‘AEW: Rampage’ Review (Apr 27th 2024)
Now I’d normally say “It’s Monday so you know what that means”, but this week’s AEW: Rampage took place AFTER Collision on Saturday night and was, like the rest of this past week’s AEW programming, broadcast from Daily’s Place in Jacksonville, Florida and – like Collision – featured Nigel McGuiness and Tony Schiavone on commentary, with guerst appearances by Matt Menards and Anthony Ogogo. Now let’s get to the review…
Match #1: Parking Lot Fight – Trent Beretta def. Chuck Taylor
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Trent whacked Taylor with a trashcan lid. Trent slammed a garbage can on top of Chuck. Chuck power bombed Trent onto the hood of a car. Trent jumped off a truck and dropped an elbow on top of Chuck, who himself was on the roof of another car! Chuck suplexed Trent through a door that had been propped up onto a car. Chuck hit Trent with a garbage can and then a dustpan! Chuck climbed onto a truck, but Trent grabbed Chuck and body slammed Chuck onto lightbulb tubes! Chuck rallied back, power bombing Trent through a car windshield. They traded forearms on the roof of a car, both men bloodied. Trent connected with a low blow. Trent stuffed Chuck with a piledriver on top of a car! Trent applied a submission choke hold and Trent won via ref stoppage as Chuck was unconscious!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #2: Thunder Rosa def. Deonna Purrazzo
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Thunder Rosa grounded and pounded Deonna! “The Virtuosa” tied up Thunder Rosa in the ropes and dropkicked her. Thunder Rosa knocked Deonna down with a running dropkick of her own. Deonna scored with a pump kick. Thunder Rosa mounted a comeback with a double stomp. Thunder Rosa jumped off the top turnbuckle, but Deonna countered with a Fujiwara armbar. Thunder Rosa escaped, rolled up Deonna, and pinned Deonna. As Thunder Rosa was leaving the ring, Deonna shoved her from behind. Deonna pushed Thunder Rosa into the steel guardrail. They brawled on the ledge in front of the fans. Security had to separate the two wrestlers.
My Score: 3 out of 5
Match #3: Big Bill def. Trevor Blackwell
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Big Bill blasted Blackwell with a massive boot to the face! Big Bill splashed Trevor in the turnbuckles. Big Bill planted Trevor with a sidewalk slam. Big Bill followed up with a lariat. Big Bill choke slammed Trevor with one arm and pinned Trevor!
My Score: 0 out of 5
Match #4: Daniel Garcia & Katsuyori Shibata def. Shane Taylor Promotions (Shane Taylor & Lee Moriarty)
The following is courtesy of allelitewrestling.com:
Garcia clotheslined Moriarty and followed up with three consecutive twisting neck breakers. Taylor, on the outside of the ring, tripped Garcia and spiked him with a DDT on the arena floor. Taylor tagged in and walloped Garcia with an overhand chop. Taylor decked Garcia and then splashed him for a near fall. Daniel dodged a splash from Taylor, but Lee stopped Garcia from making the tag. Garcia hit a back drop driver on Lee Moriarty. Daniel Garcia finally reached Shibata for the hot tag! Shibata smashed Shane Taylor with a high boot and then a running pump kick. Shibata leveled Lee with a forearm. Shibata blistered Shane with chops in the corner. Garcia rocked Taylor with a running knee strike. Shibata and Garcia double suplexed Taylor. Shibata applied a sleeper hold to Moriarty and Garcia jumped on Taylor’s back, applying a sleeper to Taylor! Shibata mauled Moriarty with a PK kick and pinned Moriarty!
My Score: 3 out of 5
Final Verdict: 3/5
Like last week, Rampage had a lot to live up to in comparison to the two hours that came before it and like last week it very nearly did. The parking lot brawl was a lot of fun (yes, I’m calling a bloody, bruutal match fun) and the main event was just as good. Surprisingly, I think Thunder Rosa found a great foil in Deonna Purazzo this week, and that “heel” turn Purazzo did post-match should – fingers crossed – revitalise here character too. The only letdown in this episode was the Big Bill squash match, not because it was a squash match but because it only existed to further the crappy Chirs Jericho “Learning Tree” rubbish… Poor Bill, another wrestler whose career will be held back for a while by Jericho.
