo!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #2: AAA Latin American Championship Match – QT Marshall def. Gravity
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Gravity dropkicked QT out of the ring. Gravity went over the top and nailed QT with a tope con hiro. Gravity jumped off the ropes, but QT took down Gravity with a stiff forearm. Gravity attempted a hurracanrana off the apron, but QT caught him and countered with a powerbomb onto the apron! Back in the ring, Gravity crushed QT with a Destroyer for a near fall! QT hit a combination on Gravity, making him pay. Gravity reversed a suplex and nailed QT with several thrust kicks. Gravity landed a 21-plex on QT Marshall for a near fall. Gravity and QT jockeyed for position on the top turnbuckle. Gravity dropped QT back down onto the mat for a near fall. QT hit the Diamond Cutter and then used the Dirt Sheet Driver on Gravity, scoring the pin!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #3: Luchasaurus def. R. Jones
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Luchasaurus clocked his opponent with a massive boot to the face! Luchasaurus chokeslammed him. After hitting him with a lariat to the back of the head, Luchasaurus pinned his opponent!
My Score: 0 out of 5
Match #4: The Outcasts (Toni Storm & Saraya) def. Hikaru Shida & Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D.
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Saraya hammered away at Baker with elbows. Toni tagged in and stomped Britt Baker in the corner. Toni took Baker down with a snap suplex. Toni smashed Baker with the hip attack, sending Britt crashing on the arena floor. Ruby Soho was kicking Britt until TBS Champion Kris Statlander sprinted to the ring, hoisted up Ruby, and carried her all the way to the back. Baker rallied back with a neck breaker to Toni Storm. Baker tagged in Shida and Shida cleaned house on Storm and Saraya! Shida suplexed Saraya onto Storm. Shida and Storm exchanged forearms and chops in the center of the ring. Saraya heaved Britt by the hair. Storm squashed Baker in the corner with the hip attack. The Outcasts hit a tandem powerbomb on Baker. Shida cracked Storm with a question mark kick. Saraya knocked down Shida with a thrust kick, but Baker was there to dish out a thrust kick of her own to Saraya. Baker connected with a ripcord elbow strike to Saraya. Shida dropped Toni Storm. Shida planted Saraya with the falcon arrow. Baker rocked Saraya with a swinging neck breaker. Britt Baker applied her surgical glove, getting ready to apply the Lockjaw to Saraya. Saraya grabbed the ref’s leg to distract him. Toni Storm pulled out a can of spray paint. Shida tried to pull the can away but Storm sprayed Shida in the eyes. Baker landed a thrust kick on Storm. Baker went to check on Shida, but Shida, who was temporarily blinded, struck Baker! Saraya spiked Baker with the Nightcap and pinned her!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2.5/5
This was a pretty weak episode of Rampage if I’m honest. Even the main event, billed as a preview of the 4-way Women’s title match at All In, felt pretty throwaway. As for the rest of the card, I found it puzzling that the opening title match got so much time – even more so given it was a member of QTV vying for the belt. Speaking of QTV, no disrespect to QT Marshall but even with the AAA belt he still doesn’t feel like championship material but on the other hand I’ve been enjoying Gravity’s appearances in AEW, so it’s swings and roundabouts!
