Johnny Hungy won’t budge on The BUDGE!

AEW is in St. Louis and is ready for a Rampage! But is Adam Cole ready for the Meat Man, John Silver, after taking a Dynamite Con-CHAIR-To?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Bryan Danielson VS Anthony Bowens w/ Max Caster; Danielson wins.
• AEW TBS Championship Tournament Opening Round: The Bunny VS Red Velvet; Velvet wins and advances to the next round.
• John Silver VS Adam Cole w/ The Young Bucks; Cole wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Bryan Danielson VS Anthony Bowens w/ Max Caster!

The American Dragon knows he and God’s Forsaken Champion, Miro, are going to throw down at Full Gear in the World Title Eliminator finals! But first, a bit of business as Tony Khan is going to show The Acclaimed who’s boss! Will the Five Tool Player be humbled to open Rampage?

But of course, Caster has the mic to rap! “The Acclaimed, we only do numbers. But this guy’s too busy growing cucumbers. Don’t be mad at me, bro, cuz you’re only known for your wife’s reality show! And you should eat some eggs. Look at Bowens’ arms, they’re bigger than your legs! I’mma put you into poverty, dog. Cuz I end careers quicker than your father-in-law!” Ouch, a burn on Johnny Ace? The Acclaimed has arrived, but will they be leaving with deflated egos?

The bell rings, Bowens and Bryan stare down and fans chant, “YES! YES! YES!” The two circle, tie up, and Bowens arm-drags Bryan! Bowens talks trash, as does Caster, but Bryan shrugs it off. They tie up again, Bowens arm-drags again, and Caster applauds while the fans boo. Bryan keeps cool, he and Bowens circle again. They tie up, Bryan wrenches and wristlocks to grind the arm and CLUB the elbow! Bowens gets up, slips through and wrenches back to a hammerlock, then a spin and snapmare to a ghost pin! TWO, and Bowens again gloats. The fans still boo and Bryan still keeps his cool as he resets with Bowens.

Bryan calls for a test of strength, Bowens accepts with the knuckle locks but then spins an d wrenches to sweep the legs. Cover, ONE, but Bowens facelocks then headlocks. Bryan powers out but Bowens runs him over! Bowens runs, Bryan stays low but Bowens hurdles to mule kick, front kick and run into a kick from Bryan! Fans fire up and Caster grimaces as Bryan wrenches to an ELBOW BREAKER! Bryan puts Bowens in a corner to CHOP, KICK and CHOP again! Bowens turns things around to CHOP and CHOP in return! Bryan EuroUppers, Bowens staggers and forearms back! Bowens gets the edge, reels Bryan in to suplex, but Bryan knees free!

Bryan wrenches and drags Bowens down to an ARMBAR! Bowens resists, rolls around and gets the ropebreak! Bryan lets off, Bowens bails to the apron but Bryan runs to PENALTY KCIK Bowens down! Fans fire up as Bryan goes to the apron, Bowens blocks this Penalty Kick to Electric Chair and SLAM Bryan face first into the apron! Bowens gets in the ring, distracts the ref, Caster CLOBBERS Bryan! Fans boo and Caster acts innocent as AEW goes picture in picture.

Bowens soaks up the heat, goes out the side to fetch Bryan, and CHOPS him. Bowens puts Bryan in the ring, stomps away on him, then rains down rights. Cover, TWO! Another try, TWO! Bowens is annoyed but he should know Bryan is tougher than this. Bowens puts Bryan on the ropes and chokes him! He lets off as the ref counts, and then Caster chokes Bryan behind the ref’s back! Caster gets away with it again, Bowens brings Bryan up to wrench and OLYMPIC SLAM! Cover, TWO! Bowens grabs Bryan’s hair to keep him close and then he throws forearms and elbows. AEW returns to single picture as Bowens CLUBS Bryan down! Fans rally up and Bryan EuroUppers back!

Bryan throws more EuroUppers, runs but Bowens elbows him to CHOP again. Bowens whips, Bryan ducks and dodges to LEAPING LARIAT! Fans fire up with Bryan and he gives Bowens YES Kicks! Again and again, from all sides! Then the BUZZSAW! Cover, TWO! Bowens is still in this, but Bryan drags Bowens up to bump him off buckles. Bryan CHOPS and KICKS, then runs corner to corner to dropkick! Bryan keeps moving, but Bowens dodges to ENZIGURI! Bryan is stuck in the ropes, Bowens gets a DRAPING TWISTING NECKBREAKER! Cover, TWO! The “Arrival” couldn’t end this, but Bowens puts Bryan in the corner to CHOP and CHOP and CHOP!

Bowens whips corner to corner, Bryan goes up and over and keeps moving to duck and WRECK Caster! Then he baits Bowens in to toss him out onto Caster! Bryan goes up top as The Acclaimed regroup, for a SUPER CROSSBODY! Direct hit and fans are thunderous! Bryan puts Bowens back in, climbs up another corner, and leaps to missile dropkick! Bryan fires up and fans join in as he gets the wrists. DANIELSON STOMPS! Then omoplata to LEBELLE LOCK!! Bowens taps, Bryan wins!

Winner: Bryan Danielson, by submission

Bowens just felt the fire of the American Dragon, but will this just be a fraction of what Bryan unleashes on Miro in the tournament finals?

AEW shares an interview from after Dynamite.

Tony Schiavone was with FTR and Andrade El Idolo to talk about that mugging on Cody Rhodes. Dax Harwood says that we can all agree, Cody Rhodes SUCKS. MJF joins in to add how he beat Cody, too. But remember the deal, Andrade. MJF’s boys, the greatest luchadors of all time, help Andrade out for some, what do they call ’em? Robert Dinero. Andrade says money talks, so Jose hands over a fat envelope. Not enough. Uno mas, por favor. Jose hands over another fat envelope of cash and MJF says muchas gracias, senor! Time to party!

Cash Wheeler says that for those keeping count, FTR retained the AAA Tag Team Championships, and are going to win back their AEW World Tag Team Championships at Full Gear! They left Cody laying, and the only thing left is PAC! He wasn’t out there to stop them. Does that mean he’s a little British bitch? If Pac wants to prove them wrong, Dax will see him Wednesday night. #TopGuysOut! Will the Bastard get revenge through one of Andrade’s associates? Will the Lucha Brothers be there to watch his back?

CM Punk is here!

St. Louis fires up to see the Best in the World, but this isn’t a match. Punk called Eddie Kingston out, and we’re going to see a face-to-face confrontation, after the break.

Rampage returns and Punk has a mic as he does laps. “I just wanted everybody at home to think I’ve been jogging around in a circle for three and a half minutes.” But it’s great to be back in St. Louis! He wanted to say that before getting down to business. There’s drama and beef to settle with Eddie Kingston, so Punk invites Eddie Kingston out to his ring. The Mad King’s music hits, but where is he? Fans boo, Punks says alright, maybe Kingston isn’t here. He wasn’t there on Wednesday, but maybe he was here last Friday. Kingston interrupted Punk and Schiavone, maybe Punks just has to talk more so Kingston can interrupt. Oh, there he is, just like Punk said.

Kingston goes right to the ring, gets himself a mic, and mocks Punk with his crossed arms. “You want an apology? That’s what you wanted, that’s what you said Wednesday, right? Answer me when I’m talking to you.” Does Punk not like that? Punk says he loves that. It sounds a little condescending when a man asks another for an apology, but Kingston interrupted Punk, don’t paint Punk like he’s the bad guy here. Kingston interrupted Punk. Oh, yes, Kingston interrupted “the great” CM Punk! Oh, no~!

Kingston will apologize, because Punk’s right. Kingston will apologize that he was home sick, thought he had COVID, had to get tested twice, and chose to stay home because God forbid he’d get his friend, Moxley, sick, who then gets his kid sick. But that doesn’t matter because he has to apologize because the fans didn’t get Punk VS Cassidy. Here’s the world’s smallest violin playing for Punk’s little ass. So Kingston apologizes to the fans. Who is Punk? Huh? Kingston wants a second to ask, “Who are you?” Punk says that isn’t an apology and Kingston knows damn well who he is. Yes, Kingston does! This is CM Punk. But Kingston doesn’t care! He’ll tell us the truth about Punk!

Kingston wants a second to say that Punk was once a hero of Kingston’s. Him, Samoa Joe, Homicide, the Amazing Red, those guys on the indies when Kingston first broke in inspired Kingston. But Punk, “you lowlife scumbag, two-faced narcissistic bitch!” Punk judged Kingston. Kingston came to the locker room to get free from his mental crap and the streets. All Punk did was judge him. Why? Cuz he was fat and liked to eat? Or that he didn’t play the game? He didn’t kiss ass? Didn’t become friends with the booker? Didn’t bury people just to get his stuff in? So that makes Kingston wrong? NO! Punk was wrong! That’s what Kingston knows!

Does Punk want Kingston to know what he hears right now? Kingston just lumping baggage on Punk on him. There were other people Kingston named, and the truth is, it wasn’t just Punk who judged Kingston,. Homicide, Joe, Danielson, they judged Kingston. But they held him to a standard of the potential that they saw in him. Kingston is the one who fell short. Kingston can blame Punk and lose in the ring to a guy like Danielson and then try and blame Punk, but that’s not his fault. Punk is not wrong for seeing greatness 15 years ago, but he was a damn fool thinking he could hold Kingston to that standard, because Kingston is a BUM!

Kingston throws off his hat and paces around. Kingston does his best to stay calm, and says, “I’m a bum? I’m a bum. My man. Would a bum main event Full Gear? Would a bum almost have to sell his house because of the pandemic but keep fighting through to make it to the only professional wrestling company in the world today? Is that a bum?” He wants us all to understand and Punk needs to listen: Nobody wants Punk here, and they never wanted him here. Everyone else is afraid to say it but not Kingston! So get out, Punk, and stop smirking or he’ll smack it off your face! But y’know what? Kingston sees Punk’s getting a bit mad. Fight him on the 13th, AT Full Gear!

Wow, fight Kingston at Full Gear? Punk will be honest, he didn’t intend to leave without fighting Kingston, but again, Full Gear is a little bit high bar. Maybe they can do this on Elevation or Dark, something more Kingston’s speed. Kingston “laughs” but he tells Punk he’s a coward and then dares him to fight him! “Fight me. Fight me. Fight me!” They get face to face and fans want to see this right now! Punk will ask St. Louis. Do they want to see Kingston VS Punk at Full Gear? They say yes, so Punk will see Kingston on the 13th. Kingston say sit doesn’t matter about winning or losing, he’ll just beat Punk up. And after that, Punk can leave for another seven years.

Punk HEADBUTTS Kingston for that! And the fight is happening now! Fans are fired up as they scrap in the corner, but referees rush out to stop this! Kingston gets on top of Punk and the refs pull him away! They also hold Punk back but Kingston breaks free and JUMPS on Punk! Now producers and wrestlers have to get out there! Tony Khan makes it official, and Punk LEAPS on Kingston! Kingston wants to bite Punk’s forehead but the referees and wrestlers pull them apart! Kingston and Punk talk trash, fans want to “LET THEM FIGHT! LET THEM FIGHT!” but this will have to wait for Full Gear!

Backstage interview with Christian Cage & Jurassic Express.

Tony Schiavone brings up these three going back and forth with the Super Kliq. Christian says that when he walked up on the Super Kliq on Wednesday, he couldn’t help but hear Nick Jackson claiming they’re tough guys. They’re good at sneak attacks and the Young Bucks are good at those circus flips, but tough guys? They didn’t look so tough laying as the sad sacks of s*it, but Christian wants to see how tough the Super Kliq really is. Luchasaurus nods and JB says he definitely wants to see. They’re throwing out a challenge right now! Christian & Jurassic Express VS Super Kliq, Full Gear, FALLS COUNT ANYWHERE! “We’ll see you there, tough guys.”

AEW TBS Championship Tournament Opening Round: The Bunny VS Red Velvet!

Jade Cargill and Max Sterling are watching from the front row as this final first round match determines who faces #ThatBitch in the quarterfinals! Will the Hardy Family Office have a horse in the race? Or will it be sweet revenge for The Chef on the road to the gold?

AEW returns and Velvet makes her entrance. She doesn’t wait, either, she goes right into the ring and hits a THESZ PRESS! She rains down fists but Bunny shoves her away. Velvet goes corner to corner to clothesline, then she fires off boxing body shots! Bunny shoves her away again, but Velvet whips Bunny to ropes for a WHEEL KICK! Bunny flounders out of the ring but Velvet pursues! LARIAT! And Velvet talks trash to Jade! Velvet goes back to fetch Bunny but Bunny pokes her in the eye, then rams her into railing! Bunny laughs, mockingly asks where Velvet’s going, then brings her up to CURB STOMP her into steel steps!

Bunny stares down Jade and Sterling before putting Velvet back into the ring. Velvet gets to a corner, Bunny runs in and dropkicks her into buckles! Cover, TWO! Bunny stomps Velvet, drags her up and brings her around, but Velvet throws hands. Bunny knees low, runs but Velvet dodges to ROCK her with a forearm! Bunny hits back and we have a brawl! Bunny knees low, runs but into a CALF KICK! Velvet fires up and fans fire up with her as she runs in to SHINING WIZARD! RUNNING STUNNER! High stack, TWO! Bunny ducks Just Deserts and rolls Velvet with tights! TWO, but Bunny kicks low to fireman’s carry and RUNNING DEATH VALLEY! Cover, TWO!!

Bunny is furious and slaps herself around while fans rally behind Velvet. Bunny aims to SUPERKICK! Velvet staggers, Bunny grins and drags her into the dragon sleeper. But Velvet slips out and wrenches to kick. Bunny ducks but Velvet mule kicks then hooks Bunny up, FINAL SLICE! Cover, Velvet wins!

Winner: Red Velvet, by pinfall (advances to the next round)

The first course of revenge is done, but Velvet dares Jade to go right here and now! Sterling has Jade stand down, will the quarterfinals be where it all comes to a head?

Mark Henry interviews our main eventers!

John Silver has Alex Reynolds with him while Adam Cole of course has the Young Bucks. Mark Henry points out how Silver said on Being The Elite, he wanted Cole to cut his hair, be a manager, and change his name to Budge. Silver wants Henry to note that it was BUDGE, all caps. But yes, absolutely. Silver knows ol’ BUDGE is the new guy, but he just wants to see him succeed. Cole tells Silver to shut up already. It is painfully obvious Silver just thinks this is fun and games and he can make a mockery of Cole’s career. But it is really just jealousy because Silver will never even have half the career Cole has had.

Silver says he beat the Elite last week. That was a fluke! But Silver was dressed as Bambi and he won. But now BUDGE got a booboo. How’s his head? Cole admits, he is a bit hurt. But that was a Con-Chair-to to the face, and Cole handled it. There were times when he was thrown off a steel cage and he still wrestled the next day, because that is what he does. Silver will find out that Adam Cole is NOT someone to mess with. The Super Kliq heads out, we’ve had enough talk. It’s time for the main event!

John Silver VS Adam Cole w/ The Young Bucks!

Surprisingly, Silver tells the Dark Order he can handle this on his own. The bell rings and fans chant, “BUDGE! BUDGE! BUDGE!” Silver wants Cole to hold on, and he powers up the BUDGE, BAYBAY! Cole BOOTS Silver right down! Cole rains down furious fists, staggers up, but steadies himself. Cole gets Silver up to throw hands and stomp Silver in a corner. Fans rally and duel, Cole brings “Johnny Hungy” around to whip. Silver reverses to scoop and trophy lift to then HOTSHOT Cole and CLOBBER him with an uppercut! And then he shows off the guns! Cole gets to a corner, Silver is after him and TOSSES him across the ring! He’s friggin’ jacked, baby!

Cole gets up, Silver TOSSES him across the way again! Silver stalks Cole to ropes but Cole throws Silver out to the apron, then BOOTS him again! Cole goes out to join Silver but Silver KICKS him back! But Cole snapmares Silver hard onto the apron! Silver falls to the floor, Cole goes out and hooks Silver up in the camel clutch! The Bucks coordinate, and give Cole kisses! Fans cheer, Cole shoves Silver down but the ref reprimands them all as AEW goes picture in picture.

Cole puts Silver in the ring, stalks after him to ropes, and then chokes him! The ref counts, Cole lets off, and Silver gets to a corner. Cole turns Silver for a NECKBREAKER! Cole drags Silver back up, throws forearms, and then whips him to ropes to CLOBBER with an elbow! Cole has to steady himself again, perhaps that con-chair-to is still bothering him. Cole throws knees into Silver’s back, wraps on a chinlock and squeezes tight. Silver endures, fights up and hits a JAWBREAKER! Cole staggers, Silver gets to a corner, Cole runs in but into an elbow! Silver BOOTS Cole, runs in but into a fireman’s carry! USHIGOROSHI! Cover, TWO!

Cole grows annoyed and Silver gets to ropes. Cole storms over, drags Silver up and snap suplexes! Cover, TWO! Cole drags Silver up but Silver throws body shots. Cole knees low, CLUBS Silver on the neck, then paces. Cole brings Silver back up, snapmares and clamps on a chinlock. Cole grinds Silver down, Silver endures as Cole leans on the hold. Cole pushes up to put more pressure on Silver, but Silver fights up. AEW returns to single picture as Silver fires off body shots. Cole ROCKS Silver, Silver ROCKS Cole back! Cole steadies himself, Silver hits him again! And again! And KICKS and KICKS and KICKS! Silver whips, then BACK DROPS Cole!

Silver goes after Cole, whips him to ropes but Cole reverses to jump, but into a POWERBOMB! Cover, TWO! Cole clutches his head, Silver keeps his cool and the two get up. Silver ROCKS Cole with a forearm, Cole hits back! Silver forearms again, but Cole hits another. Silver throws another forearm, Cole hits back. Silver throws another forearm, and then fast hands and a kick! “YOUR NAME IS BUDGE!” Silver runs but into a BOOT, but he ENZIGURIS! Silver runs, but into a backslide! Silver rolls through, kicks, kicks and SUPERKICKS, but Cole GHOSTBUSTERS! Cover, TWO!! Silver survives and Cole is seething!

Cole steadies himself, Silver slowly rises. Cole brings down the kneepad, runs, but Silver LARIATS Cole inside-out! Fans fire up as Silver runs and BOOTS Cole in the back! Then SNAP GERMAN SUPLEX! And a PUNT KICK!! Cover, but Matt Jackson helps Cole fake the ropebreak! The ref suspects something, here comes the Dark Order! Reynolds and Uno back the Bucks off, and then Angels and Vance, too! Cole lurks behind Silver, Silver blocks the low blow! To LOW BLOW then SPINNING LIGER BOMB! Cover, TWO?!!? Cole survives and St. Louis can’t believe! Silver and Cole are down, a standing count begins. Cole and Silver are up at 5, and Cole drags himself to a corner.

Silver gets Cole up top, “This is Awesome!” as Silver climbs up to join him. Cole fights back with body shots, throws forearms and Silver falls! Cole adjusts position, Silver rises, PANAMA- NO! Silver blocks to ALABAMA SLAM Cole into the corner! GAMANGIRI, corner to corner UPPERCUT! Silver keeps going, but runs into a SUPERKICK! BLINDSIDE SUPERKICK! Then, ALL ABOUT THE BOOM!! Cover, Cole wins!

Winner: Adam Cole, by pinfall

Even with the damage done by Captain Charisma on Dynamite, Cole finds a way to survive! Will he and the Bucks look to get some payback of their own on Christian and Jurassic Express come Full Gear?

My Thoughts:

Great stuff from Rampage again! For one, Danielson VS Bowens was a great surprise opener. Caster had another good rap and Bowens got to show his stuff against Bryan. The post-Dynamite interview promo was good stuff, and I like this apparent business partnership between Andrade and The Pinnacle. Dax calling out Pac was another good way of tying all these things together, that should be a really good match, not sure how it’ll affect go-home math. Punk and Kingston had one hell of a promo segment turned brawl, and of course that Full Gear match is going to be awesome.

Bunny VS Velvet was short, but they got a lot in it, and I figured Velvet would win. There is a lot of story for Velvet VS Jade, that was the natural match-up for the quarterfinals. I’m still betting on Jade to win but she and Velvet are going to have a really good match. And then Silver VS Cole was awesome stuff, probably Silver’s best singles match yet. The Bucks of course saved him with that sneaky ropebreak, but at the same time, Cole was still going to win to get back some momentum. The Falls Count Anywhere Six Man Tag is going to be great stuff at Full Gear, and again feeds into my thinking that AEW could easily bust out Trios titles.

My Score: 8.6/10