Tonight on AEW Rampage: Naturally Limitless takes on Matt Menard and Angelo Parker of the Jericho Appreciation Society. Trent Beretta faces Lance Archer in singles action. Will Beretta survive the Murderhawk Monster? And in the main event, Willow Nightingale faces Athena with the winner advancing to the finals of the Owen Hart Tournament.
GOOD Keith Lee and Dustin Rhodes vs Matt Menard and Angelo Parker:
Dustin Rhodes hit both opponents with punches in the corner but the numbers game was too much as they sent Rhodes out of the ring. The Natural desperately needed a tag but Menard prevented that with a baseball slide to the legs of Keith Lee. the JAS members nearly got the pinfall after a double DDT to Keith Lee. In the finish, Keith Lee landed a Fireman’s Carry Powerslam to pick up the win.
Results: Naturally Limitless by Pinfall via Fireman’s Carry Powerslam
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3 Stars
In a QTV segment, Johnny TV challenged the Acclaimed to a trios match.
SQUASH – Taya Valkyre crushed a local enhancement talent but was confronted by the Outcasts after the match. Valkyrie challenged Toni Storm for the AEW Women’s Championship, which Storm accepted.
Hook is putting the FTW Championship on the line against Jungle Boy Jack Perry.
GOOD Trent Beretta vs Lance Archer:
Archer dominated early on but things turned around when Beretta got out of a powerbomb and hit him with a moonsault. The momentum for Beretta was short-lived as Jake the Snake Roberts hit him with a lariat when the ref had his back turned. Later, Trent Beretta nearly won the match after hitting a half-and-half suplex and a piledriver but the Murderhawk Monster kicked out. Finally, Archer finished off Beretta with a Lariat. Post-match, Lance Archer challenged Orange Cassidy for the International Championship.
Results: Lance Archer by Pinfall via Lariat
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.25 Stars
Sanjay Dutt, Jay Lethal, and Jeff Jarrett are out for revenge on Matt Hardy and company.
ABOVE AVERAGE Konosuke Takeshita vs Mentallo:
Don Callis ripped into Mentalo, saying he only got his opportunity because of his friendship with Kenny Omega. However, Mentallo controlled this match early on. He gave Takeshita a real run for his money, getting in some offense. It wasn’t enough, however. After a piledriver, Takeshita landed a senton to pick up the victory.
Results: Konosuke Takeshita by Pinfall via Senton
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 2.75 Stars
The Dark Order said they are done with people abandoning them.
GOOD Athena vs Willow Nightingale in the Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament:
Willow tried a big boot through the ropes but Athena caught it and whipped Willow’s leg into the middle rope. Athena targeted Willow’s leg throughout the match but this didn’t stop Willow from fighting. She nearly pinned Athena after a spinebuster. Strangely, Athena bit Willow’s leg to counter a move. In the finish, Athena tried to set up a powerbomb but Willow countered and pinned Athena to advance to the final.
Results: Willow Nightingale by Pinfall
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3 Stars
Overall…
This was a decent episode of Rampage. The matches were pretty good and a couple of stories were advanced. The highlight of the night was the match between Trent Beretta and Lance Archer. The low point was the match between Konosuke Takeshita and Mentallo. It was fine but there were no stakes to the match and it didn’t make Takeshita look good to take so long to beat Mentallo.
The matches were pretty good but nothing reached the level of great. the show structure was good, culminating in the Owen Hart sem-final, but wasn’t perfect. The atmosphere was very good at times but not throughout the whole show. A few stories were advanced but other matches didn’t have a ton of story. The production was good but no theme.
Matches: 0.25/1 Stars
Show Structure: 0.75/1 Stars
Atmosphere: 0.5/1 Stars
Storytelling: 0.5/1 Stars
Production/Theme: 0.75/1 Stars
Overall Rating. 2.75/5 Stars
Photo Credit: AEW
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