‘AEW: Rampage’ Review (Nov 10th 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 Oakland Arena in Oakland, California and – in a change of pace – featured Nigel McGuinness and Tony Schiavone on commentary. Now let’s get to the review…
Match #1: Ricky Starks def. Preston Vance
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Big Bill joined the broadcast booth for this match. Vance pushed Starks into the corner turnbuckles. Preston Vance stomped on Starks. Preston Vance followed up with a big pump kick to Ricky Starks. Preston whipped Starks into the steel guardrail. Starks reversed things, ramming Preston into the steel ring post. Starks suplexed Preston onto the entrance ramp! Back in the ring, Vance regained momentum by planting Starks with a massive spinebuster! Starks fired back with discus lariat. Preston tried for this full nelson, but Ricky countered with a cradle for a near fall. Big Bill jumped up onto the apron and distracted Preston Vance. Starks seized the opportunity to spear Preston Vance and pin him! The AEW World Tag Champs double teamed Preston until Rush and Dralistico ran to the ring to even up the odds for their LFI partner Preston Vance. Big Bill and Ricky Starks quicky retreated out of the ring!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #2: Red Velvet def. Ruby Soho
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Tony Schiavone reminded us that Ruby said she wanted to do this alone, so Saraya went to the back. Ruby got right in the face of Red Velvet. Ruby stomped on Red Velvet’s foot and then rammed her with a shoulder block. Red Velvet retaliated with a big leg lariat, staggering Ruby into the corner. Red Velvet worked over Ruby with body shots. Red Velvet rammed Ruby with double knees and followed up with a standing moonsault for a near fall. Ruby hoisted Red Velvet on the top rope and then rocked her with a running kick. Ruby nailed Red Velvet with two consecutive back drop drivers! An AEW production assistant delivered flowers to Ruby Soho during the middle of the match. Red Velvet ducked punches from Ruby. Red Velvet cracked Ruby with a kick and pinned her!
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #3: The Kingdom (Matt Taven & Mike Bennett) def. Two Local Wrestlers
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
The Kingdom made short order of the competition, finishing them off with the Neck Check and grabbing a decisive victory. After the match, Roderick Strong ripped off his neck brace, jumped in the ring, hit a back breaker on one of the Kingdom’s downed opponents, and then ran back to his wheelchair!
My Score: 0 out of 5
Match #4: FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood) def. Komander & El Hijo del Vikingo
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Komander swiped at Dax’s thigh with a stiff kick. Dax fired back with a snap mare and a shoulder block. Komander dropkicked Dax Harwood. El Hijo del Vikingo and Cash Wheeler tagged in for their respective teams. Vikingo, unabated, flipped off the top rope into a hurracanrana on Cash. Vikingo rocketed out of the ring with a tope suicida straight at Cash. Vikingo’s momentum sent him crashing headfirst into the commentary team’s table. FTR used tandem offense in the ring to double team Vikingo. Komander and Vikingo utilized their own tandem offense with a fiery flurry. Vikingo dropkicked Dax from the top rope. Komander took down Dax with a hurracanrana for a near fall! Dax Harwood superplexed Vikingo, but Vikingo countered midflight and landed on top of Dax. Vikingo and Komander hit stereo 630 splashes on FTR for a near fall! Dax countered a shooting star press from Vikingo with a piledriver for a near fall! Dax used a slingshot powerbomb on Vikingo, but Komander was there to break up the pin attempt. Komander walked the ropes, but Dax dodged it and FTR smashed Komander with the Big Rig, scoring the pin on Komander!
My Score: 4 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2.5/5
I’ve got to be honest, that last match did a LOT of the lifting for this week’s Rampage, not enough for the show to rate higher but without it… Sheesh! THe Red Velvet/Ruby Soho was totally ruined by the stupid flowers angle (another “sports entertainment” move IMHO) and the Kingdom’s match? WTF is not a strong enough reaction! Thank god then for FTR and Kommander/Vikingo… those four men put on one hell of a wrestling match that mixed mat wrestling with high-flying spots in a damn near-perfect combination! The saviours of this weeks show!
