Who will step to the Forbidden Door?

With the AEW TNT Championship vacated, a ladder match awaits at Forbidden Door! The series of qualifiers begins now, who will be the Face of TNT?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• AEW TNT Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: Konosuke Takeshita VS Penta El Zero Miedo; Takeshita wins and advances to Forbidden Door.
• Satnam Singh w/ Sonjay Dutt VS “Pretty” Peter Avalon; Satnam wins.
• AEW Women’s World Championship Title Eliminator: Toni Storm w/ Mariah May & Luther VS Viva Van; Storm wins and denies Viva a title match.
• Kyle O’Reilly VS Jordan Cruz; Kyle wins
• Rey Fenix w/ Alex Abrahantes VS Isiah Kassidy; Fenix wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

AEW TNT Championship Ladder Match Qualifier: Konosuke Takeshita VS Penta El Zero Miedo!

The Rated R Superstar is out with a leg injury and The Young Bucks just went and took the title off him! They wanted to put it on Jack Perry, but Christopher Daniels appeared to counter their corruption! Now we have a series of qualifiers that begins here tonight, will The Alpha or #CEROMIEDO head for The Forbidden Door?

The bell rings, the two slowly step forward and the fans fire up. Penta gets in Takeshita’s face, then pushes him. “Listen! CERO! MIEDO!” Penta pie faces Takeshita, but Takeshita just scowls. Takeshita swings, Penta dodges and mule kicks! Penta runs but Takeshita runs him over! Takeshita runs, Penta stays low, then hurdles, but Takeshita leaps over. They keep going, Takeshita hurdles but Penta leaps over! Penta arm-drags, then arm-drags again! Penta sweeps, covers, ONE! The two stand off and the fans fire up! Takeshita and Penta reset, the fans rally with “CERO! MIEDO!” and Penta nods. Takeshita applauds and offers a handshake.

Penta reaches out, but Takeshita CLAWS at Penta’s eyes through the mask! Takeshita whips, Penta reverses but Takeshita hits the TAKESHITA LINE! Penta goes to a corner, Takeshita runs up, and Takeshita BOOTS Penta! The fans rally, Takeshita whips, but Penta goes up and over to BACKSTABBER! Takeshita goes to the apron, Penta drags him up, but Takeshita ROCKS Penta! Penta ROCKS Takeshita back, Takeshita ROCKS Penta again! Penta ROCKS Takeshita, GAMANGIRIS, and Takeshita drops off the apron! The fans fire up and Penta builds speed, but Takeshita moves! Penta changes course, goes to the apron, and he SUPERKICKS, but Takeshita blocks!

Takeshita yanks Penta from the apron, Penta slips out of the bomb, but Takeshita gives him an APRON BACK SUPLEX! Penta writhes and rolls inside while the fans rally up. Takeshita storms in, covers, TWO! Penta is still in this but Takeshita runs down fists! Takeshita CLAWS at the eyes, but he lets off to get in the ref’s face about it. The fans boo Takeshita but he stomps Penta around. Takeshita drags Penta up, snapmares, then KICKS Penta in the back! The fans boo but Takeshita paces. Takeshita drags Penta up, ROCKS him to a corner, then climbs up. Takeshita rains down fists, the fans count, but then he flips them off!

Takeshita BITES Penta through his mask! Takeshita brings Penta out but Penta CHOPS! Takeshita ROCKS Penta with a forearm! Penta CHOPS again! Takeshita felt that one, but he ROCKS Penta again! ROLLING- SUPERKICK! Penta SUPERKICK but Takeshita blocks to DECKS him! Cover, TWO! Takeshita HAMMERS away on Penta, then clamps on a chinlock. Takeshita grinds Penta down, the fans rally up, and Penta fights up to his feet. Penta throws body shots, but Takeshita knees low again and again! Takeshita suplexes for the BRAINBUSTER! Penta flounders but Takeshita has an evil grin on his face.

Takeshita stands, pushes the ref aside so he can cover, TWO! Takeshita kneels on Penta’s neck while flexing! The ref counts the choke, Takeshita lets off at 4. The fans tell Takeshita off but he ROCKS Penta more, and Rampage goes picture in picture.

Takeshita whips, Penta KICKS him back! And SUPER- NO, Takeshita blocks again to spin Penta and DECK him! Takeshita shakes out his right arm while Penta is down. The ref checks Penta, Takeshita dusts himself off, then goes back for the mask! The ref reprimand and counts, Takeshita lets off at 4. Takeshita steps on Penta, stalks him, then brings him up. Takeshita ROCKS Penta in a corner, ROCKS him again, and then ROCKS him again! Takeshita digs his boots in, the ref reprimands, and Rampage returns to single picture. Takeshita whips corner to corner, runs up, but Penta puts him up top to CHOP!

The fans fire up and Penta climbs. Penta fires hands but so does Takeshita! Takeshita gets a fireman’s carry, but Penta fights free! Penta hops down to the apron, to FLIPPING RANA! Takeshita staggers up, Penta runs to SLINGBLADE! And SLINGBLADE again! Takeshita tumbles out, Penta builds speed, and Penta FLIES! Direct hit and down goes Takeshita! The fans fire up for “A E DUB! A E DUB!” Penta slowly rises from the impact, and he fires himself back up. The fans fire up for him, and Penta puts Takeshita in the ring. Penta climbs, aims, and DIVING- NO, Takeshita avoids the stomps! Takeshita comes back, but into an O’Conner Roll!

Takeshita bucks the roll, rolls back to headscissors,, victory roll, and wheelbarrow to the WHEELBARROW GERMAN!! Penta flounders away, Takeshita storms back up on him, but Penta gets around to half nelson, pump handle, MADE IN JAPAN!! Cover, TWO!! Takeshita survives and the fans rally up. Penta KICKS at the arm, stomps on it, then traps it. Penta CLUBS at Takeshita, grabs at the bad arm, but Takeshita powers out! LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Penta survives and the fans fire up again. Takeshita grabs Penta, whips him to a corner, then runs in. Penta dodges so Takeshita’s knee hits buckle!

Takeshita ends up on the apron, Penta triangle jumps to APRON DESTROYER!! The fans are thunderous and Takeshita is dazed, “This is Awesome!” Penta crawls out to get Takeshita up and in to cover, TWO!! Takeshita survives and the fans fire up again. Penta is frustrated but the fans rally with “CERO MIEDO! CERO MIEDO!” Penta and Takeshita rise, but Takeshita mocks the Cero Miedo before he flops over. Penta sits him up, to SUPERKICK! “CERO! MIEDO!” Penta runs, but Takeshita scoops him! BLUE THUNDER BOMB!! High stack, TWO!! Takeshita is fuming as he waits on Penta to rise up.

The fans rally for Penta but Takeshita runs in, POWER- NO, Penta slips around and tucks him in! But Takeshita wrenches out, whips, but Penta reverses to tilt-o-whirl RANA! Takeshita hits ropes, Penta comes in, but Takeshita FLAPJACKS him on ropes! ALPHA ELBOW!! And then the POWER DRIVE KNEE!! Cover, Takeshita wins!

Winner: Konosuke Takeshita, by pinfall (advances to the ladder match)

The first man moving on is The Don Callis Family’s Alpha! But will Takeshita soon be the new Face of TNT?

Backstage interview with Chris Jericho, “Big Bill” Morrissey & Bryan Keith.

Renee Paquette is with The Learning Tree and his “branches,” and congratulates him on the debut of TV Time. Jericho thanks Renee, and Renee says we’re now here on Rampage, but we’re not hearing him on commentary. What’s going on? Jericho says first of all, hi, everyone! Hope you’re all enjoying Rampage, surely they’re missing him out there. There is a reason for that, though. The reason is, he had an unprovoked attack from a certain youngster whose brain is not fully formed. “Bad Apple” Bryan Keith says, “No respect!” and Jericho agrees. No respect from Hook. The Learning Tree is far too valuable to be left exposed at commentary.

So Jericho has decided to step down from his roll as commentator. After a hundred-something episodes, it is time for Jericho to focus on Dynamite and Collision, three or four segments a week, because we all know he loves being on camera. Thanks, guys! So anyway, he is stepping down. But even so he is stepping down as number one on Rampage, he is still number one in your hearts! Thanks, Renee! Farce aside, will Jericho have to keep his head on a swivel for the next time Hook comes around?

The Undisputed Kingdom speaks.

Mike Bennett says needs to say something. He hopes they don’t mind, and he usually doesn’t speak unless it’s something important, and this is important. “Double or Nothing sucked! Las Vegas sucked! I’m down on my money, we’re down on our luck, Roddy lost the International Championship.” The only thing Bennett got from being there was this stupid sunburn! Matt Taven knows, it was a tragedy! They got kicked from ringside for some reason, even though they did nothing! Roddy wins every match all by himself, and then this Wednesday- Roddy explodes about Wednesday!

This past Wednesday, Roddy was gonna be the tenth man in the Casino Gauntlet, Roddy was gonna be the NEW #1 Contender, Roddy was supposed to go to Forbidden Door to become the NEW AEW World Champion. But look at him now. So y’know what? Roddy’s pissed. He’s gonna go to Collision and take all of his frustrations out on Lio! Roddy won’t rush through it, either. He’ll take his time, and take it all out on Lio Rush. Then Roddy is coming for Swerve, for Ospreay, and taking it all because he is a wrestling legend! Will The Savior of the Backbreaker put the Bad Child through the wringer?

Satnam Singh w/ Sonjay Dutt VS “Pretty” Peter Avalon!

The One in a Billion may not have slain the American Dragon, but he isn’t going to stop now that he’s back in singles action. Will this be anything but pretty for Pretty Peter Avalon?

The bell rings and Peter is afraid. But Satnam says hold on, he’ll give Peter a shot. Satnam lies down, Sonjay says go ahead. Peter covers, TWO and with power! Satnam then drags Peter back, and DRIBBLES him off the mat! Satnam soaks up the heat and then he brings Peter back up. Satnam choke grips, to POP him up into the BEARHUG!! Peter is a ragdoll already, Satnam wins!

Winner: Satnam Singh, by submission

The One in a Billion just about breaks Peter in half, will he do this to everyone else put in his path?

The Cage of Agony speaks.

Bishop Kaun says sometimes, you have to scorch everything down to the ground to start anew. The Machine says just burn it down! Burn it all down! Leave no man untested! That is what these three will do as they start fresh on Collision! Big, jacked and handsome, against any three sloppy Joes who want it! They’ll find the answer to “Who Betta?” is zilch! Zero! Nada! These three are still gentlemen, though. Traveled all around the world. They saw that gauntlet, saw someone bringing the heat, the fire. So hey, Hechicero, come on down!

The Alchemist of Lucha walks in and introduces himself. Hechi says he promises this group has the passion and magic! Toa Liona says they are bringing the pain! And you’ll se on Saturday! These three titans now have the backing of a lucha legend, will there be no stopping them now?

AEW Women’s World Championship Title Eliminator: Toni Storm w/ Mariah May & Luther VS Viva Van!

The Leading Lady loves being in the City of Angels, but she’s up against a Hellbent Vixen tonight. Will Storm make this a short film with Viva Van? Or will the little devil upstage her in the worst way?

The bell rings and the fans fire up for Storm as she circles with Viva. They circle, feel things out, and knuckle lock. Viva kicks, Storm ducks a kick but Viva hits an arm-drag and wants the armbar! Storm gets the ROPEBREAK, and Viva lets off. Storm cools off and circles with Viva again. They tie up, Storm waistlocks, but Viva switches. Storm switches, Viva fights and arm-drags free to hammerlock. Then Viva gets the ARMBAR! Storm scrambles forward to the ROPEBREAK! Viva lets go, Mariah & Luther are upset, but Storm shakes it off. Storm and Viva tie up, go around, and Storm puts Viva on ropes.

Storm lets off slowly, but then DOUBLE CHOPS! Storm whips, Viva ducks under, slides, and shimmies. But Storm gives her a HIP ATTACK! No one upstages Storm! She HIP ATTACKS again and again and again! And then Storm winds up to HIP ATTACK! Viva flounders away, the fans fire up, and Storm runs to HIP ATTACK Viva to the floor! Storm says time for a media break, see you soon! And right on cue, Rampage goes picture in picture!

Storm pursues Van, drags her up, and CLUBS her down. Storm then drags Viva around to put her against barriers, and she CHOPS! Storm stalks Viva, Viva CHOPS back! Via fires forearms but Storm pushes her against barriers! Storm fires up to CHOP! The fans fire up while Viva flounders, and Storm refreshes the ring count. Storm RAMS Viva into steel steps, then puts her in the ring. Storm storms in, kicks Viva around, then kicks her again. Viva goes to ropes but Storm CHOKES her! The ref counts, Storm lets off then stalks Viva to a corner. Storm RAMS into Via, RAMS her again, then lets off to CLUB her down.

Viva crawls, Storm drags her up and snapmares. Storm clamps onto the arms for a motorcycle stretch! Via endures, Storm shifts to a seated full nelson, but Viva fights up! Viva breaks free, only for Storm to throw her down by her hair! Storm stands on Viva’s head, kicks her around, toys with her really, and then pie faces Viva. Viva fires body shots in return! Storm ROCKS Viva! Storm flexes while standing over Viva, and Rampage goes to break.

Rampage returns and Viva fires a forearm! Storm CHOPS! Viva CHOPS! The fans fire up and Viva CHOPS more! Storm eggs Viva on as Viva CHOPS and FOREARMS and repeat! Storm huffs and puffs, and JABS! JABS! JABS! Viva wobbles, Storm winds it up, and DECKS Viva! Storm grabs the legs but Viva scrambles to the apron. Storm grab at Viva but Viva HOTSHOTS her! Storm comes back, but into a KNEE! Viva slingshots up and over, gets moving, and she WHEEL KICKS Storm down! Cover, TWO! The fans rally, Storm crawls to a corner and Viva runs in, but Storm goes up and over! Storm rolls, comes back, blocks boots!

Storm puts Viva’s legs in ropes, and hits a DRAPING BACKSTABBER! Storm drags Viva up for the FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!! Not quite perfect but Storm still has the fans rallying. Storm drags Viva up, whips her to a corner, then run sin. Viva ELBOWS her away, goes up, but Storm CHOPS her! Viva ROCKS Storm, jumps over, and rolls back to UP KICK! Viva cravats, fires knees, then runs, to SCISSOR KICK! Viva hurries to cover, TWO!! Storm survives but Mariah is still upset Viva is doing so well. Viva vows to end this, she gets Storm in a corner and hoists her up with an Electric Chair!

Storm fights, slips free, and GERMAN SUPLEXES! Viva flounders to a corner, the fans fire up for the close up! SWEET HIP MUSIC!! And then STORM ZERO!! Cover, Storm wins!

Winner: Toni Storm, by pinfall (denies Viva Van a title opportunity)

The Leading Lady defeated the upstart, but The Outcasts are still hunting her and Mariah. In fact…

The Outcasts speak.

Saraya & Harley mockingly applaud the wonderful performance. Such good stuff, congratulations! But not for Storm. This is for Mariah. That’s her name, right? Yes, that’s it. Hard to remember girls who aren’t relevant, though. But hey, Saraya has something in common with Mariah, they’re both “barricade princesses!” Though, well, Saraya doesn’t need to wrestle every week to prove it. Harley says it is so sad how Mariah tries to be Toni Storm. And Saraya already beat the real version. So if Mariah wants to be like Storm, Saraya will beat the crap out of her! Next week, it’s not gonna be May! Actually, it’ll be June. Literally.

But that aside, is it going to be a Good Knight for the Outcasts next Wednesday? Or can Mariah do something even her mentor could not and shut Saraya up?

Kyle O’Reilly VS Jordan Cruz!

While Roderick Strong is talking big about going after Will Ospreay, #CombatKyle is doing something about it. Kyle challenges for the International Championship tomorrow night on Collision, will he be more than ready for it after going on a Rampage?

The bell rings and Kyle CLOBBERS Cruz! Kyle KICKS away on Cruz in the corner, then drags him up. Kyle fires off knees on Cruz now, then whips. BIG kitchen sink knee, and then Kyle paces around Cruz . Cruz stands but Kyle KICKS the leg, then KICKS Cruz down! Cruz sits up, Kyle wrenches the arm, and ELBOW BREAKERS! Kyle YANKS the arm, wrenches again, then KNEES it! Kyle hammerlocks the arm, Cruz throws elbows to get free, and Cruz goes to a corner. Kyle runs up, into a KNEE! Cruz fires forearms, but Kyle TACKLES him! Kyle gets some ground ‘n’ pound on Cruz, then gets the ARMBAR!! Cruz taps, Kyle wins!

Winner: Kyle O’Reilly, by submission

Kyle breaks down a man much bigger and bulkier than him, is he going to do even worse to the Aerial Assassin? Or will Ospreay strike first and strike harder?

Johnny TV & Taya Valkyrie speak.

“I’m Johnny TV, The Ratings King. And this is Taya Valkyrie, the Ratings Queen. And we came here to find the best wrestlers in the world, to challenge ourselves. There’s one guy I’ve never wrestled. Our paths have crossed, and I’ve seen him walk around here beating guys right and left. His name is Claudio Castagnoli. So right now, I’m issuing a challenge to you, Claudio. Tomorrow, Collision, Johnny TV, Claudio Castagnoli? What do you say?” Is the Swiss Superman going to be TV Ready for Saturday?

Rey Fenix w/ Alex Abrahantes VS Isiah Kassidy!

Penta may not have won big to open the night, but his brother is looking to win to close it. Will the Immortal Firebird prove himself worthy of a shot at the TNT Championship? Or will Brother Zay say #HUHNYEAH to his own opportunity?

The bell rings and the two circle. The fans rally up, the two low-five to show respect, and the fans chant ‘ANIMO! ANIMO!” The two tie up, Zay wrenches and wristlocks, but Fenix moves around, only for Zay to crank the wristlock again. Zay keeps Fenix from ropes, but Fenix rolls, tries again, but Zay still keeps him form ropes. Fenix breaks free and DROPKICKS Zay down! Zay gets up, he ducks ‘n’ dodges, then wheelbarrows to arm-drag! Fenix gets up to SOBAT! KICK! But Zay blocks the superkick! Zay shoves Fenix then runs up, but Fenix puts him on the apron. Zay ducks the haymaker to GAMANGIRI!

Zay springboards in to FLYING RANA, but Fenix handsprings through! The fans fire up as Fenix wags his finger. Zay storms up on Fenix but Fenix ROCKS him! Zay ROCKS Fenix back, Fenix CHOPS! Zay blocks a chop to CHOP, ROCK and repeat! Zay whips, Fenix ducks ‘n’ dodges, tiger feint and rewind, but Zay ducks the heel kick! Fenix SOBATS, FRONT KICKS, but Zay ducks to POISON-RANA! But Fenix rolls through to GERMAN SUPLEX!! Both men are down and the fans are thunderous as Rampage goes picture in picture!

Both men stir, Fenix crawls out of the ring, but Zay goes out the side. Zay finds his way to Fenix, and they fire forearms again! Zay body shots, then he SMACKS Fenix off the steeps! Zay says hey to a fan, borrows his hat, and then stomps away on Fenix! Fenix body shots, fires off hands, takes the hat for his own and SUPERKICKS Zay down! Fenix returns the hat to the fan, goes back to refresh the ring count, and then fetches Zay. Fenix whips, but Zay reverses and Fenix is sent into steel steps! Zay refreshes the count now, fetches Fenix, and whips him hard into railing! Fenix tumbles up and over even!

Zay refreshes the count again, goes back after Fenix, and fires hands. Fenix CHOPS back! They brawl, Fenix KICKS Zay’s bad leg, but Zay mule kicks back! Fenix DUMPS Zay to ringside, gets him up to CLUB him, and Zay goes to the ring. The fans rally as Fenix goes up the steps. Zay HOTSHOTS Fenix at the ropes! Zay kicks Fenix down, then blocks a kick. Zay SMACKS Fenix off barriers, fires off forearms, then whips Fenix hard into railing! Fenix tumbles up and over again, Zay ROCKS him! Zay sets up a chair nearby, then blows a kiss to Aubrey before he uses the chair to FLY! Direct hit and down goes Fenix!

Zay dumps Fenix back to ringside, Rampage returns to single picture, and Zay covers. TWO, and the fans fire up. Zay snarls, the fans rally up, and Fenix rises. Zay brings Fenix up but Fenix CHOPS! Zay CHOPS, Fenix SOBATS! Fenix CHOPS, CHOPS and CHOPS, but Zay fires off forearms! Zay fires more forearms, then puts Fenix in a corner. Zay runs corner to corner but Fenix dodges! Zay hits buckles, tumbles back, Fenix knuckle locks and CHOPS! Fenix and Zay both go up, and up, and Fenix SUPER STEINERS!! Cover, TWO!! Zay survives that rough landing but the fans are thunderous! Fenix gets Zay up and waistlocks.

Zay fights the hold, switches, but Fenix ELBOWS and ROCKS him, into a GUTBUSTER! Cover, TWO! Zay is showing some real grit and the fans fire up with Fenix. “ANIMO~!” Fenix gets Zay up, but Zay ENZIGIRIS! Fenix wobbles, but he SOBATS! Zay goes to a corner, Fenix whips, Zay reverses. Zay runs up, blocks, puts Fenix on the apron and triangle jump STUNNERS! Fenix falls, Zay builds speed! Zay FLIES and direct hit again! The fans are thunderous as Zay gets Fenix up and into the ring. Zay hurries to slide and run up, but Fenix scoops! Zay swings it to SPIKE DDT!! Cover, TWO!! Fenix survives and shocks Zay!

The fans rally up, but Zay rains down fists! He mockingly counts in Espanol, but Fenix drags him down to fire right back! The fans fire up with Fenix and he drags Zay up. Zay kicks from below, leaps up, DETROYER!! Cover, TWO!! Fenix survives but Zay hurries up a corner! SWANTON BOMB FLOPS as Fenix moves! Zay writhes, Fenix gets up to tightrope walk PENALTY KICK! Zay is down, Fenix goes back up! FROG SPLASH!! Cover, TWO?!? Zay survives and shocks Fenix! The fans continue to rally and Fenix feeds off the energy. Fenix hauls Zay up, reels him in, tucks and lifts, FENIX DRIVER!! Cover, Fenix wins!!

Winner: Rey Fenix, by pinfall

The party is over but the fiesta has just begun! Will Fenix only get hotter and hotter until he has his golden opportunity?

My Thoughts:

A great Rampage here, though not with all that much story build. Storm of course won her match tonight, and we got a good promo from Saraya & Harley to call out Mariah, for a match that was originally meant to happen last Wednesday Night Dynamite but is ending up on next week’s episode because…? Word has it Tony Khan’s gotten into a bad habit of reworking things “last minute,” sure feels like it happened this week, and no surprise that it was in the women’s division. Mercedes Mone is the shiny new toy, has the title now because of it, maybe Saraya will have something to say about that as a shoot.

Duh, Satnam won against Peter Avalon, but at least it’s nice to see Avalon back in AEW. And Kyle sure beat big Jordan Cruz faster than expected, but they were really shoving as much as they could into this hour. Great main event for Fenix VS Zay, even if it was just for the hell of it. Zay looked great even in losing, and Fenix looked even better in winning, I would hope Fenix does get a TNT Championship ladder match opportunity, he would be a great addition to the match. Takeshita VS Penta was a great opener, and with Ospreay being a champion, Kyle Fletcher being a champion, and Trent…

Well, Trent just joined, but the others are currently singles champions, it’d be fitting that Takeshita gets an opportunity. Word also has it Takeshita’s a bit annoyed with this stop ‘n’ go for him here in AEW, maybe TK will give Takeshita a run with the TNT Championship to add to the Don Callis Family story. It’d be great stuff if they were all singles champions and then there’s tension over which midcard title matters more, and who is truly the Alpha of this faction.

My Score: 8.7/10