This week is a Slam Dunk!

Is the Forbidden Door open again? Because NJPW’s Switchblade, Jay White, is on AEW Rampage! Plus, Adam Cole takes on The Dark Order’s Number 10!

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Adam Cole VS Preston Vance; Cole wins.
• Face of the Revolution Ladder Match Qualifier: Dante Martin VS “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs; Hobbs wins and advances to the Face of the Revolution match.
• The Professor’s Five Minute Rookie Challenge: Serena Deeb VS Angelica Risk; Deeb wins.
• Jay White VS Trent Beretta w/ Orange Cassidy; White wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Adam Cole VS Preston Vance!

The Panama City Playboy wants THE AEW World Championship, but before he gets at Hangman Adam Page, he’ll have to get through the champion’s friends! Will Number 10 be the one that stops Cole’s AEW undefeated streak? Or is it all about the boom?

The bell rings and fans are fired up for “TEN! TEN! TEN!” Vance and Cole circle, tie up, and Vance throws Cole to the corner! Cole gets up and circles with Vance. They tie up. Cole gets around and headlocks, and holds on as Vance powers up. Vance lifts, Cole grinds the headlock, but Vance powers out. Cole rams shoulders but Vance rebounds to run Cole over! Fans fire up as Vance brings Cole up. Cole CLUBS Vance, goes to a corner and fires off forearms! Vance turns things around to give back body shots and CHOPS and forearms of his own! The ref counts, backs Vance down, but Vance dodges the boot to waistlock, and GERMAN SUPLEX!

Cole ends up in a corner but Vance climbs up to rain down fists on Cole! The fans count, but Cole gets out before 10 to mule kick the legs out! Vance falls, Cole goes outside and drags Vance to the post! Cole SLAMS the bad leg against the post! Cole brings Vance around to SLAM the leg against post again! Cole soaks up the cheers and jeers, then he goes into the ring. Cole drags Vance up and throws forearms again. Cole brings Vance out to turn him, for a NECKBREAKER! Cole dusts off his hands, then smirks as he drags Vance back up. Cole reels Vance in, but Vance blocks the suplex!

Vance suplexes Cole up, holds him up for a count of TEN! Cover, TWO! Cole kicks the bad leg! Vance crawls, but Cole drags Vance up and throws him out! Cole then goes out to bring Vance’s bad leg over and SLAM it against steel steps! Vance writhes while Cole mocks his bad leg with a fake limp. Cole puts Vance back in, drags Vance up, and throws forearms. Cole puts Vance’s leg on ropes and pulls! The ref counts, Vance CLUBS Cole and ROCKS him with a right! Cole staggers away, fans fire up and Vance runs, but the leg gives out! Cole BOOTS Vance down! Cole grins as AEW goes picture in picture.

Cole drags Vance by the bad leg, puts the leg on ropes, and then hip drops on it! Vance clutches the leg, but Cole gets the leg around ropes again. Cole stands on the leg, for another hip drop! The ref reprimands and Cole backs off. Vance manages to throw body shots from below, but Cole BOOTS him down! Cole gets the leg for a standing kneebar! Vance throws hands, but Cole SPLASHES on the leg! Cole paces while Vance clutches the leg. Cole gives toying kicks, talks some trash, and even slaps Vance around! Vance SLAPS back! Cole throws forearms as Rampage returns to single picture.

Vance fires off hands, but Cole kicks the leg! Cole runs, into Vance’s LARIAT! Vance whips, and SPINEBUSTERS! Vance fires up and fans are with him! he fights through the bad leg, has the full nelson, but Cole breaks free to PELE! And then BACKSTABBER! Cover, TWO!! Vance survives and Cole grows frustrated. Cole grins as he goes to the corner and hops up. Vance manages to stand, Cole jumps in, but Vance back drops him away! Vance runs in, but Cole BOOTS the lariat, BOOTS Vance, but Vance comes back with a DISCUS!! Cover, TWO!! Vance is growing frustrated, but the fans are with him!

Vance feeds off the energy, drags Cole up and TOSSES him to a corner. Vance manages to run, but into the LEG LARIAT! Cole goes up the corner now, Vance stands, PANAMA- SPEAR!! Cover, TWO!! Cole survives again and Vance is losing his cool! Vance drags himself up the ropes, hobbles over and waits on Cole to stand. FULL NELSON! Cole slips down and victory rolls, TWO! Vance gets around, FULL NELSON! Cole gest to a corner, pushes off and DROPS onto Vance! Cover, TWO!! Vance ducks the superkick, to get the FULL NELSON!! Vance thrashes Cole around!! Cole grabs at the ref, then LOW BLOWS Vance!!

Cole hits a SUPERKICK! And BLINDSIDE SUPERKICK! Cole brings the kneepad down, for THE BOOM! Cover, Cole wins!

Winner: Adam Cole, by pinfall

Cole keeps his undefeated record by any means necessary! And reDRagon meet him on the ramp to celebrate! Will Cole do much of the same to Hangman Page?

Face of the Revolution Ladder Match Qualifier: Dante Martin VS “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs!

Angel Dorado and Team Taz have been looking to settle things, and this might just be how to do it! Will Dante or Hobbs stand tall and join Keith Lee and Wardlow in the Face of the Revolution Ladder Match?

Hobbs CLOBBERS Dante in the corner before the bell! The ref reprimands but Hobbs just smiles as he stomps away on Dante! The ref backs Hobbs off and has the bell ring. Dante gets up, Hobbs talks smack and runs in, but only gets buckles! Dante GAMANGIRIS, then GAMANGIRIS again! Dante springboards, into Hobbs’ grip! But Dante fires off hands! Dante gets around, hops on and has a SLEEPER! Hobbs moves around, throws Dante off but Dante fires more forearms! Hobbs shoves, Dante dodges and SHOTGUN dropkicks! Then he dropkicks Hobbs out of the ring! Fans fire up, Dante builds speed, and jumps up, but Hobbs shoves him down!

Hobbs gets in, drags Dante up, and hangs him out to dry, to then BLAST him off the apron! Dante hits the floor and tumbles to the ramp! Hobbs grins while a ring count starts. Hobbs goes out to fetch Dante, drags him up and RAMS him into railing! The ref has Hobbs get in the ring, but Hobbs goes right back out. Hobbs drags Dante up to TOSS Dante into the ring! Hobbs grins as he gets in and fans duel. Dante throws body shots, but Hobbs CLUBS Dante, then TOSSES him across the ring! Hobbs mocks Keith Lee’s conducting the fans! Hobbs drags Dante up again, and TOSSES Dante again!

AEW goes picture in picture as Hobbs looms over Dante. Hobbs drags Dante up, whips him hard to a corner, and Dante tumbles down. Hobbs grins because he is having fun. Dante flops out of the ring, Hobbs mocks him, and then soaks up all the cheers and jeers. Dante flounders up and in at 8 of 10, but Hobbs mockingly applauds. Dante throws body shots but Hobbs KNEES him to a corner. Hobbs brings Dante up to deadlift suplex him! Dante writhes, Hobbs drags him up again. Hobbs whips, Dante jumps over to sunset flip! Hobbs stays up and stomps Dante down! Hobbs digs his foot in, drops an elbow, then throws off his elbow pads.

Hobbs rains down forearms on Dante, drags him up by his hair, and KNEES him low again. Dante sputters, Hobbs talks trash, but Dante ROCKS him! Hobbs actually laughs it off as Dante keeps throwing hands! Dante runs, ducks and dodges, but Hobbs still CLOBBERS him! Hobbs looms over Dante again as Rampage goes to break.

AEW returns and Dante fights out of a bearhug, but Hobbs thrashes him around! Hobbs throws Dante away, snarls and checks his nose, then runs in at the corner. Dante elbows Hobbs, but Hobbs still torture racks! Dante fights free, kicks and EuroUppers, then repeat! Dante throws a HARD EuroUpper, but Hobbs LARIATS him back! Cover, TWO! Dante survives but Hobbs grows frustrated. Hobbs drops a knee right on Dante’s chest and pulls Dante into the knee! The ref counts, Hobbs lets off, then brings down his kneepad. Hobbs drops but Dante moves! Hobbs hits only mat and fans rally up!

Dante gets to a corner, runs in and LARIATS, but Hobbs stays up! Dante tries again, but Hobbs stays up. Dante springboards, FLYING UPPERCUT! Cover, TWO! Dante sees Hobbs go out and fans rally up. Dante springboards, TORNILLO! Direct hit and down goes Hobbs! Fans are thunderous as Dante gets Hobbs up and in! Dante goes to the corner, climbs up top, and as Hobbs stands, Dante leaps for a BIG missile dropkick! Cover, TWO!! Hobbs is still in this but Dante grits his teeth! Dante fires off forearms on Hobbs, but Hobbs just gets up. Dante BOOTS, but Hobbs blocks the whip! Hobbs whips, reels Dante in, HUGE SPINEBUSTER!! Cover, Hobbs wins!

Winner: “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs, by pinfall (advances to the Face of the Revolution)

The Face of the Revolution has become the land of giants! The Limitless Keith Lee, the Maestro of Mayhem, Wardlow, and now “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs! Will Revolution start looking like a battle of titans?

Backstage interview with Jade Cargill and Mark Sterling.

The 27-0 and reigning TBS Champion is literally green with her hair right now, and Jade says to cut the BS. Who is next? Matt Hardy walks in with The Bunny, and he has to say, he is digging what they’re doing. The Jade Brand has been impeccable, and her main event match with Anna Jay was amazing. But he has a match that’s even bigger! Jade VS The Bunny! That is money! Speaking of money, Matt, Jade walks like money, talks like money, and here, have a whiff. She smells like money, too. But Sterling says Jade gets to show up next week, beat up “the rabbit lady,” and then they walk out with more money? Where do they sign?

Well, see you next week, then. But Hardy assures Sterling that he will be EXTREMELY disappointed! What is this erratic behavior of Hardy’s? And will Jade become 28-0? Or will things turn into #ThatBunnyShow?

The Professor’s Five Minute Rookie Challenge: Serena Deeb VS Angelica Risk!

The Professor of Pro-Wrestling already showed her dominance with the first of these time challenges, defeating her inexperienced opponent in under one minute. But will the ego of the Wolf get the better of her? Or does she run the risk of losing her credibility?

The bell rings, the clock starts ticking, and the two talk some trash before they tie up. Deeb headlocks, spins, hammerlocks and then grinds the hold. Risk switches, Deeb switches back to then trip Risk and step all over her! Deeb asks, “Do you know who the hell I am?!” Risk gets up, she nods because she knows. Deeb gives Risk a free shot, Risk goes for a full nelson, but Deeb switches, snapmares, and DIGS her boot into Risk’s head! Risk gets to a corner, Deeb runs in and clotheslines! Risk has lasted a minute already, but Deeb sweeps the legs! CATAPULT GUILLOTINE! Risk sputters, Deeb covers, but then lets off at one?!

Deeb is toying with Risk now, letting the clock tick by more. Deeb kicks Risk around, and says she’s pathetic! Risk throws body shots, but Deeb EuroUppers! Deeb gets Risk up for a POWERBOMB! The professor has power! But she also has sadism, she puts on the SERENITY LOCK! Risk taps, Deeb wins!

Winner: Serena Deeb, by submission

Deeb purposefully took a little longer, just to show what she’s capable of. Will anyone ever beat Deeb at her own game?

Mark Henry speaks to tonight’s main eventers!

Jay White walked through the Forbidden Door and attempted to destroy Trent Beretta. Why? “Why? Because when you’re me, you can do what you want. When you’re me, you can show up where you want.” White knows the whole pro-wrestling world is talking about one man, and that’s him. Some people know him, others have been living under rocks. But Trent and Best Friends and all of Chaos knows White! So why is White here? He’s going to dispose of Trent in an act of good faith to the Elite, and to remind Best Friends that this is still White’s era! Trent asks Orange Cassidy if White’s done. Cassidy sure hopes so.

Trent tells White , “Welcome to AEW, welcome through the Forbidden Door. Tonight, I am slamming that door in your knife pervert face.” Mark Henry says there’s been enough talk. It’s TIME for the main event!

Jay White VS Trent Beretta w/ Orange Cassidy!

The bell rings and White slips out to the apron. Fans cheer, “Too Sweet! WOOP WOOP!” and White throws up the Too Sweet. White and Trent tie up, go around, and Trent puts White in a corner. The ref counts, Trent lets off but White pulls ears! White puts Trent in the corner, RAMS into Trent then ROCKS him with forearms! White stomps, CHOPS, and then stomps Trent again. The ref counts, White digs his boot in until 4. But Trent gets up to CHOP! White staggers, Trent kicks low and whips corner to corner. White reverses, runs in but Trent elbows him! Trent runs, White ducks and kicks to headlock.

Trent powers out, things speed up, Trent CLOBBERS White with an elbow! Fans fire up, Trent steps on White’s face! Trent stalks White to a corner, pie faces and CHOPS him, then follows White to another corner. Trent CHOPS White again! White is stinging as he keeps going, and he knees Trent low. Trent avoids the chop to CHOP back! White flounders, but he gets up to kick low. But Trent picks White up to BACK DROP him! Fans rally up and Trent stalks White to the apron. Trent drags White up, White HOTSHOTS Trent away! Trent drags White up, to RAM him into railing! And then into the apron! And back to railing!

White RAMS Trent into the apron one more time, and fans want more! White whips, Trent reverses and sends White into railing! White slumps down, Trent stalks him as he crawls away. Cassidy has people get ready, and Trent whips, only for White to reverse! Trent hits railing, but comes back to LARIAT White down! Trent stalks White, drags him up and puts him in. Fans rally up, Trent stalks White again, and he keeps White from crawling out of the ring. The ref counts as White has the ropes, and Trent lets go. Trent gets White up, but White SAIDOS Trent outta the ring! Fans lose their minds as AEW goes picture in picture!

White catches his breath, gets up while Trent writhes, and Trent even clutches a knee. White mocks Trent, wants the ring count to get going, but the ref says to wait while he checks Trent. Trent gets up, gets in, but White throws him back out! White gets Trent up to suplex and GOURD BUSTER off the apron! White Too Sweets the security guard, and then goes back for Trent. White puts Trent in, covers, TWO! White drags Trent back up, CHOPS him, and Trent flounders to a corner. White taunts Trent, heads over, but Trent kicks him low. And again! White blocks the next kick, taunts Trent and hits a DRAGON SCREW!

White sends a message to Hiroshi Tanahashi with the air guitar, and then goes back to Trent. White gets the legs, stomps Trent in the stomach, then ties up the legs! Is this the TTO Trent Tap Out? No, White switches to an Indian Deathlock, and then bridges for the MUDA LOCK! Trent endures, crawls and drags White along, ROPEBREAK! The ref counts, White lets go at 4, and smirks as he drags Trent back up. White waistlocks but Trent elbows him again and again. White ducks one to SNAP SAIDO! White hurries to get Trent back up, and he hangs Trent out to dry! Trent flops off the ropes, White covers, TWO!

White is annoyed while AEW returns to single picture. Fans rally up and White drags Trent up. White holds Trent’s arm up to KICK him in the ribs! And again! White keeps Trent up, has a top wristlock and then ROCKS Trent low. Fans rally for “DANHAUSEN!” while White keeps on Trent. Trent ROCKS White back! White ROCKS Trent, KNEES low, then has the arm. White gets Trent up but Trent whips White hard into buckles! White flops out, Trent goes to the apron, ASAI MOONSAULT!! Direct hit and a hard landing at the ramp! Trent gets up, he drags White up and into the ring. Trent sputters but he gets back in.

White is in a corner, Trent runs in, and he hits the back elbow! Trent reels White in, no tornado DDT! White gets a COMPLETE SHOT, then deadlifts Trent into the waistlock, GERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Trent survives and gets to a corner. Fans chant, “Too Sweet! WOOP WOOP!” while White sits in the opposite corner. White runs in, but Trent dodges the uppercut! TORNADO DDT!! Cover, TWO!! White and Trent are both down, fans rally up and Trent grits his teeth. Trent gets up, brings White up and ROCKS White with a forearm! And another! And another! Trent keeps raining down the shots as fans rally!

Trent lets off on White, then runs in to DROPKICK him outta the ring! Trent goes out, winces a bit, but he aims at White. Trent runs in, but White KNEES the spear down!! White drags Trent up, brings him over, HALF HATCH onto a chair! White gets in, the ring count climbs, but White just goes back out. “This is Awesome!” as White puts Trent in. White slithers in, drags Trent up and reels him in, URENAGE! Cover, TWO! Trent is still in this and that annoys White. White drags Trent up into a chinlock, then up, but Trent elbows free. White blocks an elbow to CHOP back! But Trent turns headlock into a SAIDO!

Trent gets up, fans fire up as he aims from a corner, and White stands. Trent runs in, but into BLADE- NO! Trent slips out, HALF ‘N’ HALF! BUSAIKU KNEE!! Cover, TWO!!! White survives and no one can believe it! Trent throws off an elbow pad, Cassidy says he believes in Trent. Trent drags White up, Alabama lifts, but White fights things off! Trent throws a body shot, but White RAMS his shoulder in! White gets to ropes and is grinning again. Trent snarls and gets up to ROCK White! White ROCKS Trent! Trent winces, fans rally up, Trent ROCKS White again. White rebounds to ROCK Trent! So Trent hits back!

Fans rally as the forearms keep flying, and then White CHOPS! White throws a heavy body shot! Trent drops to a knee, White grins again, but Trent gets up. White ROCKS Trent first, and again, but Trent LARIATS outta nowhere! Trent hauls White up, lifts, PILEDIVER! Cover, TWO!?!? White barely survives that one! Trent reels White up and in, but no Strong Zero! BLADERUNNER! Cover, White wins!!

Winner: Jay White, by pinfall

First match on AEW, first win on AEW, the Switchblade cuts down Trent! Orange Cassidy gets in the ring to check on Trent, but White looms over Trent. Cassidy doesn’t take kindly to that, and White wants Freshly Squeezed to relax. White bails out and takes his leave, but has he just made Orange Cassidy get serious?

My Thoughts:

A great Rampage, even at several hours earlier than usual because of how TNT covers the NBA and this is All-Star Weekend. A great opener from Cole VS Vance, probably Vance’s best singles match here. Cole made him look truly menacing, especially with how it took a low blow to turn things around. Cole is getting that title match with Hangman Page, he has more time to build momentum, and there’s even more to the division within Cole’s friendship circle with reDRagon being present but not the Young Bucks. I liked the promo we got from Jade, Sterling, Hardy and Bunny setting up their TBS Championship match. Jade is becoming a great Tweener, able to take on Faces and Heels while still being the same personality, and Jade is of course going 29-0 here.

We got a great Face of the Revolution Qualifier that also acted as the blow-off for Dante VS Hobbs. I had a strong feeling we’d be getting another big man in the ladder match, and that is a bit of a surprise. Hobbs was already calling out Keith Lee during the match, I would love a program between those guys to bring us from Spring into Summer. Deeb of course wins another of her own five minute challenges, and she took longer than before per what I was expecting. They could definitely push this to the point where Deeb toys around too much and someone brings it to the time limit. Shida can even make a return during that match, to either distract Deeb or save the rookie from Deeb.

And then we got a great main event out of White VS Trent. White has been one of the busiest wrestlers today, showing up on NJPW Strong, Impact Wrestling, and here in AEW. White of course won to now move up the Best Friends ladder to Cassidy. Those two can have another great match, and White can probably get something for Revolution, on at least the Buy-In.

My Score: 8.6/10