This was a pretty good episode of Rampage: the matches were pretty good and a few stories were advanced. The highlight of the night was the main event that saw the elite become ROH Six-Man Champions. The low point was the Skye Blue-Julia Hart Match. Wasn’t bad but also wasn’t that good.
The matches, especially the main event, were very good but none of the matches were amazing. The show structure was good but a few segments, such as the squash and Blue-Hart match, slowed it down. The atmosphere was good but was lacking at times. A couple of stories were advanced including the TNT title feud and Hangman-Swerve feud but nothing exceptional. Finally, the show was high quality but had no theme to set it apart.
On tonight’s special two-hour episode of Rampage: Darby Allin and Sting take on TNT Champion Luchasaurus and Christian Cage. The Elite challenges the Mogul Embassy for the ROH Six-Man Titles. The Acclaimed defend the AEW Trios titles against the Dark Order.
GOOD Luchasaurus and Christian Cage vs. Darby Allin and Sting:
Darby got double-teamed early in this match until he made a much-needed tag. Sting was on a roll, hitting two Scorpion Death Drops. One of them is in tandem with a Coffin Drop. In the end, Darby took advantage of a distraction from Nick Wayne to roll up Christian Cage.
Results: Darby Allin and Sting by Pinfall
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3 Stars
ABOVE AVERAGE Kris Statlander, Orange Cassidy, and Hook vs Anna Jay, Matt Menard, and Angelo Parker:
The former JAS showed good teamwork when Menard and Parker combined a dropkick and a running knee. Jake Hager tried to interfere on multiple occasions but the second one backfired on him. In the finish, Orange Cassidy hit Angelo Parker with an Orange Punch to score the win.
Results: Kris Statlander, Orange Cassidy, and Hook by Pinfall via Orange Punch
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 2.75 Stars
A QTV segment that ended with Johnny TV as QT Marshall’s tag partner instead of Aaron Solo.
ABOVE AVERAGE Chris Jericho Confronts Sammy Guevara and Don Callis:
Sammy ripped into Jericho and the fans for their inconsistent support. Jericho came to the ring and was greeted with a chair from Takeshita and almost got a screwdriver to the head. Luckily for him, Kenny Omega came to his rescue. Backstage, Kenny and Jericho formed a temporary alliance to take down the Don Callis Family.
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 2.75 Stars
GOOD Chuck Taylor and Trent Beretta vs the Kingdom vs the Righteous vs the Hardyz for a shot at the ROH Tag Titles:
The Hardyz tried to establish a short-term alliance with the Best Friends but the attempt was broken up when they tried to group hug. The Kingdom nearly stole the match after a low blow and a piledriver to Chuck Taylor but Beretta broke up the pin. In the finish, Jeff Hardy went for a Swanton Bomb but Vincent tagged himself in just as Hardy was jumping. Now the legal man, Vince landed a Swanton Bomb of his own to pick up the victory. After the match, the Kingdom continued their assault on the Best Friends
Results: the Righteous by Pinfall via Swanton Bomb
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3 Stars
GOOD the Dark Order vs. the Acclaimed for the AEW Trios Championships:
The Acclaimed were in control of this one early and had John Silver set up for Scissor Me Timbers but his Dark Order colleagues saved him. The Dark Order controlled a lot of the match from then on and nearly won the titles after Evil Uno used one of the belts as a weapon. Caster countered a stunner and the Acclaimed picked up the win after an S4
Results: The Acclaimed by Pinfall via S4
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.25 Stars
ABOVE AVERAGE Skye Blue vs. Julia Hart:
Blue had the early advantage after a snap suplex and a flurry of punches but Hart quickly fought her way back in. The House of Black member really secured their match with a superplex off the top. From there, she secured Hartless to secure the submission victory. Julia Hart continued the hold after the match until Willow Nightingale came to the rescue.
Results: Julia Hart by Submission via Hartless
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 2.5 Stars
In a promo, Jay White told Andrade he is lucky to have his name mentioned in the same breath as Jay White.
SQUASH – Mike Santana defeated Bronson of the Iron Savages in his first singles match since returning from injury. After the match, he had an intense confrontation on the ramp with his former tag partner, Ortiz.
GREAT the Mogul Embassy vs. the Elite for the ROH Six-Man Championships:
The Bucks held Kaun on the edge of the ring while Hangman Page hit a shooting star press. They tried to follow it up with a BTE Trigger but were distracted by the entrance of Swerve Strickland. Later, Page attempted a Buckshot Lariat but Cage countered with a waterwheel drop. Page nearly won the titles after a double lariat and a deadeye but Cage kicked out. In the finish, Hangman countered an attack from Brian Cage into a roll-up to pick up the victory and the win ROH Six-Man Championships for the Elite.
Results: The Elite by Pinfall
Matt Cookson WR Star Rating – 3.5 Stars
Overall…
This was a pretty good episode of Rampage: the matches were pretty good and a few stories were advanced. The highlight of the night was the main event that saw the elite become ROH Six-Man Champions. The low point was the Skye Blue-Julia Hart Match. Wasn’t bad but also wasn’t that good.
The matches, especially the main event, were very good but none of the matches were amazing. The show structure was good but a few segments, such as the squash and Blue-Hart match, slowed it down. The atmosphere was good but was lacking at times. A couple of stories were advanced including the TNT title feud and Hangman-Swerve feud but nothing exceptional. Finally, the show was high quality but had no theme to set it apart.
Matches: 0.5/1 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. 3/5 Stars
Photo Credit: AEW
For inquiries about the rating criteria check out the article announcing the new system here:
