‘AEW: Rampage’ Review (Dec 9th 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 the H-E-B Center in Cedar Park, Texas and featured Excalibur, Tony Schiavone and Jim Ross on commentary. Now let’s get to the review…
Match #1: Jon Moxley def. Konosuke Takeshita
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Mox and Takeshita reached a stalemate early on in the match. Mox seemed impressed by Takeshita’s technique. Moxley grabbed Takeshita’s hair, backed him into the corner, and then chopped away at Takeshita’s chest. Takeshita ducked a chop and then landed an elbow strike on Moxley. Takeshita crashed over the top rope with a tope con hiro on Moxley. Takeshita busted open Moxley with a massive running boot. Moxley tried for a piledriver but Takeshita countered with a back body drop. Takeshita reared back and rocked Moxley with a massive lariat! Takeshita followed up with a Takeshita-line. Takeshita DDT’ed Moxley on the ring apron! He followed up with a slingshot DDT on Moxley for a near fall! Takeshita tried for a Blue Thunder Bomb but Moxley countered with a side headlock. The two men exchanged elbow strikes in the center of the ring. Moxley walloped Takeshita with a King Kong Lariat! Takeshita countered the Paradigm Shift and nailed Moxley with a brainbuster for a near fall! Takeshita hit Mox with the Blue Thunder Bomb but Moxley kicked out at the two-count! Takeshita sent Moxley down to the mat hard with a German Suplex. Takeshita went for a frog splash but Moxley raised up his knees to defense himself. Moxley fired back with the hammer and anvil elbows and then the Death Rider DDT—but Takeshita kicked out at the one-count! Moxley cracked Takeshita with the jumping knee strike and then stomped a mudhole in Takeshita. Moxley hammered down on the base of Takeshita’s skull. Moxley pulled back with the choke hold and Takeshita faded, with the ref ending the match in Moxley’s favor.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #2: Regina Di Wave Championship Match – Hikaru Shida def. The Bunny
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
The winner earns a shot at Jamie Hayter’s Undisputed AEW Women’s World Championship. Shida took Bunny down the rabbit hole. Penelope Ford threw the kendo stick into the ring but Shida grabbed it. Shida tried to use the kendo stick on Ford but the Bunny grabbed the stick. The Bunny accidentally clocked Ford with it. Shida blasted Bunny with the Michonoku Driver and then pinned Bunny after the katana kick! The champ Jamie Hayter walked onto the ramp after the match and she and Shida had a stare down.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #3: Lee Moriarty & Big Bill Morrissey def. Izzy James & Clayton Bloodstone
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Moriarty had both opponents tied up, stretching them. Big Bill came in and smashed James in the corner. James tried to sneak in but Big Bill caught him and then chokeslammed James and pinned him.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #4: All-Atlantic Championship Match – Orange Cassidy def. Trent Seven
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Trent Seven chopped at Cassidy. Trent charged in for an overhead chop but Cassidy evaded. The Butcher, the Blade, and the Bunny came down to ringside. Trent Seven superplexed Orange off the top rope for a near fall! Trent blasted Orange with a backhand. Trent jumped out at Orange with a tope but Orange pulled Kip into the way. Back in the ring, Orange tried for a DDT but Trent countered and planted Orange for a near fall. Trent turned Orange inside-out with a short-arm lariat for the two-count. Trent hoisted up Orange but Orange escaped. Orange landed a DDT on Trent! Trent fought back with a twisting piledriver for a near fall on Orange! Orange rallied back with the Orange Punch and then the Beach Break, enough to pin Trent for the victory!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 4/5
A fantastic episode of Rampage this week, one that finely balanced a focus on the ROH Final Battle pay-per-view and AEW’s own talent. Once again Takeshita took on a veteran talent, this time Jon Moxley, and we got an instant classic… one that set a REALLY high bar for the rest of the show! Whilst we ended up with a great match, I have no idea why Trent Seven was chosen to take Kip Sabian’s place in the main event… Hasn’t AEW got enough talent already? And I’m sure plenty of people ALREADY signed to the company would have loved to have had some TV time; plus there’s talent in AEW who would have been well-received in a title match rather than an “outsider”. Other than that this was a fantastic end to AEW’s week and a great lead-in for Final Battle.
