AEW Coverage

Mitchell’s AEW Rampage Results & Report! (8/26/22)

So many questions on Rampage!

Published

9 months ago

August 26, 2022

Steven Mitchell

How will All Out take shape in the wake of Dynamite?

After the shocking way the Undisputed AEW World Championship match went down, we will see exclusive footage from backstage on Dynamite!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

AEW World Trios Championship Tournament, Opening Round: The House of Black VS The Dark Order; The Dark Order wins and advances.
AEW TNT Championship: Wardlow VS Ryan Nemeth; Wardlow wins and retains the title.
“Powerhouse” Will Hobbs VS Ashton Day; Hobbs wins.
Mixed Tag: Sammy Guevara & Tay Melo VS Ruby Soho & Ortiz; Sammy & Tay win.
ROH World Championship: Claudio Castagnoli VS Dustin Rhodes; Claudio wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

AEW World Trios Championship Tournament, Opening Round: The House of Black VS The Dark Order!

Malakai Black, Buddy Matthews & Brody King have had their run-ins with the Dark Order before when Alex Reynolds & John Silver did their best to help Fuego Del Sol, but things are going to be very different this time! Big Ten, Preston Vance, steps up to the monstrous Brody, who will move on to face Best Friends in the semifinals?

The bell rings, the fans fire up as the big men stare down. They circle, tie up, and Brody powers Vance to a corner. The ref counts, Brody lets off but Vance avoids his chop! Vance headlocks, Brody powers up and out, and they RAM shoulders! Neither falls and fans fire up! Best Friends and Danhausen are in the front row watching this as Vance and Brody RAM shoulders again! The behemoths stare down, then Vance runs again. Brody swings, Vance dodges to ROCK, CHOP and BOOT Brody! Vance runs, but Brody scoops him! Vance slips off, but his bad leg jams! Brody storms over but Vance elbows him away!

Tag to Silver, and fans fire up for the Meat Man! Silver pumps up, but then Buddy tags in. Fans rally for “JOHNNY HUNGY!” as he and Buddy circle. They tie up, Buddy shoots around to a waistlock but silver switches. Buddy headlocks for the takeover but Silver headscissors back. Buddy kips free but Silver sweeps the leg and covers. ONE, Buddy dodges to waistlock but Silver backs him to an open corner. Silver lets off but Buddy shoves him away. Silver rushes back in, Buddy goes up and over, but Silver elbows Buddy away! Silver goes up for a FLYING RA- NO! Buddy blocks that to bring Silver up! But Silver slips off!

Silver waistlocks, Buddy bucks that but Silver handsprings back and stares Buddy down! Fans fire up as Silver flexes on Buddy! Buddy SOBATS and then wrenches. Tag to Malakai and they double whip Silver. Silver rolls, stops himself and throws Buddy out! Silver BOOTS Malakai then tags Reynolds! Reynolds headlocks, Malakai powers out but Reynolds comes back to RANA him! Malakai handsprings through, but swings into a backslide! TWO, Reynolds underhooks to Canadian Rack! Malakai slips off, and Reynolds narrowly avoids the Black Mass! Fans fire up as Malakai sits cross-legged and stares Reynolds down.

Reynolds tells Malakai, #JoinDarkOrder! They both stand up, Malakai shoves Reynolds but Reynolds shoves back. Their teams come in and stare down, and fans fire up! The brawl is own 3v3! Fans fire up while Brody throws Vance out. Buddy tosses Silver, they all brawl out there. Malakai ROCKS Reynolds while Brody CHOPS Vance! Brody whips Vance hard into railing! Malakai KICKS away on Reynolds in the corner but Reynolds turns it around! They brawl while the ref counts the ropebreak, and AEW goes picture in picture!

Brody ROCKS Vance, Malakai whips Reynolds, Malakai run sin but misses, and Reynolds comes back with a back elbow! Then again with a FLYING UPPERCUT! Cover, ONE!! Reynolds grabs Malakai’s leg but Malakai BOOTS him away with the other! Reynolds staggers but runs back in, only for Malakai to dodge. Brody returns but Reynolds dodges, only for Malakai to BOOT him into Brody’s LARIAT! Malakai covers, TWO! Malakai drags Reynolds up, bumps him off buckles, tags Brody, and they mug Reynolds in the corner. Brody CHOPS Reynolds down! Brody drags Reynolds up to CHOP him down again!

Brody drags Reynolds up, scoops him and SLAMS him, then runs to drop a SENTON! Tag to Buddy, Brody and Buddy stomp away on Reynolds, then Buddy drags Reynolds up. Buddy snapmares Reynolds and KICKS him in the back! Rampage returns to single picture as Buddy tags Malakai in. Buddy wrenches an arm but Reynolds ROCKS him, only for Malakai to KICK Reynolds. Malakai whips Reynolds to ropes and CLOBBERS him with an elbow! Best Friends are watching intensely as Malakai wrenches Reynolds. Tag to Buddy, he goes up top, DOUBLE STOMP to the arm! Buddy stares down Silver, before BOOTING him down!

Buddy taunts Vance, avoids his punch and kicks the bad leg! The ref reprimands but Reynolds BOOTS Buddy! Reynolds runs but into a BOOT from Buddy! Buddy runs in, Reynolds spins him around, ROLLING ELBOW! Fans fire up, hot tags to Vance and Malakai! Vance rallies with a clothesline to Malakai, clothesline to Buddy, and a BOOT for Brody! Vance CLOBBERS Malakai, dodges Buddy and gives him a BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Malakai runs in, for a SPINEBUSTER! Fans fire up with Big Ten, he drags Malakai up, TOP TEN FULL NELSON! Malakai claws at the hold, but Brody distracts the ref so Buddy can GAMANGIRI Vance!

Buddy goes up top, he leaps at Vance, METEORA! Reynolds runs in but Buddy gives him a pop-up, only for Reynolds to block the knee! Reynolds ROCKS Buddy, feeds him to Silver’s SUPERKICK, then whips for a FLAPJACK UPPERCUT! Buddy flops out but Brody runs in! Silver dodges, KICKS and feeds him, ROLLING ELBOW! ENZIGURI! STUNNER! GERMAN- NO, Brody stops the Beaver Boy Blitz to BOOT Reynolds! And DECK Silver! Vance dodges Brody to clothesline him out! Vance sees Malakai and brings him up. Malakai fires back a strike fest! But Vance turns step-up elbow into FULL NELSON!

Malakai endures as Vance thrashes him around! Malakai gets a hold of the bad leg! Malakai uses that to pry free while also prying off the brace! Vance CLUBS Malakai for that, but then his leg gives out during the discus! Malakai body scissors and rolls Vance into a KNEEBAR!!! Malakai tortures Vance while the House keeps the others away! But wait! The war horns of The Redeemer blow! IT’S MIRO!! He has come to punish the Pagans! Buddy and Brody rush out after Miro, but he TOSSES Buddy and brawls with Brody! Reynolds tags in, rolls Malakai, THE DARK ORDER WINS!!

Winners: The Dark Order, by pinfall (advance to the semifinals)

What an upset! Miro tipped the scales and now the Dark Order is moving on! Will Silver, Reynolds & Vance be able to do this all over again against Best Friends?

As for Malakai and Miro, they stare down! But then Brody CLOBBERS Miro from behind, and RAMS him into steel steps! Brody puts Miro in the ring and the House of Black converges in the ring! They’ve surrounded Miro as he wobbles up to his feet. BLACK MASS!! Then they stomp away on Miro! But wait! Here comes DARBY ALLIN and STIIIING! They storm down to the ring, but the House of Black back away. Common enemies make for interesting allies, will The Redeemer accept the help of the Relentless Icons?

Backstage interview with Hook.

Lexi Nair asks the FTW Champion about being called out by Matthew Menard & Angelo Parker. Has he had a chance to see that video? Yeah, he saw it. And he’s been thinking about it. Hook doesn’t care. Hook leaves, and now Daddy Magic & Cool Hand Ange barge in! Where’d he go? Lexi says Hook is literally over there. Well, that’s typical Hook! But Menard has a little secret to tell the world! Cool Hand Ange & Daddy Magic WANNA TASTE O’ THE TITLE! Parker says Hook walks around AEW with that “I don’t care” attitude, but they see right through that! They see Hook and he’s nothing but a scared little boy. And who is to blame for that? The AEW GALAXY!

The fans have done nothing but put pressure on the kid! They see him as some young phenomenon, but what if they took the FTW title from Hook, “and all the weight that comes with it?” What if Hook didn’t have to be scared anymore? WHAT IF?! The Jericho Appreciation Society keeps throwing out the challenge, will the Cold-Hearted Handsome Devil care now?

AEW TNT Championship: Wardlow VS Ryan Nemeth!

Though he and FTR are about to face Jay Lethal and the Motor City Machine Guns, the Maestro of Mayhem must still defend his title. The Hollywood Hunk has a mic as he makes his entrance to say something first. “The best part about growing up in Cleveland~…! Is LEAVING Cleveland! I did what all of you wish you could do! The first chance I got, I packed my bags and I moved to a real city. And Ryan Nemeth became THE Hollywood Hunk!” Fans can cheer, it’s fine. “Let’s Go, Hunk! Let’s Go, Hunk!” Fans boo instead, but Nemeth says they shouldn’t do that. He knows what they cheer for! It’s for the worst team in the history of the NFL, the Cleveland Browns!

But here comes Wardlow! The War Dog is proud to be from The Land, and The Land is proud to have him! The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we see if the hometown hero makes the Hunk pack his bags all over again!

Wait, speaking of Lethal and MCMG, Sonjay Dutt, Satnam Singh & Jay Lethal walk out here with Chris Sabin! Nemeth gets back on the mic to shout that this isn’t about them! Wardlow needs to pay attention to Nemeth because this is about Nemeth and his title shot! To be honest, Nemeth doesn’t know what AEW or the fans see in Wardlow. Nemeth should be champion! Nemeth should have the gold! Nemeth should be the face of TNT! He’s the star! He’s the local boy! He did good! He’s the Hunk, but Wardlow is like everyone else here: a loser nobody two-pump chump! Wardlow is pathetic and disgusting- HEADBUTT!!

The bell finally rings, and Wardlow points a finger gun at Nemeth. BANG and the wind-up, BIG LARIAT!! Fans fire up but Lethal’s group doesn’t take this seriously. Wardlow brings the straps down and brings Nemeth in! Fans fire up for the POWERBOMB!! Wardlow is just getting warmed up, but again Lethal’s group doesn’t take it seriously. Fans chant “One More Time!” and Wardlow says that’s exactly what he was thinking! ANOTHER POWERBOMB!! And then the roll into the reset, A THIRD POWERBOMB!! And then another, for the FOURTH!! Cover, Wardlow wins!

Winner: Wardlow, by pinfall (still AEW TNT Champion)

Wardlow smiles at Lethal’s group. Are they taking him seriously now? Or will it take him powerbombing Lethal, Sabin and Shelley in Chicago to get through to them?

Backstage interview with the Andrade Family Office.

Apparently that name is still in effect, as Lexi Nair is with Andrade El Idolo, Rush, Jose the assistant, and Private Party. Last week, we saw both teams, Private Party and La Faccion Ingobernable, come up short in big title matches. How are they handling this? Andrade says Quen & Kassidy lost. Well, yes. But what about you? We all saw LFI lose in 4K HD. No, Dragon Lee lost. They saw what happened: Rush beat down his own brother! Jose speaks up but Kassidy says no one asked his opinion! Andrade has everyone relax. He wants them to listen to him: “Everything in this world has consequences.” Then what will the consequences be of Private Party failing El Idolo again?

“Powerhouse” Will Hobbs VS Ashton Day!

Ricky Starks called out the “snake” that is his former friend and tag team partner, and now they are having it out at All Out! But will Hobbs prove to Starks and everyone that the only absolute in AEW is that Hobbs breaks bones?

The bell rings and Hobbs stares Day down, to then CLOBBER him! Day flounders, Hobbs drags him up and CHOKES him against ropes! Hobbs wants Day to tell Ricky what’s coming! The ref counts, Hobbs lets off, and Hobbs drags Day up. Hobbs SLAPS Day around, whips him and CLOBBERS him! Hobbs looms over Day and he mocks Starks’ pose! Fans boo but Hobbs smiles. Hobbs drags Day up again, reels him in, SPINEBUSTER!! Cover, Hobbs wins!

Winner: Will Hobbs, by pinfall

Day’s night is over but wait! The Factory commandeers a camera! Nick Comoroto shows us that Cole Karter and Aaron Solo are CHOKING Starks! QT Marshall says, “Hey, Powerhouse. I told you my word is my bond. And you will not have to worry about Ricky Starks making it to All Out.” But QT has Ogogo hold on. This one’s on the house. QT uses his gold watch as brass knuckles as he JABS Starks in the face!! Starks flops over, blood in the mouth! Hobbs nods and heads out, will he end up not having to go All Out?

Backstage interview with The Baddies.

Lexi Nair is with Kiera Hogan, Leila Grey and the AEW TBS Champion, Jade Cargill, and “safe to say, things have been heating up between you and Athena.” Jade gets upset by that. Heating up? Is she serious? Leila speaks up but then Jade stops her. Leila, what have you done for Jade lately? As a matter of fact, Kiera should take out the trash. They’re done with her, bye. Jade then calls out Athena, but then tells Lexi that she’s not needed, either. Lexi storms off, and Jade tells Athena that September 4th, All Out in Chicago, “come and get these hands.” ATHENA AMBUSHES JADE! She made the mistake of being all alone!

They brawl, security rushes in to stop it, and now that the match is made, there’s nothing left to do but wait! Will the Fallen Goddess be the one to finally stop the streak? Or will #ThatBitch still be undefeated?

Mixed Tag: Sammy Guevara & Tay Melo VS Ruby Soho & Ortiz!

As part of the Jericho Appreciation Society, the Spanish God and his Brazilian Bride have been bullying and blindsiding anyone who Eddie Kingston considers a friend. But the Runaway and “Monkey” are ready to fight back like there’s no tomorrow! Will the AAA World Mixed Tag Team Champions be shown up? Or will #SamTay kiss them good-bye?

The teams sort out and it’s ladies first. Soho rushes Tay but Tay BOOTS her bad arm away! Tay cravats then throws knees! Tay wrenches, clinches, kicks Ruby down then isolates the bad arm! Tay stomps the hand! Tay isolates the arm again and twists the wrist. Ruby endures, Ortiz coaches her up and fans rally, but Tay stomps the elbow! Ruby clutches her arm but Tay grabs it again. Ruby throws a knee, then she RAMS Tay into the corner! Ruby fires off shoulders, then RAMS Tay more! The ref counts, Ruby lets off at 4, but she runs back in, only for Tay to dodge the boot! Tay KNEES Ruby right in the bad arm!

Tay wrenches Ruby’s arm, but Ruby CLAWS Tay’s face! Ruby ROCKS Tay with a right! Tay staggers into a tag, and Ortiz rushes in to CLOBBER Sammy! Ortiz rallies on Sammy, covers, ONE! Sammy kicks low and soaks up the heat. Sammy wags his finger at those who boo, then he whips Ortiz. Ortiz reverses to short arm LARIAT! And then again! Ortiz scoops Sammy to SLAM him, then Ruby runs in to combine, wheelbarrow SPLASH! Ortiz covers while Tay complains, TWO! Ortiz SLAPS Sammy, CLAWS his back, and rawr, tiger claws. Ortiz drags Sammy up, but Sammy gets under the lariat to shove him away.

Tay grabs at Ortiz at the ropes, Ortiz shakes free, but Sammy DROPKICKS Ortiz down! Fans boo, especially as SamTay kiss again. Sammy swaggers back to Ortiz as AEW goes picture in picture.

Sammy soaks up the heat, covers Ortiz, TWO! Sammy stalks Ortiz to ropes and CHOKES him, but lets off at 4. Sammy argues with the ref, and both Tay and Parker get their shots in on Ortiz! Parker anchors Ortiz, Ruby protests but that only distracts the ref, allowing Tay to get in! SamTay double suplex Ortiz down! Sammy flexes, covers, TWO! Sammy clamps onto Ortiz with a facelock but Ortiz breaks free and CHOPS back! Sammy kicks Ortiz low! Sammy brings Ortiz up, suplexes, but Ortiz blocks! Sammy throws body shots, then lifts Ortiz for a stalling suplex! The count reaches about 5 before Ortiz turns that around into a cradle! TWO!!

Sammy CLOBBERS Ortiz! Cover, TWO! Sammy kicks Ortiz to ropes, hooks him up, but the ref counts. Sammy lets off but Parker gets another cheap shot in! Sammy storms back over, but Ortiz CHOPS him! And CHOPS! Sammy pokes Ortiz in the eyes! The ref reprimands and Sammy “apologizes” before he pushes Ortiz over. Cover, TWO, and Sammy clamps onto Ortiz with a half straitjacket stretch. Ortiz endures, Sammy fishhooks Ortiz’s face, and the ref reprimands. Sammy lets go as AEW goes to break.

Rampage returns and Sammy runs in at the corner, only for Ortiz to BOOT him away! Ortiz swings, misses, but comes back to LARIAT Sammy inside-out! Fans fire up with Ruby as she’s chomping at the bit! Ortiz rolls, hot tags to Ruby and Tay! Ruby TACKLES Tay and rains down forearms! Ruby lets off to SOBAT, KICK and SAIDO! Tay flounders to a corner and fans fire up! Ruby runs Around the World to YAKUZA KICK! Tay flops down, Ruby covers, TWO! Ruby stares Parker down and then drags Tay up. Ruby bumps Tay off buckles, hoists her up top, then climbs up after her. Ruby throws hands but Sammy sucker punches Ortiz!

The ref reprimands Sammy but he goes after Ruby! Ruby HEADBUTTS Tay but Sammy brings her off the corner into an Electric Chair Lift! Ruby uses that to POISON-RANA him!! Sammy bails out, but Tay CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO!! Ruby survives and fans fire up. Ruby and Tay stand, Tay clinches but Ruby JAWBREAKERS! Ruby mule kicks, runs, but Sammy stands in her way! The ref reprimands but Sammy wags his fingers at Ruby. Ruby swings, Sammy dodges, but Ortiz DDT’s Sammy, at the same time Tay DECKS Ruby! Ortiz turns around into a BOOT from Tay! Tay then tilt-o-whirls, but Ortiz blocks the DDT!

Ortiz tosses Tay away, she comes back but he blocks her boot! Ortiz hands that off to Ruby for her to KNEE Tay! Then wrench and NO FUTURE KICK!! Cover, Sammy brings Ruby off! The ref reprimands again but Sammy pokes Ruby in the shoulder. Ruby is pissed, but she says she’ll play by the rules. Tag to Ortiz! Ortiz chases Sammy to the other corner! Ortiz fires off hands, Parker gets on the apron, and the ref is busy with all that, allowing ANNA JAY (A S) to rush out and RAM Ruby into steel steps! A bloodied Ortiz turns around to see what happened, and Sammy springboards, FLYING CUTTER!! Cover, SamTay wins!!

Winners: Sammy Guevara & Tay Melo, by pinfall

From commentary, Jericho says this is another example of why the JAS is the most dominant faction in AEW! And so together, Sammy, Tay, Anna & Parker all get Jericho’s Sports Entertainer(s) of the Week Award! But then how will the pro-wrestlers of Ruby, Ortiz and Eddie Kingston going to respond?

AEW shares exclusive backstage footage from Dynamite.

While moving the Undisputed AEW World Championship match to last Wednesday night was already a shocking move, no one could’ve predicted what would happen once the bell rang. Punk gave Moxley a powerful roundhouse, only for his repaired left foot to give out on him. Moxley still gave Punk a beating, and then Moxley won the match! While Moxley celebrated and voiced his thoughts, Punk was helped to the back. Punk knew he couldn’t put any weight on the bad foot. It didn’t pop or snap, it just gave out. But that unfortunately was the same thing that happened when he first broke it. Punk isn’t sure what that means. Will he miss more than just All Out at this point?

Mark Henry speaks with tonight’s main eventers!

The World’s Strongest Man welcomes us back to Rampage, and he says Dustin Rhodes accepted Claudio Castagnoli’s open challenge by saying he would give him the best Natural that he’s ever had. Dustin says there’s a lot of history between him and Claudio. But to have world heavyweight championship stakes, this is what dreams are made of! This is Dustin’s opportunity, this is his shot, and he promises Claudio that he IS giving him the best version of The Natural, Dustin Rhodes, he’s ever seen. Because believe him, he can beat Claudio.

Mark says Claudio is facing one of the greats, who is coming in with a lot of confidence. What are his thoughts? Claudio says that’s exactly what he wants. He wants to face a living legend like Dustin, who is supremely confident right now. That is what the Blackpool Combat Club is all about. They’re about competition! That is what the ROH World title is all about. It’s about that level of competition! But Claudio will say this. Everyone is supremely confident, until they step into the ring with Claudio! So tonight, Dustin, Claudio must apologize but he’ll have to shatter your dreams, because he is still gonna be Claudio Castagnoli, ROH World Heavyweight Champion!

Mark says it looks like there’s been enough talk. It’s time for the main event! With both men giving their best, who proves they are THE best and leaves The Land with gold?

ROH World Championship: Claudio Castagnoli w/ Wheeler Yuta VS Dustin Rhodes w/ Arn & Brock Anderson!

The introductions are of course made by Bobby Cruise, and the belt is raised as tonight, we see what it takes to become a world champion VS what it takes to stay a world champion!

Caprice Coleman joins commentary, but so does William Regal, which means Jericho is leaving! The Code of Honor is upheld and fans cheer as the two circle fast. They feel things out, tie up, and Claudio puts Dustin on the ropes. Dustin turns things around, Claudio pushes back and the two reset. They feel things out again, but Dustin backs away to a corner. Claudio backs off, Dustin comes back and Dustin gets a headlock. Claudio powers up and out but Dustin runs him over! They keep moving, Dustin avoids the back drop to roll Claudio up, ONE! Dustin hurries to whip Claudio and arm-drags! Cover, TWO!

The two stand off again, but Dustin lets Claudio know, he got a two-count on him. Fans fire up as Claudio and Dustin reset again. Claudio and Dustin tie up, Claudio waistlocks, and he drags Dustin down to then clamp onto a neck wrench. Dustin endures so Claudio shifts to a chinlock. Dustin fights up, Claudio hits a takeover and he resists the headscissors. Dustin’s shoulders are down, ONE and Dustin drags Claudio into a cover! TWO, Claudio holds onto the headlock but Dustin fights up. Dustin puts Claudio on ropes, then powers out of the headlock. Things speed up, Claudio runs Dustin over! Dustin hits ropes on the way down!

Dustin bails out of the ring and Arn checks on him. Dustin shakes out the cobwebs, Arn coaches him to get things back on his pace. Dustin goes to the apron and Claudio storms up, but into a shoulder! Dustin slingshots and sunset flips but Claudio stays up! Claudio has the legs to prawn hold, TWO!! Dustin survives and now Claudio rubs it in that that was a two-count. Fans fire up and Claudio EuroUppers! Claudio wrenches, hammerlocks, then RAMS Dustin into buckles! Claudio YANKS Dustin, whips him to ropes, but Dustin reverses to hit an atomic drop! Then Dustin runs to BOOT Claudio down! Cover, ONE!!

Dustin clamps onto the arm and he brings Claudio up. Dustin whips, Claudio reverses, but Dustin ducks ‘n’ dodges, only for Claudio to duck the crossbody! Dustin crashes ‘n’ burns and flops back out of the ring! Claudio stays back while Arn checks on Dustin, and AEW goes picture in picture.

Arn and Brock make sure Dustin’s okay. Dustin nods and sits back up, but the air sure got knocked out of him. Dustin drags himself into the ring, Claudio is right on him with EuroUppers! Claudio has Dustin in a corner, pulls his arm around ropes then YANKS on it! The ref reprimands, Claudio brings Dustin out to scoop. SHOULDER BREAKER! Cover, TWO! Claudio keeps cool, and he keeps on Dustin’s arm with a double wristlock. Dustin endures as Claudio twists the arm and wrist around. The Andersons rally the fans, Dustin fights up, but Claudio knees low! Claudio scoops, Dustin slips out and shoves to kick low. But Claudio avoids the uppercut!

Claudio hits a NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! Dustin flounders away but Claudio stalks him to a corner. Claudio digs his knee into Dustin’s head but lets off as the ref counts. Claudio runs to drop an elbow! Cover, TWO! Claudio clamps onto Dustin with a chinbar and armlock, and he grinds forearms into Dustin’s face. Fans rally as Dustin endures, and Arn coaches Dustin up again. Dustin turns and stands up, throws body shots, then runs, but into a headbutt! Claudio gut wrench suplexes Dustin! Cover, TWO!! Dustin survives, but Claudio clamps onto him for a CROSSFACE! Dustin endures again, even as Claudio pulls back!

Fans rally, Dustin reaches out, but Claudio’s wrists are right in his mouth and nose! Dustin can’t see with the knuckles in his eyes but he still reaches out forward! Rampage returns to single picture as fans continue to rally. Claudio shifts the clinch to include the arm, but Dustin is still fighting to his feet! Dustin pries the hold away to scoop Claudio for a SIDEWALK SLAM! Fans fire up as both men slowly stand! Claudio snarls, he aims at Dustin, and ROCKS him with a forearm! Dustin ROCKS Claudio back! The hands and forearms start flying faster and faster! Claudio kicks low, then EuroUppers, into a hook!

Claudio fights the backslide, spins Dustin, but Dustin LARIATS! And again! Dustin whips, Claudio reverses but Dustin holds ropes! Dustin dodges Claudio to clothesline Claudio out! Fans fire up as Dustin goes to the apron! CANNONBALL! Direct hit and down goes the Swiss Cyborg! Dustin puts Claudio in, runs the ropes, and he LEAPING LARIATS! Cover, TWO! Claudio and Dustin hurry to opposite ends, and Dustin is in a corner. Claudio storms over but into a BOOT! Dustin goes up for a FLYING RANA!! Fans are thunderous as Dustin kicks low and hits the RHODES UPPERCUT! Claudio then staggers into another kick, and a CODE RED!! Cover, TWO!!

Dustin is too tired to be frustrated, and the fans are chanting, “You Still Got It!” Claudio gets to ropes and Dustin pushes himself up. Dustin runs in, but into a FLAPJACK HOTSHOT! Claudio then CLOBBERS Dustin! Cover, TWO!! Dustin is still in this but Claudio keeps cool. Fans call for it, and Claudio figures why not! Claudio gets the legs and starts up the SWISS SWING! They go around and around for a count of 10! Cover, TWO!! But back to the CROSSFACE!! Dustin endures, knuckles in his face again! Dustin reaches but Claudio thrashes him around! The Andersons rally, the fans rally, and Dustin pushes the hold to a cover! TWO!!

Dustin gets up, and gives Claudio a POWERSLAM! He doesn’t stop there, he drags Claudio up, PILEDRIVER! Well, almost a bomb, really, with how Dustin sat back, but still a hard fall! Cover, TWO!! Claudio is still in this, and Arn says Dustin has him! Dustin fires up, the fans rally behind him, and Dustin stands Claudio up again. Arn says finish this! But Claudio wrenches free and whips Dustin to ropes. Things keep moving, Claudio hurdles but not high enough! Inadvertent contact down low! Claudio didn’t factor in Dustin’s height and it might cost him! Arn tells Dustin to pounce on that, and Dustin hurries to bring Claudio up.

But Claudio POP-UP UPPERCUTS! Cover, Claudio wins!!

Winner: Claudio Castagnoli, by pinfall (still ROH World Champion)

Arn is in shock! Dustin either didn’t or couldn’t bring out that killer instinct, and that cost him! How long will The Natural have to wait until he gets another golden opportunity like this? As for Claudio, who will be next to challenge him for this hard knocks world title?

My Thoughts:

A great Rampage, though could’ve been a bit better. For hyping up the exclusive footage, that wasn’t much of anything. It’s almost like they didn’t need to show us that here, they could’ve used it next week in the go-home. Though this probably means there will be something even more crucial on the go-home so there won’t be any time to spare. And we did get an interesting segment from The Baddies. It seems with Stokely Hathaway more focused on his new men’s division stable, Jade doesn’t have to keep Leila around. And of course we get Jade VS Athena for All Out, and of course we got Athena attacking Jade as payback. That match is going to be great stuff, but no idea if Athena has a chance of taking that title.

We got a great Trios tournament match to open the night, and while they made a tease of who would join Silver & Reynolds, I kinda figured it’d be Vance after all the Trios matches they’ve been having on Dark and Elevation. And I had a feeling Miro would be involved to cost The House of Black, and then also that Darby & Sting would make the save. That is definitely a Trios match happening for All Out, even if it’s just the Buy-In. Good promo from Hook, as well as from Menard & Parker. I don’t think the FTW Championship match of Hook VS whoever is first makes it to All Out, but that could work for the go-home next week, or even the episodes after All Out.

Nemeth blabbed for longer than his match lasted, but of course Wardlow was winning tonight. It was fine that Sabin showed up to see Wardlow for himself before All Out, but I’m not sure how much this added to the go-home math. And apparently Hobbs was another “standby” match like with Buddy Matthews last week when Hook squashed Clayton. Hobbs’ segment added more to his All Out match than Wardlow’s did, with Starks now on the ropes while Hobbs has momentum. We also got a more meaningful segment out of the LFI/AFO, with Andrade passing the blame onto Dragon Lee while still putting pressure on Private Party. Private Party will definitely deck Andrade and turn Face.

We got great stuff out of the Mixed Tag, but of course there was the “overbooking” where Anna Jay shows up to screw Ruby over and allow SamTay to get the win. With things going a bit sideways on the Eddie VS Sammy angle, who knows how the blow-off goes from here. And we got great stuff in the main event, though I’m sure Dustin was a gassed before the end. He still had the wherewithal to change from a driver to a slam, because it was clear that wasn’t going to go well if he committed. But as great as Dustin still is, Claudio was of course going to win. There are still a lot of possibilities for Claudio in defending that title, even though we’re still on standby as far as ROH getting their own show.

My Score: 8.6/10

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

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Mitchell’s AEW Dark: Elevation Results & Report! (8/29/22)

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Mitchell’s WWE SmackDown Results & Report! (8/26/22)

AEW Coverage

Mitchell’s AEW Double or Nothing Results & Report! (5/28/23)

What’re the odds?

Published

45 mins ago

May 28, 2023

Steven Mitchell

Will the Devil of AEW pay for his sins in Sin City?

Double or Nothing raises the stakes on MJF by putting him in a Fatal 4 Way for the AEW World Championship! Will his reign of terror survive a weekend in Las Vegas?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Buy-In – High Stakes Six Man Tag: Hook & The Hardy Boyz VS Ethan Page & The Gunns; win and
AEW International Blackjack Battle Royal: ??? wins and
AEW TNT Championship Ladder Match: Wardlow VS Christian Cage w/ Luchasaurus; wins and
AEW TBS Championship: Jade Cargill VS Taya Valkyrie; wins and
AEW Women’s World Championship: Jamie Hayter w/ Britt Baker & Hikaru Shida VS Toni Storm w/ The Outcasts; wins and
AEW World Tag Team Championships, Special Referee Mark Briscoe: FTR VS Team Triple J w/ Sonjay Dutt & Satnam Singh; wins and
AEW World Trios Championships Open House Rules Open Challenge: The House of Black VS ???; win(s) and
Anarchy in the Arena II: The Elite VS Blackpool Combat Club; win(s).
Unsanctioned Match, Special Enforcer Sabu: Adam Cole VS Chris Jericho; wins.
AEW World Championship Fatal 4 Way: MJF VS Sammy Guevara VS “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry VS Darby Allin; wins and

PLAY BY PLAY

[Due to scheduling conflicts, coverage of Double or Nothing will begin later tonight]

Let us know what you think on social media @ChairshotMedia and always remember to use the hashtag #UseYourHead!

AEW Coverage

Mitchell’s AEW Rampage Results & Report! (5/26/23)

The Acclaimed are on a Rampage!

Published

2 days ago

May 26, 2023

Steven Mitchell

Get ready to scissor in Sin City!

Just days before Double or Nothing, AEW Rampage sees The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn continue in trios action! Will they be aiming for The House of Black soon enough?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

Six Man Tag: The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn VS La Faccion Ingobernable; The Acclaimed & Billy win.
Six Man Tag: Ethan Page & The Gunns VS ???; Ethan & The Gunns win.
Britt Baker & Hikaru Shida VS Nyla Rose & Marina Shafir; Britt & Shida win.
Best Friends VS Lee Moriarty & “Big Bill” Morrissey; Moriarty & Morrissey win.

PLAY BY PLAY

Six Man Tag: The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn VS La Faccion Ingobernable!

Max Caster, Anthony Bowens & Daddy Ass won the Tres de Mayo Trios Battle Royal over three weeks ago and are still building momentum in the Trios Division. But will they be able to bring down Rush, Dralistico & Preston Vance? Or will LFI make Sin City tranquilo?

But of course, Platinum Max has a diss track! “Acclaimed in the house, we the nicest ever. This is not a game, this is not Fight Forever. Rush, you’re losing your cred. How you gonna fight us with all your pubes on your head? Wait, is this guy from Tijuana, bro? He looks like the dominatrix at the donkey show! We’ll make your crew say adios. Acclaimed here to win this match mas rapido!” Bowens gets the mic to say, “LAAAAS VEGAAAAAS~! The Acclaimed have arrived! SCISSOR ME, DADDY ASS~!” And he does~! But will this be muy bien for The Acclaimed? Or muy malo?

The trios sort out and fans sing “OH~ Scissor Me, Daddy~!” Bowens starts against Dralistico and the two circle. Dralistico copies the conducting of the choir, and even offers the scissor finger. Bowens goes to accept but Dralistico kicks low! Dralistoco CHOPS, CHOPS and CHOPS! But Bowens turns things around to CHOP, CHOP and CHOP! Dralistico CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS, but Bowens CHOPS and CHOPS and CHOPS! Bowens whips, Dralistico goes up and over and then ducks ‘n’ dodges to RANA! Bowens comes back with a mule kick, front kick, and KOTARO KRUSHER! Fans fire up because “EVERYONE Loves The Acclaimed!”

But Dralistico gets away and tags in Perro Peligroso. Bowens tags in Caster, and The Dangerous Dog circles with Platinum Max. They tie up, Vance headlocks, and Caster powers up and out. Vance runs Caster over, mocks the scissors, then runs. Caster drops, hurdles, then arm-drags! Caster has Vance’s arm and thrusts with it! Then Caster clamps the armlock, but Vance fights up to ROCK him with a forearm! Vance whips, Caster ducks ‘n’ dodges, and leaps, but into Vance’s arms! Vance FALL AWAY SLAMS Caster towards his corner! Billy tags in and fans fire up! Billy is a big man, just like Vance.

Billy takes off the brand new “I ♥ 2 Scissor” shirt, and shows off the DADDY ABS! Billy raises the hands, calling for a test of strength. Vance goes to oblige, but then Billy tells him “SUCK IT!” Fans fire up but Vance CHOPS Billy! Vance tells Billy to “SUCK IT!” then runs, but into a scoop! Billy carries Vance around, to FALL AWAY SLAM! What Vance can do, Billy can do better! Billy scoops and SLAMS Vance, tags Bowens in, but then Rush rushes in to ROCK Billy! Dralistico attacks Bowens and Caster, the LFI turn things around as they throw out Billy and Bowens. Billy is sent into the steps! Bowens and Caster are sent into railing!

Fans rally for The Acclaimed but the LFI all stomp away on Caster in the ring. The LFI mock the scissors, and then just flip off Caster before raising the LFI fists. Fans boo while Rampage goes picture in picture.

The LFI mug Caster more, then Rush CHOPS him in a corner. Dralistico CHOPS Caster, and then Vance stands Caster back up to CHOP him, too! LFI double whip Caster corner to corner, Dralistico runs in to SPLASH, and then Vance runs in to clothesline! Rush powers up, runs, and jumps just to BOOT Caster! Rush rolls back to tranquilo while the rest of LFI raise the fists. Fans rally for The Acclaimed while Vance bumps Caster off buckles. Vance then runs to BOOT Bowens! Rush drags Caster out, throws body shots, and then he and Dralistico put Caster back in for Vance. Vance then sends Caster back out to them, to send into railing!

Fans boo, the ref reprimands, but then LFI brawls with The Acclaimed on the outside! Rampage returns to single picture as fans chant “REF YOU SUCK!” Billy is sent into railing, and Dralistico dumps Bowens over into the front row! Vance keeps on Caster while Dralistico HEADBUTTS Bowens while he’s sitting on a fan’s lap! The fans help Bowens get up, Vance drags Caster up and tags in Dralistico. Dralistico CHOPS, then throws forearm after forearm. Dralistico goes side to side for a SUPERKICK! Dralistico lounges up top and the fans boo. Dralistico drags Caster up to whip but Caster blocks!

Dralistico CHOPS Caster, has him in an open corner, and he whips Caster corner to corner again. Caster dodges the splash! Dralistico rushes back after Caster, Caster dodges, and they DOUBLE LARIAT! Both men are down, they crawl for their teams, hot tags to Vance and Billy! Daddy Ass rallies on LFI! He SPLASHES Vance in a corner, brings him out, kicks low and, well, “SUCK IT!” FAMOUSER!! Cover, but Jose helps with the ropebreak! Fans boo, they know the truth! Jose mocks the scissor fingers while celebrating his antics. But Caster tosses Jose in! Billy drags Jose up while Caster RAMS Dralistico into railing!

Bowens RAMS Rush into railing on the other side, then goes to the corner. Billy scoop SLAMS Jose into position! Bowens is up top, SCISSOR ME TIMBERS! Jose flounders out of the ring, and the fans fire up as The Acclaimed- NO, Rush & Dralistico drag Caster & Bowens out of the ring! Billy swings on Vance but he dodges, to DISCUS LARIAT!! Cover, Caster breaks it! Caster says Billy but Rush CLOBBERS Caster! Billy is in the corner, Rush stomps him! Fans boo, but El Toro Blanco says “When you mess with the bull,” only to turn around into Bowens’ Five Tool Strike Fest! SUPERKICK!!

Rush bails out, but Dralistico springboards in, FLYING CODE BREAKER! Dralistico drags Bowens up, but Bowens wrenches and clinches, THE ARRIVAL! Caster hurries, he tags in off Billy and climbs up! MIC DROP!! Cover, The Acclaimed win!!

Winners: The Acclaimed & Billy Gunn, by pinfall

A fast ‘n’ furious battle, and Daddy Ass and his boys make it through! Bowens gets the mic to say, “How we doin’ tonight, Vegas?” Fans cheer, they’re doing great! “The Acclaimed & Daddy Ass, we feel the exact same way, because we’ve been running through this Trios Division all month long! And seeing as though we are in Vegas, I think we should do some gambling. What do you say?” Bowens says that if Vegas is gonna gamble, maybe Sunday night, remember this: The House always wins, but never bet on Black! Because EVERYONE LOVES THE ACCLAIMED! Bowens, Caster & Billy call out Malakai, Brody & Buddy, will the scissors cut down the House of Black?

Six Man Tag: Ethan Page & The Gunns VS ???

From one trios match to another, All Ego & The Ass Boys are taking on The Hardy Party at Double or Nothing, with Ethan’s contract on the line! Will Ethan, Austin & Colten be rolling into Sunday to exact revenge on Matt & Jeff?

The trios sort out, Austin starts against ??? and the two circle. Ethan & Colten distract ???, and Austin CLOBBERS him! Austin swaggers, then tags in Colten. Colten drags ??? up, puts him in the corner and stomps away on him! The ref counts, Colten lets off to tell her to shut up! Tag to Austin, Austin stomps a mudhole now, but the ref counts again. Austin lets off and shouts, then tags Colten back in. The Gunns whip, body shot, knee lift, and then LARIAT! Fans boo but the Gunns soak it up. Colten says if Ethan wants some, here he goes. Tag to Ethan and he soaks up the heat while trotting around ???

Ethan stomps ??? then brings him up, only to get a JAWBREAKER! Hot tag to 222! The Gunns jump in but Austin misses, Colten gets a BOOT, and then Austin gets a haymaker! 222 throws more heavy hands, but then Ethan BOOTS him down! Fans boo as Ethan looms over 222 and shouts, “Are you kidding me?” The Gunns take care of ??? and 333 by throwing them into the railing! Ethan puts 222 up, crosses the arms, ICONOCLASM! And then he and the Gunns get 222 up, feed to the 3:10 TO YUMA!! Cover, Ethan & The Gunns win!

Winners: Ethan Page & The Gunns, by pinfall

Ethan isn’t done, either, he wants a mic! A mic is given, and Ethan says he wants to talk to the “bozos” in Vegas. “Shut up, you basic ass civilians.” Ethan doesn’t care if anyone here was watching, he wants The Hardy Boyz to have been watching. Because if so, they just saw what a REAL three man crew, a REAL trio, can do! A REAL team! And on Sunday, guess we won’t find out what the Hardy Party can do because these three took out Kassidy! FOR GOOD! So it is clearly going to be 3v2 now. But wait, here come the Hardy Boys! Fans fire up as Matt & Jeff are on stage, and Jeff has a mic of his own!

Jeff says, “The Ass Boys are looking good out here on Rampage with a boost of ego. This Sunday, the Egos will be DELETED, compliments of us.” Matt tells Ethan that his contract and his ass will belong to Matt now! If they have to fight 3v2, they’re not afraid to. Because to them, fear is only a four letter word. Wait, Kassidy is here with a neck brace? Ethan mocks them to come on down, and Austin mocks the moaning and squealing. Kassidy says unfortunately, the doctor did not clear him to compete. However… He found a replacement. It’s HOOK!! The Cold-Hearted Handsome Devil did help Hardy Party in the Firm Deletion, so he has returned to help them again!

Fans fire up as Hook follows the Hardy Boys to the ring, and that sends Ethan & The Gunns running! Will the remnants of The Firm be torn down once and for all now that Kassidy has #SentHook?

Backstage interview with Naturally Limitless.

Lexi Nair is with Keith Lee & Dustin Rhodes, and we all know things have been heating up between them and the now Mogul Embassy. It has just been announced that Swerve Strickland and Brian Cage are both in the Blackjack Battle Royal, as are they. What does that mean for them? Imagine that, huh? Swerve and Cage in a battle royal. So after Keith & Dustin eliminate them, because this is all for the International Championship, then Keith & Dustin can just eliminate everyone else and then make a decision on who wins it all. Dustin is confident he and Keith can come to an agreement.

But Swerve and Cage, you know it’s heated. You know it’s coming. Be ready. Keith adds that if the Embassy is in this, then he can’t wait! Keith heads out, and Dustin hopes Swerve saw that. Will nothing stop Keith & Dustin settling things with Swerve’s House this Sunday?

Britt Baker & Hikaru Shida VS Nyla Rose & Marina Shafir!

While The Doctor & The Full Metal Warrior couldn’t put away the Outcasts, they are sticking together in this ongoing battle of AEW Homegrowns and everyone else. Will these former AEW Women’s World Champions prove they are still a formidable team? Or will the Vicious Vixens be a major problem for them?

The teams sort out, Shida starts against Nyla as no strangers to each other. They circle, and then Nyla kicks low and CLUBS Shida on the back! Nyla bumps Shida off buckles, then tags in Marina. The Vixens double whip, but Shida ducks the double ax handles to shove Marina into Nyla, and then shove them both into a corner! Shida runs corner to corner to KNEE them both down! Shida then snap suplexes Marina onto Nyla! Fans fire up with Shida and she points to Britt. Fans fire up as Shida tags in Britt! Britt fires off on Marina, but Marina shoves her back. Britt dodges, comes back, SLINGBLADE! Cover, TWO!

Britt keeps on Marina with hammering elbows, then she wraps on a chinlock. Britt brings Marina up but Marina blocks the suplex. Britt powers up and still suplexes Marina up and over! Cover, TWO! Britt brings Marin up, ROCKS her, and then whips her to ropes. Marina reverses to CHOP and BOOT Britt down! Marina scowls, storms up on Britt, and tags in Nyla. The Vixens mug Britt in the corner, and Nyla CHOKES Britt on the ropes! Nyla laughs right into the corner camera before she lets go at 4. Fans boo as Nyla stands on Britt and Rampage goes picture in picture.

Nyla lets off as the ref counts, and then Nyla drags Britt up. Nyla scoops Britt to SLAM her down, then she soaks up the heat. Nyla stomps Britt, drags her up, and scoops to SLAM her again! Nyla mocks the “D! M! D!” and then stalks Britt to scoop her again. Britt slips off, but Nyla choke grips her for a CHOKE SLAM! Cover, TWO! Marina and Shida shout at each other, and Nyla brings Britt up to CLUB her on the back. Nyla bumps Britt off buckles, tags Marina, and Marina fires off body shots! Marina kicks Britt’s legs out, then tags Nyla back in. The Vixens drag Britt up to whip her hard into the corner!

Marina whips Nyla in to SPLASH! And then Nyla feeds Britt to Marina’s BOOT! Marina taunts Shida, clamps onto Britt with an armlock, and she grinds Britt down. Britt endures, reaches out, throws slapping hands on Marina, but then Marina whips Britt back into the corner! Nyla tags back in, the Vixens mug Britt more, and Nyla RAMS Britt in the corner! And again! And again! Nyla sits Britt down, digs her boot in, and mockingly counts along with the ref before letting off at 4. Nyla snapmares, clamps claws onto Britt’s shoulders, and Rampage goes to break.

Rampage returns and the Vixens double whip Britt into their corner again! Marina sends Nyla in but Britt avoids the splash! Marina hurries after Britt, misses, and she stubs a toe on the ropes! Gotta be careful going barefoot! Hot tag to Shida! Shida dodges Marina, ENZIGURIS her down, then rolls to SHOTEI Nyla! Marina throws a forearm, but Shida throws a flurry in return! Fans fire up with Shida as she just hammers away on Marina! Marina staggers around, swings, but Shida DECKS her! Shida puts Marina in a corner, climbs up, and Shida rains down more fists! The fans count along and Shida gets all the way to TEN!

Shida roars, brings Marina out with a kick, and then adjusts up top to MISSILE DROPKICK! Cover, TWO! Shida tags Britt then runs to ROCK Nyla! Britt brings Marina up, TWIST ‘N’ SHOUT! Cover, but Nyla scoop SLAMS Shida onto it! Nyla is mad and she hoists Britt up. Nyla hangs Britt out to dry, then goes to the corner! Nyla climbs, aims, but Shida saves her from the knee! Nyla runs back in, but Shida & Britt dump her out hard! And then a METEORA to the floor wipes the Native Beast out! Britt has a glove, she spells it out, “D! M! D!” But Marina CHOPS, KICKS and KICKS! But Britt dodges to SUPERKICK!

Britt hurries to ripcord and- NO, Marina gets around to ripcord and SAYANAGI! Cover, TWO into a ghost pin! TWO into the RINGS OF SATURN! Shida is in, KATANA puts Marina into the LOCK JAW!! Marina is OUT, the ref calls it! Britt & Shida win!

Winners: Britt Baker & Hikaru Shida, by submission

A hard fought victory for the Doctor and the Warrior! But wait, The Outcasts are on the tron! And they’re all shaking their heads but smirking as they stand over JAMIE HAYTER! They went after her backstage! Shida & Britt hurry to the back but the damage has been done! Will Hayter be able to defend the AEW Women’s World Championship after this?

Mark Henry welcomes us back to Rampage.

“Tonight, ahead of the Blackjack Battle Royal, Lee Moriarty & Big Bill take on Best Friends. Let’s see which team comes out on top. Well, it looks like there’s been enough talk. It’s TIME for the main event!” Will Trent Beretta & Chuck Taylor have the hot hand going into the International Championship match? Or will #TAIGASTYLE and the human skyscraper make bust them already?

Best Friends VS Lee Moriarty & “Big Bill” Morrissey!

As Best Friends make their entrance, we see their best amigos, Bandido, Komander and even The Lucha Brothers all watching from the front row. They’re all going to be in the battle royal, too, and well, look at that. It would seem The Superbad Squad and the Varsity Athletes had the same idea. They’re all together in one section watching this in person, too.

Anyway, the teams sort out and Moriarty starts against Chuck. They circle, Chuck does some drop steps, and then the two tie up. Chuck waistlocks, wrenches an arm, then wristlocks. Moriarty works on the escape, but Chuck cranks the wrist. Moriarty stomps a leg, rolls and kips up to then arm-drag free. Chuck backs off and Moriarty does his dance. Fans boo but Bill cheers. Trent tags in and he circles with Moriarty. They tie up, Moriarty gets around to a waistlock but Trent switches. Moriarty switches back, Trent switches again, but Moriarty elbows free and hits a headlock takeover.

Trent headscissors, Moriarty kips free and hits another headlock takeover. Trent headscissors again, Moriarty kips free again, and fans cheer the standoff. Moriarty does his dance and fans boo again. Moriarty claps at Trent, but Trent offers a handshake. Moriarty accepts, but he sees the cheap shot coming! Trent laughs it off, but Moriarty rakes the eyes! Moriarty CHOPS Trent to ropes, whips him, but Trent reverses. Chuck hits Moriarty, but Moriarty DECKS him! But then Trent CLOBBERS Moriarty! Fans fire up with Trent and he brings Moriarty up. Trent CHOPS Moriarty down, then tags Chuck.

Best Friends double whip Moriarty to a corner, then Trent sends Chuck in to clothesline! Trent runs in to ELBOW! Trent brings Moriarty out, Best Friends double suplex! They both flex on Morrissey, then SLAM Moriarty down! Fans cheer but Big Bill runs in! He breaks the double clothesline to DOUBLE LARIAT the Best Friends! Bill clotheslines Chuck out, then he whips Trent corner to corner hard! Trent tumbles up and out and Bill paces. Best Friends are down while Rampage goes picture in picture.

Bill goes out to stomp Trent around, then stalks Trent. Bill rains down fists on Trent, but Chuck is after Moriarty! Chuck whips but Moriarty reverses to send Chuck into railing! Bill drags Trent up, ROCKS him, and Moriarty puts Chuck in the ring. Moriarty drags Chuck up, UPPERCUTS him, and then CHOKES him on the ropes! The ref counts, Moriarty lets off, and he distracts the ref so Bill can BOOT Chuck down! Moriarty covers, TWO! Moriarty drags Chuck up, the Varsity Athletes and Superbad Squad aren’t impressed with any of this, but Bill tags in. Bill throws body shots, the Lucha Brothers cheer Chuck on.

Bill digs his boot in, but steps off as the ref counts, and Moriarty CHOKES Chuck now! Trent protests but Moriarty scurries away. Bill soaks up the heat from Vegas, then he DECKS Chuck! Bill drags Chuck up, ROCKS him again, then tags in Moriarty. They mug Chuck, stomp away on him, and the ref counts. Moriarty lets off and roars, then goes back to Chuck. Moriarty drags Chuck up to wrench an arm into an ELBOW BREAKER! Moriarty snapmares Chuck, wraps him up, but Chuck fights the straitjacket. Moriarty turns Chuck over and hammerlocks an arm, to then SNAP LOCK it!

Chuck endures, even as Moriarty bridges over! Moriarty then goes back around to SNAP LOCK the arm again! Chuck endures, Moriarty bridges again, and then SNAP LOCKS a third time! Chuck manages to sit up, he throws some elbows, and he gets free! Only for Moriarty to DECK Trent with a cheap shot! Moriarty CLUBS Chuck, brings him around and tosses him out! The ref is distracted with Moriarty and Bill goes over to run at Chuck. But Chuck dodges, and the big boot from Big Bill gets stuck on the railing! That’s not good for Little Willie! Rampage returns to single picture and Moriarty rushes out! Chuck dodges and slides in, to hot tag Trent!

Fans fire up as Trent gets around to GERMAN SUPLEX Moriarty! And then GERMAN SUPLEX again! And HALF ‘N’ HALF SUPLEX! Fans fire up while Moriarty flops out of the ring. Trent builds speed to DIVE, but into Big Bill’s big hands! APRON CHOKE SLAM!! The Lucha Amigos all wince from that and Trent flops to the floor. Bill drags Trent up, puts him in the ring, and then he tags in. Bill runs in at Trent, but Trent dodges the splash! Bill hits buckles and maybe even post! Trent half nelsons but Bill elbows free, only to get a SEXY CHUCKIE KNEE! Trent then reels Bill back in, SOLE FOOD HALF ‘N’ HALF!!

Fans fire up with Best Friends, and Best Friends HUG! You GOT to give the people what they want! Trent then drags Bill up while Chuck climbs the corner. But Moriarty CLUBS Chuck down off the corner! Bill turns Alabama Lift into Canadian Rack, but Trent slips free! Trent runs, but into the BIG BOSS MAN SLAM!! Fans fire up from that feat of strength, and Bill tags Moriarty. They haul Trent up, Bill full nelsons and Moriarty gets the legs, NARAKU!! Cover off the full nelson swinging bomb, but Chuck breaks it!! Fans fire up as Best Friends survive! Moriarty drags Chuck up to TOSS him! Tag to Bill and they go back to Trent.

Moriarty wants Bill to go to the corner and Bill climbs up. Moriarty brings Trent up, but Chuck anchors Bill! Trent sends Moriarty into Little Willie! Moriarty flops out of the ring, and Best Friends fire off hands on Bill! They adjust Bill’s position up there, then climb up after him! DOUBLE SUPERPLEX!! Trent crawls to the cover, TWO!!! Bill survives and the Varsity Athletes are amused. The Lucha Amigos rally for Trent & Chuck as Chuck reels Bill in. But Moriarty slides in to claw Chuck’s eyes! The ref reprimands but Trent whips Moriarty. Moriarty reverses to send Trent out and then BOOT him down!

But Chuck kicks Moriarty and reels him in! AWFUL WAFFLE!! But Bill BOOTS Chuck!! Bill choke grips, and SKYSCRAPER CHOKE SLAMS him!! Cover, Bill & Moriarty win!

Winners: Lee Moriarty & “Big Bill” Morrissey, by pinfall

Moriarty & Morrissey stand tall, but this was in tag team action. The battle royal is every man for himself, will it come down to these two at the end? Wait, they go up to the Lucha Amigos to talk some trash, and Bandido gives thumbs down right to their faces. Bill shoves Bandido, so Bandido throws a forearm! Moriarty goes after Bandido, the Lucha Brothers go after Moriarty and Bill! And then Butcher, Blade, Kip, and the Varsity Athletes join in! People are sent into railing, and the Varsity Athletes mug Trent in the ring! Sterling tells them to keep going, but here comes ORANGE CASSIDY himself!

The Freshly Squeezed International Champion is here, he runs the Varsity Athletes off swinging his backpack, but the other entrants are still brawling it out on the outside! Cassidy shows off the prize, but here comes THE MACHINE! Brian Cage storms his way down to the ring, but here comes KEITH LEE! He and Dustin Rhodes storm their way down to the ring, and they add a lot of beef to the brawl! Naturally Limitless mugs Cage, the Varsity Athletes still mug Trent, and Cassidy just looks around at the chaos. But then “Whose House? SWERVE’S HOUSE!” Swerve is here in person, but he doesn’t seem in any rush to save Cage.

Keith eyes Swerve from the ramp, but Dustin still throws hands on Cage. Keith storms up after Swerve, but Swerve laughs and dares him to follow backstage. Cage turns things around on Dustin, all the other teams keep beating on each other! If this is how it is to close Rampage, how much wilder will it get when the title is on the line?

My Thoughts:

A really good Rampage for the go-home of Double or Nothing, and obviously since we didn’t see the traditional pre-battle-royal brawl on Dynamite, of course we saw it here to close the show. The main event tag match was great stuff, and what a great surprise that Best Friends didn’t win! The go-home math now says Moriarty & Morrissey aren’t winning, though I would love if one of them did have a belt. Honestly, they’re trying to make it seem like Cassidy is going to retain the title, since almost everyone else in the battle royal either A) has a feud going already or B) just isn’t at midcard champion level yet.

For example, Swerve & Cage VS Keith & Dustin. We should’ve had some kind of blowoff way sooner than this, maybe on a themed Dynamite and in a No Disqualification style match. Same thing for Ricky Starks, Jay White and Juice Robinson being in this match. But that problem goes all the way back to how AEW handled Starks VS Jericho and the Jericho Appreciation Society. In the end, if anyone new is winning this belt, I would actually want it to be Komander. Komander is still with AAA, so I would love to see him do a tour of Mexico with the title the same way Pac toured the UK with it to establish that first reign.

Decent squash match from Ethan & Gunns beating those jobbers we never even got the names of, and great promo with Hardy Party to establish a new take on the Six Man Tag. Hook joining is a natural choice given he helped the Hardys against The Firm before, but something about this feels like the same backwards pacing as we’ve seen with Starks. The Hardys should’ve turned the contract control tables on Ethan way before The Firm Deletion, with The Firm Deletion being the blowoff that sends the Hardys and Ethan in different directions. Hook & Hardys will definitely win, and we will get who knows how many months of shenanigans where Matt orders Ethan around.

Really good women’s tag match with Britt & Shida winning, even though there’s nothing to win for women’s tag teams in AEW anymore/right now. But of course The Outcasts attack Hayter 3v1 to put her on the defensive. This go-home math would mean Hayter overcomes the odds because she has Britt & Shida helping against Saraya & Ruby. Personally, I’m hoping Taya Valkyrie beats Jade Cargill for the TBS Championship, so that Jade can then jump up to the world title scene and really just tear into all six ladies. What bigger way to lead into AEW Collision, AEW All In and AEW All Out this Summer than with Jade finally being more than the midcard champion?

And great stuff at the beginning with The Acclaimed VS LFI. I just knew Acclaimed would find a way to win and then call out The House of Black. Apparently House of Black issued an open challenge for Double or Nothing, so The Acclaimed has answered it already. I am curious to know what stipulation The Acclaimed will bring to the Open House, but I really can’t be sure who wins. The House of Black have made the Trios Championships unique from the other titles, and have a growing popularity with the fans, but The Acclaimed are also really popular. This is like how AEW booked themselves into a corner with Hobbs VS Wardlow, and look where that’s gotten Hobbs.