‘AEW: Rampage’ Review (April 8th 2022)
It’s Monday morning, so you know what that means… it’s time for our review of Friday night’s episode of AEW: Rampage, which this week emanated from the Agganis Arena in Boston, Massachusetts. Let’s get to it!
Match #1: Bryan Danielson def. Trent Barretta
My Thoughts: The saying goes “if you want to be the best, you have to beat the best” and nowhere is that more prevalent than in AEW right now. The Blackpool Combat Club have been positioned as THE people to beat in the promotion and – in the short time it’s been in existence – has already elevated the roster. And that’s true of this match. Trent Beretta has not had a singles match, or ANY match for that matter, as good as this in what seems like an age. He looked waaaaaay better than ever and really showed what he’s capable of. Which kind of wants the Best Friends to end so Barretta can have a huge singles run…
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #2: Swerve Strickland def. QT Marshall
My Thoughts: This match fell flat for me. Strickland is way above fighting QT Marshall in semi-comedy matches. QT’s shtick is his shtick and I get making him lose after Jericho gave him “Sports Entertainer of the Week” is mocking the entire concept of ‘sports entertainer’ but Strickland – no, actually BOTH men – deserved better.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #3: Owen Hart Qualifying Match – Red Velvet def. Willow Nightingale
My Thoughts: I’ve gotta say, I was with the crowd on this one. Willow Nightingale deserved to pick up the win here. She really did. It looked like Red Velvet was positioned as the heel in this match but that might have just been the crowd response, who were VERY pro-Willow (as they all should be). I would have liked to see WIllow pick up the win, especially after her match at Supercard of Honor last week but it was not to be. Hopefully, we get a LOT more of Willow in AEW or ROH going forward. This match get’s an extra half-point just for featuring Willow Nightingale!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #4: Jon Moxley def. Wheeler Yuta
My Thoughts: One word. Wow. Seriously, as I said in match one, the Blackpool Combat Club are raising the bar for AEW talent and Wheeler Yuta, who did amazing stuff one the indies and other promotions, but who – I think – has not lived up to that reputation since joining AEW and the Best Friends clique, took that bar and lept over it. In the space of one match, Yuta cemented himself as a future AEW champion and elevated himself over and above the rest of Best Friends (even Barretta, who himself had a barnstormer of a match tonight). He also proved why he SHOULD be the Ring of Honor Pure Champ too… After this one Wheeler Yuta is headed to the moon!
My Score: 5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 4.5/5
Can we get this every week on Rampage? a brilliant opener and an amazing closing match, with some fun stuff in between. This is AEW at it’s best outside of their pay per views. In fact, you could have put the main event on a PPV and it would’ve stolen the show; and we got it on TV, for free (well for a sub to Fite TV’s AEW Plus if you’re outside the US like me). I think this week’s Rampage probably has a good contender for match of the year in it, it really does. And AEW gave it away… More of this please!