AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE! OI OI OI!

The NEW IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions already have a challenge! Will Aussie Open dunk on Best Friends? Or will the reign end before it begins?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Aussie Open VS Best Friends; Aussie Open wins and retains the titles.
• 8 Man Tag: Mark Briscoe & Team Triple J VS Man Scout & The Spanish Announce Project; Mark & Triple J win.
• Taya Valkyrie VS Emi Sakura; Taya wins.
• “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry VS Shawn Spears; JB wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championships: Aussie Open VS Best Friends!

Kyle Fletcher & Mark Davis are the NEW champions after defeating Hirooki Goto & Yoshi-Hashi just last week at NJPW Sakura Genesis. But now, they’re ready to defend the belts against the Kentucky Gentleman & #JustTrent! Will the first defense be successful? Or will Best Friends have even more gold now?

The introductions are made, the belts are raised, and we see who gets dunked on!

Trent and Fletcher start, they tie up, and fans rally. Trent headlocks, Fletcher powers his way out to wrench the arm. Fletcher brings Trent over, tags in Davis, but Trent gets away. Trent and Davis circle, feel things out, and Trent gets around to a headlock. Davis powers out, RAMS shoulders with Trent, but neither falls. Davis swings but Trent ducks the haymaker and things speed up. Davis holds ropes to fake out the hurdle, then Davis runs Trent over! Fans fire up while Trent flounders away. Davis tags Fletcher, and Fletcher sucker punches Chuck! The ref reprimands but Aussie Open double whip Trent.

Trent holds ropes now, and Fletcher runs in. Trent BOOTS Fletcher, dodges Davis to kick low! Trent reels Davis in, and he kicks off Fletcher to TORNADO DDT Davis! Davis bails out, and Chuck returns! Chuckie T FLIES! Direct hit at the ramp! Chuck gets Davis up and in for Trent, and Trent half nelsons. Davis elbows free, he BOOTS Chuck, then ROCKS Trent! Davis whips Trent at Chuck but Chuck puts Trent on the apron. Davis runs in, Chuck goes up and over and Davis hits buckles! Fletcher runs in but Chuck OVERHEAD Belly2Belly suplexes him onto Davis! Fans fire up as Trent goes up and aims at Fletcher, for the CROSSBODY! Cover, TWO!

Trent keeps cool while fans rally up. Trent brings Fletcher up to CHOP! Fletcher goes to a corner, Trent brings him around and he goes up. But Fletcher YANKS Trent down! Chuck returns but Fletcher SUPERKICKS him! Davis returns to bring Chuck around and throw him out! Aussie Open hurries out, they get one Best Friend each, DOUBLE APRON BACK SUPLEXES! And then they pick Best Friends up, run around the way, SPINEBUSTER SANDWICH! Fans fire up with Aussie Open as they throw the crown ups. “AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE! OI OI OI!” Fletcher puts Trent in, tags Davis, and they drag Trent up.

Aussie Open double whip, double CHOP, then PENALTY KICK and SENTON! Davis roars and fans fire up. Davis kneels on the cover, ONE! Davis drags Trent up, suplexes, and he holds Trent up! Fans fire up as Fletcher tags in and takes the handoff! Fletcher walks around with Trent before the SLAM! Cover, TWO! Trent is hanging tough but Aussie Open stays cool as Rampage goes picture in picture.

Fletcher taunts Chuck then goes back for Trent. Fletcher stomps Trent at the ropes again and again and again! The ref reprimands, Fletcher lets off and Trent sputters. Fletcher drags Trent up, but Trent throws hands! Trent reaches out but Fletcher bumps him off buckles! Tag to Davis and Davis looms over Trent. Davis bumps Trent off more buckles, then CHOPS! And CHOPS! Davis reels Trent out to scoop and SLAM! Tag to Fletcher and Fletcher rallies the fans. Davis drags Trent up, Aussie Open double whip corner to corner, then Davis runs in. Rampage returns to single picture as Trent BOOTS Davis!

Fletcher runs in, Trent BOOTS him, too! Trent goes up, leaps, but Davis catches him! AUSSIE DENTAL PLAN! Then another scoop, Fletcher goes up, LAWN DART CUTTER! Cover, but Chuck breaks it! Fans fire up but Davis throws Chuck out. Davis goes out after Chuck, and RAMS him into railing! Davis stands Chuck up, CHOKES him, but Chuck kicks low! Chuck whips Davis into steel steps! Fletcher goes up top but Trent CHOPS! Trent climbs up after Fletcher, CLUBS away on him, then brings him up. Fletcher resists, throws body shots, and then forearms! Chuck helps Trent out, ELECTRIC CHAIR SUPERPLEX!

Fans fire up as all four men are down around ringside! Davis returns, he choke grips each Best Friend, but they break free to grab him in return! DOUBLE CHOKE SLAM! Fans fire up as Best Friends go to opposite ends. And then they HUG! You GOT to give the people what they want! Chuck gets Fletcher up in an Electric Chair, Trent climbs up, BUSAIKU KNEE DOOMSDAY! Cover, TWO!! Fletcher survives and fans rally up again. Tag to Chuck, and Trent Alabama Lifts Fletcher. But Davis anchors Chuck! Chuck kicks Davis away but Fletcher slips free to POST Trent! Chuck still leaps, but Fletcher gets under!

Fletcher goes to gut wrench but Chuck resists. Davis ENZIGURIS Chuck into the lift! GRIMSTONE!! Trent returns, but his superkick is blocked! Fletcher feeds that to Davis and he SUPERKICKS Trent down! Davis has Trent’s legs, Close Your Eyes and Count to EFF!! Fans are thunderous as Aussie Open throw off the elbow pads! LARIAT SANDWICH for Chuck! And then, double pump handles for the COREALIS!! Cover, Aussie Open wins!

Winners: Aussie Open, by pinfall (still IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Champions)

And that’s that for that one! Fletcher & Davis stay strong, but just this Saturday, they go for the NJPW Strong Openweight Tag Team titles! Will the United Empire start to conquer the entire world?

Team Triple J and Mark Briscoe are backstage.

Sonjay Dutt says he wants the whole world to see that Mark Briscoe is on the same page as them before their big 8 Man Tag. Except Mark is arguing that he didn’t even know what he was signing up for. Jarrett, Lethal, Satnam and Sonjay say hands in, there’s no “I” in team! But there is in “trick!” Mark didn’t want to be on this team! Lethal tricked him! Lethal swears he didn’t, and Sonjay explains it to Mark. They’re more alike than Mark realizes. Mark and Lethal go back like twenty years! They’ve fought wars together and against each other! Sonjay knew Mark when Mark was a teenager, and Satnam grew up on a farm, just like the Briscoes!

Okay, not a chicken farm, but farms are farms, right? And of course, Mark and Jarrett are “good ol’ country boys.” You like huntin’, fishin’, and wrasslin’! And check this shirt Sonjay just got Mark! It’s all their faces, but with Mark down in the corner. Let’s go, team! Sonjay puts the shirt on Mark, but Mark isn’t smiling. Sonjay says it’s time for them to win! Lethal hugs Mark, Satnam and Jarrett pat him on the shoulder, but Mark takes the shirt off and chucks it. Will the Sussex County Chicken make it very clear whose team he’s on later tonight?

Tony Schiavone is in the ring.

And he introduces the TWO-TIME AEW World Tag Team Champions, Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler, FTR! Fans fire up as the #TopGuys make their way to the ring. Schiavone congratulates them on earning it, and Cash thanks him and the fans. Cash says two years and five months. That is how long it took them from the day they lost the titles to the day they won them back. And now they can say, “AND NEW, TWO-TIME, AEW World Tag Team Champions!” Cash says there has been speculation about FTR’s future, what they’re gonna do and where they’re gonna be. And Cash has the unfortunate news to tell us… That they are stuck with FTR for another four years, they are STILL All Elite!

Cash says when they lost these titles, it was the hardest climb back to the top they’ve ever had. But the fans never gave up. So this isn’t about what they’ve done, this is about what they’re gonna do. They have four more years, and when they’re done with those, they’re done with wrestling. Fans are a little saddened to hear that part, but Cash says until then, they’re gonna give it everything they have in their bodies until the wheels fall off! They are FTR, and they are not stopping until they are the GREATEST tag team of all time!

Dax adds that it is easy to say they “weren’t supposed to make.” But hell, fans weren’t even supposed to like them. Dax means that. The fans aren’t supposed to like FTR. But then, why do they like FTR? Is it their good looks? No, it’s not any of that. Then maybe it’s their chiseled-from-granite bodies? Hell no! That sure ain’t it. And then Dax dug down deep. This is their redemption story. This is their redemption story, the fans have been there for every moment. Life has beaten them down to the ground, to the point where they thought they couldn’t make it, and to the point where they thought, “How am I gonna pay the bills? How am I gonna feed my family? How am I gonna put clothes on my back?”

But what everyone here has done is that we’ve all fought. We’ve pulled ourselves up and fought! That’s why we’re all here tonight, because we fought for this! Fans cheer that, and Dax says now, with this being their redemption story, the only difference between FTR and y’all is y’all. The last 10 years, FTR has had y’all in their corner as FTR fought. Y’all kicked FTR in the ass and told them to keep going, so they did! So now, it’s time for FTR to repay y’all. The next four years, one last ride, FTR repays the fans! Every ounce of blood and passion and love, for the fans, for pro-wrestling, and for four years in AEW! #TopGuysOut!

Backstage interview with Hook and #HardyParty.

Lexi Nair is with the FTW Champion, Isiah Kassidy and the Hardy Boyz. Last Wednesday, we witnessed the shocking return of Jeff Hardy! After almost a year of being away, how does it feel to be back? The Charismatic Enigma says it feels amazing. He allowed his own personal Heaven to collapse, so the last nine months has been about crawling out of his own personal Hell. And there were three things he had to do to be where he needed to be. One: conviction. Two: an eye surgery. Three: return to AEW! It feels great to be back! Matt says the Hardys are back together and it feels so damn good!

And they are ready to take on The Firm! When they win, Matt & Private Party will be free of The Firm once and for all! Look at this all-star team! The FTW Champion in Hook! The living legends of Jeff & Matt Hardy, and the #MoanMan, Isiah Kassidy! They will take on The Firm’s Ethan Page, Lee Moriarty, “Big Bill” Morrissey and Stokely Hathaway! And where’s this all taking place? Why, at the Hardy Compound! They will render The Firm OBSOLETE! It will be a FIRM DELETION! Hardy shouts “DELETE! DELETE! DELETE!” and his team is ready. Will The Firm not know what hit them?

AEW shares footage from after Dynamite.

AEW media caught up with Wardlow after his brawl with “Powerhouse” Hobbs, and asked if they could ask some questions. Wardlow said no, he does all his talking out there. We saw what he did to Hobbs’ car. Hobbs speaks now, saying if Wardlow wanted his attention, he’s got it! Wardlow made the biggest mistake of his career. But Wardlow says next week on Dynamite, he will write his own book when he gets the title back. Hobbs says Wardlow destroyed his car, so now Hobbs will destroy Wardlow! Who will be the titan left standing with the TNT title after Wednesday?

8 Man Tag: Mark Briscoe & Team Triple J VS “Man Scout” Jake Manning & The Spanish Announce Project!

The Sussex County Chicken is always ready to #ManUp, but he didn’t wanna 8 Man up with these guys. Will Mark, Lethal and the bunch still win big tonight?

Wait, Triple J just BLASTS the opposition! Mark’s rather confused but the bell rings to get this on record. Jarrett stomps Man Scout, but Mark has him back off. Mark starts and he picks Man Scout up, but Man Scout gets free. Mark and Scout circle, which is too goody two shoes for Jarrett. He steps in to CLOBBER Scout from behind! The ref reprimands, Mark is upset with Jarrett, but Scout comes back to throw hands on Mark! Scout whips, Mark reverses but Scout ducks ‘n’ dodges. Jarrett trips Scout up! The ref reprimands and Mark says they don’t need to do this kind of stuff. But Luther runs in to BOOT Mark!

Lethal gets in to SUPERKICK Luther! Angelico gets in, Lethal jumps the sweep but the EDDY GORDO KICK hits! Jarrett runs in, gets around and hits the STROKE! Serpentico runs in to COMPLETE SHOT Jarrett! But Satnam storms in, Serpentico realizes he’s in trouble! Serpentico runs, leaps, but into the arms! Satnam lifts Serpentico up and carries him around, to then TOSS onto SAP! Scout returns, runs in, but into Satnam’s huge hand! For the ONE IN A BILLION CHOKE SLAM! Mark goes up, and he says he’s gonna finish it! Satnam backs off, and Mark hits the FROGGY BOW! Cover, Mark & Triple J win!

Winners: Mark Briscoe & Triple J, by pinfall

While it wasn’t what Mark wanted, the team did win. Mark doesn’t wanna celebrate with this team, either, but will he be able to get them to leave him alone?

AEW shares footage from after the Blackpool Combat Club’s rampage a couple weeks ago.

Sensitive viewers be advised, the bloody gash on Don Callis’ forehead is truly horrific. Kenny Omega’s words repeat that when you mess with someone’s family, that’s when you’ve crossed a line. Omega promised that what he’d do to the BCC in return would be much worse. The Elite got a semblance of revenge, but not enough to satisfy them. What will it take to end this every escalating war between these factions?

BREAKING NEWS for next week’s Rampage!

Because of NHL coverage, Rampage will be on at a special time and night: Saturday, April 22nd, at 10 PM Eastern! Make sure your schedule and DVR are set accordingly or you’ll miss all the action!

Taya Valkyrie VS Emi Sakura!

La Wera Loca verbally put Jade Cargill in her place in last week’s mediation session. However, she would rather put #ThatBitch in her place physically. Will Taya force Jade’s hand in defending the AEW TBS Championship? Or will the Queen of Joshi Strong Style prove herself worthy of some gold?

The bell rings, the two circle, and fans rally up. Taya and Sakura tie up, and Taya powers Sakura to a corner. But Sakura turns it around! And CHOPS! Taya shrugs it off to put Sakura in the corner, and CHOPS! Fans fire up but Sakura seems to like it! So Taya CHOPS her again! Things speed up, Taya and Sakura RAM shoulders, but neither falls! Things keep going, they RAM shoulders again, and both women nod. Sakura gives Taya a playful slap, but Taya SLAPS! Sakura says okay! They run, RAM, and Taya stays standing! Fans fire up, and Taya runs in at the corner to ELBOW! Taya keeps going, to clothesline!

Taya fires up while Sakura sits down. Fans fire up and Taya runs in, METEORA! Taya drags Sakura to a cover, TWO! Sakura is tough and Taya seems to like that. Taya drags Sakura up, waistlocks, but Sakura fights with elbows. Sakura wrenches, waistlocks, but Taya resists the lift. Sakura moves up to a full nelson, but Taya holds it off! Taya powers the nelson down, powers out and LARIATS! Taya covers, TWO! Fans rally, Taya drags Sakura up and chicken wings! Sakura resists the lift, but here comes Jade! And Leila, too. Taya throws Sakura aside to stare Jade down. Jade says she’s watching Taya, but Taya wants her to come closer.

Sakura storms up on Taya, grabs her hair and reels her in! Sakura talks trash on them both, for the TWISTING DDT! Jade mockingly applauds while Sakura stomps Taya, and Rampage goes picture in picture.

Sakura CHOPS Taya to a corner, then CLAWS her on the back! Taya kicks back but Sakura CHOPS again! And CHOPS again! Taya pie faces Sakura so Sakura CHOPS! Sakura brings Taya out, underhooks, and TIGER BACKBREAKERS! Jade and Leila do move closer to ringside now as Sakura wraps on a chinlock. Taya endures, pries at the hold, and fans rally up. Taya fights up, throws body shots, but Sakura CHOPS again! Taya goes to a corner and Jade continues to mockingly applaud. Sakura storms up but Taya kicks her low. Sakura CHOPS again! And CHOPS again! But Taya CHOPS back!

Sakura CHOPS, Taya CHOPS, Sakura throat chops! Taya sputters, but she comes back to go forehead to forehead with Sakura. Taya then CHOPS! Sakura CHOPS! Taya goes to ropes, Sakura laughs, and so does Jade. Taya laughs, too? Taya CHOPS, Sakura CHOPS! Taya eggs Sakura on, motioning that she has stronger “padding.” Sakura CHOSP and CHOPS and CHOPS! Those get a bit high, but Sakura is on Taya in the corner. Sakura pie faces Taya, the ref reprimands, and Taya goes to another corner. Sakura runs in to RAM into Taya! Sakura brings Taya out, fans rally up, but Sakura soaks up the heat. Jade seems rather annoyed fans are cheering Taya as Rampage goes to break.

Rampage returns and Taya has Sakura in the ropes. Taya runs, SLIDING GERMAN! Fans fire up with Taya while Sakura slumps to the apron. Taya talks some smack on Jade now that she’s closer, but Sakura CLOBBERS Taya and sends her into steel steps! Sakura says, “I’m Your Highness!” And then she SPLASHES Taya against the steps! Fans fire up and Sakura roars! Sakura stands on Taya, laughs, and then puts her into the ring. Cover, TWO! Sakura grows frustrated and Jade is annoyed. Sakura laughs it up again, and she aims at Taya. Sakura runs in, but Taya blocks the lariat to kick! And KNEE! And BLUE THUNDER BOMB! Cover, TWO!!

Taya is frustrated now and Jade wants this to finish. Sakura SLAPS! SLAPS! And SLAPS! Sakura fires up to DOUBLE CHOP! Taya comes back to SPEAR! Taya roars and fans fire up now! Chicken wings for the ROAD TO VALHALLA!! Cover, Taya wins!

Winner: Taya Valkyrie, by pinfall

Jade takes off her high heels, but Leila wants her to stand down. Leila runs in instead! But Taya DECKS her! And then Taya drags Leila up, chicken wings, ROAD TO VALHALLA! Jade storms in now and fans fire up! The two talk smack, then start throwing forearms! Taya and Jade are even until Taya knees low! Taya chicken wings the arms! Leila CLUBS Taya from behind! Jade grins, and she BOOTS Taya down! Fans boo but Jade drags Taya up, into chicken wings! JADED!! Jade “covers” Taya, the fans count, that’d be a win! Jade holds her TBS title over Taya, but will this be the way it goes when they finally go 1v1?

La Faccion Ingobernable speaks.

Jose the Assistant says “The world found out exactly who Dralistico is. He came this close to getting that International title from Orange Cassidy. This week, La Faccion Ingobernable has gold in mind. Your gold, El Hijo del Vikingo. Dralistico’s openly challenging you for the AAA Mega Championship. No pasa nada, pero!” Will the Prince of Silver & Gold finally have some gold? Or will The Son of the Viking still reign in AAA?

The Jericho Appreciation Society is in the ring.

Namely, it is Jake Hager, Matthew Menard & Angelo Parker. They all have mics, and Cool Hand Ange starts. “DJ Jazzy Jas, drop a beat!” The music starts and yes, two Canadians and an Oklahoman are about to rap… Daddy Magic copies Max Caster’s “YO! YO!” and says, “Rappin’ is very easy. And we’re about to show ya!” Parker copies the “Listen!” Daddy Magic says, “Last week on Rampage, we caught you off guard! That’s what makes Daddy Magic’s nipples hard!” Parker adds a “YEAH!” “Joinin’ the JAS, it’s a no brainer! Everybody wants to be a sports… enner-tay-ner!”

Parker takes over with a “Coooool Hand on the mic, oh no, you can’t stop it! Did you know The Acclaimed were adopted?” Menard adds, “How ’bout it?” “Take a look, we didn’t come here to play! Plus, Cool Hand’s having one hell of a hair day.” Hager’s turn, and he says, “AAAAH! I’m Big Cat ‘n’ I get respect! Appreciate Jericho is what I expect! I’ll beat you in the ring, I’ll beat you on the mat, Acclaimed ain’t cool, y’all know I have this hat. I rap about this, I rap about that, one more thing: I LIKE THIS HAT!” That becomes the tag line for some reason… Menard keeps shouting that rapping is easy, but here comes The Acclaimed!

Platinum Max says, “Yo! Listen! Aw forget it.” They rush the ring! And they all TACKLE the JAS! Billy Gunn is after Hager, he drags him out of the ring and RAMS him into the railing so hard, Hager tumbles up and over! Caster clotheslines Parker out of the ring while Bowens stomps Menard. Caster gets a mic, he stands on Menard, and then brings him around. Bowens gets the mic to say, “Let’s see how hard Daddy Magic’s nipples are!” Billy has REAL SCISSORS!! Bowens says, “Scissor him, Daddy Ass~!” Menard shouts, “NO! What is wrong with you!?” Parker & Hager drag Menard out of the ring to safety!

The JAS retreats but Bowens asks where they’re going with those “nasty ass nipples. You wanna taste?! You wanna taste of the three of us?! How about live, next week on Dynamite?” Fans like that! And Bowens says they’ll find out why only six people appreciate Jericho, while EVERYONE LOVES THE ACCLAIMED!! Will the Acclaimed finally make the JAS cut it out?

Mark Henry interviews tonight’s main eventers.

The World’s Strongest Man says that Shawn Spears, a long-time friend of MJF’s, has finally returned. Is Jungle Boy wary that Spears is here simply to thwart his efforts of becoming AEW World Champion? Jack says that the reason HE is here is to move one step closer to challenging MJF. And JB came here prepared for anyone in that locker room, and Shawn Spears just happened to be the name on the list. Spears says okay, he’s been gone a long time, he had a baby boy! JB does applaud congrats for that, and Spears says MJF is the NEW AEW World Champion. Spears knows MJF better than anyone, but he and Max don’t talk. They’re not friends, but they don’t have a problem, yet.

Don’t think Spears came back to do anything other than throw his name into the championship conversation. Spears and Jack are chasing the exact same thing. The difference is, Spears has been chasing it for longer. So tonight in Rampage’s main event, it comes down to one thing: Who is the better man? And with all due respect, tonight’s not Jack’s night. Mark says there’s been enough talk. It’s TIME for the main event! Will the Chair Man beat down Jungle Boy? Or will Jack Perry be even better than the Perfect Ten?

“Jungle Boy” Jack Perry VS Shawn Spears!

The bell rings and fans chant “Welcome Back!” for Spears. Spears bows in respect, and even shakes JB’s hand to show sportsmanship. They tie up, Spears wrenches, wristlocks, but JB rolls, handsprings and wrenches back. Spears rolls, kips up, wrenches and snapmares to roll with JB. Spears then body scissors and rolls JB into a sunset, ONE! The two stand off and Spears says “TEN!” Fans cheer, but JB knuckle locks and CHOPS! JB goes up and up and springboards to arm-drag! And DROPKICK! JB kips up and he winds it up, “Ten~!” Spears grins, he admits that was good, and then he bails out.

Fans rally, and JB builds speed! Spears gets away, JB slides out to pursue, but Spears mule kicks! Spears gets in the ring, he builds speed, but then JB moves. Spears frowns, pursues, but JB mule kicks! JB returns the trick and then RAMS Spears into railing! Fans fire up and we see Darby Allin watching backstage, as well as Sammy Guevara & Tay Melo. JB brings Spears around to whip but Spears reverses, and JB hits railing hard! So hard, JB tumbles up and over! Fans fire up while JB writhes and crawls, and Rampage goes picture in picture.

JB hobbles up, Spears pursues, and JB CHOPS! And CHOPS! Spears CHOPS in return! The ref wants this back at ringside, but Spears CHOPS JB again! JB falls over and Spears soaks up the cheers. But JB CHOPS in return! JB TOSSES Spears back to ringside! JB hops up and over the railing, runs in at Spears, but into an APRON BACK SUPLEX! Spears pushes JB into the ring, takes a second to catch his breath, and he storms in after JB. Spears has JB in a corner, he CHOPS again, and JB staggers away. JB goes to the apron but Spears goes out after him. But JB CHOPS in return! And then he puts Spears against railing, to CHOP again!

Fans fire up as they get to see the action even closer. Spears knees JB low, reels him in, and stares the fans down as he suplexes JB up. Spears holds JB, but JB then knees free! JB CHOPS, and he snap suplexes Spears to the floor! Spears writhes, JB refreshes the ring count, and he puts Spears back in. JB goes to a corner and climbs up. Spears stands to CHOP! Spears throws forearms, JB wobbles up top, and Spears climbs up. Spears brings JB up, and SUPERPLEXES! Both men writhe but Spears crawls his way over. Cover, TWO! JB goes to a corner as Rampage returns to single picture.

Spears asks the fans, “One more?” The fans respond, “One more!” “One more?” “One more!” “Ten more?” “TEN MORE!” Spears storms up, he hoists JB up top and he CHOPS again! Spears climbs up, but JB resists! JB throws body shots, then ROCKS Spears with a forearm! And another! Spears falls back, but he springs back up to the top! JB CHOPS Spears back down! And then CROSSBODIES! Cover, TWO and Spears has the cover now, TWO! Spears runs in, JB dodges and ROCKS him with haymakers! JB runs, but Spears BOOTS JB down! Fans fire up as Spears runs in, into a SUPERKICK! And another SUPERKICK!

Spears comes back to ELBOW JB! Spears whips, but JB hits the COMEBACKER LARIAT! Both men are down and fans fire up again! The ref starts a standing count, both men stir, and Spears sits up. Spears goes to a corner, JB goes to the other. JB runs in but Spears puts him on the apron. JB ducks the haymaker to GAMANGIRI! But Spears JUMP KNEES back! Spears slingshots JB in and has him on the top rope! DRAPING DDT! Cover, TWO!! JB survives and fans fire up! Fans rally as Spears drags himself up. Spears stalks JB, reels him in, fireman’s carry, but JB slips to a victory roll! TWO!! COMPLETE SHOT! Cover, TWO!!

Spears survives but JB Oklahoma Rolls, TWO! JB runs, ducks ‘n’ dodges, but Spears scoops to a BACKBREAKER! Spears brings JB up, hooks the arm, LA MA- NO, JB blocks it to his own cover! JB WINS!!

Winner: Jack Perry, by pinfall

Fans sing and sway along with Jungle Life! And best of all, JB offers a handshake to Spears. Spears stands, and he accepts it! Jack Perry keeps pace with his peers in Sammy and Darby, but who will be THE #1 contender to Maxwell Jacob Friedman?

My Thoughts:

A really good Rampage, but it gets tricky when it has to move around because of major sports like the NBA and NHL. At this point, they should just move Rampage to TBS like they did Dynamite or to some channel where there’s (almost) never preempted programming because of sports. That all aside, great opener in the IWGP Heavyweight Tag Team Championship. Aussie Open of course retains the titles, and commentary kept plugging Satsuma no Kuni on April 29th, as that is about the IWGP Tag title defense. They should’ve been plugging NJPW Capital Collision tomorrow since Aussie Open is also going for the NJPW Strong tag titles.

Really good stuff out of this Mark Briscoe and Triple J story. Mark is of course reluctant, not just because he is Face and Triple J are Heels but also because Triple J are borderline goofy Heels that Mark just can’t get along with. They still get the win, but something’s gotta give sooner rather than later. Great promo from FTR to formally announce they’re staying with AEW, and that they have four more years on their in-ring careers. I like that Dax referenced how fans weren’t supposed to like them. When they were “Scott Dawson & Dash Wilder” in NXT, they were some of the meanest Heels around, and that continued as The Revival. But like many great Heels, there was something that transcended being Heel that inevitably turned them Face, and they pretty much are the best tag team ever.

Taya VS Sakura was a great match, even with Jade and Leila showing up ringside to distract. Good win for Taya, but Jade stands tall here. If their title match was happening on Dynamite, this would indicate Taya winning because of go-home math. But as AEW paces Women’s Division stories (too) slowly, there’s half a chance this keeps going for another month until Double or Nothing. Good promo from Jose on behalf of LFI, and Dralistico VS El Hijo del Vikingo is going to be wild stuff. I can’t wait to see it, but I’m thinking Vikingo retains, just as he did against Komander at ROH Supercard of Honor. If it isn’t an AAA show, the title isn’t changing hands.

The JAS rapping stuff was hilarious. Menard’s lyrics were good but his rhythm sucked, surely on purpose, and of course Hager makes his part about the hat. Great brawl, that Six Man Tag is going to be great, and could be a way to put The Acclaimed & Daddy Ass on a path to trios titles. A great part of the main event segment was that Mark Henry got to interview the main eventers. Usually, he gets trimmed down to just his introduction and his tagline, but I guess a benefit of being moved around in the schedule is that AEW can have all the time they need. Hopefully they feel that way next week for Saturday Night Rampage.

And the main event itself was great stuff, especially for Spears’ return. I like that Spears made a point to say he disconnected from MJF just like all the rest of, well, everyone MJF used to team with. But naturally, JB wins, and I really hope they’re considering a Triple Threat as the way to top this story off. JB VS Sammy VS Darby is going to be great stuff, MJF could even try to screw over who he’s most worried about, only for that guy to win. Though, at this point, they’re heavily hinting at JB winning the right to challenge at Double or Nothing.

My Score: 8.7/10