‘AEW: Rampage’ Review (Jan 13th 2023)
It’s Monday so you know what that means, it’s time for our weekly review of AEW: Rampage! This week’s show was broadcast live from the Kia Forum in Los Angeles, California and featured Chris Jericho, Excalibur, Tony Schiavone and Jim Ross on commentary. Now let’s get to the review…
Match #1: TNT Championship Match – Darby Allin def. Juice Robinson
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Juice backed the champion into the ropes. Juice grappled Darby to the mat. Darby grabbed a side headlock on Juice, bringing Juice to the mat. Juice sat out with a senton but Darby lifted his knees into Juice’s spine. Juice hoisted up Darby, sending him crashing to the arena floor. Juice whipped Darby into the security railing. Juice rammed Darby into the steel ring steps. Darby fired back with a John Woo dropkick and then a tope suicida to Juice! Darby attempted the Coffin Drop but Juice countered it and followed up with a big kick for a near fall. Juice hit a senton on Darby, and then a second senton for a two-count. Robinson jumped off the turnbuckles but Darby dodged it. Juice retaliated with a gut buster. Juice tried for a senton in the corner but Darby moved and nailed Juice with a Code Red! Darby climbed to the top turnbuckle but Juice swept out Darby’s legs. Juice smashed Darby with a lariat and then a jackhammer for a near fall! Darby countered Juice with a Scorpion Death Drop off the ropes! Darby connected with a Coffin Drop and pinned Juice!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: The Kings of the Black Throne (Brody King & Malakai Black) def. Eddie Kingston & Ortiz
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Ortiz went right after Brody King, but King chopped Ortiz to the mat. Ortiz dropkicked Brody in the knee and then tagged in Eddie. Eddie was looking for the half and half but Brody battled out of the hold. Black tagged in and got leveled with a chop by Kingston. Black attempted a roundhouse kick but Eddie avoided it. Both teams began to brawl outside the ring. Brody King clobbered Kingston with a massive lariat. Eddie rallied back with a half and half suplex. Ortiz was pleading for the tag but Black ran in. Ortiz came in with a DDT on Black. Kingston got a near fall after an exploder suplex on Black. Malakai Black blasted Eddie with a rising knee strike! Kingston threw everything he had into a lariat to Black. Buddy Matthews and Julia Hart ran to the ring with steel chairs. Eddie didn’t realize Julia Hart was behind him. But Eddie didn’t realize it was Julia behind him, he thought it was Buddy who was behind him. Black finished off Kingston and then pinned him.
My Score: 2 out of 5
Match #3: Street Fight – Ruby Soho & Willow Nightingale def. Anna Jay A.S. & Tay Melo
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Ruby and Willow ambushed Anna Jay and Tay from behind as the J.A.S. members were making their ring entrance. Anna whipped Ruby into the steel ring post, and then smashed her face-first into the ring bell. Ruby Soho was busted open when she was placed inside a garbage can and Anna Jay and Tay stomped on it. Anna wrapped barbed wire around her arm and then locked in the Queen Slayer on Willow! Ruby had a chain wrapped around her fist and hammered away at Anna. Tay smashed Ruby with the lid from the trash can. Tay stacked chairs in the ring. Tay and Anna were about to superplex Ruby when Willow powerbombed Tay and Anna! Willow cracked Tay with a spinebuster and followed up with a cannonball senton onto Anna in the corner! Willow attempted a doctor bomb on the floor but Tay blasted Willow with a trash can lid. Ruby landed the No Future kick on Anna! Willow powerbombed Anna off the stage and through a table. Tay jumped off the ring apron and spiked Ruby through a table! Tay spilled out a bag of thumbtacks in the ring! Ruby grabbed a handful of thumb tacks and threw them into Tay’s face! Ruby pinned Tay after rocking her with the Destination Unknown into the tacks!
My Score: 3.5 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3.5/5
Another great episode of Rampage this week, one that opened strong with tag great match between Darby Allin and Juice Robinson – one of Robinson’s better recent matches IMHO. The tag match was weak, mainly because I’m not buying the issues between Eddie Kingston and Ortiz – they’ve known each other for years and stupid shit like the games House of Black are pulling wouldn’t break longtime friends up that easily, even with Kingston’s in-story anger issues. As for this week’s main event, I don’t give a shit what other folks are saying about “women shouldn’t bleed in matches” or “Ruby Soho doesn’t need to bleed in her matches” this was a goddamn badass women’s tag match and was the perfect end to this feud… In terms of story, Ruby took it to extremes to beat Tay Melo and found a ride-or-die partner in Willow, I’m hoping those two stick together as a tag team going forward or at least as back-up for each other in singles matches; even things up a little.
