Rampage
Date: October 11, 2024
Location: Spokane Arena, Spokane, Washington
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Jeff Jarrett

It’s the night before WrestleDream and in this case we won’t be having a Collision tomorrow night, so this is the last push towards the pay per view. That very well could mean a different kind of Rampage, which is often not exactly there for the sake of pushing towards a pay per view. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Conglomeration vs. Kingdom

Cassidy and Bennett start things off with an exchange of covers that don’t even get one each. The lazy kicks set up a running shoulder to put Bennett down so it’s off to Taven, who accidentally teams up with Cassidy for a double clothesline. O’Reilly comes in for the knees but gets knocked into the corner so the beating can ensue. That doesn’t last long either as O’Reilly fights out of trouble and everything breaks down.

The tornado DDT hits Taven and O’Reilly gets the cross armbreaker on Bennett, sending him straight tot he ropes and us to a break. Back with Taven backbreakering and DDTing Cassidy, setting up a Lionsault for two on O’Reilly. Some rapid fire strikes have Taven back down but Bennett is back in with a piledriver on Cassidy. Since it’s just a piledriver, Cassidy is back up with the Beach Break to Bennett but Taven hits him with Just The Tip. Back up and O’Reilly guillotines Taven for the win at 10:09.

Rating: B-. The teams works well together, but there was little drama here as the Kingdom has long since been established as losers who certainly aren’t going to beat a team like the Conglomeration. Otherwise, that’s three straight wins for O’Reilly and Cassidy so a title shot isn’t out of the cards. I mean it’s not like Private Party has won three matches…maybe this whole year?

Mercedes Mone and Kamille are rather busy and time is money.

The Acclaimed come out for a match but the MxM Collection jump them from behind. The Collection throw out the challenge for WrestleDream and promise to have a third man in their corner.

Kris Statlander blames Mercedes Mone for making everything all apart. She’s coming for the TBS Title. We’re never getting a clear explanation for why she and Stokely Hathaway are done are we?

Rocky Romero is ready to prove that he’s not the Conglomeration’s lackey.

Kris Statlander vs. Amira

A suplex and Friday Night Fever finish for Statlander at 1:00.

Chris Jericho is ready to become the Nueve. The word of the day is humbled, which is what Mark Briscoe needs to do.

The Beast Mortos vs. The Butcher

Roderick Strong is on commentary. They take turns powering each other around to start and an exchange of shoulders goes nowhere. Morton rolls over him and grabs a snapmare, with Strong approving. Butcher is right back up with a knockdown for two of his own before avoiding a charge to send Mortos crashing to the floor. We take a break and come back with a double knockdown for a double breather. Mortos misses the twisting moonsault and Butcher gets two off a Jackhammer. Back up and Mortos hits a torture rack backbreaker, setting up a twisting top rope headbutt for the pin at 8:33.

Rating: B-. Take two big guys and have the beat on each other for a few minutes until one of them can’t get up. It’s a rather simple formula and they made it work here, with both guys doing their usual good stuff. Mortos gets a nice win on his way to what should be a loss to Hologram while Butcher does what he’s there to do.

Harley Cameron says Saraya is incapacitated and but Cameron wants to fight the newly tough Anna Jay.

Lance Archer vs. Matt Brannigan

Brannigan slips out of an early chokeslam attempt but Archer knocks him into the corner for some running elbows. The Blackout finishes at 2:10.

Jake Roberts is happy with La Faccion Ingobernable. We’ll have to see what they do next.

Anna Jay says she and Harley Cameron aren’t friends. Cameron wants to kick her a**, but this a** kicks back.

Bryan Keith vs. Rocky Romero

Keith jumps him in the corner to start but Romero, still in his ring jacket, is back with a spinning middle rope crossbody. Keith bails to the floor so Romero dropkicks him through the ropes, only to have an exploder cut off. We take a break and come back with Romero stomping away in the corner but Keith hits a double underhook knee to the face for two. The running Sliced Bread gives Romero two, followed by the super Sliced Bread but Romero bangs up his knee. The knee is fine enough to hit a suicide dive…and cue Big Bill to boot Romero in the face. Diamond Dust finishes for Keith at 10:25.

Rating: C+. You kind of knew what you were going to get with this one as the people are talented, though Romero as the unhappy lackey of the Conglomeration isn’t exactly hooking me. He’s been on the team for approximately 18 seconds and is already having issues. Romero is only so interesting in the first place and having him be upset by this stuff isn’t helping.

Overall Rating: B-. The wrestling was good and it added just enough to WrestleDream (ok the Kickoff Show but it’s something) to seem somewhat important. The big stuff is already set so there wasn’t much to cover here, but we did get some good enough matches. WrestleDream isn’t the strongest card, but at least they did well on their last stop on the way.

Results
Conglomeration b. Kingdom – Guillotine to Taven
Kris Statlander b. Amira – Friday Night Fever
The Beast Mortos b. The Butcher – Top rope spinning headbutt
Lance Archer b. Matt Brannigan – Blackout
Bryan Keith b. Rocky Romero – Diamond Dust

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Rampage
Date: October 4, 2024
Location: Petersen Events Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Matt Menard

We’re closing in on WrestleDream and there are still some spots on the card that need to be filled in. Some of those spots could be filled in tonight, as there are some things to cover coming off of a pretty big Dynamite. Odds are the action should be good here as well so let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Young Bucks/Jack Perry vs. Private Party/Katsuyori Shibata

Shibata and Perry start things off with Shibata easily taking him down for two. Back up and Perry runs away from him, which is enough to bring in Matt for a cheap shot. Shibata forearms Nick in the face and Private Party comes in for an atomic drop into an enziguri. Perry tries to interfere and gets kicked in the face for his efforts before Kassidy gets to hammer on Nick. Matt pulls him to the floor though and everything breaks down, with Shibata being sent into the barricade.

We take a break and come back with Kassidy fighting out of a chinlock but Perry pulls Shibata off the apron to block a tag. The assisted Sliced Bread gets two on Kassidy but he fights out of trouble again and hands it back to Quen. A big Swanton takes out the villains on the floor and a high crossbody gets two on Matt back inside. Matt grabs a Falcon Arrow for two before it’s back to Perry for a dropkick on Shibata.

Poetry In Motion staggers Perry and Shibata kicks him in the face for two, followed by the PK for the same. The double superkick drops Shibata though and another one puts Quen down, only for Kassidy to break up Perry’s running knee. Gin & Juice gets two on Perry with the Bucks making the save. Shibata gets knocked to the floor and Matt blocks the Silly String. The TK Driver is broken up though and a victory roll pins Nick at 15:08.

Rating: B-. They are actually running Private Party and Shibata as pay per view challengers aren’t they? Shibata feels like they’re just trying to give Perry another win over an established name, but Private Party is based on a match they won FIVE YEARS AGO. They’ve done pretty much nothing since but they’re being heated up here, as apparently there are no better options available. That says a heck of a lot about the tag division.

Kris Statlander says the street fight against Willow Nightingale was the end of an era for her and now she’s on her own again. She’s the tallest and the strongest…but Kamille and Mercedes Mone come in to disagree.

Harley Cameron says Saraya is incapacitated after her match against Jamie Hayter and no more questions. Queen Aminata is in trouble tonight.

Kamille vs. Zoey Lynn

Mercedes Mone is here with Kamille. A spear and something like a reverse Cross Rhodes finish for Kamille at 19 seconds.

Anna Jay has been working hard and Will Ospreay seems to agree. If you don’t think she’s gotten better, come try her.

Deonna Purrazzo and Taya Valkyrie talk about their code. Valkyrie had an early misstep but she understands she still has a lot to learn.

Harley Cameron vs. Queen Aminata

Aminata grabs a waistlock to start and we get an early standoff. Cameron is back up with an enziguri, only to get taken down for a PK. We take an early break and come back with Cameron hitting a running knee for two. Cameron kicks her to the floor, where Aminata manages a drive into the apron. Back in and Cameron fires off some shoulders in the corner before a rollup gets two. A backbreaker and the Queen’s Crown (headbutt) finish for Aminata at 8:01.

Rating: C. Cameron is still much better on the microphone with her rather wacky style but she’s gotten better in the ring. She did well enough here, but Aminata is pretty clearly a project for AEW. She isn’t bad at all, but I got a bit burned out on her with how many times she was featured when she showed up and that’s taking time to get over.

Post match Serena Deeb jumps Aminata as payback for Dynamite but Britt Baker makes the save.

The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn can’t believe the MxM Collection got fooled on Dynamite and aren’t done with them.

Conglomeration vs. Learning Tree

Chris Jericho is on commentary. Cassidy and Bill start things off with Cassidy putting his hands in the pockets and running the ropes before going out to the floor. Back in and another slide to the floor allows O’Reilly to come in as Bill is getting frustrated. Keith comes in and is quickly wrestled to the mat before they go outside as well. A running knee off the apron takes Keith down and Cassidy dives onto Bill as we take a break.

Back with Keith suplexing Cassidy and Bill coming in for some alternating splashes in the corners. Diamond Dust is broken up though and an assisted tornado DDT takes Bill down. Keith cuts off Cassidy on the top and slugs it out with O’Reilly. The ankle lock has Keith in trouble so Jericho comes to the ring for a distraction, which is broken up as well. Cassidy dives onto Bill and a high/low finishes Keith at 12:30.

Rating: B-. Pretty nice main event here with the feud continuing, even though Jericho and Mark Briscoe are the focal point at WrestleDream. The fans are always going to react to Cassidy and Bill looks more and more like a star every time he’s in the ring. Perfectly good main event here, even if it didn’t feel that important.

Overall Rating: B-. The matches were good enough and while it didn’t really add anything to WrestleDream, it kept my interest for an hour and never dragged at all. That’s a nice way to go for a show like this and has become the norm for Rampage most of the time. WrestleDream still needs some work, but that can come on Dynamite and Collision.

Results
Private Party/Katsuyori Shibata b. Young Bucks/Jack Perry – Victory roll to Nick
Kamille b. Zoey Lynn – Twisting neckbreaker
Queen Aminata b. Harley Cameron – Queen’s Crown
Conglomeration b. Learning Tree – High/low to Keith

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Rampage
Date: September 28, 2024
Location: MassMutual Center, Springfield, Massachusetts
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Matt Menard

We’re going way out of order here as this show was taped before this week’s Dynamite. It’s a bit strange to go from the big stadium in New York to this arena and back to the stadium again tomorrow for Collision but a little change of pace shouldn’t hurt anything. If the show follows Rampage’s normal trend, things should go well enough. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

House Of Black vs. Lio Rush/Action Andretti

Brody King, Top Flight and Leila Grey are here too. Black and Rush start things off with Rush taking him down but charging into a kick to the face. Andretti tags himself in and yells at Black, who turns around hand hands it off to Matthews. More taunting has Andretti so annoyed that Rush comes in…and gets kneed out to the floor. Back up and Rush hits a quick dive, allowing Andretti to come back in and strike away. Rush front facelocks Black as the Righteous are watching in the back.

We take a break and come back with Andretti fighting out of a chinlock, setting up stereo crossbodies for a double knockdown. Rush comes in and picks up the pace on Matthews, including a poisonrana. The Final Hour is loaded up but Andretti tags himself in, only to be kicked into Rush on the top. The End finishes Andretti at 9:04.

Rating: B-. The House is getting back on track and have a bunch of people coming for them, which should keep them busy for awhile. Rush and Andretti having issues is fine, but could we do something else with Top Flight other than just having them stand around? For the life of me I do not get why they are stuck in such a rut but it’s been going on for a very long time now.

Post match Andretti yells at Brody King, who crushes him with a corner splash.

Anna Jay is back and says she isn’t sure where she fits in around here but she’s ready to find out starting tonight.

Anna Jay vs. Robyn Renegade

Renegade powers her into the corner to start and yells a lot on the otherwise clean break. Jay runs her over with a shoulder and chops away in the corner, setting up a basement dropkick. Back up and Renegade gets in a knockdown of her own but Jay hits a running forearm. A neckbreaker into a Gory Bomb finishes for Jay at 2:38. Jay looked like she had some new stuff, but none of that is going to matter if she isn’t actually pushed for a change.

We get a sitdown interview with Will Ospreay and Ricochet, who argue over their previous matches. The full thing is on YouTube.

Konosuke Takeshita vs. Angelico

Angelico grabs an early rollup for two to start and then kicks Takeshita out to the floor. The dance keeps Takeshita on the floor before hitting a running clothesline back inside. We take a break and come back with Angelico hitting some clotheslines. Some kicks to the head set up a small package for two before Angelico cranks on Takeshita’s arm. Something like an STF has Takeshita bailing to the ropes and going up, where Angelico backdrops him down. That’s shrugged off though and Takeshita hits the Blue Thunder Bomb into the Raging Fire for the pin at 9:08.

Rating: C+. This is a good example of what I don’t get about AEW. Takeshita is hot right now and looks to be on his way to a title match with Kazuchika Okada. That’s going to be one of the biggest matches of his career to date, so why in the world is he taking almost ten minutes to beat half of a low level tag team? Angelico doesn’t have any status to lose so why isn’t Takeshita out there mauling him in about four minutes?

We look at Bryan Danielson beating Nigel McGuinness on Dynamite and then attacking Jon Moxley later in the night.

Acclaimed vs. Fancy Clancy/TJ Crawford

Caster kicks at Clancy to start but walks into a dropkick. Crawford comes in and strikes away at Bowens, who wastes no time in hitting the Arrival. The Mic Drop connects as well before an assisted flipping slam finishes Clancy at 2:05.

Post match Caster says the Acclaimed is crashing the MxM’s party on Collision. The Collection pops up on screen to say the Acclaimed is not invited.

Willow Nightingale vs. Taya Valkyrie

Taya knocks her down into the corner to start and stomps away. Back up and Nightingale cartwheels away and kicks her in the head before hitting a crossbody for two. Nightingale’s middle rope dropkick sends her outside and the cannonball off the apron sends us to a break.

Back with Nightingale hitting a hard clothesline to leave both of them down. Nightingale kicks her in the face and hits the spinebuster for another near fall. Another missile dropkick misses though and Valkyrie plants her down for two of her own. Valkyrie has to slip out of a powerbomb attempt and hits a superkick but Nightingale is back with a superplex. Back up and Nightingale Pounces her into the Babe With The Powerbomb for the pin at 10:53.

Rating: B-. This was a good power fight, but wasn’t Taya just put with Deonna Purrazzo last week? Isn’t that a big soon to have her lose? That being said, hopefully Nightingale is put back into the title picture sooner than later. They were teasing something between her and Mariah May on Dynamite and that would work well, assuming Nightingale actually gets to win (and then keep) a title for a change.

Overall Rating: B-. Pretty nice show here which felt like it had some more story advancement for a change. That made for a better week and I was more engaged here than usual. Collision and Dynamite are going to dwarf this show even more than usual, which is kind of a shame as this was better than the norm for Rampage.

Results
House Of Black b. Action Andretti/Lio Rush – The End to Andretti
Anna Jay b. Robyn Renegade – Gory Bomb
Konosuke Takeshita b. Angelico – Raging Fire
Acclaimed b. Fancy Clancy/TJ Crawford – Assisted flipping slam to Clancy
Willow Nightingale b. Taya Valkyrie – Babe With The Powerbomb

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Rampage
Date: September 20, 2024
Location: Mohegan Sun Arena, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Excalibur, Nigel McGuinness

We’re back to the Friday show as the slow build towards WrestleDream begins. Before we get there though, next week is the big Grand Slam Dynamite and there is a good chance that we might be seeing something added to the card this week. Other than that, there is a four way match involving Kip Sabian and Nick Wayne, which is continuing due to reasons. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Mark Briscoe vs. Bryan Keith

Non-title. Keith backs him into the corner to start but Briscoe switches places and stomps away. Briscoe takes it tot he floor and hits the dropkick through the ropes, setting up the Bang Bang Elbow from the apron. The step up dive off the chair is broken up and Keith gets in a low blow to take over. They to back to the floor with Keith kicking him in the face and snapping a suplex as we take a break.

Back with Briscoe blocking Diamond Dust and hitting a superplex for the double knockdown. They chop it out and trade jumping enziguris until Briscoe hits a Rock Bottom. The Death Valley Driver looks to set up the Froggy Bow but Keith breaks it up and knees him down for two. Now the Diamond Dust is countered into a heck of a lariat, with the Jay Driller finishing Keith off at 12:24.

Rating: B-. The fact that the title wasn’t on the line or really even mentioned here continues to show that it doesn’t exactly need to exist. Briscoe rarely defends it in any kind of an important match and other wrestlers don’t seem to want it. Here it was just a thing that happens to be there during a feud between the Conglomeration and the Learning Tree, though Jericho coming after it wouldn’t stun me.

Post match Chris Jericho runs in to beat down Briscoe with the baseball bat but Orange Cassidy makes the save. Big Bill and Kyle O’Reilly run in as well and the Learning Tree stands tall.

Wheeler Yuta vs. The Butcher

Butcher jumps him from behind to start and the beating is on, with a half nelson backbreaker getting two. The stomping continues as Yuta is clearly distracted again. Yuta manages a quick basement dropkick though and hammers away in the corner. Some rolling German suplexes set up the elbows to the head into Cattle Mutilation for the tap at 4:01.

Rating: C. There is something interesting here with the Yuta being all distracted thing as he eventually snaps back to reality and turns into a machine. That being said, there is a good chance that we’ll be seeing something big come of it in the near future, which will hopefully see new Trios Champions. Or just drop the things already for the greater good.

The MxM Collection has stolen Max Caster’s jacket and are going to give it a makeover.

Harley Cameron vs. Hikaru Shida

Saraya is here with Cameron. Shida takes her down to start and hits a kind of reverse side slam. Some right hands in the corner are broken up with a Saraya distraction though and we take a break. Back with Shida hitting a running knee for two but an enziguri misses. They trade rollups for two each until Shida kicks her in the head. Another Saraya distraction breaks up the Katana (with Shida looking scared to try it) so here is Jamie Hayter to chase Saraya off. Shida uses the distraction to grab the Falcon Arrow for the pin at 8:57.

Rating: C. This would be the second straight match where someone is hesitant or distracted, but at least in this case it’s over one move rather than everything. Shida gets some momentum back after her big loss and Cameron is pretty much an easy target for just that. Not much to this one, but the Saraya/Hayter showdown should work at some point.

Post match Saraya challenges Hayter to a Saraya’s Rules match at Grand Slam. Hayter is in.

Roderick Strong/The Beast Mortos vs. Joe Keys/Marcus Mathers

The Kingdom is here with Strong and Mortos. Strong takes Mathers down to start and hammers away before it’s off to Mortos. A Samoan drop/jumping knee gives Mortos and Strong the double pin at 1:26. Total destruction.

Deonna Purrazzo talks about how she is here to hurt people and has some friends, such as Taya Valkyrie.

Nick Wayne vs. Kip Sabian vs. Rocky Romero vs. Lio Rush

It’s a four way brawl to start with Rush sending the rest outside for a dive, only to have Sabian hit a dive of his own. Back in and Sabian avoids Rush’s Final Hour as commentary runs down all of the upcoming matches on various shows. Wayne is back in to kick Sabian down and we take a break.

Back with Rush coming back in to take Wayne down but Sabian hits a missile dropkick. Romero remembers he’s in the match with the Forever Lariats and a running Sliced Bread for two on Sabian. Wayne can’t hit Wayne’s World on Sabian but he can cutter a diving Rush out of the air. Back up and Sabian hits his Deathly Hallows on Romero but Wayne steals the pin at 10:16.

Rating: C+. I think we can effectively call that the most Rampage main event you could ask for in any given week. I’m not sure why the Sabian vs. Wayne stuff is continuing but it certainly looks like we’ll be seeing more of it going forward. Other than that, this was similar to the four way Konosuke Takeshita won a few weeks ago: he was the only person to get any serious focus coming in and then picks up the win.

Overall Rating: C+. Pretty run f the mill Rampage this week, with some midcard stuff being addressed, decent enough action and very little that felt important enough to watch. That’s Rampage in a nutshell, in that it’s rarely a bad show but even more rarely a show that is going to add much to the overall scheme of things. Grand Slam is what matters in the near future though and this did add a match to it, so the important show got some time.

Results
Mark Briscoe b. Bryan Keith – Jay Driller
Wheeler Yuta b. The Butcher – Cattle Mutilation
Hikaru Shida b. Harley Cameron – Falcon Arrow
Roderick Strong/Beast Mortos b. Joe Keys/Marcus Mathers – Double pin
Nick Wayne b. Kip Sabian, Lio Rush and Rocky Romero – Deathly Hallows to Romero

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Rampage
Date: September 13, 2024
Location: Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Matt Menard

We’re taped as the fallout from All Out continues. Dynamite was in a weird place with everything they had to do as so many people are missing after the pay per view. That could spill over to Rampage as well, but the show certainly marches to the beat of its own drum. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Dark Order vs. Conglomeration

Briscoe chops away at Reynolds to start and it’s off to Cassidy, who gets kicked in the face. A double flipping faceplant sets up a triple kick to the face, allowing the Order to pose on Cassidy. Silver hits Reynolds by mistake though and then he does it again, which ahs the Order fighting among themselves. Everything breaks down and Silver is left alone for a running basement dropkick. The Stundog Millionaire rocks Silver again but Uno is back with Something Evil. Briscoe hits a hard clothesline though and we take a break.

Back with O’Reilly cleaning house and the double kicks having Reynolds in more trouble. Everything breaks down and a DDT sends O’Reilly outside. Cassidy comes back with a double hurricanrana and Briscoe uses the chair for a step up flip dive. The Jay Driller finishes Reynolds at 10:07.

Rating: B-. This was the kind of match you would expect from them and even though the Dark Order is only going to be so much of a threat to anyone, at least it was fun while it lasted. The Conglomeration continues to be one of the most entertaining things in AEW, as not only is Briscoe absolutely hilarious, but they work well together in the ring. It’s as good of an opening match as you’re going to get a lot of the time and it worked well here.

Sammy Guevara and Dustin Rhodes argues with the Kingdom and a Fight Without Honor seems set. We’ll even make it a Bunkhouse Brawl, say it with me, on Collision rather than Ring Of Honor.

Kamille vs. Robyn Renegade

Kamille stomps away in the corner but Renegade slips behind her and hammers away. They head outside with Kamille carrying her around and working on the arm. Back in and Renegade hits something like a crossbody for two but gets caught in an Oklahoma Stampede. The sitout Dominator finishes Renegade at 3:16.

Rating: C. Total destruction here, which is what it should have been. Kamille is a powerhouse and mainly there to work for Mercedes Mone but at the same time she can wrestle a decent enough power match. There was only so much to be seen here, but at least she got to make this work in the short time she had.

Christopher Daniels accepts Jack Perry’s open challenge for a TNT Title shot on Collision.

Roderick Strong vs. Beef

Beef is the rather annoying cousin of Anthony Henry, who can’t stand him. Strong grabs a headlock to start but Beef takes him down in a surprise. Back up and Beef runs him over as we take an early break. We come back with Beef winning a slugout and the fans chanting BEEF on every punch. Beef gets the better of the slugout and hammers away in the corner, only for Strong to come back with a superplex for two. Back up and Beef knocks him into the ropes for a running crossbody to the back but the Kingdom offers a distraction. Beef gets back in and Strong knees him in the face for the pin at 7:53.

Rating: C+. The fans were into Beef but he didn’t get to talk, which makes him a lot more tolerable. I’m not sure I can imagine Beef becoming a big deal anywhere but if the fans can have some fun with him, fine enough. For now though, this was little more than a goofy match to fill in some time.

The Righteous say there is a light in the tag division and they’re all here because they’re not all there. Dutch calls out the House Of Black.

Outcasts vs. The Hex

Saraya and Belle start things off with Saraya stomping away in the corner. Kay gets drawn in and it’s off to Cameron to choke in the corner. Saraya’s cheap shot knees on the apron have Belle in more trouble as this is one sided so far. Back in and Belle finally kicks her away, allowing the tag off to Kay for the house cleaning. That lasts all of five seconds as Cameron kicks her down and the Nightcap finishes for Saraya at 3:47.

Rating: C. Pretty much a squash and that’s all it needed to be as the Outcasts are being built up so Jamie Hayter can destroy them in the near future. Saraya and Cameron are still pretty low on the totem pole but they’re a good way for Hayter to look like a monster on the way back in. It’s not a bad idea and if they keep things quick, it should work well.

Post match Jamie Hayter runs in to chase the villains off.

Konosuke Takeshita vs. Action Andretti

Don Callis is here with Takeshita while Lio Rush is with Andretti. Takeshita takes him up against the ropes for a shove to the face but Andretti takes things outside. That just earns Andretti a face first drop onto the apron and Takeshita sends him into a few things. Back in and some hard chops have Andretti in trouble and a superplex makes it worse as we take a break.

Back with Andretti hammering away, including a running back elbow. Andretti sends him outside and hits a rolling splash off the apron, with commentary pointing out that it was kind of a weird move. Back in and Takeshita hits a hard clothesline for two but he has to avoid a standing shooting star press and moonsault. Andretti’s running dropkick is shrugged off but a super hurricanrana works a bit better. Takeshita isn’t having that and hits a running knee but pulls Andretti up at two. Raging Fire finishes for Takeshita at 11:54.

Rating: B-. This was a good showcase for Takeshita, who seems to be on his way to a Continental Title shot against Kazuchika Okada, which could be where he finally gets his big win. Ok so it isn’t likely, but at least Takeshita would be getting some serious competition. For now though, he got to have a nice match against Andretti, who is always good for one of those.

Overall Rating: C+. As usual, not a bad show at all but nothing that you need to go out of your way to see. Rampage has found its footing again and while you don’t gain much from seeing it, the show is perfectly watchable and the very light and breezy show that makes for easy viewing. That’s what we got here and the show flew by, which is always nice to see.

Results
Conglomeration b. Dark Order – Jay Driller to Reynolds
Kamille b. Robyn Renegade – Sitout Dominator
Roderick Strong b. Beef – Jumping knee
Outcasts b. The Hex – Nightcap to Kay
Konosuke Takeshita b. Action Andretti – Raging Fire

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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Rampage
Date: September 6, 2024
Location: NOW Arena, Hoffman Estates, Illinois
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness, Matt Menard

It’s the night before All Out as well as the third hour of a block of AEW, with Collision airing just before this. As usual with Rampage, things are not likely to be as big as Collision or Dynamite, but the lack of pressure often makes for a more entertaining show. That might be what we are getting here so let’s get to it.

Here is Collision if you need a recap.

The first 12 or so minutes of the show are the end of the Collision eight man main event, which ran over and saw the Blackpool Combat Club/Pac defeat the Elite.

The Outrunners and Erica Leigh are celebrating their first ever win in AEW (on Collision) when they get jumped by Jon Moxley and Marina Shafir. This is what Moxley is talking about.

Queen Aminata vs. Missa Kate

Aminata takes her down to start and the camera cuts to…a ceiling in the back. Well that was a wrong button. The headbutt finishes for Aminata at 1:05.

Video on MJF vs. Daniel Garcia.

Dustin Rhodes/Sammy Guevara/Hologram vs. Dark Order

Hologram takes Uno down to start and it’s off to Reynolds, who Hologram plants with a DDT. The good guys pose together and we take a break. Back with Guevara diving over for the tag to Rhodes so house can be cleaned. The snap powerslams have the Order down but they’re back up with triple right hands. That’s broken up so Guevara and Hologram hit moonsaults to the floor. A Canadian Destroyer into Guevara’s middle rope cutter into Hologram’s 450 finishes Reynolds at 7:31.

Rating: C+. The efforts to get Hologram over continues and while he might not be the biggest breakout star ever, he’s certainly not doing badly. His high flying stuff is quite good, but treating him like some kind of special attraction is something of a stretch. For now though, having him get the pin with some popular stars is not a bad thing, especially over lovable losers like the Order.

The Bang Bang Gang want the Trios Titles but get cut off by the Gates Of Agony. A match seems imminent.

Top Flight/Action Andretti, Shane Taylor Promotions/The Beast Mortos and the Undisputed Kingdom are ready to win the three way trios tag on Zero Hour.

House Of Black vs. MxM Collection

This is a Friday Night Fashion Fight. Matthews and Mansoor start things off with Mansoor slipping out of a waistlock and striking a pose. Matthews poses as well and some judges (because there are judges) give him a low score. Mason comes in and gets his wish of facing King. Actually it’s right back to Mansoor, whose chop gets unanimous ten’s. The House gives themselves some ten’s and take out the Collection as we take a break.

Back with Matthews kneeing Mansoor down, allowing the double tags to bring in King and Mason. Mansoor’s superkick doesn’t do anything to King, who blasts him with a clothesline. King’s cannonball hits Mason for two but Mansoor makes a save, allowing Mason to grab a chokeslam for two. Matthews is back in to fire off knees before low bridging Mason out to the floor. A superplex into Dante’s Inferno finishes Mansoor at 11:43.

Rating: B-. They were going for a mixture of fun and serious here, with the judges being a bit of a weird addition. The Collection continues to be as entertaining of a thing as there is in AEW at the moment and it would be nice to see them getting to do something more important. There are the makings of a good tag division in AEW but that isn’t going to matter as long as the Young Bucks hold the titles.

Will Ospreay is ready for Pac and talks about their history in the British backyard wrestling
and the independents. Ospreay was told that he was good but he wasn’t Pac, and now he can never forget about Pac.

One more All Out rundown ends the show.

Overall Rating: C+. This show definitely takes a hit when it’s coming after two hours of Collision, which is treated as far more important. This week’s show was even more different as it was clipped down due to the Collision match eating up time. It’s certainly not bad and the main event was pretty good, but it’s not a show you need to watch if you saw Collision.

Results
Queen Aminata b. Missa Kate – Headbutt
Dustin Rhodes/Sammy Guevara/Hologram b. Dark Order – 450 to Reynolds
House Of Black b. MxM Collection – Dante’s Inferno to Mansoor

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Rampage
Date: August 30, 2024
Location: State Farm Arena, Champaign, Illinois
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Matt Menard

We’re done with All In and rapidly approaching All Out but the big story this week is the return of Konosuke Takeshita, who is returning after heading back to Japan for the G1 Climax Tournament. Tonight he’s in a four way, which is certainly a unique way to bring him back. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Jeff Jarrett/Jay Lethal vs. Kingdom vs. Private Party

Kassidy and Taven start things off with grappling that goes nowhere. Instead Taven hits a dropkick but Kassidy is back with a shot to the face. A neckbreaker/top rope kick to the chest combination drops Taven as it’s almost all Private Party to start. Taven finally gets in a shot of his own though and it’s Bennett coming in for the choking. Lethal tags himself in to slug away at Taven but three straight Figure Four attempts (on different people) are blocked.

Instead Bennett knocks Lethal down and we take an early break. Back with Lethal fighting up against the Kingdom and handing it off to Jarrett to take over in the corner. The running hip attack in the ropes sets up the strut, which is broken up just as fast. Silly String hits Taven and Quen’s 450 gets two with Bennett making the save. Taven slips out of the Stroke but gets caught in the Figure Four, with Lethal grabbing the same thing on Bennett for the double tap at 9:54.

Rating: C+. That’s a perfectly fine way to get Jarrett and Lethal a win as Jarrett has been on something of a roll as of late. It’s likely a mostly meaningless tag match but the fans were into what Jarrett was doing and it was a quick, well enough done outing from everyone. That being said, sweet goodness the Kingdom still feel like they could be something but that just isn’t going to happen.

Video on Konosuke Takeshita.

Video on the Beast Mortos.

Mina Shirakawa vs. Missa Kate

Shirakawa slides around to start and dances a bit, as she tends to do. A Russian legsweep puts Kate down and a dancing double knee stomp has her in even more trouble. Shirakawa’s frog splash gets two but Kate kicks her in the face for the same. Back up and Shirakawa fires off some strikes to the face, setting up a reverse inverted sitout DDT for the pin at 3:05.

Rating: C. Pretty much a squash here and that’s what it should have been, as Shirakawa gets to go out there and do her thing in a short match. Shirakawa is still in the weird place of being an important part of the new Women’s Champion but not really doing much around here. Getting her in the ring, even on occasion, can help that and that’s what they did here.

Stokely Hathaway and Kris Statlander are annoyed at Willow Nightingale for picking a street fight when the only street Nightingale knows is from a Justin Bieber song. They bring in a production worker so Statlander can drop him.

Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Outrunners

Erica Leigh is here with the Outrunners. Gibson and Magnum trade headlocks to start before it’s off to Drake to work on the arm. Magnum manages a slam but Drake knocks him down and gets in some spitting. Floyd gets knocked off the apron for a crash to the floor and we take a break. Back with Gibson saving Drake from a suplex but Magnum slips away and brings Floyd back in to clean house. The Veterans cut that off though and a Doomsday Device plants Floyd. Grit Your Teeth finishes for Drake at 9:52.

Rating: C+. Fun match here, with the Outrunners being such goofy stars that it’s hard not to notice them. They know exactly what they’re supposed to be and they work very well together. The Veterans are all but set for a big time title match sooner than later (possibly at All Out) so giving them a dominant enough win here is a good idea.

Video on Komander.

Nyla Rose vs. Aminah Belmont

Rose hits a clothesline to start and hammers away in the corner, followed by another clothesline. A chokeslam and the Beast Bomb finish Belmont at 1:34.

Video on Lio Rush.

Lio Rush vs. Konosuke Takeshita vs. The Beast Mortos vs. Komander

Takeshita and Mortos take over on the smaller two to start but get sent into each other for their efforts. Everyone goes to the floor where Takeshita and Mortos ram the other two together. That’s enough working together though as Takeshita and Mortos slug it out, only to get dropped by a pair of dives. Rush and Komander fight inside until Mortos and Takeshita come in to break it up. Komander sends Takeshita outside and the rope walk twisting moonsault drops Takeshita again. Mortos is right there with a dive though and we take a break.

Back with Rush hitting his springboard Stunner on Takeshita but getting faceplanted by Komander. Mortos misses a charge and gets sent to the apron, setting up a Spanish Fly into a German suplex. Komander breaks up the double cover but Mortos misses the top rope clothesline half of a Doomsday Device. A springboard poisonrana takes Mortos down for two but Cielito Linda misses for Komander. Mortos spears Rush but gets kneed by Takeshita, who hits a Falcon Arrow to pin Komander at 13:52.

Rating: B. While it would seem that a singles match would have been a better way to bring Takeshita back, this was a fast paced and non-stop action match, which is quite a way to go. Everyone looked good here and I had fun with what we got out of what was little more than a showcase for Takeshita and Mortos. Now do something important with Takeshita already.

Overall Rating: B-. This is where Rampage shines as it is one of the more consistently entertaining shows from any promotion. You’re going to get some entertaining matches and some fun spots, which is all you can ask for in a show that only runs an hour. No it doesn’t matter much in the grand scheme of things, but when you have a show that is often as packed as Dynamite, this is a nice change of pace if you want your AEW fix.

Results
Jay Lethal/Jeff Jarrett b. Kingdom and Private Party – Double Figure Fours to Kingdom
Mina Shirakawa b. Missa Kate – Reverse inverted sitout DDT
Grizzled Young Veterans b. Outrunners – Grit Your Teeth to Floyd
Nyla Rose b. Aminah Belmont – Beast Bomb
Konosuke Takeshita b. Komander, The Beast Mortos and Lio Rush – Falcon Arrow to Komander

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Rampage
Date: August 23, 2024
Location: Esports Stadium Arlington, Arlington, Texas
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Nigel McGuinness

It’s All In weekend and therefore this show is likely going to be about getting things finalized for Wembley. While the card is mostly set, there are some stories that could use some last minute work, which is what we should be seeing here. That should be enough to carry the show so let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Conglomeration vs. Brian Cage/Beast Mortos/Johnny TV

Roderick Strong is on commentary as O’Reilly headlocks TV to start. Ishii comes in for some double striking with O’Reilly before ramming into Mortos. It’s off to Cage, who Briscoe throws into a knee from O’Reilly. TV comes in and kicks away on O’Reilly before Mortos runs him over and cranks on the neck. We take a break and come back with TV dropping O’Reilly and Briscoe but getting glared off by Ishii. The tag brings Ishii in to slug Mortos down, followed by a suplex to Cage.

Mortos knocks Ishii into the corner but he easily suplexes his way to freedom. The big tag brings in Briscoe to clean house, including an abundance of suplexes. Everything breaks down and they head outside, meaning it’s a bunch of flip dives. Back in and Ishii and O’Reilly go high/low on TV, setting up O’Reilly’s cross armbreaker for the tap at 13:18.

Rating: B-. That’s all a match like this needed to be as the Conglomeration got to add some star power and beat up a fairly random group of heels. It’s a fine way to start off a show and it worked well here, especially with TV taking the loss. He more or less is only around to take losses anymore and he did his job well here.

Post match the Conglomeration goes to leave but runs into the Undisputed Kingdom on the way to the ring. Violence is avoided though.

Roderick Strong vs. Fuego del Sol

Kyle O’Reilly is on commentary. O’Reilly stomps away in the corner to start and there’s the first backbreaker to drop del Sol. Some suplexes set up something like a Gory Stretch but del Sol slips into a rollup for two. Del Sol kicks away but Strong catches him on top for another backbreaker onto the buckle. End of Heartache finishes del Sol at 3:22.

Rating: C. Pretty much just a squash for Strong here, as he gets to be built back up a bit after losing in the triple thread last week. Strong and the Undisputed Kingdom could use the boost, but more than that they need something to do. Feuding with the Conglomeration is certainly a way to go and at least AEW seems to be trying something.

Mina Shirakawa vs. Robyn Renegade

Mina dances to start, then hits her in the face and dances some more. It’s time to work on Robyn’s leg, which again means more dancing. A front facelock keeps Robyn in trouble but she finally knocks Mina into the corner and stomps away. We take a break and come back with Robyn tying her in the ropes for a stomp to the back. Mina goes for the leg again to get out of trouble, including rolling Robyn into a Figure Four for the tap at 7:42.

Rating: C+. Mina is good enough in the ring, but there is no secret to the fact that she is getting over because she is pure charisma. There are not many people who can get a crowd’s attention like that and it worked well here. Not exactly a great match, but that was a sweet transition into the Figure Four.

Hikaru Shida is upset about losing to Mercedes Mone and promises to not be an afterthought.

Gates Of Agony vs. Iron Savages

Bronson powers Kaun into the corner to start, only for Kaun to reverse for some rapid fire chops. A clothesline cuts Bronson off and it’s off to Boulder vs. Liona. They trade standing clotheslines until Boulder manages a knockdown but charges into a Samoan drop. Everything breaks down and Open The Gates finishes Bronson at 3:08.

Rating: C. Pretty much nothing to this one, though seeing the Savages lose is always worth a smile. At the end of the day though, neither of these teams are going anywhere and there is no reason to believe that is going to change. They’re two of the designated jobbing teams of the division and one of them beating the other isn’t going to move them into a new reality.

Video on Top Flight and Lio Rush vs. the Blackpool Combat Club/Pac for the final spot in the four way ladder match for the Trios Titles. That made my head hurt.

Outrunners vs. Von Erichs

Erica Leigh and Dustin Rhodes are here too. Magnum takes Ross down to start and, yes, strikes a pose. Back up and Ross hits a dropkick so it’s off to Floyd for a slam and a pose. That just earns him a few slams from Ross before the Outrunners are both knocked outside. We take a break and come back with Floyd hitting a slam but missing an elbow.

A sunset flip is broken up though and Ross gets chopped into the corner. The chinlock doesn’t last long as Ross fights up and low bridges Magnum to the floor. That and a backdrop allow the tag off to Marshall as everything breaks down. The Cannonball hits Floyd and the Claw finishes for Marshall at 9:48.

Rating: C. The Outrunners are fun enough that they can make up for how sick I’ve become of the Von Erichs during this residency. The team just isn’t that interesting and are mainly there because of their family connections. It’s not much of a main event but it’s more for the live crowd than the TV audience, which isn’t the best idea, but it’s what we’ve been getting in recent weeks.

Post match the Cage of Agony and the Undisputed Kingdom run in for the beatdown. Sammy Guevara and the Conglomeration run in to clear the ring.

Overall Rating: C+. The opener was good, but the rest of the show wasn’t exactly worth seeing. This was a weaker edition of the show, but as usual, there is only so much to take issue with in a show that runs about forty five minutes after the commercials. Nothing much to see here, but there are worse ways to spend a Friday night.

Results
Conglomeration b. Brian Cage/Beast Mortos/Johnny TV – Cross armbreaker to TV
Roderick Strong b. Fuego del Sol – End of Heartache
Mina Shirakawa b. Robyn Renegade – Figure Four
Gates Of Agony b. Iron Savages – Open The Gates to Bronson
Von Erichs b. Outrunners – Claw to Floyd

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Rampage
Date: August 16, 2024
Location: Chartway Arena, Norfolk, Virginia
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, Matt Menard

It’s back to what has become a well done supplemental show, which might not feel the most important but often has some rather strong in-ring action. That is usually a strength of AEW and it should work out again well here. We’ll probably get some build towards All In as well, with just over a week to go before the show. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

Opening sequence.

Conglomeration vs. Outrunners/Butcher

Kyle O’Reilly is on commentary and Erica Leigh is here with the non-Conglomeration. Briscoe and Butcher start things off with Briscoe striking away and hitting a running shoulder. Magnum comes in and gets dropped just as fast so it’s off to Floyd, with Ishii to help with a double hiptoss. Floyd’s forearms to Ishii don’t seem like a good idea as Floyd is taken into the wrong corner for some alternating beating.

Briscoe gets tripped out to the floor, where Butcher drops him onto the barricade as we take an early break. Back with Briscoe fighting out of a chinlock and suplexing Floyd, allowing the tag back to Ishii. Everything breaks down and Briscoe loads up the chair for the step up dive, only to be cut off by Butcher. Not that it matters as Briscoe fights back and hits the dive anyway, setting up the Jay Driller to pin Magnum at 9:49.

Rating: B-. Rather fun opener here and that’s what it needed to be. The people involved work well together and Briscoe is always entertaining. This was a good example of a match that was never meant to be serious and was just a way to get popular wrestlers in the ring. It worked well as a nice popcorn match.

Nyla Rose vs. Erica Leigh

The Outrunners are here with the terrified Leigh. A powerslam into a backsplash crush Leigh but Rose stops for a pose off with Truth Magnum. Rose’s running back elbow sets up the Beast Bomb to finish Leigh at 1:19. Just what it should have been.

Here are the Outcasts for a chat. Harley Cameron tries to wing Happy Birthday for Saraya’s birthday tomorrow, but Saraya is not in the mood. Cameron: “WELL THEN NEITHER AM I!” Saraya: “Let’s recap the past year of my life shall we?” Cameron: “WE SHALL!” Saraya won the AEW Women’s Title last year at All In (Cameron: “VICTORY!”) and then began her career as the unproblematic icon (Cameron: “NO PROBLEMS!” Saraya: “You’re screaming in my ear!”). Then Saraya lost friends (Cameron: “Loser!” Saraya: “I’m not a loser.”) and the title.

Saraya: “Then I did shows for them like Dinner And A Movie.” Cameron: “Streaming now on the TBS App!” Saraya: “Oh my gosh.” Now she isn’t even on All In this year but here is Toni Storm to interrupt. Storm is ready to fight against a monster of her own creation in Mariah May but she will never forget what she and Saraya have been through together. Saraya can face her on Dynamite and if she wins, she can have it all. Saraya: “I’M GOING TO KICK YOUR A**!” Storm: “Darling, you’re going to need a bigger foot!” This was hysterical and one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen in AEW.

We look at the Young Bucks escaping with the Tag Team Titles from the Acclaimed on Dynamite. The Acclaimed isn’t pleased.

Kip Sabian vs. Nick Wayne

Mother Wayne and Killswitch are with Nick. They trade headlocks to start until Sabian is ready for a leapfrog and hits him in the face. Sabian sends him to the floor for the Arabian moonsault but a Mother distraction lets Nick get in a posting. We take a break and come back with Sabian springboarding into a cutter and Nick grabbing a double underhook DDT for two. Back up and Sabian catches him on top in a torture rack but Mother offers a distraction, allowing Killswitch to get in a cheap shot. Wayne’s World finishes Sabian at 8:15.

Rating: C+. The wrestling was fine and while this wasn’t exactly a top story, it was at least something that has been built up for a few weeks. I’m not sure how important Sabian is supposed to be after what feels like years of doing nothing, but Nick being a jerk to him for a few weeks is better than nothing.

Scorpio Sky isn’t allowed into Private Party’s club but Private Party comes out and says let him in.

Kyle Fletcher/Rush vs. KM/Rhett Titus

Don Callis is here with Fletcher and Rush. KM jumps Fletcher to start but gets caught in a quick Michinoku Driver. Titus comes in and Rush half and half suplexes him into the corner. The Bull’s Horns finishes at 1:55 in a total squash.

Post break Callis says that was just a taste of what the Family can deliver. Rush wants something bigger, which works for Callis. Fletcher isn’t sure what he’s doing now but Callis says focus on the future instead of the past.

Top Flight vs. MxM Collection

Leila Grey is here with Top Flight and Lio Rush is on commentary. Dante wristdrags Mansoor down to start but Mansoor is back up with a hiptoss into a stylish pose. An armbar has Mansoor down again before it’s off to Mason vs. Darius. A loud chop in the corner has Darius in trouble and a running hip attack makes it worse, leaving us with a double Collection pose. Everything breaks down and Top Flight sends them outside for (with air traffic control from Grey) the stereo dives.

We take a break and come back with Mansoor getting two off an atomic drop into a spinebuster. Mason and Grey get on the apron for a pose off though and Mansoor is so distracted that he gets superkicked down. Dante comes back in with a high crossbody, setting up a double airplane spin to Mason. A tornado DDT gets two on Mansoor but Mason is back in with a spinning Boss Man Slam. The Collection hits a chokeslam/German suplex combination (that’s a new one) for two on Dante but Darius pulls Mansoor out. Back in and Darius plants Mansoor, setting up a frog splash to give Dante the pin at 13:37.

Rating: B-. This was another fun match with the Collection being their usual entertaining selves and Top Flight getting a win. I could absolutely go with Top Flight getting a serious run towards the top of the division and the Grey addition could be a good sign for them. They have the talent and if they can stay healthy, it is certainly worth a try.

Overall Rating: B-. I could absolutely go with this as the norm for Rampage, as this was a collection of people getting to do their thing without having much in the way of pressure on them. The biggest moment of note was a Women’s Title match being set up for next week and it came in a hysterical segment. Really easy to watch show this week and I can absolutely go for that.

Results
Conglomeration b. Outrunners/Butcher – Jay Driller to Magnum
Nyla Rose b. Erica Leigh – Beast Bomb
Nick Wayne b. Kip Sabian – Wayne’s World
Kyle Fletcher/Rush b. KM/Rhett Titus – Bull’s Horns to Titus
Top Flight b. MxM Collection – Frog splash to Mansoor

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Rampage
Date: August 9, 2024
Location: LJVM Coliseum, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Commentators: Tony Schiavone, Matt Menard, Excalibur

I’m starting to not know what to expect from this show and it’s not in the best way. Odds are we’ll get some good action and some minor storyline advancement, but a lot of Rampage tends to feel like a bunch of one off matches. The good thing is the talent is more than good enough to make that work and we should be in for a fun show. Let’s get to it.

Here is Dynamite if you need a recap.

In Memory Of Kevin Sullivan.

Opening sequence.

Darby Allin vs. The Butcher

Butcher runs him over at the bell to start and a slam sends Allin into the corner so the choking can ensue. Allin is tossed outside and sent into various things, only to avoid a charge into the barricade. The top rope Coffin Drop drops a standing Butcher but he knocks a diving Allin out of the air back inside. Allin is bleeding from the nose and gets dropkicked into the corner to make things even worse.

We take a break and come back with Butcher grabbing a Texas Cloverleaf, with Allin having to get the ropes. Butcher knocks him out to the floor for a swinging into the barricade, followed by a good posting. Back in and a half nelson backbreaker gives Butcher two but Allin is back with a super Code Red. The Coffin Drop finishes Butcher at 10:25.

Rating: B-. Allin has two title matches coming up so he needed a win like this one to start him on the right path. It’s going to take some time to get there but at least things are looking in the right direction for him. There will always be a place for someone smaller like Allin fighting up against a monster like Butcher and it worked well here.

On Dynamite, Don Callis yelled at Rush over his loss but Rush said he was willing to do everything to become the best. That includes beating up Preston Vance on Collision.

We look at the brawls between Jeff Jarrett/Jay Lethal/Hangman Page after Dynamite.

Lethal is ready for Page on Dynamite.

Wheeler Yuta vs. Rocky Romero

Bryan Danielson is on commentary. They fight over a lockup to start until Yuta grabs a test of strength. Romero gets a bodyscissors but can’t manage a cross armbreaker. Back up and Yuta gets in a belly to back suplex before sending Romero outside for a suicide dive. We take a break and come back with Yuta fighting out of a chinlock as Swerve Strickland is watching somewhere. They strike it out and then go to the top for some biting of Yuta’s fingers. A running Sliced Bread takes Yuta down but he counters the top rope version. Cattle Mutilation finishes Romero at 11:00.

Rating: B-. Perfectly fine technical match here but I can’t imagine there was that much of an audience for two midcarders having a cold match. That’s the problem with Rampage as a whole: what we’re getting is good enough, but it’s not exactly something worth getting excited over. That makes the show feel like it’s just there because it has to be and that’s not great.

Willow Nightingale is frustrated with what Stokely Hathaway has done to Kris Statlander. Tomohiro Ishii comes in for a chat.

Private Party vs. Zane/Dave Dawson

Zay and Dave get in a fist pumping (air, not faces) off to start before it’s off to Quen. A slam attempt on the much bigger Zane fails terribly but Quen manages to get Dave up for the slam and ensuing crash. It’s back to Zay to clean house, including the Silly String for two on Dave. A Stunner int an assisted Sliced Bread puts Zane down, setting up Gin and Juice for the pin on Dave at 4:00.

Rating: C+. This was pretty much the definition of “it was what it was” as you had an established team facing a local pair in a power vs. speed match. Private Party hasn’t meant much of anything in a long time in AEW and this isn’t going to change that. Maybe it gets better later, but for now, this was more a reminder of “oh yeah, they work here”.

Deonna Purrazzo promises to summon a symphony of violence on Thunder Rosa.

Dustin Rhodes wants to fight the Kingdom and win the ROH Tag Team Titles. The Kingdom come in and kick Dustin low.

Saraya vs. Nyla Rose

Harley Cameron is here with Saraya. Cameron offers a distraction before the bell so Saraya can shove Rose outside and hammer away. They get inside for the official start with Rose fighting up and sending her into the corner for a splash. Rose slams her down a few times but actually gets driven into the corner for some forearms to the face. Back up and Rose sends her outside, where a slide is cut off and she gets tied in the ring skirt.

We take a break and come back with Rose asking if Saraya has lost her mind. A side slam puts Saraya down but she avoids a splash and hits the Paige Turner for two. Rose is right back with a basement superkick for two and it’s time to trade forearms. Back up and Rose drops her with a clothesline but Cameron offers a distraction. Rose tries a suplex but Cameron plays Bobby Heenan with the trip to give Saraya the pin at 9:32.

Rating: C+. As usual, Rose has more charisma than most of the roster but comes up short in a match against someone who isn’t a jobber. This wasn’t exactly much of a main event, but it was nice to have Rose out there doing her stuff. Saraya will likely have at least something to do at All In, but I’m not sure I can imagine it being overly important.

Overall Rating: C+. As usual, the show is completely watchable but it is a show you do not need to watch in any way, shape or form. The problem with Rampage continues to be that it’s a show of either people who have nothing important going on or people who are doing important things on other shows. It’s perfectly fine wrestling, but you wouldn’t miss anything if you skipped it, which isn’t exactly a great thing to say about a weekly series.

Results
Darby Allin b. The Butcher – Coffin Drop
Wheeler Yuta b. Rocky Romero – Cattle Mutilation
Private Party b. Zane Dawson/Dave Dawson – Gin and Juice to Dave
Saraya b. Nyla Rose – Splash with assist from Harley Cameron

Remember to follow me on Twitter @kbreviews and head over to my Amazon author page with 30 different cheap wrestling books at:

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