‘AEW: Rampage’ Review (May 6th 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 Chesapeake Employers Insurance Arena in Baltimore. We’ve got Excalibur, Taz, Ricky Starks and Chris Jericho on commentary so let’s get right to the review!
Match #1: Ruby Soho and Toni Storm def. Jamie Hayter and Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Hayter and Storm locked up. Hayter hit a shoulder block on Toni Storm, but Storm fired back with a shoulder tackle of her own. Ruby Soho tagged in and connected with a running forearm to Hayter. Jamie Hayter hoisted up Ruby and rammed her into the turnbuckles, allowing Britt Baker to tag in and use the sling blade for a near fall. Britt was looking for the air raid crash but Ruby had it scouted. Toni tagged in and she and Ruby used a double outer leg sweep on Britt Baker. Toni stomped a mudhole on Baker. Dr. Britt Baker rallied back with kicks of her own, before she tagged Hayter back in. Hayter continued the onslaught to Toni with a snap suplex. Storm dumped Hayter on her head with a German suplex! Ruby ran in after a tag and hit a back spinning kick on Britt Baker. She baited Brit in again and used a running kick to Brit’s jaw! Toni Storm made a blind tag and used a hip attack in the corner on Baker. Toni tried again but Hayter stopped her. Baker blasted Storm with an air raid crash! Toni and Britt slugged it out with forearms! Baker flattened out Toni Storm and was looking for the lock jaw! Toni countered and nailed Britt with a release German suplex. Rebel distracted ref Paul Turner while Hayter and Baker double teamed Toni Storm! Toni Storm rolled up Baker out of nowhere and grabbed the pin!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: HOOK def. JD Drake
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Hook grappled Drake to the mat. Drake pie-faced Hook and then chopped him. Hook asked for another chop and when Drake went to chop him, Hook lowered his head and headbutted Drake’s hand! Hook T-bone suplexed JD Drake. Hook floated behind Drake and applied RedRum, forcing JD Drake to tap out!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #3: Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament Qualifier Match – Riho def. “Magical Girl” Yuka Sakazaki
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Yuka used a side headlock takeover on Riho. Riho fired back with a dropkick to Yuka’s head. Riho rocked Yuka with a flying cross body press off the top rope for a near fall. Yuka Sakazaki collided with Riho using a cannonball senton onto Riho on the arena floor. Riho rattled Yuka with a dragon suplex! Riho followed up with a diving knee strike for a near fall on Yuka! Riho made the climb to the top turnbuckle but Yuka jumped and met her up there. Yuka planted Riho face-first for a near fall! Riho tripped up Yuka with an inside cradled and pinned Yuka!
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #4: Jay Lethal def. Konosuke Takeshita
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Lethal grabbed a single leg for a takedown on Takeshita. Lethal cartwheeled into a dropkick at Takeshita. Takeshita grabbed two arm drags and then hit a leg lariat on Lethal! Takeshita hit Lethal with a dive over the top rope to the arena floor. Satnam Singh got in Takeshita’s face. Lethal nailed Takeshita with a tope suicida! Takeshita clobbered Lethal with a lariat from the top rope for a near fall! Lethal stepped through with a figure four leg drop. Takeshita countered with a sheer drop brainbuster. Konosuke connected with a discus lariat! He followed up with the jumping knee and covered Lethal but Sonjay distracted the referee, giving Lethal enough time to collect his thoughts. Lethal finished off Takeshita with the Lethal Injection, pinning Takeshita for the victory!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3.5/5
This was another, dare I say it, solid episode of Rampage, with 4 great matches (and yes I’m calling the Hook/Drake fight a match even though it was a squash – that’s hook’s gimmick!). The women made a great start managing to deliver a great match and build anticipation for all four women’s appearances in the Owen Hart tournament. Speaking of the Owen Hart tournament, Riho and Yuka Sakazaki returned to AEW television for the first time in a long time and delivered a superb match that was fast-paced, exciting and tense, with both women possibly grabbing the win throughout. The main event, whilst a great wrestling match, was the weak link on the card – it felt like the match outcome was never in question and it was merely a way to get to the post-match shenanigans. Which does a disservice to Takeshita IMHO. Plus, all cards on the table, I’m not a fan of this iteration of Jay Lethal… Which is always going to affect my enjoyment of his matches.
