‘AEW: Rampage’ Review (Apr 20th 2024)
Now I’d normally say “It’s Monday so you know what that means”, but this week’s AEW: Rampage took place AFTER Collision on Saturday night and was also broadcast from the Peoria Civic Center in Peoria, IL and featured Nigel McGuiness and Tony Schiavone on commentary. Now let’s get to the review…
Match #1: 420 Elimination 4-Way Match – RVD def. Lee Johnson, Isiah Kassidy and Komander
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Kassidy blindsided RVD with a back stabber. RVD retaliated with a spin wheel kick, a monkey flip, and then Rolling Thunder on Kassidy. Lee Johnson picked up Kassidy but Kassidy gouged Johnson’s eyes and rolled him up, grabbing the tights, and scored the pin. Lee Johnson was eliminated. Komander kicked out the feet from under RVD. Komander followed up with a forearm to RVD in the corner. Komander jumped off the ropes and back flipped onto Kassidy on the floor. RVD tried to power bomb Komander on the floor, but Komander escaped with a rana. Komander scored a near fall with a senton to Kassidy. Komander climbed back up, walked the ropes, but Kassidy shoved him down. RVD tried to go up top, but Quin pulled him outside the ring. Komander soared off the ropes, splashed Kassidy and pinned him. Isiah Kassidy was eliminated, leaving RVD and Komander as the final two competitors. RVD dropped Komander with a Northern Lights Suplex. Komander climbed to the top turnbuckle, but RVD met him up there. RVD went for a superplex, but Komander escaped. RVD retaliated with a back kick. RVD flew high with the five star frog splash and pinned Komander!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: Yuka Sakazaki def. Emi Sakura
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Sakura chopped Sakazaki. Yuka connected with a sliding lariat for a near fall. Yuka applied an STF. Emi escaped and taunted Yuka. Emi gouged Yuka in the eyes. Emi hit a double underhook back breaker. Emi climbed to the top turnbuckle, but Yuka rocked her with a kick. Yuka used the ropes and spiked Emi with a German Suplex and pinned Emi!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #3: Kyle O’Reilly, Rocky Romero & Matt Menard def. Undisputed Kingdom (Roderick Strong, & The Kingdom — Matt Taven & Mike Bennett)
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Daddy Magic took down Taven with a couple of arm drags. Rocky tagged in and used a hurracanrana on Taven. Rocky walloped Taven with a running clothesline. Bennett blocked a hurracanrana and Taven nailed Rocky with a neck breaker. The Undisputed Kingdom worked over Rocky in their corner. Rocky rocked Taven and Bennett with a double hurracanrana and reached Daddy Magic for the tag! Daddy Magic put Bennett in a Boston Crab, but Taven jumped off the ropes with a kick to Daddy Magic’s head. Taven followed up with a moonsault for a near fall! Kyle tagged in and cleaned house on the Undisputed Kingdom! Roddy attacked Kyle as Kyle had a double submission on Taven and Bennett. Kyle and Roddy traded chops and kicks in the center of the ring! Strong stunned Kyle with a back breaker. Kyle rallied back with a brain buster on Bennett for a two-count. Kyle put an arm bar on Bennett and Bennett tapped out!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
Rampage had a lot of work to do to live up to the two hours of Collision that came before it. And it didn’t quite manage that but… it did manage to be a quick third hour of fun. The “420” match was a spot fest that made good use of all those involved; whilst it was fantastic to see both Emi Sakura and Yuka Sakazaki on AEW television and though their match wasn’t as good as the rest of the card the sheer joy of seeing these two women in action (it feels like aaaaages since we’ve had decent Joshi action in AEW) more than made up for it. As for the main event, what a great teaser for the match between O’Reilly and Strong at Dynasty! As for THAT segment between Angelo Parker and Ruby Soho, I’ll admit it felt VERY “spots entertainment” but it actually made great use of Soho’s actual pregnancy in a much better way than AEW has made of her real-life relationship with Parker.
