‘AEW: Rampage’ Review (Oct 21st 2022)
It’s Monday, so you know what that means, it’s time for this week’s review of AEW: Rampage! This week’s show was broadcast from Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida and featured Excalibur, Tony Schiavone and Jim Ross on commentary… Now let’s get to the review!
Match #1: AEW World Tag Team Championship Match – The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) def. The Varsity Athletes (Josh Woods & Tony Nese)
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
If The Acclaimed win, they regain their trademark from Sterling. The Acclaimed used tandem offense on Josh Woods. “Platinum” Max Caster backdropped Woods. The Varsity Athletes called to eject Billy Gunn after he entered the ring and the ref agreed and had Billy removed. Bowens tagged in and cleaned house on the Varsity Athletes. Bowens leg dropped Nese across the back of the head for a near fall. Woods ran in and manhandled Bowens. Woods closed the distance with a running forearm. The Varsity Athletes used their finisher on Bowens but Caster jumped in to make the save for his partner. Caster got clocked by Nese with a thrust kick. Bowens fired back with a knee strike to Nese. Bowens planted Nese with the Arrival and then Caster finished off Nese with the Mic Drop. Caster pinned Nese. Sterling tried to walk out but Billy Gunn stopped him and forced him back into the ring. Bowens hit the Scissor Me Timber on Sterling!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #2: FTW Championship Match – HOOK def. Ari Daivari
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
HOOK slapped the cash out of Ari’s hands. They brawled outside the ring. Ari stomped HOOK while they were in the corner and then hit HOOK with a massive chop. HOOK fought back with body punches. HOOK followed up with a fisherman’s suplex. Ari rolled up HOOK for a near fall. HOOK wasted no time and made Daivari quick after placing him in the Redrum submission hold! HOOK then put Jeeves to sleep with the Redrum.
My Score: 1.5 out of 5
Match #3: Willow Nightingale def. Leila Grey
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Willow grappled Grey to the mat. Willow walloped Grey with a short arm clothesline. She scooped up Leila and slammed her. Kiera grabbed Willow’s ankle from the ring apron. Willow confronted her on the arena floor. Kiera blasted Willow with a thrust kick. Willow rallied back and splashed Leila in the corner turnbuckles. Willow planted Grey with a spinebuster for a near fall! Willow hit Leila with a high roundhouse kick. She finished off Leila with the Doctor Bomb and then pinned her! Tony Schiavone entered the ring and announced that Willow is officially All Elite!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #4: All-Atlantic Championship Match – Orange Cassidy def. Pres10 Vance & Rush
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Ten and Rush slugged it out while Orange watched on. Rush blindsided Ten with an elbow strike. Orange dropkicked Rush and then drove Ten into the barricade with a tope. Rush headbutted Orange as Orange jumped off the top turnbuckle. Rush whipped Ten with a cable outside the ring. Rush started to choke Orange with the cable. Ten clocked Rush with a series of clotheslines. They brawled outside the ring. Orange tried for a tope but Ten and Rush caught Orange and countered by spiking him on the timekeeper’s table. Ten speared Rush. Orange went for the Orange Punch but Ten blocked it. Orange fought back with the Stundog Millionaire on Ten. Orange blasted Ten with the Beachbreak. Jose the Assistant jumped into the ring until Danhausen came in to even up the odds. Rush nailed Orange with a belly-to-belly suplex into the turnbuckles. Ten rocked Rush with a spinebuster. Rush tore at Ten’s mask and then turned it around so Ten was blinded. Orange came back and pinned Ten after countering a sunset flip.
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2.5/5
An OK episode of Rampage this week, one that certainly felt rushed and as a result a little clumsy. The opening match felt like a lacklustre “end” to the copyright storyline; HOOK’s match was only a step above a squash; Leila Grey didn’t feel like the right opponent for Willow Nightingale at all – especially considering the All Elite announcement post-match. Only the main event felt like a big time match, though I have to question whether that was merely down to Orange Cassidy’s involvement… Not sure how good a main event we would’ve gotten with just the original 10 versus Rush match… There’s always next week of course.