I got chills of anticipation tonight!
AEW Road Rager 2022 kicks off with a Hair vs. Hair match! A wild one it is too. Ortiz and Jericho put on one hell of a match, of course they did. Eddie Kingston added the intangible element we love, plus William Regal on commentary is a delight. While Chris Jericho pinned Ortiz thanks to an assist by a Fuego-impersonating Sammy Guevara, this heightens the intensity for Blood and Guts.
Ortiz as a singles wrestler is realistic. Santana as well. It makes me so happy to see these guys being showcased like this. They are intense wrestlers, brawlers, fighters, whatever the occasion needs them to be. They can do it. Blood and Guts is meant for brutality, and this was just a small piece of what to expect. Jericho looked pretty damn good wrestling tonight, and even with a few questionably scary spots, he does seem able to throw in some call backs to some earlier runs.
Up next, Wardlow defeats 20 inept security guards. This was a little wonky, but the live crowd loves Wardlow destroying people. I do too. After the match, Dan Lambert orders Tyone Woodley and Matt Hughes to go into the ring to take out Mr. Mayhem. Instead, he convinces them to turn on “Smart” Mark Sterling throwing him into an awaiting Powerbomb.
Matt Hughes, kudos to him for making this appearance. Glad to see he continues to be on the mend.
The segment didn’t do much for me. It seemed more of a stall tactic to build up something for Wardlow to take on Scorpio Sky for the TNT Championship at some point. It feels though Sky isn’t going to have a memorable reign. His defenses have been mediocre, despite putting on one hell of a match with Kazarian, it just seems Sky isn’t getting the proper treatment, unless truth be told, he’s 100% fine with his booking, or maybe he wants to be the guy to boost others.
Will Ospreay defeated Dax Harwood in Michael’s Match of the Year Candidate
This match went above and beyond the hype up for Forbidden Door. Dax is doing the work and is likely going to be 2022’s Wrestler of the Year. Five-star matches, passionate promos, and damn it, he loves wrestling. Ospreay… is Will freakin’ Ospreay. A non-stop match, putting the live crowd and fans at home on their feet with each maneuver.
Osprey wins after a OZ-Cutter followed up with a slicing elbow shot. The rest of United Empire storm the ring, which prompts Cash Wheeler, Trent, and Rocky Romero to rush out. As the brawl spreads out, Osprey is alone in the ring… and out comes the returning ORANGE CASSIDY!
What a build. United Empire storming the ring in full force was a moment. I’m sitting at the edge of my seat in disbelief. Goal achieved. Forbidden Door. Ospreay vs. Cassidy is going to be bonkers, and I imagine either two tag team matches or a four-on-four between United Empire and FTR with Roppongi Vice.
In the ring, we have the face-to-face between Jon Moxley and Hiroshi Tanahashi. Mox cuts a solid promo, which is interrupted by Chris Jericho and Sammy Guevara, who cue some new allies in Lance Archer and Desperado, announce their match at Forbidden Door – against Wheeler Yuta, Shota Umino, and EDDIE KINGSTON. Despite the numbers, Moxley and Tanahashi clear the ring of heels, then go eye-to-eye.
Good segment for Forbidden Door. Once again, well played.
Promos between Darby Allin and Bobby Fish air, hyping a match on Rampage.
Miro defeats “All Ego” Ethan Page
It was fairly obvious Miro was going over, but Page had the opportunity to have a sizeable offensive. Miro, incredible in strength, is not infallible. Despite Ethan’s best efforts, his ego would be the undoing, as Miro would take control and put him down for the submission victory.
Miro is massively over. Comparable to the huge following during his “Miro Day” time in WWE.
Toni Storm defeated Dr. Britt Baker, DMD
Good match, with Storm sticking the good dentist with a piledriver for the win. Plenty of interference, including Thunder Rosa who chased off Hayter. Good match with a very convincing injury feint. Kudos to Baker for putting over Storm, however I have doubts whether Storm will defeat Thunder Rosa and Forbidden Door for the women’s championship.
“Hangman” Adam Page cuts a funny promo about being wrong. Calls himself a dumbass for assuming he would face Okada with the IWGP World Championship on the line. The promo gets a bit confusing, which I believe is intentional, as he wants Okada, but also the championship. Cole interrupts and infers he will get to face Jay White because Forbidden Door is about showcasing both Undisputed Elite and the Bullet Club. Oops, White comes out, beats up Page, but says neither gets to face him for the IWGP Championship.
Now I wonder where this goes. Is there another opponent in mind or could this turn into a three-way dance scenario?
Curiouser and curiouser…
Main event time for AEW Road Rager 2022!
The Young Bucks defeated Jurassic Express to become two-time AEW Tag Team Champions
Fantastic main event. For those who thought a third team needed to be added, thought incorrectly. Not needed. They put on one hell of a show, and kudo to Luchasaurus for taking the stacked table spot. Go online and catch some highlights.
Story time – Jungle Boy is dejected, couldn’t win, and now they’ve lost the titles. Christian comes out to console him, but turns heel and con-chair-tos Jungle Boy Jack!
I appreciate this did not take place and take away from the match. The Bucks were able to win clean, well, as clean as one could in a ladder match. No interference. Waiting until after the match was the smart move.
We get the inevitable Jungle Boy v. Christian grudge match, but then what next? What is next for Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus?
AEW Road Rager 2022 sweet episode of Dynamite, ramping up the anticipation for one of the most exciting pay-per-views in recent memory. Man, do I love wrestling.
AEW Road Rager 2022 is now on demand and is currently streaming on the TBS app.
