‘AEW: Rampage’ Review (Nov 19th 2021)
Welcome to this weeks review of AEW: Rampage, another three-match show which continues some of the feuds from Full Gear and sees vested enemies Jade Cargill and Red Velvet go at it for a slot in the TBS Women’s Championship semi-finals.
Match #1: Darby Allin (w/Sting) def. Billy Gunn (w/Austin & Colten Gunn)
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Billy backed Darby into the turnbuckles, maximizing his size advantage over Darby. They had a collar and elbow tie-up and Billy swung Darby through the air before planting him. Billy tossed Darby on the ramp. The Gunn Club mocked Darby while he was on the floor. Billy and Sting had a stare down. Billy pulled Darby’s arm and yanked him from the ring to the arena floor! Darby tried for a tope suicida but Billy dodged it and sent Darby crashing into the metal barricade! Billy rammed Darby into the edge of the ring. Darby bit down on Billy! Darby wiped out the Gunn Club on the outside with a Coffin Drop! Billy grabbed Darby and twirled him around and slammed him, and then mocked Sting! Billy missed a splash and Darby followed up with a stunner and then a Code Red! Darby connected with two Coffin Drops and pinned Billy Gunn! The Gunn Club attacked Darby after the match, but Sting jumped in the ring and fought them off! As Sting had his back turned, Billy Gunn clipped Sting’s knee! Billy, Austin, and Colten mocked the fallen Sting and Darby.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #2: TBS Women’s Championship Tournament Quarter-Final – Jade Cargill def. Red Velvet
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
They wasted no time exchanging strikes! Red Velvet avoided a pump kick Jade. Red Velvet charged in with a cross body but Jade caught her and chucked her overhead—like a fallaway slam—minus the fallaway! Velvet rocked Jade with a leg lariat! Red Velvet tried for a tope suicida but she got caught in the ropes. Jade lined her up and blasted her with a palm strike! Jade slammed Red Velvet on the ring apron. Back in the ring, Red Velvet took down Jade with an impressive sequence and then slapped her in the mouth. Red Velvet hammered Jade with double knees to the spine! Jade pump kicked Red Velvet right in the throat! Red Velvet speared Jade out of nowhere for a near fall! Red Velvet was looking for the Final Slice but Jade moved. Jade flattened Red Velvet with Jaded and pinned her!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #3: Adam Cole & Bobby Fish vs. Jurassic Express’ Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Cole and Jungle Boy had a strong lock up. Jungle Boy hammered down on Cole with forearms. Cole Irish Whipped Jungle Boy into the corner but Jungle Boy turned around and walloped Cole with a back elbow! Adam Cole kicked Jungle Boy in the face and made the tag to Bobby Fish. Jungle Boy took Fish down with a deep arm drag and then connected with a dropkick! Luchasaurus tagged in and nearly caved in Fish’s chest with a massive chest! Jungle Boy tagged in and nailed Fish with the delayed senton! Fish pretended he had something in his eye and had ref Aubrey Edwards check on him. When Aubrey turned her attention to Fish, Adam Cole waffled Jungle Boy with a cheap shot! Fish had been playing possum the entire time! Jungle Boy came back with a lariat on Bobby Fish! Jungle Boy tried to tag Luchasaurus but Cole tagged in and pulled him back. Jungle Boy avoided a pump kick from Cole and rolled over to his corner, tagging Luchasaurus. Luchasaurus cleaned house on Fish and Cole with a massive clothesline! Luchasaurus tried to chokeslam Cole but Fish kicked out Luchasaurus’ leg! Jungle Boy managed to tag back in and after a double team maneuver, JB scored a near fall on Cole. Fish kicked Jungle Boy in the head as Cole dropped JB head-first across his knee! Somehow Jungle Boy kicked out at the 2-count! Cole attempted the Boom knee but Jungle Boy ducked it! Jungle Boy jumped at Cole but Cole clocked Jungle Boy with a superkick! Cole tried for the Panama Sunrise but Luchasaurus was there to prevent it! Bobby Fish interfered and rammed Jungle Boy with a running knee strike! Bobby Fish decimated Jungle Boy with a dragon screw leg whip! Fish ran at Jungle Boy but Jungle Boy countered with an explosive suplex, sending Fish into the turnbuckles! The Young Bucks started walking down the ramp and got in the face of Luchasaurus! Christian Cage darted out with a steel chair and ran off the Bucks and Adam Cole! Back in the ring, Jungle Boy grabbed Fish in the Snare Trap and made him tap out!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2.5/5
One great match, one good one, and one – frankly – godawful one made for a decidedly average episode of Rampage this week. The main event was a great example of great tag team wrestling and despite the shenanigans this was a great showdown between Cole, Fish and Jungle Boy – I could see these three constantly squaring off week, in week out. The Jade Cargill / Red Velvet match was a decent affair, with Cargill her usual stiff, awkward self. I still don’t get people who say they can see her improving every week, she still looks remarkably green to me. Thankfully Red Velvet saved the day in this match, gimme more Red than Cargill any day AEW. Then there was that opening match… WTF does not describe it. Why the hell Billy Gunn is fighting Darby Allin after THAT match against MJF at Full Gear? It’s like Allin is being punished. The entire match felt like something you’d see on a bad episode of WWE Raw – an ageing wrestler given a chance to squash a young up and comer. Thankfully that was NOT the outcome but it certainly felt like that’s where we were headed with this one!
