‘AEW: Rampage’ Review (Aug 12th 2022)
It’s Monday morning, so you know what that means… it’s time for our review of Friday night’s episode of AEW: Rampage, which this week was part of the “Quake By the Lake” specials from the company (yeah, an in-name only special) and featured Tony Schiavone, Excalibur and Jim Ross on commentary, so let’s get to the review!
Match #1: AAA World Mixed Championship Match – Sammy Guevara & Tay Melo def. Dante Martin & Skye Blue
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Sammy shoved Dante and then Tay and Skye began to brawl outside the ring. Dante tripped Sammy and then grounded and pounded him. Skye connected with a big crossbody press off the top turnbuckle to Tay! They traded open palm strikes but Tay used a double leg takedown. Tay controlled the lower body of Skye Blue and then used an inverted neck crank. Skye used a step-up knee strike on Tay. From outside the ring Sammy distracted Skye and then Tay blasted Skye with a kick! Skye rallied back and tagged out to Dante. Again Dante used a double leg takedown on Sammy, following up with a dropkick that was right on the money! Dante wiped out Sammy with a tope suicida. Tay grabbed the boot of Dante Martin, keeping him pinned. Dante launched off Tay’s back with a Canadian Destroyer on Sammy for a near fall! Skye Blue tagged in but Tay DDT’ed Dante. Tay nailed Skye with a thrust kick and then rocked her with the Tay-KO. Tay finished off Skye, pinning her!
My Score: 2.5 out of 5
Match #2: Parker Boudreaux def. Sonny Kiss
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Parker rammed Sonny into the turnbuckles and blasted him with stiff shots. Sonny fought back with an uppercut. Parker chokeslammed Sonny and then drove him down again for the pin!
My Score: 1 out of 5
Match #3: The Gunn Club (Austin & Colten Gunn) def. Beardhausen (Danhausen & Erick Redbeard)
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Redbeard displayed his strength backing Colten to the corner. Redbeard shoulder blocked Austin. The Gunn Club went out to the arena floor to get some coaching from Billy. Danhausen tagged in but quickly ate a shot from Austin Gunn. Danhausen escaped the grips of Austin and tagged out to Erick Redbeard. Erick splashed Colten in the corner and then hurled Austin over the top rope! Redbeard smashed them with a running crossbody outside the ring. Redbeard nailed Austin with a spinning heel kick for a near fall. Colten broke up the pin attempt but then Redbeard suplexed the Gunn Club and tagged out to Danhausen. Billy Gunn pulled down the top rope while the ref was distracted and Redbeard toppled out! Austin used his father’s famous finisher and pinned Danhausen!
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #4: Orange Cassidy def. Ari Daivari
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Orange played mind games with Ari and rolled out of the ring. Orange returned to the ring and he and Ari chain wrestled with Orange getting the upper hand. Ari nailed Orange with a neck breaker on the middle rope! Ari applied a sleeper to Orange. Orange escaped but both men collided as they connected with lariats to one another, both having the same idea. Cassidy connected with a diving cross body press. Ari used a neck breaker but then Orange countered with a suplex. Orange blasted Ari with a thrust kick. Orange tried for the Orange Punch but Ari countered for a near fall! Orange planted Ari with a DDT! Orange followed up with a diving DDT, spiking Ari Daivari twice in a row. Slim J popped up on the apron but Chuck Taylor pulled him back down. Parker grabbed the Best Friends but Orange jumped onto Parker with a tope suicida! Ari connected with an Iconoclasm on Orange for a near fall! Orange fired back with the Orange Punch and pinned Ari!
My Score: 3 out of 5
News of the Night:
- Sonny Kiss low-blowed Orange Cassidy after his match and aligned themselves with the Trustbusters faction!
Final Verdict: 2.5/5
This was a decidedly average episode of Rampage, with only the main event really providing the quality of wrestling I’d expect from AEW and… I honestly didn’t actually expect that main event to be that good! Cassidy and Daivari had great chemistry in the ring and Daivari looked the best he has in agggggges(!) in this match. This episode did seem to be built around Daivari and his Trustbusters faction, which led to the great heel turn from Sonny Kiss. Which in turn means more Sonny on TV. As everyone has already said… that move looks like AEW, and Tony Khan, are listening to the fans – all of whom wanted more Kiss on TV!
