‘AEW: Rampage’ Review (Dec 20th 2024)
It’s Monday so you know what that means, it’s time for our weekly review of AEW: Rampage! This week’s show emanated from the Entertainment & Sports Arena in Washington, DC and featured Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Ian Riccaboni and Matt Menard on commentary. Now let’s get to the review…
Match #1: Konosuke Takeshita & “The Machine” Brian Cage def. Powerhouse Hobbs & Mark Davis
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Hobbs and Takeshita traded forearms and strikes. Hobbs tried for a spinebuster, but Takeshita escaped and rolled out of the ring to create distance between the two. “The Machine” Brian Cage tagged in, and he booted Hobbs in the midsection. Hobbs made him pay for it with a forearm strike before tagging out to Mark Davis. Davis took down Cage with a shoulder tackle. Takeshita and Cage worked in tandem to take down Hobbs. Cage grounded and pounded Hobbs. Takeshita tagged in and he and Cage double suplexed Hobbs. Hobbs caught Cage with an explosive suplex. Davis grabbed a tag from Hobbs, offering relief. Davis back body dropped Cage. Davis went for a senton, but Cage countered by raising his knees. Takeshita connected with a Blue Thunder Bomb on Davis, good for a near fall. Cage struck Davis with a jumping knee strike. Davis fired back with a back drop. Hobbs and Takeshita tagged in for their respective teams and Hobbs unleashed fury on Cage and Takeshita. Hobbs power slammed Cage and then he power slammed Takeshita. Takeshita countered a spinebuster attempt with an elbow and then a rolling forearm. Hobbs spiked Takeshita with a spinebuster out of nowhere! Cage came in and planted Hobbs with a pump handle slam for a near fall. Davis and Takeshita collided in the center of the ring. Takeshita drilled Davis with the power drive knee and then nailed Davis with the Raging Fire to pick up the pin fall!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: Lio Rush & Action Andretti def. Miles Hawkins & Goldy
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Lio Rush went after Goldy. Hawkins tried to fight off Rush and Andretti, but they swarmed him with a flurry of offense and a series of misdirects. Action hit a neck breaker on Hawkins and Lio pinned Hawkins.
My Score: 0 out of 5
Match #3: Willow Nightingale def. Harley Cameron
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Willow connected with a diving body press to Harley. Willow body slammed Cameron. Willow propped up Harley in the tree of woe, but Harley escaped and landed a kick and a back elbow on Willow. Willow dropped Harley with a thunderous lariat. Willow booted Harley and then planted Harley with a spinebuster for a near fall. Harley dodged a cannonball splash and then staggered Willow with a shining wizard. Willow drilled Harley with a Death Valley Driver, but Harley kicked out at the two count! Willow finished off Harley with the Babe with the Powerbomb for the pinfall victory!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #4: Continental Classic Gold League Match – Brody King def. Komander
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Brody bulldozed Komander with a running shoulder. Komander chopped back and Brody didn’t budge. Brody wiped out Komander with a chop of his own. Brody sent Komander soaring high with a back drop. Komander escaped a power bomb attempt. Brody smashed Komander with a clubbing lariat. Komander targeted Brody with kicks to the thigh. Komander tried to walk the ropes, but Brody sent Komander crashing to the floor with a double chop! Brody pummeled Komander with punishing kicks and strikes. Komander jumped on Brody’s back and locked in a submission dead center in the ring. Brody hurled Komander off his back, escaping the submission. Komander blasted Brody with a crucifix bomb! Komander jumped out of the ring at Brody, but Brody caught him and rammed Komander into the barricade, using him as a battering ram. Brody charged at Komander but Komander escaped calamity, and Brody crashed into the guardrail. Komander flipped out of the ring, throwing his entire body at Brody on the arena floor with a midair salute. Brody put Komander on his shoulders and climbed to the top turnbuckle. Komander adjusted and power bombed Brody off the ropes. Komander landed a 450 splash on Brody for a near fall! Komander dropkicked Brody on the right shoulder and Brody spilled out of the ring. Komander moonsaulted out of the ring onto Brody with another salute! Komander moonsaulted Brody inside the ring this time. Brody was too big and managed to get to his feet. Brody spiked Komander with the Gonzo Bomb and pinned Komander!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2.5/5
A bit of a comedown for Rampage this week. Unfortunately, we got time wasted on a squash match, something I don’t really appreciate on ANY wrestling program, and even less so on an hour-long show! To be fair to this week’s Rampage, the hour did fly by and the entire thing was a whole heap of fun despite a fall off in match quality… Though thankfully the one C2 match we got this week managed to pull this episode back from the brink of total dud.
