‘AEW: Rampage’ Review (Dec 27th 2024)
It’s Monday Tuesday so you know what that means, it’s time for our weekly review of AEW: Rampage! This week’s show emanated from the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York and featured Tony Schiavone, Ian Riccaboni and Matt Menard on commentary. Now let’s get to the review…
Match #1: Chris Jericho def. Anthony Bowens
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Bowens chopped at the Learning Tree with big right hands. Bowens went to town with a punch-elbow combo. Jericho poked Bowens in the eyes, followed up by a running lariat. Jericho hit a big back suplex on Bowens. Jericho unleashed a flurry of chops on Bowens. Jericho went for a bulldog, but Bowens countered, launching Jericho into the turnbuckles. Bowens drilled Jericho with a knee to the face. Bowens blocked the lionsault and countered with a twisting hangman DDT for a near fall. Jericho locked on the lion tamer! Bowens managed to reach the ropes to force the ref to break the hold. Bowens hit the fameasser on Jericho. Bowens sent Jericho tumbling outside the ring. Bowens took flight with a cross body block to Jericho and Big Bill. “The Bad Apple” Bryan Keith distracted the referee. Caster seized the opportunity to jump into the ring and body slam Jericho, setting Jericho up for the Scissor-Me-Timbers. Bowens covered Jericho but Jericho kicked out at the two-count! Bowens ducked the Judas Effect. Big Bill jumped on the apron to distract the ref. Bryan Keith jumped in the ring with the ROH World Title. Caster tried prying it out of Keith’s hands. Caster pulled it away and inadvertently bashed Bowens in the head with the belt! Keith tackled Caster. Jericho covered Bowens and pinned him!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #2: Private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen) def. Leo Sparrow & Alec Price
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Price kicked Zay but Zay fired back with a dropkick. Quen tagged in and Private Party nailed Price with tandem offense. Private Party finished off Price with the Gin & Juice for a quick and dominant victory!
My Score: 0 out of 5
Match #3: Thunder Rosa def. Leila Grey
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Thunder Rosa chopped Grey in the corner. Rosa followed up with two consecutive arm drags and then a basement clothesline. Grey countered a scoop slam with a cradle for a near fall. Grey blasted Thunder Rosa with a shotgun dropkick. Thunder Rosa smoked Leila with a dropkick of her own. Leila fired back with a snap suplex. Thunder Rosa clobbered Grey with a pair of knees. Thunder Rosa charged at Leila with a dropkick in the face. Leila smashed Thunder Rosa with a side effect! Thunder Rosa back dropped Leila and then double stomped her on the back. Thunder Rosa locked on the cobra clutch and forced Leila to tap out!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #4: Hook def. Nick Wayne
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Nick Wayne ambushed Hook before the bell rang. Hook survived the sneak attack and punished Nick with body shots. Hook hit the T-bone suplex. Nick Wayne retaliated with a snap suplex. Nick Wayne nailed Hook with a quick leg drop. Nick Wayne reversed an Irish Whip and sent Hook into the steel ring steps. Kip Sabian held Hook’s injured arm while Christian smashed the cast with the metal contract. The ref ejected the Patriarchy from ringside. Nick Wayne ripped the cast off Hook’s injured hand. Nick stomped on Hook’s hand. Hook had enough and sent Nick Wayne hurling with a suplex. Hook charged at Nick with a lariat and followed up with another suplex. Hook nailed Nick with a fisherman’s suplex for a near fall. Hook countered the Wayne’s World with a suplex on the apron! Nick Wayne regained momentum with a beautiful frog splash for a near fall. Hook drilled Wayne with a desperate clothesline. Christian Cage and Kip Sabian walked back down the ramp. Katsuyori Shibata was nearby, though, chasing them with a board! Shibata ran after the Patriarchy with a 2×4. Wayne went for the Wayne’s World but Hook countered with the Redrum! Hook was victorious via ref stoppage!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 2.5/5
Well that’s it, Rampage is over. This was the final ever episode of AEW’s second-oldest weekly television show as the company transitions to two main shows with the touted “AEW: Shockwave” coming sometime in 2025. Maybe. Did the show end on a high? Not really. Maybe it’s about time for this one hour to go, but then it ended on a brilliant note with Moxley and co. seemingly putting an end to this episode AND to Rampage as a whole. I don’t care what anyone says, this Death Riders versus AEW stuff is keeping me hooked week after week.
