Written By “The Closet Champion” Mike Mueller
If you’ve read previous editions of our AEW Rampage reviews, you have probably seen us say on more than one occasion “this was the best Rampage episode yet.” Well, I hope you’re not sick of hearing it, because here it comes again. This was THE. BEST. RAMPAGE. EVER! In fact, let’s take the hyperbole one step further: this might go down as the greatest one-hour wrestling program of all time. The AEW audience was treated to four fantastic matches, including a trio’s match featuring some incredibly talented female wrestlers, a tag team title match that will go down in the history books, a storyline moving main event, and the most anticipated debut in recent memory.
FTR VS. THE LUCHA BROS
You knew right from the jump that this episode of Rampage was going to be stellar when both superstar tag teams were already in the ring immediately after the opening credits. There’s going to be so much amazingness on this show, we don’t even have time for entrance music!
Since October, FTR and The Lucha Bros have been tangled in one hell of a feud. Centered around both the AEW and AAA tag team titles, these two have been exchanging wins and giving us classic match after classic match, and this one was no different.
For about 14 minutes, we were treated to the best tag team specialists taking on the finest luchadors in the world. This match had plenty of false finishes, callbacks to previous encounters, hard hitting shots, comedic moments, death defying spots, and Rey Fenix running across the top rope… just acting like physics doesn’t exist. Tully Blanchard got involved in a few spots, but not so much that it took away from the four stars of the match. In the end, the Lucha Bros held on for the win and retained their AEW tag team titles.
It’s hard to imagine this feud ending with FTR still holding the AAA tag team titles, unless they’re going to drop it to a luchador team down in Mexico. If this was the last encounter between these two, it was a great note to end on, but it still seems probable that these two have a few more matches left in them.
WOMEN’S TRIOS MATCH
While the tag title match would be impossible for anybody to follow up, the women of AEW did their very best to keep the momentum of the night going. Ruby Soho, Tay Conti, and Anna Jay took on Nyla Rose, The Bunny, and Penelope Ford.
Nyla Rose and Ruby Soho are poised to face each other in the semifinal round of the TBS Championship Tournament, so this was a great way to build up some momentum for the match, while also showcasing the rivalry between Conti/Jay and Ford/Bunny. Each woman was given moments to shine and look impressive. A moment in particular that stood out was Penelope Ford delivering a back heel kick that looked like it was about to literally take Ruby Soho’s head off, which is a credit to Ruby’s selling ability as much as it is to Ford’s perfect placement of that kick. Shawn Michaels would be proud of that one.
There was as much chaos as you’d expect from a trios match, but the end was executed really well. The continuation of the “brass knuckles” gimmick was worked in, as The Bunny used the knuckledusters to knock out Anna Jay, and Nyla Rose took advantage by hitting a Beast Bomb (sit-out powerbomb) for the victory.
Logic tells us that we will have Ruby Soho facing Jade Cargill in the finals of the TBS tournament, so giving Nyla the victory here (on someone other than Ruby) was absolutely the right call. We want to give her as much credibility as possible heading into the match, while still protecting Ruby and not forcing her to take the loss. It was great to see these women put on a highly entertaining and smooth wrestling match. The women’s division in AEW continues to get stronger and stronger, and these six ladies are a huge part of that uprising.
TONY SCHIAVONE CAN’T GET A QUESTION OUT
While AEW as a company is still less than three years old, they’ve already been able to establish some long standing traditions. One of the most sacred traditions is a run-in happening while Tony Schiavone attempts to conduct an interview. If Tony is on screen, somebody is getting jumped; You can set your watch to it.
Tony was trying to ask Sting about returning to Greensboro Coliseum for Holiday Bash in two weeks. Greensboro Coliseum is significant to Sting because it is the sight of his very first title shot, at Clash of the Champions 1 vs. Ric Flair. This was a match that catapulted Sting to “permanent main event” status, and I’m sure Sting would have a lot of very nice things to say about such a sentimental moment…but we don’t get to hear any that because FTR comes in like bats out of hell and beat down Sting and Darby Allin before Tony even finishes his introduction.
This will surely lead to a match at Holiday Bash between Sting/Darby and FTR, and while it should be a great match, I can’t help but feel bad for Tony. The man is a broadcast journalist and he can’t even do his job! #JusticeForSchiavone
HOOK!
The moment we’ve all been waiting for. An in-ring debut nearly a year in the making. It’s time for HOOK! Taz’s son has been chillin’ and mean muggin’ in the background since last December, doing little and saying even less. Yet, somehow, he has developed nothing short of a cult following. While it may have started ironically, there’s no denying it: Hook is over and he hasn’t done a damn thing!
Part of me was nauseatingly nervous for Hook’s in-ring debut. With each week that passed, the anticipation would build. “When is Hook going to wrestle? Can he even wrestle? Does he even have teeth?!?” Nobody knew the answer to any of these questions, but that didn’t stop the anticipation and expectations from building up to a fever pitch. Hook’s first opponent was Fuego Del Sol, a perfect first opponent for Hook. He’s smaller, technically proficient, and he can bump with the best of them. We knew Hook was going to win, but that didn’t really matter. What we wanted to know was “Can Hook really go?”
Yes. Yes he F’ing can. Hook’s debut was nothing short of spectacular. It was a three minute glorified squash match that allowed us a glimpse of what this young man can do. His footwork, transitions, playing to the crowd, and in-ring ability are all at a level well beyond his years, and decades beyond his experience.
Before the bell even sounded, Hook’s character was on full display, as he leaned up against the turnbuckle, back to his opponent, like some angsty youth chewing gum and definitely too cool for school. Then, once the match actually got underway, Hook showed off that he’s not just a character, he is a very talented wrestler. A dropstep, leg trip, front facelock combination to start the match immediately brought back flashes of Bret Hart and Mr. Perfect, and the great wrestling never let up. Ultimately Hook won with a rear naked choke hold (or whatever Excalibur called it) but that’s not what matters here.
Some credit definitely needs to go to Fuego Del Sol, who definitely knows how to put guys over, but Hook exceeded my already sky high expectations. Fuego didn’t get a whole lot of offense in, but when he did, Hook sold it well, showing a level of maturity and professionalism rarely seen in people so green to the business. It may sound like I’m gushing a lot, you might be saying to yourself “jeez, why don’t you just ask him out already?” Well I would, but he doesn’t know who I am, and it would be creepy to slide into his DM’s.
ADAM COLE VS WHEELER YUTA
To wrap up this wonderful episode of Rampage was Adam Cole (Bay-Bay) vs. Best Friends protege Wheeler Yuta. Interestingly, the pre-match interview with Mark Henry gave us a tease at what seems to be a Trent heel turn, as Trent wanted to know why this interview segment wasn’t about him returning. Way to try to hog the spotlight, Trent! The interview dissolved into a shouting match like it always does, and Mark told us we’ve had enough talk. It’s time for the main event!
Cole and Wheeler are both fantastic in-ring performers, and this match was very technically sound. Plenty of counters and reversals allowed both of these guys to show off what great workers they are. Adam Cole’s mocking of Orange Cassidy’s patented Kicks of Doom got a great reaction from the crowd. The match ends when Adam Cole “lowers the boom” and delivers a running knee strike to the back of Wheeler’s head, all while staring down Orange Cassidy as he gets the 1-2-3.
It was a fine match but unfortunately it came at the end of a show that was filled with memorable moments, and despite it being the “main event”, it was probably the weakest part of the show. That being said, when a solid Adam Cole match that furthers a feud between The Elite and Best Friends is the weakest part of your show, that tells you just how amazing of an event it was.
It would be impossible to think Rampage can keep up this level of quality every single week, it is so refreshing and reassuring to see a show deliver with the consistency that Rampage has done pretty much since the very beginning. This week’s episode just cemented it even further: AEW Rampage is the best hour in wrestling!
