‘AEW: Rampage’ Review (Dec 29th 2023)
It’s Monday Tuesday (we took Mon off for New Years!) so you know what that means, it’s time for our weekly review of AEW: Rampage! This week’s show – a New Year’s Smash special – was broadcast from the Addition Financial Arena in Orlando, Florida and featured Excalibur and Tony Schiavone on commentary. Now let’s get to the review…
Match #1: Ruby Soho def. Marina Shafir
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Ruby dodged a kick from Marina and then grabbed Marina by the hair, pulling her down to the mat. Marina fired back with vicious kicks. Harley grabbed at Marina’s leg and Ruby tripped Marina, taking advantage of the distraction. Marina smashed Ruby with a running lariat. She followed up with a backbreaker to Ruby. Marina dropkicked Ruby. Saraya jumped onto the ring apron, but Nyla yanked her down. Harley flung herself onto Nyla’s back, but Nyla powered her to the arena floor. Saraya jumped over the guardrail and ran away. Nyla chased after her through the fans. Ruby blasted Marina with the No Future kick for a near fall. Marina grabbed Ruby but once again, Harley tried to get involved and popped up onto the ring apron. Marina swung at Harley, but Harley avoided it. Ruby rolled up Marina from behind, hung onto Marina’s tights, and pinned her!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #2: ROH Pure Championship Match – Wheeler Yuta def. Matt Sydal
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Your judges were Jimmy Jacobs, “Fallen Angel” Christopher Daniels, and Sarah Stock. They began the match with some incredible chain wrestling. Sydal escaped a crucifix pin attempt, and then nearly caught Yuta himself. Yuta chopped Sydal but Sydal answered with a chop of his own. Sydal nailed Yuta with a roundhouse kick. Yuta retaliated with a suplex, hit a snap mare, and then dropped a knee on Sydal. Yuta dropkicked Sydal and covered him for a near fall. Sydal connected with the air raid crash for a two-count on Yuta. Yuta slipped behind Sydal and rocked him with a bridging German suplex for a near fall. Yuta tied up Sydal in a submission, but Sydal managed to reach the ropes with his boot, utilizing his first rope break. Yuta smashed Sydal with hammer and anvil elbow strikes. Yuta transitioned to putting Sydal into the seatbelt and pinned Matt Sydal!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #3: Action Andretti & Top Flight (Dante & Darius Martin) def. Orange Cassidy, Rocky Romero, & Trent Beretta
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Cassidy rolled up Andretti with a crucifix for a near fall. Orange put his hands in his pockets and dropkicked Action. Trent tagged in and hit an elbow on Action Andretti. Darius grabbed a tag and put Trent in a side headlock. Trent and Darius traded chops to the chest. Dante tagged in and splashed Trent with a stalling senton over the top. Top Flight and Action Andretti connected with a triple tope suicida on their opponents! Back in the ring, Rocky and Andretti slugged it out. Action took Rocky off his feet, jumping off the top rope with a cross body press. Dante and Trent tagged in for their respective teams. Dante connected with a big crossbody press for a near fall. Top Flight used their tandem offense and Darius nailed Trent with a flatliner but Orange broke up the pin attempt. Orange crushed Darius with a Stun dog Millionaire. Action hit a 450 springboard on Trent but Rocky and Orange broke up the pin attempt. Trent drove Darius down with a suplex. Andretti wiped out Trent with a moonsault to the floor. Rocky climbed to the top, but Action kicked Rocky in the head, stunning him. Trent came up from behind and hurled Action with a release German suplex off the top turnbuckle. Orange went for the Orange Punch, but Dante countered! Rocky tagged in but Dante planted him and scored the pin!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
A solid, but unremarkable episode of Rampage that needed a bit more in-ring action – be it a longer women’s match or less talking/promos and a fourth match on the show – to take it to the next level. The Pure Rules match was great, as they all tend to be, and I really enjoyed the main event too – and seeing Andretti and Top Flight pick up a much-appreciated win was a nice bonus! A bit more small-scale than usual, this weeks show felt like an appetiser for the weekend’s World’s End pay-per-view.
