‘AEW: Rampage’ Review (May 31st 2024)
It’s Monday so you know what that means, it’s time for our weekly review of AEW: Rampage! This week’s emanated from the KIA Forum in Los Angeles, California; and featured Excalibur and Tony Schiavone on commentary. Now let’s get to the review…
Match #1: Konosuke Takeshita def. Penta El Zero Miedo
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Penta dropped Takeshita with two arm drags after a flurry of offense between the two. Takeshita left the ring to gather his thoughts and collect himself. Takeshita back dropped Penta El Zero Miedo on the apron. Takeshita blasted Penta with a brain buster in the ring. Takeshita had Penta on his shoulders on the top turnbuckle, but Penta escaped. Penta took down Takeshita with a sling blade. Penta jumped over the top rope with a tope con hiro. Takeshita walloped Penta with a deadlift wheelbarrow German Suplex. Penta fired back with a Made in Japan for a near fall on “The Alpha”! Takeshita leveled Penta with a lariat. Penta rallied back with a Canadian Destroyer on Takeshita on the apron. Takeshita stunned Penta with a Blue Thunder Bomb for a near fall on Penta. Takeshita drilled Penta with a knockout shot and then finished him off with the power drive knee to score the pin!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Match #2: Satnam Singh def. Peter Avalon
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Satnam got on his back and ordered Avalon to pin him. Avalon covered Satnam but Satnam pushed him right off. Satnam put Avalon in a bear hug, rag dolled Avalon, and the ref stopped the match right away! The referee awarded the decision to Satnam in a decisive victory.
My Score: 0 out of 5
Match #3: Toni Storm def. Viva Van
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Viva Van applied an arm bar, but Toni reached the ropes with her boot, forcing the ref to break the hold. Toni hip checked Viva Van and then knocked Viva Van out of the ring with a running hip attack. Toni and Viva Van exchanged chops and forearms in the center of the ring. Toni jabbed at the challenger and then clocked her with a big right elbow shot! Toni used a fisherman’s suplex for a near fall on Viva Van. Viva Van clobbered Toni with an ax kick for a near fall. Viva Van hoisted up Toni on her shoulders. Toni escaped and German Suplexed Viva Van. Toni smashed Viva Van with a running hip attack, followed up with the Storm Zero and pinned Viva Van!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #4: Kyle O’Reilly def. Jordan Cruz
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Kyle peppered Jordan with kicks right out of the gate. Kyle wrenched on Jordan’s arm. Kyle clobbered Jordan with ground and pound palm strikes. Kyle applied an arm bar and Jordan tapped out immediately!
My Score: 0 out of 5
Match #5: Rey Fenix def. Isiah Kassidy
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Fenix stunned Kassidy with a big dropkick right on target. Kassidy intercepted a thrust kick and went for a hurracanrana, but Fenix landed on his feet. Kassidy clocked Rey with a reverse hurracanrana, but Rey Fenix popped up and nailed Kassidy with a German Suplex. Rey Fenix jumped onto the ropes and took down Kassidy with a hurracanrana, who was also on the ropes! Rey Fenix blasted Brother Zay with a gut buster. Zay regained some momentum with a guillotine cutter on the ropes and the flipped over the top rope, landing onto Rey Fenix. Brother Zay spiked Rey Fenix with a DDT for a near fall. Kassidy rocked Rey with a Canadian Destroyer. Kassidy went up top for a senton atomico, but Rey dodged it. Rey ran the top rope and punted Kassidy in the face. Rey Fenix connected with a frog splash, but Zay kicked out at the two-count! Rey Fenix hoisted up Kassidy and planted him with a double underhook on his head! Rey covered Kassidy and scored the pin!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3.5/5
Despite to squash matches on the card, this week’s Rampage was a solid hour of good wrestling. Essentially it was a three-match episode – a strong opener, a good mid-show match and a strong main event. The fact that the open AND closing matches both featured the Lucha Bros. really did account for the show’s success. On a positive note, one of this episode’s squash matches featured Peter Avalon, a mainstay of early AEW who hasn’t really been seen regularly since the end of Dark and Elevation. Hi appearance was definitely a pleasant surprise!
