‘AEW: Rampage’ Review (Aug 18th 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 Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee and featured Excalibur and Tony Schiavone on commentary. Now let’s get to the review…
Match #1: Rey Fenix def. Komander
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
There was a bit of a stalemate in the early goings after some excellent chain wrestling. Fenix ran the top rope and tried for a punt kick, but Komander dodged it. Komander countered with a hurracanrana and then a tope. Excalibur noted that Fenix was an idol of young Komander’s. Rey Fenix smashed Komander with a big diving stomp for a near fall. Fenix blasted Komander with a sliding thrust kick. It turned into a slug fest. Fenix and Komander punished one another with stiff chops. Komander spiked Fenix with a hurracanrana for a two-count. Komander hit a lung blower on Rey Fenix for a near fall. Rey Fenix nailed Komander with a cutter as Komander. Jon Moxley and Claudio Castagnoli were watching on a monitor backstage. Rey Fenix performed the tight rope walk into a punt on Komander! Komander came out of nowhere with a crucifix bomb! Komander connected with a hook kick. Fenix came around with a hook kick of his own, and both men were knocked to the mat. Komander shoved Rey Fenix off the top rope and followed up with a Canadian destroyer! Komander hit the shooting star press after walking the ropes, good for a near fall on Rey Fenix. Komander went for the 450 splash but Fenix dodged it. Rey Fenix planted Komander with a muscle buster in the center of the ring and pinned him!
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #2: Aussie Open (Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis) def. Brother Zay & Ethan Page
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Aussie Open ambushed Page and Zay at the start of the match. Aussie Open hit tandem offense on Brother Zay. Brother Zay took down Fletcher with an arm drag. Zay kicked Davis in the head and tagged out to Ethan Page. Brother Zay flipped off the top turnbuckle and wiped out Aussie Open on the arena floor! Page powerslammed Fletcher in the ring. Aussie Open sandwiched Page and Zay, ramming them into one another. Page nailed Fletcher with a brainbuster and then tagged to Brother Zay. He took the fight to Fletcher. Zay connected with a springboard cross body press to Fletcher for a near fall. Fletcher cracked Brother Zay with a thrust kick after Zay missed a swanton. Aussie Open neutralized Ethan Page with stereo thrust kicks. Aussie Open connected with double lariats on Brother Zay and then Davis pinned Zay after they hit the Coriolis.
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #3: Sammy Guevara def. Jon Cruz
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Sammy backflipped over Cruz and took down Cruz with a corkscrew dropkick. Sammy flipped over the top rope and crashed onto Cruz on the arena floor, making it look easy. Sammy cracked Cruz with a knee strike and then finished him off with the GTH, more than enough for the pinfall victory on Cruz.
My Score: 0 out of 5
Match #4: Hikaru Shida & Skye Blue def. Ruby Soho & Toni Storm
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Skye Blue hammered Ruby with forearms. Skye cracked Ruby with a knee strike. Toni Storm tagged in and she and Ruby stomped Skye in the corner. The Outcasts double teamed Skye Blue. Toni Storm sent Skye soaring to the floor with a hip attack. Shida tagged in and took the fight to Storm and Soho. Shida hoisted up Ruby and then planted her hard on the mat. Shida caught Ruby with the question mark kick. Skye came in but Ruby planted her with the Saito Suplex. Shida connected with a knee strike to Ruby. Skye tagged in and followed up with the Code Blue on Ruby. While the ref was trying to separate Toni and Shida in the corner, Saraya slid a can of spray paint into the ring for Ruby Soho. Ruby sprayed Skye Blue in the eyes! Toni rammed into Skye in the corner with the hip attack. Toni Storm covered Skye for the pin, but Shida broke it up! Shida tagged in and she and Toni Storm traded forearms, a prelude to All In: London. Shida ran into the ropes, but Saraya grabbed her by the boot. Shida turned around and Toni Storm was there with a vicious high kick to the champ. The Outcasts had Shida up for a powerbomb, but Skye Blue jumped into the ring and rocked Storm with a thrust kick. Shida countered the No Future kick from Ruby Soho with a jackknife and pinned Soho!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3.5/5
Definitely a strong episode of Rampage this week, with an opening match that set the bar high for the rest of the show. Of course, we got our usual third-match quick squash to up the match count from 3 to 4 but that’s become de rigour for Rampage now so I can’t complain too much. Nice to see Aussie Open get more TV ahead of their pay-per-view match at All In (and yes, I will be there live!) and the women’s main event was something of a teas for All In too. A decent show all round IMHO.
