‘AEW: Rampage’ Review (Sept 1st 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 NOW Arena in Chicago and featured Excalibur, Chris Jericho and Tony Schiavone on commentary. Now let’s get to the review…
Match #1: ROH Tag Team Battle Royale – Winners: Dark Order (John Silver & Alex Reynolds)
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
The winners face ROH World Tag Team Champions MJF & Adam Cole at All Out this Sunday. Butcher blasted the Outrunners with a double clothesline. Aussie Open were on the floor, waiting for things to clear out a bit before entering the match. Vincent nailed Matt and Jeff Hardy with punches to the head. Aussie Open were softening up the competitors on the outside of the ring, pulling Bishop Kaun out and whipping him into the guardrail. Trent tossed Peter Avalon over the top. Kyle Fletcher dropkicked Toa Liona, eliminating him from the match. Dutch hurled Butcher over the top rope. Vincent pulled Matt Hardy out of the ring, and then the Dark Order eliminated Jeff Hardy. Fletcher and Davis sandwiched Chuck Taylor with double clotheslines and then threw him out of the ring. Trent, John Silver, and Aussie Open were the last four remaining in the match. Trent tried to fight off both members of Aussie Open, but they cracked him with double forearms. Trent hit a half and half suplex on Davis. Trent pulled Davis over the top. John Silver blindsided Trent and eliminated him!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #2: Nick Wayne & El Hijo Del Vikingo def. Kip Sabian & Gringo Loco
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Gringo Loco and Vikingo chain wrestled, countering one another’s flurry of offense. Nick Wayne tagged in, as did Kip Sabian. Nick Wayne nailed Kip with a flying European uppercut. Penelope Ford jumped on the apron to distract the ref. Kip hit a moonsault to Nick Wayne on the arena floor. Kip crashed into Nick in the corner with a cannonball. Gringo Loco tried for a moonsault but Nick Wayne countered with his knees. Vikingo tagged in and caught Kip in the face with a corkscrew kick. Vikingo rocked Gringo Loco with an avalanche poison rana! Nick nailed Kip with Wayne’s World! Vikingo used the 630 senton on Gringo Loco and scored the pin!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #3: “Hangman” Adam Page def. “Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Hangman booted Bryan in the face. Page charged at Bryan in the corner and then chopped away at him. Bryan Keith turned things around with a suplex throw to Page. Page sent Keith across the ring with a fallaway slam. Keith clipped Page with a kick, but Hangman fired back with a Buckshot Lariat. Hangman grabbed the victory with a pin.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #4: Skye Blue & Willow Nightingale def. Taya Valkyrie & Anna Jay
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Willow grabbed in inside cradle on Taya for a near fall. Willow suplexed Taya and then splashed her in the corner. Skye Blue tagged in and cracked Taya with an elbow strike. Taya nailed Willow with the backstabber after Anna distracted Willow from the apron. Skye tagged in and blasted Anna with a shotgun dropkick. Anna blocked a thrust kick. Skye connected with a diving cross body to Anna for a near fall. Skye rocked Anna with a knee strike for a two count. Willow walloped Taya with a spinebuster. Taya speared Skye Blue. Willow fired back with a pounce to Taya. Anna inadvertently hit Taya with a thrust kick. Skye wasted no time and used the Code Blue to pin Anna Jay. Taya blindsided Skye, not taking the loss easily. Willow chased Taya out of the ring.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2.5/5
This was an OK episode of Rampage if I’m honest. Just OK, mainly thanks to the fact the matches were up and down, thankfully this episode ended on a high with a great women’s tag match – which I might be biased about given how much I enjoy the work of the women involved, especially Willow Nightingale! In a surprising move, the teaming of Nick Wayne and El Hijo Del Vikingo turned out to be one hell of a pairing – the styles of the two really gelling in a match that delivered the excitement needed on this week’s show.