It is a GOLDEN debut episode in Pittsburgh!

After knowing and waiting and preparing, AEW is ready for a RAMPAGE! THREE titles will be on the line, and one of them is from IMPACT WRESTLING!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Impact World Championships: Kenny Omega VS Christian Cage; Christian wins and is the new Impact World Champion.
• AEW TNT Championship VS Contract: Miro VS Fuego Del Sol; Miro wins and retains the title.
• AEW Women’s World Championship: Britt Baker w/ Rebel VS Red Velvet; Baker wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

The commentary team is pumped up!

Excalibur is with Mark Henry, Taz and Le Champion, Chris Jericho, and they’re ready to call all the action of this very first, very stacked AEW Rampage premiere!

Impact World Championship: Kenny Omega VS Christian Cage!

The Best Bout Machine becoming the Belt Collector has come back to haunt him! Captain Charisma is Omega’s challenger for the AEW World Championship at All Out, but can Christian #OutWorkOmega and take the unified Impact/TNA championships and make that match Champion VS Champion?

The introductions are made, the two title belts from Impact are raised, and we see if Christian can beat Omega at least this once!

Pittsburgh is already fired up for this historic opener for “A E DUB!” Rampage! Callis stays ringside rather than go to commentary as Omega and Christian slowly circle. They approach, talk some trash, Pitt is so rowdy it’s hard to tell what anyone is chanting, and Omega tries a little intimidation step. It doesn’t work on Christian, the two circle and tie up. They go around and Omega puts Christian in a corner but Christian turns it around. Christian lets off but he uses the “step” on Omega. Omega stays back, the two reset, and the fans are still fired up. Christian waistlocks, headlocks, but Omega pulls hair. Christian cranks the headlock and grinds Omega down.

The dueling become smore clear from the fans as Omega powers out, and as Christian runs Omega over! Omega sits up in a huff then stands, and Christian mocks the finger gun! Fans go nuts when he makes it a dirty bird! Christian circles with Omega again and they feel out the knuckle lock. Omega kicks low, CHOPS, then CLUBS Christian down. And then CLUBS him with double ax handles. Omega stands Christian up to CHOP! Omega whips, Christian reverses but Omega holds ropes. Omega drop steps to get around Christian and CHOP him again! The Electric Chair, but Christian turns it into double hooks! Omega bails out to avoid the Killswitch!

Christian stays in the ring and says it was that close. Callis coaches Omega, cools him down, then whispers some ideas. Omega seems to like those, but Christian slides out after him! There’s a cat ‘n’ mouse game, Omega CLUBS Christian down then stomps him down. Omega stomps Christian in a corner, over and over, then he lets off as the ref counts. Christian turns it around to CHOP! And CHOP! Omega turns it around to CHOP! And whip corner to corner, then go corner to corner for a LEAPING back elbow! Omega throws Christian out of the ring, runs to baseball slide but Christian slides in! Christian returns to WRECK Omega with a dropkick, right into railing!

Christian drags Omega up to CHOP! Christian puts Omega in the ring, climbs up the corner, but Callis distracts him! Omega SHOVES Christian off the top! Captain Charisma is down but not out as AEW Rampage goes picture in picture!

Omega talks trash to the corner post camera for some reason. Omega goes out to get Christian, drags him up and RAMS him into railing, and then brings him around to RAM him in again! Christian drags himself into the ring but Omega slowly follows. Omega looms over Christian and Christian grabs at Omega’s leg. Omega slaps the hands away, stomps Christian down, then scrapes his soles on Christian’s face! Omega pushes Christian and drops an elbow! Cover, TWO! Omega drags Christian up, Christian throws hands, but Omega CLUBS Christian down! Omega stands on Christian at the ropes, lets off as the ref counts, and mocks the applause of the fans.

Omega already celebrates like he’s won, and he grabs at Christian, only to be dragged down into a cradle! TWO, and Omega CLUBS Christian down! Omega and Callis both argue with the ref but the count was the count. Omega KICKS Christian in the back, stomps him down, KICKS him more, repeat. Omega drags Christian up slowly by his hair, sits Christian up, but Christian throws body shots and fast uppercuts! Omega ROCKS Christian, CHOPS him then reels him in for a suplex, only for Christian to snap suplex first! Fans fire up as Christian stands Omega up, but Omega digs his fingers into Christian’s face! The ref reprimands as Omega puts Christian in a corner.

The ref counts, Omega lets off at 4, to then go after the eyes again! Fans boo, Omega lets off, Jericho supports Omega doing the thumbing of eyes, and Omega puts Christian on the top rope. Omega CHOPS Christian, climbs up, but Christian throws hands. Omega hops down to ROCK Christian, then JAB! Omega climbs again but Christian throws body shots. Omega CLUBS Christian, Christian resists the superplex to CLUB away on Omega! Christian stands up to SUPER SUNSET FLIP POWERBOMB!! The fans are thunderous as both men are down. A standing count begins, and we spot Orange Cassidy and Kris Statlander in one part of the crowd, and then the Varsity Blonds in another.

Christian RAMS Omega into a corner, climbs up and rains down fists from all sides! Christian gets up to 20 before he lets off! The fans keep up that energy as he gets Omega on the ropes, and STANDS on his back! Then Christian slingshots and UPPERCUTS! Christian goes to a corner, hops up, FLYING UPPERCUT! Cover, TWO! Fans rally and duel as Christian stalks Omega. Callis tries to warn Omega, but Christian hooks arms! Omega gets an arm free and elbows back! Omega fireman’s carries, “YOU! CAN’T! ESCAPE!” ROLLING SENTON to MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Omega drags Christian up, fisherman and AOI SHOU- NO! Christian slips out to a REVERSE DDT! Cover, TWO!

Mark Henry can’t help but pull for Christian as he aims from a corner! Omega staggers up, Christian runs in, SPEAR meets V-TRIGGER! Omega counters and knocks Christian down! Omega drags Christian up to a POWERBOMB, flip through to V-TRIGGER! Cover, TWO!! Fans are shouting, “THIS IS AWESOME!” as Omega drags Christian up. Electric Chair, but Christian fights back! Omega pops Christian into a waistlock but Christian holds ropes to resist! Christian then elbows Omega way and leaps off the corner to sunset flip! Omega rolls through, but Christian drops back, V-Trigger hits buckles! Christian gets going to SPEAR Omega!! Cover, TWO!!

The Rated R Superstar won’t be happy with his best pal here as Christian can’t finish Omega off! Christian drags Omega as the fans are electric with not so much dueling as complimentary chants, “THIS IS AWESOME!” “FIGHT FOREVER!” Omega gets around to SNAP DRAGON SUPLEX!! Christian wobbles back up, Omega grits his teeth, and Omega reels Christian in for the nelson. SNAP DRAGON SUPLEX!! Omega “loads up,” aims and BANG! Omega runs but Christian bails out! Omega keeps running in but into a REVERSE HOTSHOT! Christian goes up, FROG SPLASH!! Cover, TWO?!?! Everyone is shocked and Callis is basically having a stress test!

Christian drags Omega up, fans love “A E DUB! A E DUB!” But Callis distracts the ref from seeing Omega LOW BLOW UPPERCUT Christian in his charisma! Omega calls to someone, and it’s two someone’s! The Young Bucks sneak out to ringside to slide Omega a chair! Omega sets the chair up, brings Christian over, Electric Chair and- No! Christian slips off to FULL METAL KILLSWITCH!! Cover off the chair shot, Christian WINS!!

Winner: Christian Cage, by pinfall (NEW Unified Impact Wrestling Champion)

Omega’s collection gets cut in half! Christian is now Captain IMPACT, the Double Belt Workhorse! Jurassic Express shows up to celebrate with Christian, and now everyone looks ahead to Chicago! If he beat Omega to open Rampage, can Christian beat Omega to main event All Out?

Mark Henry interviews Christian backstage.

Christian has to be excited to become the NEW Impact World Champion! JB and Luchasaurus help Christian celebrate with champagne, and Orange Cassidy is just kinda there in the corner. Henry says this is perhaps one of the biggest moments in Christian’s career, but he knows there’s still something more on September 5th. The AEW World Championship is the big moment. Henry wants to know, how does Christian feel? Christian says he’s feeling great, and this Lil’ Bit o’ the Bubbly is damn cold, but it is HOT in Pittsburgh tonight! Now, for one, Christian loves that Mark Henry is here, and also he said he was going to take Omega’s belts, starting with the Impact title(s).

But guess what?! Christian knows Omega is as advertised. Omega is one of the toughest and most talented guys Christian’s ever faced. So if this was hard, it’ll be nearly impossible to win that AEW title. “But I’m living in your head right now, aren’t I, Kenny?” Omega knows what can happen, and it’ll happen again at All Out! Will Christian go from two to THREE belts soon enough?

Fuego Del Sol speaks.

“This is the match of my life. This means everything, not only to me, but to my family! These people keep believing in me. They keep chanting my name. This is everything I’ve ever dreamt of and everything I’ve ever worked for.” Miro says AEW is playing games with his contender’s list, but Fuego says he belongs in AEW! God’s Favorite Champion is going to be baptized by fire!

AEW TNT Championship VS Contract: Miro VS Fuego Del Sol!

God’s Favorite Champion vows two things: make sure his hot, flexible wife is satisfied in every way; and to forgive his opponents after demolishing them. But Alabama’s Favorite Luchador isn’t going to let that stop him from finally becoming #AllElite! Can Fuego set Rampage on fire by becoming a champion before he’s an official AEW wrestler?

The introductions are made, and the second Miro turns around from the corner, Fuego hits a TILT-O-WHIRL TORNADO DDT!! The ref has him stay back, Miro flounders up and gets the belt off. The bell rings, Miro stands, into the FLYING TORNADO DDT!! Miro flounders out and Fuego can’t believe how close yet how far he is now! Fuego sees the belt and moves it aside while Miro is down! The ring count climbs, the fans are thunderous for Fuego, and Miro staggers at 9! Miro is in at 9.9, but into another TORNADO DDT!! Cover, TWO!?! Fuego is getting red hot though he’s wearing blue tonight! Fuego climbs a corner, Miro staggers up, FLYING-

Miro fireman’s carries Fuego for a BIG BULGARIAN DROP! Miro slaps clarity into his head, stomps about, and Fuego staggers up. Fuego turns around into the BEST KICK!! Miro snarls, gets mad, and shouts, “GAME! OVAAAA!” Then the DEEP GAME OVER CLUTCH! Fuego taps, Miro wins!!

Winner: Miro, by submission (still AEW TNT Champion)

Miro survived and in an instant, he retains his title! He has the contract meant for AEW, and RIPS it to shreds! Miro presents the title to his vengeful God, who will he be destined to destroy next?

AEW returns as Fuego picks himself up.

Fans cheer the valiant effort of the luchador, but wait! Sammy Guevara heads out to the ring! The Vlog Crew is represented, and then Tony Khan is here with Sammy! Tony hugs it out with Sammy, then hands him a clipboard…? Sammy has a mic to tell Fuego, “Fuego man, you lost. But sometimes there’s victory in defeat.” Sammy says Fuego has been coming to AEW over the last year, is something like 1-50, but who cares? The people love him! And Fuego, a lot of the guys in the back love you, too. Sammy gets a little choked up as he explains Tony felt it was only right for Sammy to be the one that comes out here.

Since they’re best friends, Sammy gets to say that official, Fuego Del Sol IS All Elite! He gets a contract anyway!! Dreams do come true! Fans are fired up for Fuego, is his career about to heat up?

Wait, who’s up in the rafters?

Schiavone isn’t here to say it, but IT’S STIIIIIING! AND DARBY ALLIN! Like AEW’s Batman & Robin, they’re watching over Rampage. Darby Allin has called out the supposed Best in the World for Rampage’s second episode, live from Chicago’s United Center! It’ll be Rampage: The First Dance!

Mark Henry holds a double video call interview with Britt Baker and Red Velvet.

The AEW Women’s World Championship main event is coming up, and he starts by asking the challenger, “You rained on Britt Baker’s parade. Why is that?” Velvet asks back, “Did everybody seem to forget that she attacked me with a crutch? Not only did I wanna ruin her night in Pittsburgh, in her hometown, but that was just a preview” of what Velvet will do to ruin Britt’s night tonight, again in her hometown. Velvet can’t wait to stir her ass up!

Henry then asks Britt about that moment, when Velvet showed up to ruin the moment that Britt had in front of the fans. Britt stops him there and says Velvet didn’t ruin anything. She didn’t rain on Britt’s parade, because it doesn’t rain in Brittsburgh, so long as Britt is champ. If Velvet thinks she’s stirring anything, she better stir that ish somewhere else, because this is BRITT’S night. Her main event, her people, her city. And when she competes with a “broken freakin’ wrist,” it’ll be #AndStill your champion, Dr. Britt Baker, DMD. Well enough talk, it’s TIME for the main event, after the break!

AEW Women’s World Championship: Britt Baker w/ Rebel VS Red Velvet!

The Dentist is in, and #Brittsburgh is more than ready to watch her in Rampage’s first ever main event! But will #TheChef cook up something that rots Britt’s sweet tooth and takes the title from her? Or will the Face of the AEW Women’s Division rearrange Velvet’s face to still be Pittsburgh’s hope?

The introductions are made, the title is raised, and we see if the black ‘n’ yellow still has some gold in it!

The fans are fired up for “A E DUB! A E DUB!” right at the bell as Velvet and Britt circle. They tie up, go around, and Velvet headlocks. Britt spins Velvet to a Fujiwara takedown! Velvet slips out, gets Britt’s arm, then steps over, but Britt powers out of the Final Slice! Fans cheer Britt but Velvet circles with her. They tie up, Velvet wrenches, wristlocks, Britt and Velvet circle and Velvet gets an arm again. Fans boo but Britt powers through to snapmare and cravat, only for Velvet to slip out again. Velvet has the arm to wrench, Britt wrenches back as fans chant, “Here we go, Brittsburgh, here we go!” Britt uses a double wristlock takedown to a cover, ONE!

Velvet gets up but Britt pie faces her! Velvet pie faces back! Britt scowls and fans boo but Velvet dodges a kick to roll Britt up! TWO, Velvet headlocks, shifts sides and wrenches to WRANGLE Britt down! Velvet doesn’t stomp Britt’s bad arm and lets her up? Britt gets up, Velvet wrenches her again and hammerlocks. Britt reaches back to drag Velvet back to a cover, TWO! Britt uses an arm to flip Velvet over, cover, TWO! Britt and Velvet reset, Britt knees Velvet low. Britt whips Velvet to a corner, runs in but misses! Velvet wraps the bad arm around the ropes but the ref counts. Velvet lets off, but she gets Britt’s arm again to wrench it! The ref has Velvet back off so she does.

Velvet pulls Britt along by her hair, Britt gets around to back elbow! Velvet wobbles, Britt knees her low. Britt whips, Velvet ducks and dodges but Britt redirects, only to run into a LEG LARIAT! Velvet stirs it up to the STANDING MOONSAULT! Cover, TWO! Velvet keeps focus but Britt hits low as AEW goes picture in picture.

Britt knees Velvet, whips her to ropes but Velvet blocks hip toss to arm-drag! But Britt uses that to wrangle Velvet into a grounded motorcycle stretch STOMP! Britt takes a moment to brag, “D! M! D!” Then she drags Velvet up. Britt shoves Velvet, Velvet turns things around to fire off hands! Velvet whips Britt but Britt wrangles her down again! Waistlock to bridge, TWO, but Britt holds onto Velvet. Britt shifts up to a chinlock with a half straitjacket, but Velvet endures. The fans use their Terrible Towels to rally behind Britt as she shoves Velvet to a cover. TWO, and Britt keeps on Velvet with a facelock. Britt gets Velvet up, BUTTERFLY SUPLEX!

Britt stalks Velvet to ropes, chokes her then has the motorcycle stretch for a STOMP into the ropes! The ref argues with Britt but this keeps them from seeing Rebel choking Velvet with her own Terrible Towel! Rebel gets away it it as Britt comes back over to knee Velvet down. Britt drags Velvet up, bumps her off buckles, then stomps away on her! The ref reprimands, Britt lets off to dig a boot into Velvet, then lets off again. But now the ref can’t see Rebel using her crutch to choke Velvet! Britt still talks with the ref, Rebel lets off, and Britt whips Velvet out then into the corner! Britt sneers as she swaggers about, but she walks into Velvet’s body shots!

AEW returns to single picture as Britt pushes Velvet into the corner and KNEES her low! Britt whips Velvet out then in again, only for Velvet to make it a straitjacket NECKBREAKER! Velvet pushes Britt into a corner, fires off boxing body shots then kicks a leg out. Britt ducks the Chef’s Kiss and comes back with a clothesline, but Velvet hits the arm! It’s the bad arm, so Velvet hits an ARM CODE BREAKER! Statlander is still in the front row as Velvet covers, TWO! Velvet keeps her cool, drags Britt up, and fans rally for “DMD!” Britt avoids the Final Slice again, kicks low, then FISHERMAN SCREWS! Britt runs in to La Magistrol to the ghost pin, TWO! Now the Rings of Saturn!

Fans fire up as Britt waves, but Velvet turns the hold to a cover, TWO! Velvet has the arm, pulls back and goes after the brace! The fans boo as Velvet gets the hand exposed! Rebel distracts, Velvet throws the glove at her! Britt gets up and rolls Velvet up, TWO!! Rebel has the title belt now, but the ref sees that! The ref EJECTS Rebel! Britt is furious, as are the fans, but Velvet SUPERKICKS! Britt is down, Velvet goes to the corner! Fans are calling BS but Velvet MOONSAULTS! Cover, TWO!! Britt survives and Brittsburgh comes alive. Velvet shakes her head, gets Britt up, but Britt suplexes to a LAST SHOT BRAINBUSTER! Cover, TWO!?!

Britt can’t believe Velvet survived but she gets Velvet up and runs to CURB STOMP!! Cover, TWO!?!? Velvet survives again and then gets Britt’s arm! Britt slips out, CLUBS Velvet, and CLUBS her again. The ref checks on the bad arm, and Velvet gets it! Velvet STEALS Rings of Saturn but can’t get the Lockjaw! Britt fights, shakes her head around, reaches around, but Velvet pushes off the ropes, only for Britt to turn it all around! Rings of Saturn, and though no glove, Britt reaches out, and Velvet grabs the bad hand to SMASH it over and over and over into the mat! And then hammer away on it! Britt gets her bad hand away and shifts around to make it a MIRRORED Rings!

Velvet resists but LOCKJAW! Velvet quits, Britt wins!!

Winner: Britt Baker, by submission (still AEW Women’s World Champion)

Who knew Britt could switch hit! Or, rather switch submit! The Doctor reigns in Pitt, but she gives Velvet another FISHERMAN SCREW! The ref reprimands but Britt puts the belt in the ring, sets Velvet up, only for Statlander to get in and DECK Britt! Wait someone gets in and DECKS Statlander?! Who- Is that Jamie Hayter?! She returns to AEW after about two years, and she looks so different! Britt said she was getting new back-up, and here’s Hayter! And she helps Britt set Velvet up for the BELT CURB STOMP!! Britt literally steps over Velvet, Hayter raises Britt’s hand, and the Rampage Era has truly begun!

My Thoughts:

An awesome debut for Rampage, with all the matches from top to bottom being amazing! And as advertised, there were no distractions, all action as this hour was mostly matches. Omega VS Christian was a great match, and even greater on the surprising result of Christian winning! This makes Christian a five-time world champion, and I suppose specifically a three-time Impact World Champion. This is great for what it means in the overall Omega story, in that this is the beginning of what I was hoping for. Omega has to run a gauntlet of sorts with high profile, high level matches. Omega lost here but I don’t think he’ll be losing at All Out, so Christian got his win here.

Miro of course won tonight, but it was great to see Fuego fire off so many DDT’s, and then still get a contract for the effort he’s been putting in. And then the main event, Britt VS Velvet with a HOT crowd for Britt made for a great first main event for Rampage. The action was great, Velvet got a great showing even in losing, but of course Britt retains since this was her crowd. It was a good detail that Kris got in to save Velvet while also staking her claim to the next title shot, but also how great to see a return from Hayter. Her being added to Britt’s group is a great way for Hayter to get screen time, and now we can have some tag team builds with Britt & Hayter VS Statlander & Velvet.

My Score: 9.2/10