17th Jul2023

‘AEW: Rampage’ Review (Jul 14th 2023)

by Phil Wheat

It’s Monday so you know what that means, it’s time for our weekly review of AEW: Rampage! This week’s show was broadcast from the SaskTel Centre in Saskatoon, Canada and featured Excalibur, Chris Jericho and Tony Schiavone on commentary. Now let’s get to the review…

Match #1: Naturally Limitless (Dustin Rhodes & Keith Lee) def. JAS’ Angelo Parker & Matt Menard

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

Keith Lee blasted Angelo Parker with a double overhand chop. He scoop slammed Parker and Menard and then body slammed Dustin Rhodes onto them. Dustin took down Menard and Parker with arm drags. Dustin spilled to the outside of the ring when Parker pulled the ropes down. Parker rammed Dustin into the guardrail. Angelo Parker charged at Rhodes in the corner and rammed him with a shoulder block. Menard whipped Rhodes into the turnbuckles. Parker jumped off Menard’s back and dropped an elbow on Dustin Rhodes. Parker and Menard double teamed Rhodes, isolating him. Dustin fired back with a powerslam on Menard. Keith Lee grabbed a tag and splashed Menard and Parker in the corner, over and over, like a runaway freight train! Keith Lee hoisted up Rhodes and hurled him at Menard and Parker, using his partner as a weapon. Menard and Parker double DDT’ed Keith Lee for a near fall. Dustin Rhodes was there to break up the pin. Keith Lee regained his momentum, and he nailed Parker with the Supernova and pinned Parker!

My Score: 2 out of 5

Match #2: Taya Valkyrie def. Izzy McQueen

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

Taya speared Izzy right after the bell! Taya curb stomped Izzy and pinned her, making quick work of Izzy McQueen.

My Score: 1 out of 5

Match #3: Lance Archer def. Trent Beretta

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

Archer charged at Trent before the bell. Archer blasted Trent with a forearm, knocking Trent to his knees. Archer was looking for a powerbomb, but Trent escaped and slapped Archer in the face. Trent dropkicked Archer through the ropes. Trent tried for a tope, but Archer caught him. Trent turned around with a moonsault to the floor, wiping out Archer. While the ref was distracted by Archer, Jake Roberts connected with a short arm clothesline to Trent on the floor. Trent escaped a Black Out and then hit the half and half on Archer. Trent spiked Lance Archer with a piledriver for a near fall. Archer went for a chokeslam with Trent rolled up Archer for a near fall. Trent followed up with a running knee strike. Trent climbed to the top turnbuckle, but Archer countered with a rising knee strike. Archer planted Trent with the Black Out, followed by a massive lariat, and then pinned Trent!

My Score: 2 out of 5

Match #4: Konosuke Takeshita def. Mentallo

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

Takeshita wiped out Mentallo with a big lariat. Takeshita grounded and pounded Mentallo. Mentallo used a German suplex for a near fall on Takeshita. Takeshita hit a delayed vertical suplex off the ropes. Takeshita dropped Mentallo with a package piledriver. Takeshita followed up with a senton off the top rope and pinned Mentallo!

My Score: 1 out of 5

Match #5: Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament Semi-Final Match – Willow Nightingale def. Athena

The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:

Willow hit a shoulder block on Athena. Athena came back with a pounce, taking a page out of Willow’s playbook. Willow clocked Athena with a charging forearm. Athena cracked Willow with a kick to the back. Ruby Soho was watching the match on a monitor backstage. Athena dropkicked Willow in the ribs. Willow scored the pounce on Athena! She followed up with lariats to Athena. Willow smashed Athena with a spinebuster. Athena hit Willow with machine gun chops. Athena connected with a standing shooting star press for a near fall on Willow. Athena applied the cross face to Willow, but Willow cradled Athena for a two-count. Willow nailed Athena with a Death Valley Driver. Athena wasn’t finished yet though. She picked up Willow, but Willow countered with a roll up and pinned a shocked Athena!

My Score: 4 out of 5

Final Verdict: 2.5/5

Let’s get straight to the point. If it wasn’t for the main event and the superb match between Athena and Willow Nightingale, this week’s episode of Rampage would be totally skippable. Two legit squash matches and then two quasi-squash matches? That does not make for a great show honestly. I truly believe after hitting a home run a few weeks back with Rampage, the focus has moved too much on to Collision and now it feels like AEW’s “second show” is floundering.

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