‘AEW: Rampage’ Review (Jul 21st 2023)
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 TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts and featured Excalibur, Chris Jericho and Tony Schiavone on commentary. Now let’s get to the review…
Match #1: Royal Rampage – Winner: Darby Allin
My Thoughts: For those unaware what a “Royal Rampage” match is… well, due to the fact Rampage was taped at the same time as this week’s Blood and Guts episode of Dynamite the show had two rings. One red ring and one blue ring, both featuring different wrestlers taking part in two simultaneous “royal rumble” style matches. Which means the camera misses the majority of the action until the number of men in the ring is whittled down enough. It’s even worse than trying to follow a ONE ring Royal Rumble! Eventually the action spills across the two rings as the numbers dwindle… and we wonder WTF these matches – like the Owen Hart Tournament – are actually for? The winner gets a title shot, a TNT title shot. Big whoop. People can EARN title shots. Overall this was pretty meh.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #2: The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) and Billy Gunn def. QTV (QT Marshall, Johnny TV, Aaron Solo)
My Thoughts: Tony Khan has got the trio of Anthony Bowens, Max Caster and Billy Gunn working overtime it seems. Not only did the face the ever-shit QTV in this match, they had another match on Colllsion the very next day. Good job these shows aren’t live right?! To be brutally honest, QTV are hot garbage and The Acclaimed seems to be treading water… Something needs to give Bowens and Caster a shot in the arm methinks!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #3: Women’s TBS Championship Match – Kris Statlander def. Marina Shafir
My Thoughts: Nice to see Statlander plugging away each week as the FIGHTING champion and even better to see how far Marina Shafir has progressed whilst in AEW – here she looked like legitimate competition for the champion, the lessons she’s learnt from more experienced talent to lean into her MMA experience is now paying off in spades. Still, this match didn’t get enough time that’s to the over-long and over-produced opening “royal NOT rumble”.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2.5/5
Like last week, this episode of Rampage was carried by the women’s division… Again, Rampage feels like it’s falling behind Collision more and more.
