We now return to our regularly scheduled Rampage.

Scorpio Sky is in his hometown and defending his AEW TNT Championship! But will he still be the Face of TNT with Dante Martin flying in?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• The Young Bucks VS The Lucha Brothers; The Young Bucks win.
• Ricky Starks & “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs VS ???; Starks & Hobbs win.
• Athena VS Kiera Hogan w/ The Baddies; Athena wins.
• AEW TNT Championship: Scorpio Sky VS Dante Martin; Scorpio wins and retains the title.

PLAY BY PLAY

The Young Bucks VS The Lucha Brothers!

Matt & Nick Jackson may not have beat The Hardy Boyz at Double or Nothing, but they did get the fall in Dynamite’s star studded 10 Man Tag. And bigger still, it was on AEW World Tag Team Champion, Jungle Boy! Will one more win be all it takes for the Bucks to head back for those titles? Or will Penta Oscuro & Rey Fenix usurp all that momentum for their own?

The teams sort out and Matt starts against Penta. Fans are thunderous for “A E DUB!” already and the bell rings. Nick throws his shirt at Penta, Fenix storms in but the ref has them stand down. Matt and Penta stare down, fans rally and duel, and Penta has everyone hold on a moment. “Listen! CERO! MIEDO!” He pie faces Matt with it, so Matt throws up the Elite! He pie faces Penta back, so Penta swaggers up to him, “CERO! MIEDO!” “THE! ELITE!” Penta takes off the glove, tosses it in Matt’s face! Penta blocks the superkick, Matt avoids the slingblade but Penta kicks low! FEAR- NO, Matt slips out and kicks low!

Matt tucks Penta in! But Penta slips out of the Fear Factor, only for Matt to sunset flip! Matt stands on Penta and wants the Sharpshooter but Penta kicks him away. Matt rushes back in but Penta drop toeholds and then gets the arm! Penta hooks that one up, gets the other, but Matt scrambles to arm-drag free! Penta sweeps, covers, ONE! Matt sweeps, covers, ONE! Penta kips up and the two stare down while fans fire up again. Nick tags in, so Penta backs off to tag Fenix. Fenix fires forearms, whips but Nick flips up and over to dodge. Fenix tiger feints and rewinds but Nick ducks the heel kick! Nick blocks the chop, CHOPS back, then goes “LUCHA LIBRE~!” to arm-drag!

Fans are thunderous and Nick soaks it all in. But Fenix puts Nick on the apron, shoulders in and sunset flips, but Nick holds the ropes to deny the bomb! Nick slaps Fenix away, backflips off the apron and whips Fenix. Fenix tiger feints, Nick ducks, both men avoid roundhouses and slide in to ROUNDHOUSE! Both men are down, but then they both kip up! Fans are electric as the two stand off! Nick offers a handshake while fans chant for “A E DUB!” Fenix accepts the handshake, but it’s Matt who sucker punches Fenix! Nick DECKS Penta for good measure, then he tags Matt in. Nick goes to the apron, Matt runs in, LARIAT ENZIGURI COMBO!

Matt keeps going, CANNONBALL ENZIGURI COMBO! Fenix flops out of the ring, Matt builds speed and he WRECKS Fenix with a dropkick! Fenix hits railing, Matt holds the ropes down so Nick can FLY! Direct hit and down goes Fenix! But Penta WRECKS Matt, then he builds speed to FLY onto both Bucks!! Fans are thunderous all over again as Penta sets the Bucks up. Fenix climbs, SUPER TORNILLO!! Fenix takes out everyone and the fans lose their minds! Fenix puts Matt in, and he calls for “ANIMO!” Fenix slingshots, but into a takedown! SHARPSHOOTER! Fenix gets the ROPEBREAK, but Nick is there!

But Penta KICKS Nick first! And then brings him through the ropes for an IRON OCTOPUS! And Penta pulls Matt’s hair at the same time! Fenix keeps Nick’s foot down so he can’t escape the hold! The ref reprimands all four of them for these illegal holds! Everyone lets go at 4, Fenix bails out but Nick PENALTY KICKS him down! FLYING RANA for Penta, too! But Fenix tilt-o-whirl scoops Nick for a BACKBREAKER! Matt PLANCHAS but Fenix dodges! Fenix ROLLING CUTTERS! Fans are electric all over again as Fenix puts Matt in. “This is Awesome!” as Fenix aims from a corner. Fenix climbs, FROG SPLASH onto knees!

Matt tags Nick, Rampage goes picture in picture, and Nick hobbles over to Fenix. Nick drags Fenix up, reels him in and suplexes, but Fenix knees free! Matt spots Jurassic Express in the crowd and tells them to stay put. Fenix trips Nick, gets the legs, Penta goes up top! QUE PASO! Cover, TWO!! Nick survives but Penta KICKS him in the leg! Nick hobbles, Matt taunts Penta but Penta focuses on Nick. Penta KICKS Nick’s leg out! Fans fire up as Penta brings Nick around. Penta reels Nick in as Fenix goes up, “CERO! MIEDO!” Tag, tuck, but Nick wrenches out to CHOP! Nick hurdles Fenix to SUPERKICK him!

Nick goes up and up and FLYING ARM-DRAG HEADSCISSORS COMBO! Rampage returns to single picture, the Hardy Boyz are also in the crowd watching now, and Matt tags in. Matt runs corner to corner at Fenix, but Fenix BOOTS him! Fenix goes up, springboards, into a NORTHERN LIGHTS! Matt starts up the POLAR EXPRESS! Another NORTHERN LIGHTS, but Matt keeps going! Penta gets in, but gets added to a DOUBLE NORTHERN LIGHTS! Tag to Nick, Matt gets Fenix up and brings him around. Nick climbs, Matt puts Fenix in the ropes, DRAPING SWANTON! Cover, TWO!!

Nick tags Matt, they get Fenix up and double whip, Nick back drops Fenix but Fenix uses that to RANA Matt! Nick sobats, runs, but Penta trips him! Fenix SUPERKICKS Nick, Penta spins Nick around and has him hanging off the apron! DOUBLE STOMP DDT to the floor! Fenix gets Matt on the apron, Penta brings him in, DOUBLE STOMP DDT in the ring! Fenix hurries to cover, TWO!! Matt survives, Fenix DIVES onto Nick! Somersault tope hits railing! Penta gets Matt, MADE IN JAPAN, and then Fenix goes up top for some Latino Heat! FROG SPLASH!! Cover, TWO!?!? Matt survives and no one can believe it!

A standing count continues as fans are electric again. Fenix gets up, he brings Matt to the top rope, but Matt shoves him away. Fenix PELES, then Penta gets in to give Fenix a boost! Fenix gets Matt, Matt fights back, and Nick springboards to missile dropkick Fenix into giving Penta a POISON-RANA! And then Matt adjusts to MACHO ELBOW onto Fenix!! Cover, TWO!! Matt is beside himself! Matt tags Nick as fans rally and duel as hard as ever. Nick brings Fenix up but Fenix CHOPS! And forearms! Nick throws forearms back, it’s a brawl but Fenix gets the edge! Fenix whips, Nick reveres, tiger feint rewind HEEL KICK! Nick staggers into Penta’s GAMANGIRI!

Penta goes up, Fenix climbs up onto Penta! SUPER DUPER SPLASH!! Penta hops off Fenix to DESTROYER on Matt!! Cover, TWO!?!? Nick survives and the fans are all going nuts! Fenix SOBATS Nick in the corner! Then Fenix puts Nick up top, tucks him in, KINIKKU- NO, Nick rolls it to a cradle, TWO! SUPERKICK! And POISON-RANA! Nick tags Matt, they dodge Penta and DOUBLE SUPERKICK! DOUBLE SUPERKICKS for Fenix! The party has begun but the Bucks look to end it! They get Fenix’s arms, B T E but Fenix slips out! Fenix springboards, but the Bucks catch him! Matt has Fenix, Nick springboards, MELTZER DRIVER! Cover, PENTA BREAKS IT!!

The Bucks are furious but the fans are losing this! Matt stares Penta down, Penta says, “CERO! MIEDO!” But Matt snatches the mask away!! Penta hides his face, but the Bucks DOUBLE SUPERKICK him down! They get Fenix up, B T E TRIGGER!!! Cover, the Bucks win!

Winners: The Young Bucks, by pinfall

Matt adds insult to injury by wearing the stolen mask! The Bucks take this win and celebrate with their fans, but will the Bucks be able to do the same to Jungle Boy & Luchasaurus should they meet for the titles?

Ricky Starks & “Powerhouse” Will Hobbs VS ???

Team Taz’s Absolute Powerhouses may not have won the AEW World Tag Team Championships, but they’re ready to take out their frustrations on their opponents tonight. Will Starks & Hobbs fight their way back up to get another opportunity?

Hell, they don’t even wait for a bell! They just swarm ??? and ??? and beat them down! Hobbs throws out ??? while Starks stomps away on ???! The bell rings, Starks whips and CLOBBERS ??? then strikes his pose. Starks hauls ??? up, wrenches the arm and tags in Hobbs. They double whip, and Hobbs CLOBBERS ???! ???? tags in, Hobbs ROCKS him then gives him a HUGE SPINEBUSTER! Cover, Starks SPEARS ???, and Team Taz wins!

Winners: Ricky Starks & Will Hobbs, by pinfall

The Absolute Powerhouses dominated whoever the hell those two guys were and head back out. Will they be heading back up towards the tag titles? And who will be champions by the time they get that golden opportunity?

Athena VS Kiera Hogan w/ The Baddies!

The Fallen Goddess is All Elite, and while she’s after Jade Cargill and the AEW TBS Championship, she has to climb up the ranks. But will she rise like the moon and eclipse the competition? Or will Kiera bring the fire on behalf of #ThatBitchShow?

The bell rings and Athena circles with Kiera. They tie up, Athena arm-drags Kiera but Kiera kicks low. Kiera headlocks, Athena powers out and things speed up. Athena hurdles but Kiera ROCKS her with a right! Kiera talks trash, runs, but Athena catches the crossbody for a pop-up fireman’s carry! Kiera arm-drags free but Athena handsprings through! Athena dusts herself off and eggs Kiera on. Things speed up again, Athena springboards to CROSSBODY! Cover, ONE, and Kiera bails out to regroup with The Baddies. Stokely tells her she’s got this, but Athena builds speed. Athena slows up as Kiera steps aside, then she DIVES from the apron!

Athena dusts herself off again as fans fire up. Athena puts Kiera in, she stares down Jade and calls her out, then she goes back to the ring. Athena dodges Kiera, KNEES her in, then springboards, only for Red Velvet to trip her up! The ref missed that as Kiera was claiming injury, and fans boo as Velvet drags Athena up and puts her in. Kiera runs to step up and LEG DROP! Cover, ONE!! Kiera is upset but she KICKS Athena in the back as Rampage goes picture in picture.

Kiera drags Athena up, bumps her off buckles, then CHOPS her! Kiera brings Athena around to bump off more buckles, then KICKS her down! The ref reprimands and counts, Kiera snapmares Athena to KICK her again! Cover, ONE!! Kiera is frustrated and she CLUBS away on Athena, then gives her a rain of fists! Athena pushes Kiera away but Kiera vows to end this. But Athena gets her for a cradle! TWO, Kiera BUZZSAWS Athena down! Kiera talks trash, stands on Athena’s neck, and counts along with the ref to let off at 4. Kiera drags Athena up, Athena throws body shots and shoves, then gets around to waistlock.

Kiera bucks the roll-up but Athena sweeps the legs! Oklahoma Roll, TWO! Athena runs in but Kiera CLOBBERS her! Cover, TWO! Kiera is frustrated but she wraps Athena up in a chinlock. Athena endures, fights up, but Kiera throws her down! Keira stomps Athena, and stomps, and stomps, and stomps some more, as Rampage goes to break.

Rampage returns and both women are down after a collision. The ref counts, Kiera gets up first but fans rally behind Athena. Athena gets up now, Kiera runs in but Athena dodges! Athena comes back to SHOTGUN hard! Then mule kick, front kick, ENZIGURI! Fans fire up with Athena and she runs corner to corner, handspring forearm! Snapmare and then Athena goes to the corner! Athena goes up, but Velvet hurries over! Athena BOOTS Velvet away, but Kiera YANKS Athena down! The ref reprimands over Velvet’s interference, but Kiera goes up to FLYING RANA! Kiera then runs in to BOOT WASH! High stack, TWO!!

Kiera is frustrated but the fans fire up. Kiera drags Athena up, fisherman, but Athena wrenches out. Kiera dodges, Athena dodges, ROLLING ELBOW! Athena goes up a corner but Kiera hits ropes to trip her up! Kiera ROCKS Athena with forearms, climbs up after her to give more forearms, but Athena DECKS her! Athena adjusts, aims, ECLIPSE!! Cover, Athena wins!!

Winner: Athena, by pinfall

Velvet and Stokely assure Jade, that won’t happen to her. But the undefeated champion still looks a bit worried. Will the Fallen Goddess ascend and take Jade’s throne from her?

The House of Black speak.

Malakai starts by saying, “Members of the House of Black, please rise.” The others walk out from the shadows, and that includes Julia Hart! Malakai says for some of you, this may seem too good to be true, but this is what it means when he says the House always wins. Julia joining them wasn’t a stroke of luck but a carefully executed plan that paid attention to each and every detail. Julia adds that it was “executed through the laws of violence towards man. So celebrate! Isn’t this what you wanted? For these are the fruits of your labor.” The House disappears into the night, when and where will they strike next?

CM Punk is here!

The Best in the World is the NEW AEW World Champion after Double or Nothing, but he doesn’t look as happy as you might expect. There have been some rumors since Wednesday and Dynamite’s Six Man Tag alongside FTR. His walk is a little hobbled but he makes it to the ring and he gets the mic. He already looks emotional while fans chant his name. “When I got here earlier today, I pulled up tot he arena, and every bone in my body was screaming at me to turn around, go home and go hug my wife and Larry. And when I say ‘every bone in my body,’ I mean even the broken ones.

“But my brain told me to stay, and my gut told me that everybody here live deserved an explanation, so here I am. I said since I stepped foot here in All Elite Wrestling that I was gonna wrestle and give you my all until the wheels fell off. Well, I got good news and I got bad news. Which one do you want first?” Fans sound pretty divided on that, but Punk says the last thing he’s ever wanted to feel is that he has let the fans down. The last thing he’s wanted to do is leaving us disappointed. So hopefully thus far, he hasn’t made us feel that way.

“I have loved every single second I have been in this ring. Every single time I’ve been in this ring in front of all of you has been a gift I never thought that I would be able to ever experience again.” Fans are starting to realize what this might be about, but all the more reason to chant for Punk. “Okay, here’s the bad news. Bad news is, I’m injured and I need surgery. A couple of things are broken, the biggest of them, my heart. Because I love nothing more than performing for all of you. I wanted to go on one hell of a run. That’s the bad news.

“The good news is, I can still do all that. I told you I was gonna go until the wheels fall off. Well the wheels are still there, they haven’t fallen off. It’s just that one of ’em happens to be broken. But I’ve come back from worse. I’ve felt better than I feel today. But I am here to tell you that I’ve also felt a hell of a lot worse. This is a bump in the road. It hurts, it hurts like hell. I wanna wrestle for you, I wanna wrestle right now. But that being said, let’s talk about this title. Let’s talk about being AEW World Champion. I told Tony before being out here that I don’t want to hold this place up. There is a long laundry list of talent in the back that can fill my shoes, that can be champion.”

Punk means guys like Bryan Danielson, Jon Moxley. He won’t be in anyone’s way. He told Tony Khan he’ll relinquish this title, and Tony told Punk that he believes in CM Punk. And Tony believes this is a bump in the road. Punk needed to hear that. Fans chant his name again and he gets choked up again. Punk says sometimes, he gets a little down on himself and the doubt creeps in. That doubt can ruin anything, but being in front of the fans, he’ll promise this. The doubt won’t creep in and ruin anything.

“And the get back will be bigger than the setback! I’m champion for a reason, and I’m gonna show you exactly why. I will come back bigger, faster, stronger and hungrier than ever before! And gaddammit, I will prove exactly why I am the Best in the World!” Punk gives up the belt for the greater good of AEW, when and where will we see the Best Comeback in the World?

Rampage returns and Mark Henry talks with the main eventers.

He asks Dante Martin about his comment where he thinks he’s better than Scorpio Sky. Yes, he did say that. He thinks it, but that is going to turn into “I know,” because with Matt Sydal watching Dante’s back, he’ll be the NEW AEW TNT Champion! Sydal tells Scorpio that he better have learned something from those killers on American Top Team, because he’s gonna have to kill Dante to hold onto the title. They’re the best high-fliers, they dive flying or die trying! And tonight, you’ll see what they’re saying.

Ethan Page counters with, “Learn from those killers? You didn’t watch Double or Nothing, did you? We are the killers.” Dan Lambert says Dante has been on a tear lately, and is one of the brightest stars on the roster. But he’s still a big question mark, and if the Queen had balls, she’d be the King. But you’re looking at the only king on TNT. Scorpio says that for someone who talks about peace, love and pro-wrestling, suddenly Sydal now talks a big game. Can he back it up? Dante can have peace, love and pro-wrestling, because Scorpio will take “Genie” any day.

So Mark Henry, please hit your line, because Scorpio can’t wait another moment to walk down that aisle and kick this kid’s teeth down his throat! Well then there’s been enough talk. It’s time for the main event!

BREAKING NEWS!

In light of Punk’s news that he must leave, AEW Dynamite this Wednesday will open with a Battle Royal. The winner faces the current #1 Contender, Jon Moxley, in the main event, and the winner of that goes on to Forbidden Door in a match to crown an INTERIM AEW World Champion! Who cashes in on such a huge opportunity?

AEW TNT Championship: Scorpio Sky w/ Ethan Page & Dan Lambert VS Dante Martin w/ Matt Sydal!

The Closer returns home to SoCal to defend the gold and his win streak, but he could be up against the fastest and most agile opponent he’s had ever! Will Scorpio hold onto the gold in the last of purple ‘n’ gold? Or will his reign soon take a Nosedive?

The introductions are made, the belt is raised, and we’ll see if the king can keep his throne!

Scorpio and Dante circle as fans rally up. They feel things out, Scorpio puts Dante in a corner as fans chant for “S C U! S C U!” Ethan tunes it out because that team is done, and Scorpio resets with Dante. They feel out the grapple, each man gives a testing kick but Scorpio’s stings more. Dante stays up but he’s being cornered. They tie up, Scorpio headlocks, but Dante powers out. Scorpio runs Dante over, but things speed up. Scorpio runs Dante over again, things keep moving, and Scorpio runs Dante over again! Scorpio flexes and fans fire up. Scorpio offers Dante a hand, but then leaves him hanging. Dante blocks the stomp to spin and headscissor!

Dante gets up to arm-drag Scorpio around, and he has the armlock! Fans applaud the exchange and Rampage goes picture in picture. Scorpio fights his way up, Dante whips him to a corner, then Dante runs in. Scorpio blocks the flip, puts Dante up top and DECKS him to the floor! Sydal checks on Dante but Scorpio goes out to fetch him. Scorpio RAMS Dante into the apron! Then ROCKS him with another right! Dante staggers around the way but he comes back with fists of his own! Scorpio ROCKS Dante, puts him in, but Dante KICKS his leg. Scorpio fires off body shots and he RAMS Dante into a corner for more shots!

The ref counts, Scorpio lets off and backs away. Scorpio takes his time soaking up the cheers and jeers but Dante ROCKS him with a right! Scorpio trips Dante, rains down fists from all sides, but Dante anchors a foot! Dante trips Scorpio to give back the ground ‘n’ pound! Scorpio digs his fingers into Dante’s face! The ref reprimands, Scorpio lets off but is seething. Scorpio gets up, brings Dante into a chinlock and digs his knee into the back. Dante endures, Sydal rallies the fans, and Dante fights up. Scorpio snapmares and KICKS Dante in the back! Scorpio still has to sit down to catch his breath, but Scorpio gets up again.

Scorpio clamps onto Dante to bend him back with the chinlock, but Dante endures again. Scorpio pulls Dante’s nose and then gets the chinlock in deep! Dante endures being bent back against Scorpio’s knee and the fans rally up again. Rampage returns to single picture, Dante fights up and throws body shots! Scorpio hits back with a forearm but Dante hits him back with one. Scorpio throws another forearm, but Dante fires off a flurry! Dante whips, Scorpio reverses but Dante flips up and over! Then SHOTGUNS Scorpio out! Dante builds speed to spring up and FLY! HUGE crossbody takes out Scorpio at the ramp!

Fans fire up and Dante gets Scorpio up and in. Dante watches Ethan, but then jumps right up to the corner! And then up again, to hit a HUGE missile dropkick! Cover, TWO! Fans rally behind Dante, he goes to the corner again, but Lambert gets on the apron! The ref argues with Lambert while Sydal is also on the apron across the way. Dante goes to springboard but Ethan trips him up! Dante still lands safe on the apron, and Sydal FLYING KNEES Ethan down! Dante springboards cleanly this time, but Scorpio catches him to a fireman’s carry! T K- NO! Dante slips off, and then he fireman’s carries Scorpio! To STEAL TKO!! Cover, TWO?!?!

Fans can’t believe it, least of all Dante! Scorpio goes to a corner, Dante gets up and he runs in. Scorpio puts Dante on the apron but Dante GAMANGIRIS! Dante goes up, leaps, CROSSBODY! Scorpio rolls it to a cover, TWO!! Both men getup, Dante leaps to DOUBLE STOMP Scorpio! Cover, TWO!! Dante is growing frustrated but Sydal coaches him up. Scorpio gets to ropes, shoves Dante away, then pops Dante up to HOTSHOT him! Fireman’s carry, T K O!! Cover, Scorpio wins!

Winner: Scorpio Sky, by pinfall (still AEW TNT Champion)

The Face of TNT is still Scorpio, but Angel Dorado sure gave him one hell of a fight! Who steps up next to try and take his crown?

My Thought:

A great Rampage to follow up both Double or Nothing and Dynamite from this past week. However, a bit bittersweet with Punk giving us the news of his injury. Thankfully it is an injury he can recover from, which he will, and it seems there is no vacating the title, only that there will be an interim champion like they did for the TNT Championship when Cody couldn’t defend it that one time. A Battle Royal, followed by a match with Moxley, which then leads to a match at Forbidden Door against I’m assuming Hiroshi Tanahashi since he wanted a match with Punk. A very good plan put together so quickly, I can’t wait to see who wins to be interim world champion.

Then we got a PPV level tag team match to open tonight, holy crap Young Bucks VS Lucha Brothers here was an all-timer. It was also a good detail to have the tag champs, Jurassic Park, and the Hardys both in the crowd. Hardys beat Bucks, I feel like Bucks can’t say they’re #1 contenders until they win in a rematch. Or they give us another Triple Threat Tag match that just burns the house down at like Forbidden Door or All Out. The squash match from Team Taz on those jobbers we didn’t even get introduced to was actually pretty fun for that reason: they didn’t let those guys get introduced. Team Taz is going to stay strong in the Tag Division, they can be waiting in the wings after things sort out with Jurassic Park, Bucks and Hardys.

Very good AEW in-ring debut for Athena with Kiera Hogan, and I think this is one of Kiera’s first televised singles matches in a while. But Athena was of course going to win, she can’t just be brought in and be chumped out. Athena is of course aiming for Jade, but Athena will probably beat Velvet next, maybe face some other great Heels, and then we see Jade VS Athena at either a Summer special like Road Rager or Fyter Fest. I can’t see them trying to stretch this to All Out, fans are going to want this match before that and AEW should do everything they can to actually get more time for their women’s division.

Good promo from House of Black, the logical next step is Varsity Blonds trying to ask “Why Julia Why?” and they just get destroyed by like, not even Malakai but just Brody and Buddy. At the same time, House of Black needs to get going towards titles, so Face-Heel dynamics be damned, give me Malakai VS Scorpio for the TNT title! We got a great TNT Championship main event, but of course Lambert and Ethan interfere and that more or less allows Scorpio to win. Scorpio did have a bit of a hobble but I’m pretty sure he’ll be fine. He should be ready to take on just about anyone, he should take on just about anyone, the TNT Championship is no longer isolated to Cody’s story and Scorpio cut out Sammy and Kaz after Double or Nothing, let’s get on that workhorse championship run!

My Score: 8.9/10