‘AEW: Rampage’ Review (Oct 20th 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 Fort Bend Epicenter in Rosenberg, Texas and featured Excalibur and Tony Schiavone on commentary. Now let’s get to the review…
Match #1: 2/3 Falls Match – Mistico def. Rocky Romero
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Rocky ran into Mistico with a shoulder block. Rocky hit an arm drag but Mistico used an arm drag of his own. There was a stalemate early on. Mistico came over the top with a tornillo, taking out Rocky on the arena floor. After a Russian leg sweep, Mistico wrenched back on Rocky’s knee and forced Rocky to tap, taking the first fall. Rocky Romero tore at Mistico’s mask, and the ref had to warn him to stop. Rocky charged Mistico and took him off his feet with his Forever Clotheslines. Mistico clubbed Rocky with elbows but Rocky snap suplexed Mistico on the apron! Rocky followed up with a tope suicida. Rocky superplexed Mistico back into the ring for a near fall. Rocky locked in the camel clutch in the center of the ring. Rocky stomped the back of Mistico’s head. Rocky pinned Mistico after the Sliced Bread! Mistico took flight, jumping over the post and crashing onto Romero on the arena floor! Mistico scoop slammed Rocky. Mistico went for a moonsault but Rocky got his boots up to defend. Rocky blasted Mistico with an avalanche sliced bread but somehow Mistico kicked out at the two-count! Mistico rocked Romero with the Spanish Fly for a near fall. Rocky smashed Mistico with a jawbreaker. Mistico planted Rocky with a destroyer. Mistico forced Rocky to tap out after the Fujiarwa armbar.
My Score: 4 out of 5
Match #2: AEW International Championship Contender Three Way Match – John Silver def. Brother Zay and Kip Sabian
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
The winner challenges at Battle of the Belts VIII. Brother Zay slipped behind and nailed Kip with a neck breaker. John Silver clubbed Zay from behind. Silver stunned Sabian with a German Suplex for a near fall. Sabian swept out Silver’s leg. Kip took flight with an Arabian moonsault to Silver. Brother Zay jumped over the top rope and took out everyone with his perfect landing. Zay connected with a Swanton Bomb on Kip for a near fall. John Silver punted Brother Zay in the head and pinned him.
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #3: Claudio Castagnoli & Wheeler Yuta def. “The Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith & Exodus Prime
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Bryan booted Yuta in the face and chopped Yuta, backing him into the corner. Yuta suplexed Keith. Exodus Prime tagged in, and Yuta catapulted him into Claudio’s arms, and Claudio planted him. Claudio put Prime in the Giant Swing! He swung Prime and Yuta dropkicked Prime in the head! They finished things off with the Fastball Special, and Yuta grabbed the pin on Prime!
My Score: 0 out of 5
Match #4: Ruby Soho def. Skye Blue
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Skye Blue peppered Ruby with shots and then grabbed a handful of hair. Ruby drove Skye down with a back heel kick. Ruby followed up with a short arm lariat. Skye connected with a thrust kick. Skye charged at Ruby, but Ruby telegraphed it and countered with an elbow. Ruby rocked Skye, punting her in the head. Skye raked Ruby’s eyes. Skye cracked Ruby with her knee and then chop blocked Ruby. Skye hit a DDT neck breaker combo on Ruby for a near fall. Saraya grabbed Blue’s boot. Ruby capitalized with a suplex on Skye for a two-count. Skye Blue powerbombed Ruby out of the corner. She grounded and pounded Ruby. Skye popped Saraya with a shot! Ruby connected with the No Future Kick, but Skye managed to kick out! Skye countered the Destination Unknown with a backslide for a near fall. Saraya swiped Skye in the head twice with the can of spray paint. Ruby rolled up Skye Blue and pinned her!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
This week’s Rampage was all about the opening match between two CMLL champions… It was a superb 2 out of 3 falls match, with a real heel turn from Rocky Romero (I always think of him as something of a ‘tweener) and wrestling from Mistico that proved what everyone thought… When worked for THAT company it was a thoroughly wasted opportunity. As for the rest of the show, the three-way match felt like it had been put together at the last minute with whoever was in the back. The tag match was a squash and a waste of EVERYONE’S time. However, I appreciated another appearance from “The Bounty Hunter” Bryan Keith in this one! As for the main event, it felt like another match that was thrown together and there really needed to be something more in this one to make it have any impact. All in all, this was a one-match show – watch that match and maybe skip the rest.
