For auld lang syne, my dear!

As 2024 comes to a close, AEW Rampage gives us a New Year’s Smash! But will Anthony Bowens cut down The Learning Tree with his powerful scissors?

OFFICIAL RESULTS

• Chris Jericho w/ “Big Bill” Morrissey VS Anthony Bowens w/ Max Caster; Jericho wins.
• Private Party VS Alec Price & Leo Sparrow; Private Party wins.
• Thunder Rosa VS Leila Grey; Rosa wins.
• Hook VS Nick Wayne w/ The Patriarchy; Hook wins.

PLAY BY PLAY

Chris Jericho w/ “Big Bill” Morrissey VS Anthony Bowens w/ Max Caster; wins.

“All hail the King of New York!” At least, that’s what the new introduction for The Learning Tree says. He comes out once again wearing that weird Statue of Liberty headgear, but also holding up a cheap torch of liberty as he walks to the ring, ROH World Championship still around his waist. Will the Nueve get another 1-2-3 in Hammerstein? Or is the Scissor King about to cut Jericho down?

But as always, Platinum Max has a diss track! “I don’t mess with The Learning Tree. Chris Jericho’s so high, guys, I think he’s burning trees. We wreckin’ you guys! Anthony Bowens and the Best Wrestler Alive!” Caster gets up in the camera before he hands the mic over. Bowens tells, “HAMMERSTEEEEIN, BALLROOOOOM~! The Acclaimed have arrived!” No Daddy Ass but The Acclaimed scissor it up! The bell rings and Jericho waves, “Hi, guys~!” The fans boo, but then Bowens throws up the scissors and the fans cheer. Jericho waves, the fans boo. Bowens puts up the scissors, the fans cheer. And then repeat!

Caster applauds while Bowens and Jericho circle. Jericho wants to scissor? Bowens slaps those away to CHOP! And CHOP! CHOP! And then Bowens fires haymakers! Bowens has Jericho in the corner, fires more shots, then DECKS Jericho! The fans rally for Bowens and he storms back up. Bowens CHOPS Jericho, brings him out and knees low. Bowens fires forearms and elbows again and again and again! Bowens then CLUBS Jericho down! Bowens tells Hammerstein that “Everyone! Loves! The-” Caster gets in the shot! Bowens tells Caster to move and gives him a push. Caster shrugs that off to get a reluctant high-five from Bowens.

But Jericho pokes Bowens in the eyes! Bowens goes to a corner, Jericho fires forearms, then he whips corner to corner. Jericho runs up to LARIAT, then he snapmares Bowens down. Jericho soaks up heat acting like it’s cheers, then he brings Bowens up for a BIG back suplex! Cocky cover, ONE! Jericho waves to the fans, then he goes back to Bowens. Jericho CHOPS, CHOPS and CHOPS again! And then CHOPS again! Bowens staggers but Jericho bumps him off buckles. Jericho CHOPS again, whips corner to corner, then runs to BULL- NO, Bowens puts Jericho in the corner! Jericho sputters as he gets out of the ropes.

Bowens CHOPS, Jericho CHOPS, repeat! Jericho whips, Bowens reverses to CHOP, KNEE, and then CHOP on the back! Bowens sits Jericho down for a SHINING WIZARD! Cover, TWO! Bowens gets frustrated but the fans rally behind him. Bowens clinches, knees low, then whips. Jericho grabs ropes to avoid the dropkick! Jericho waves to the fans, then goes to ropes, but Bowens disrupts the Lionsault! DRAPING SIDEWINDER! Cover, TWO! Jericho survives but Bowens stays focused. The fans rally up and Bowens brings Jericho around. But Jericho wrenches out and trips Bowens up! Jericho has the legs!

Jericho turns Bowens over, WALLS OF JERICHO! Bowens endures, even as Jericho sits deep! Bowens powers up as Rampage goes picture in picture.

Bill rallies for Jericho but Bowens keeps fighting. Jericho wants Bowens to quit but Bowens refuses! Caster rallies the fans for Bowens and Bowens crawls, but Bill pulls the rope back!? Jericho then drags Bowens away from the ropes! Bowens still fights, the ref reprimands Bill, and now Bowens turns things over! Bowens throws hands from below! But Jericho pokes him in the eyes again! Jericho turns Bowens back over and sits even deeper on the Walls of Jericho! Bowens endures, Bill and Caster each cheer as hard as they can, and Rampage returns to single picture. Bowens fights, claws, crawls, and Caster pushes ropes closer! ROPEBREAK!

The fans cheer as Jericho lets Bowens go, and Caster coaches Bowens up. Bill claims there was a tap but the ref ignores him. Jericho storms up, and Bowens ROLLING ELBOWS! Jericho wobbles, Bowens runs up, FAMOUSER! Cover, TWO!! Jericho survives and Bowens grows frustrated. Bowens grits his teeth, clutches his back, but Bill grins on Jericho’s behalf. Bowens goes to the corner, climbs up, and fans ironically cheer on Bill. Jericho ROCKS Bowens, then climbs up. Jericho brings Bowens up to CLUB away, but Bowens throws body shots! Bowens DUMPS Jericho to the apron, and then Jericho flops to the floor!

Bowens adjusts his position up top to SUPER CROSSBODY! Down go Jericho & Bill! The fans are fired up and Caster joins in on cheering. Bowens puts Jericho in, goes back to the corner, and he climbs back up! The fans rally, but “Bad Apple” Bryan Keith shows himself! Keith distracts the ref, but Caster hurries in! Caster scoop SLAMS Jericho! Now Keith’s distraction is only helping as Caster opens Jericho up! Bowens says why not. SCISSOR ME TIMBERS! Cover, TWO!! Jericho survives and Bowens is beside himself, but Jericho wouldn’t be champion if he wasn’t this tough. Speaking of, Keith grabs the championship!

Bowens brings Jericho up, but gets a CODE BREAKER for it! Cover, TWO!! Bowens survives and Jericho gets mad at the ref! Keith sneaks around with the belt, and he tells fans to shut up. Jericho aims, runs up on Bowens, but Bowens ducks! Bowens fires off Rock, Paper, Scissors SUPERKICK! Cover, TWO!! Jericho survives again but Bowens barely has the energy to be upset! Now Bill gets on the apron! The ref argues with Bill but Keith has the belt! Caster storms in to stop Keith! They tug-o-war, Bowens shouts to Caster to just stop, but Keith lets go first! The belt SMACKS Bowens in the face!! Caster panics, Keith TACKLES him out of the ring!

The fans boo as everyone is down, but Jericho crawls over! Cover, JERICHO WINS!!

Winner: Chris Jericho, by pinfall

Caster can’t believe how badly he messed up, and now the “King of New York” trumps the Scissor King! Will anyone ever cut down The Learning Tree when his Branches keep getting in the way? Is The Acclaimed going to be on the rocks after this mess?

Private Party walks through their New York.

They help out the homeless man at the subway station by stuffing his cup full o’ fifties, hop on a train headed to Main Street, hang out with their adoring fans and even the media, then arrive at 34th Street in time for the show. How they keep it so clean? Shots, of course. Everyone they meet welcomes them back, and every camera that sees them snags a picture. Brother Zay tells NYC, “Your champs is home.”

Private Party VS Alec Price & Leo Sparrow!

Marq Quen & Isiah Kassidy know Lio Rush & Action Andretti want their “SHOTS! SHOTS! SHOTS!” at these belts, so it’s time to tune up! Will these real New Yorkers show how champions do it in the Big Apple?

The teams sort out and fans chant “Yeeeah~!” for their guys. Zay starts against Price and the two circle. Price kicks low, mocks the “Shots! Shots! Shots!” then ROCKS Zay! Price whips, but Zay flapjack DROPKICKS! Zay kips up, tags Quen, and they get Price up for an atomic drop and ENZIGIRI! Then a CATAPULT for Price into the corner while Zay hits a triangle jump STUNNER on Sparrow! Quen sets up, Zay runs up, PARTY IN MOTION! Zay then puts Price up top before Quen FLIES out onto Sparrow! Zay ROCKS Price, then Quen runs in! Quen goes up for some GIN & JUICE! Cover, Private Party wins!

Winner: Private Party, by pinfall

A tune-up? That was more like a workout for Quen & Zay! The AEW World Tag Team Champions are ready, but wait! Here come Lio & Action! The Bad Child & The Sight to See egg Private Party on with those cocky smiles, so here comes Private Party! The brawl is on at the ramp! Quen has Lio, Action has Zay, and the fans fire up for the scrap! But then here comes the Top Flight OGs! Darius & Dante pick up Lio & Action to RAM them into Quen & Zay! The fans are going wild as we get a three way brawl! Security hurries out here, but stopping six men is easier said than done! Refs rush out here, right as Action CLOBBERS Dante!

The fans want to “LET THEM FIGHT! LET THEM FIGHT!” but Leila Grey is needing to get in the ring for her match! Will Private Party have to double book with Lio, Action and the Martins?

“Powerhouse” Will Hobbs speaks.

“It’s signed, it’s sealed, it’s delivered. At Worlds End, Takeshita VS Powerhouse Hobbs for the AEW International Championship. Y’see, Don, whenever I hear your name, I think about all the times you didn’t call me, you didn’t check me, you didn’t text me, you didn’t send a pitch in, whatever, when I was injured. But you failed, Don, cuz you constantly tried to replace me. You’ve walked the streets of Oakland with me, you’ve been to my neighborhood. I’ve introduced you to people. So what’s gonna happen at Worlds End? I’m gonna take that championship from Takeshita, and I’m gonna bust his head to the white meat.

“But hey, the New Year’s upon us. But for you, Don, Takeshita, the whole Don Callis Family, it is gonna be a Worlds End.” Hobbs gives the thumbs down, will he tear down The Alpha and bring the whole family with him?

Thunder Rosa VS Leila Grey!

The chaos has been cleared from ringside, just in time for La Mera Mera to make her way to the ring. Rosa is getting ready to fight Mariah May in a Tijuana Street Fight, will the Top Flight Attendant simply be an appetizer?

The bell rings and the two shake hands. The fans cheer the show of respect, and the two circle. They tie up, Rosa waistlocks, then she trips Leila to cover, ONE! Rosa waistlocks but Leila fights up. Leila switches but Rosa wrenches out. Rosa headlocks, spins, waistlocks again, but Leila wrenches out to step over and spin Rosa. Leila wrenches, snapmares, and then clamps on a chinlock. Rosa fights up while fans cheer, and Rosa snapmares free. Rosa clamps on a chinlock, then puts Leila in a corner. Rosa CHOPS and the fans cheer. Rosa whips corner to corner but Leila reverses. Rosa goes up and over, then arm-drags Leila around!

Rosa wrenches Leila, snapmares and runs, SLIDING LARIAT! Cover, TWO! Leila survives that but Rosa brings her right up. Rosa scoops to SLAM, then asks, “One more time?” The fans cheer yes! Rosa scoops but Leila victory rolls! TWO, and Rosa runs up, but Leila ROCKS her first! Leila fires more shots, kicks low, kicks again, then kicks a leg out! Leila runs to SHOTGUN! The fans fire up and Leila storms over to Rosa. Leila stands Rosa up and reels her in, but Rosa fires body shots. Rosa CHOPS, then CHOPS again! Rosa whips, Leila reverses, but Rosa DROPKICKS Leila down! The fans fire up with Rosa as she rises!

Rosa stomps Leila around, brings her up, and Rampage goes picture in picture.

Rosa bumps Leila off buckles, turns her around, and CHOPS her again! Rosa puts Leila on ropes, then puts some stank and even a little Latina Heat on the DOUBLE CHOP! Leila sputters, but Rosa whips her to ropes. Leila reverses, drop toeholds, and she hooks a leg! Rosa endures but then Leila rolls to tie up the legs, INVERTED FIGURE FOUR! But then Rosa fights to turn that over! Now Rosa puts the pressure on, and she pulls hair! The ref reprimands, Rosa lets go of the hair, but Leila rolls and rolls, and they both fall to the floor! Rosa rises first, and she stomps Leila around. Rosa drags Leila up but Leila fires body shots!

Rosa whips Leila hard into steel steps! Rosa storms over, Leila fires more body shots! Leila CLUBS Rosa, SMACKS her off the steel steps, then CHOPS her! Both women go into the ring and Leila goes to a corner while Rampage goes to break.

New Year’s Smash returns and the fans duel as Leila fires forearms on Rosa in the corner. Leila brings Rosa out to snap suplex, then roll through for a GOURD BUSTER! The fans rally up while Rosa sputters. Leila storms back up to drag Rosa up and fireman’s carry. But Rosa fires elbows to get free! Rosa BOOTS Leila, CHOPS her, then UPPERCUTS! And CHOPS! And bumps off buckles! Rosa fires up, runs corner to corner and back again, A-LIST LARIAT! Leila flops down, Rosa SWINGING DROPKICKS! The fans fire up and Rosa has Leila on the ropes. Rosa throws off her elbow pads and the fans fire up!

Rosa runs in to DROPKICK Leila against ropes! Cover, TWO! Leila stays in this but Rosa stays on her. Rosa stands Leila up, underhooks, but Leila fights out to fire a forearm! Rosa fires back, but Leila catches Rosa to a SIDE EFFECT! Cover, TWO! Rosa survives and even roars! The fans rally up and Leila reels Rosa in. Leila underhooks but now Rosa fights the lift! Rosa backdrops free! Leila flounders, Rosa runs up to DOUBLE STOMP her down! Rosa shouts, “You can’t kill me!” COBRA CLUTCH STRETCH!! Leila TAPS, Rosa wins!

Winner: Thunder Rosa, by submission

Message sent to Mariah May, and Rosa says there are two things in life that matter most: respect and family! And Mariah crossed the line on both! Will Rosa make sure to cross out Mariah once and for all? Or will The Woman From Hell win this street fight with glamour?

BREAKING NEWS for Worlds End: Zero Hour!

The action kicks off at 6:30 PM Eastern time, and we have a grudge match from ROH Final Battle! Jeff Jarrett made sure QT Marshall didn’t cheat Jay Lethal, and now he looks to settle up personally! Will The Last Outlaw get one more win in 2024? Or will QT bring the DOOM to Orlando? Then, as Toni Storm continues her… “debut” in AEW, she takes on Leila Grey 1v1! Will it be Toni Time one more time? And in a massive 8 Man Tag, Top Flight teams with The Outrunners to take on Lio Rush, Action Andretti, Brian Cage & Lance Archer! Will Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd help Dante & Darius hit top speed? Or will The Murder Machines help The Bad Child & Sight to See make sure #EverybodyDies?

Hook VS Nick Wayne w/ The Patriarchy!

This battle of second generation stars is all stemming from Christian Cage’s cowardly attack on Taz, and then escalated when The Patriarchy tried to convince Hook he was better off with him. The Cold-Hearted Handsome Devil may have his arm in a cast, but will The Patriarchy’s Prodigy need much more than that? Or will Wayne’s World #SendHook home without anything to show for it?

Christian says hello to commentary and is of course asked his plans for Worlds End given his Casino Royale contract allows him to cash in anywhere and anytime. Christian of course refuses to comment. In the ring, Hook is nonchalant as ever, so Nick runs up to attack from behind! The bell rings and Nick fires off on Hook in the corner! The fans boo but Nick soaks it up. Nick says he’s just that smart. But no he ain’t since he turned his back on Hook! Hook storms up and then TOSSES Nick to a corner! Hook fires off on Nick with body shots and a CHOP! But then he throws a left out of instinct and feels the pain!

Nick BOOTS Hook down, then shakes off the damage. Nick storms up, but Hook clinches! EXPLODER! The fans fire up while Nick writhes, and Hook gets the fans fired up more. But Nick BOOTS Hook again! Nick hurries to snap suplex! Nick soaks up heat from Hammerstein while Mother Shayna says, “He’s perfect! Perfect!” Nick stands Hook up, snapmares him, then drops a leg fast! Cover, TWO! The fans boo Nick but Nick just smirks. Nick talks smack on the fans, but then Hook DUMPS Nick out! Nick smacks off the apron as he goes! Hook then hurries out after Nick, SMACKS him off the apron, then whips him!

Nick reverses and Hook hits steel steps hard! Hook writhes, Nick goes into the ring to go after a buckle pad, and the ref hurries to stop him. But this is all so Kip can put Hook’s cast hand on the steps, and Christian uses the contract’s binder to SMASH it! The fans boo while The Patriarchy acts innocent. The ref can tell something went on, though, so he decides to EJECT The Patriarchy! The fans cheer and Christian is furious, but the ref says don’t even try it! Nick is beside himself but now it’s finally a fair fight! The fans cheer “Hey Hey Hey, Goodbye~!” while Rampage goes picture in picture.

Hook checks his bad hand, and it’s still working. But then Nick storms out, grabs that hand, and SLAMS it off the steps! Hook writhes all over again while Nick looms over him. Nick drags Hook up to whip him hard into railing! Nick soaks up the heat while he flexes, then goes back for Hook. Nick throws Hook into the ring, goes to a corner, and he swaggers over. Nick eggs Hook on, drags him up by the bad hand, then snapmares so he can isolate that arm! Nick soaks up the heat and STOMPS the arm! Hook writhes, Nick pushes him to a cover, TWO! Nick mockingly applauds Hook’s toughness, then grabs the bad hand.

Nick turns Hook over, pulls on the bad arm, and bends the fingers! Hook endures, but Nick BITES a finger! The ref reprimands, Nick lets off, and says that was finger licking good. Nick soaks up more heat, then stands Hook up to SMACK the bad hand off buckles! Hook sits down in the corner, but Nick drags him back up. Nick SMACKS the hand off buckles again! Then Nick snapmares Hook so he can STOMP the hand! Cover, TWO! Nick is annoyed but he cools off. Nick stands Hook up but Hook fires body shots! Hook runs, but Nick ELBOWS him down! Nick pulls on the bad hand as New Year’s Smash returns to single picture.

Wait, Nick doesn’t just pull at the hand! He RIPS the cast open! Nick TOSSES it to the crowd, free souvenir! Nick drags Hook around by the bad hand, then stands on it! Nick STOMPS the hand again! And then again! And then he fakes the stomp, to scuff Hook! The fans boo but Nick stands Hook up. Hook hits another EXPLODER! The fans fire up as Hook can still use the good arm for that! Nick rises up, Hook runs in and he KNEES low! Hook then hooks Nick for the IPPON! Then a LARIAT int he corner! NORTHERN LIGHTS! Nick writhes and flounders away, but Hook runs up! Hook stops the boot, and reels Nick in for a FISHERMAN SUPLEX! Bridging cover, TWO!

The bad hand kept that from being perfect, but Hook stays focused. Hook storms up on Nick, waistlocks, and the fans rally up. Nick fights with elbows! Nick is free, but then swings into the waistlock! Nick CLUBS the bad hand! Nick baits Hook into a corner and sends him into buckles! Nick storms back up, and he drags Hook by the bad arm. Nick puts Hook’s arm against the second rope’s crossbar, and then stands on it! The fans boo but Nick soaks up all the heat! The ref reprimands and counts, but Hook YANKS Nick down! Nick hits off the top rope before going to the apron! Nick crawls along the apron, but Hook hurries out after him!

Hook waistlocks while the fans rally up, but Nick grabs the ropes! Nick pries the hold open, then has Hook’s hand to bend those fingers back! ELBOW BREAKER, and then Nick goes up! WAYNE’S- NO! Hook catches Nick for an APRON GERMAN!! Nick flops to the floor and the fans fire up! Hook also flops down and the ref starts a ring count. The fans rally as Hook rises, and Hook drags Nick up to put in at 3 of 10. Hook hurries to cover, TWO! Nick stays in this but Hook snarls. Nick goes back to the apron but Hook grabs him. Nick BITES the bad hand! The ref reprimands, Nick stops at 4 to HOTSHOT Hook!

Nick hurries up top while Hook is down! Nick mocks RVD, then aims to FIVE STAR FROG SPLASH!! Cover, TWO!! Hook survives, Nick is not one of a kind after all! Nick seethes and he scuffs Hook. Nick stomps Hook, kicks him, then stands over him with arms crossed, a pose done by Hook’s other mentor, Katsuyori Shibata. Nick drags Hook up, then lifts him, for an EXPLODER! But Hook’s right up! Hook LARIATS Nick inside out! The fans fire up and Hook slowly rises. Wait, Christian & Kip return? This isn’t allowed! Well wait, speaking of Shibata, here he comes! And he’s armed with a 2-by-4! Hacksaw would be proud!

Shibata chases Christian & Kip all around the ringside area, then back up the ramp! The fans cheer “HOOOOO~!” and Hook has Nick! RED- ELBOW BREAKER! Nick aims for a corner, but Hook grabs him again! Nick slips free to get around and roll up, with tights! TWO!! ROUNDHOUSE!! Nick goes up, up, and WAYNE’S- REDRUM!!!! Nick sputters, flails, but fades! Nick is OUT!! Hook wins!!

Winner: Hook, by submission

The Patriarchy tried every trick in the book, but they could not break Hook! But will Hook make sure to break Christian Cage for what he did to Taz?

Marina Shafir has commandeered a camera!

The Problem makes sure we all see that The Death Riders have just mugged Darby Allin backstage! The Maniac has Wheeler Yuta & Pac stand Darby up, then tells him, “You left me no choice. No choice.” Moxley looks to Claudio and tells him to do it. Moxley then hits Darby with a BODY BLOW, and Claudio has a chair! Claudio puts the chair around Darby’s neck, just as he did to Bryan Danielson and to Chuck Taylor! Darby is pushed down onto the floor, and Claudio hops up onto a road case! Claudio jumps down to STOMP the chair!! Moxley then kicks Darby down stairs!! Darby tumbles all the way down to the bottom!

The fans boo this literal crime caught on tape, but The Death Riders leave Darby behind. Darby is down in the basement, will he ever rise back up?

Rampage returns and…

Moxley and Marina are in the ring, and Moxley has a mic to say, “If you’re showering me with hate right now, I forgive you. And I would ask you to look inward. Maybe this isn’t about me, this is about you. I’ve had to make some tough decisions, I’ve had to make some difficult choices. I’ve made some unpopular decisions. There are a lot of people in AEW who don’t like me, who have a problem with me, who have a problem with the things that I do, the things that I say, the things that we do. We do things that need to get done, and there’s a lot of people who have a problem with that.

“I think right now is a good time, here at the end of the year, to say that if anybody, anybody back there, if there is anybody in this buliding that has a problem with me or my people, or what we do, then you come out here right now and you tell me all about your problem. You tell me all about the problems you ahve with what you think we’re trying to accomplish. You come out here, tell me exactly what your problem is.” Moxley drops the mic and waits in his chair. And first out is KOMANDER! He definitely has a problem, he was one of the first to get hit by the Death Riders! Well, now he gets CLOBBERED by Claudio!

The Swiss Superman sprang outta nowhere, and he owes Komander for the Continental Classic on Christmas! The Death Riders put Komander in the ring and stomp away, but here comes Top Flight, another of the Death Riders’ victims! That’s still not enough, they get mugged 4v2! The fans rally for “A E DUB!” in hopes more heroes will appear. ORANGE CASSIDY IS HERE! Freshly Squeezed saunters out here, and Marina stands in his way. Well, turns out he’s not alone, because here comes Willow Nightingale! And the Babe with the Power runs up, dodges Marina, then fires off on her! Cassidy walks to the ring while the ladies handle things.

Wait, Hangman Page sneaks in from the crowd! And Jay White, too! The challengers to Moxley’s AEW World Championship are united against their common enemies and the tides have turned! Moxley stays back while his Death Riders fight the challengers, but then that leaves him open to Komander! The fans fire up as now Top Flight is back up, this is 7v4 in favor of Team AEW! And now let’s add Lio, Action, and even Konosuke Takeshita and Lance Archer! They may not get along with each other, but they all hate the Death Riders! Now Beast Mortos and The Butcher are here! And wait, Deonna Purrazzo and Harley Cameron are here!

Toni Storm and Thunder Rosa head out here, to go after Deonna and Harley as they’re trying to help Marina! Security hurries out here, but now we add Private Party and Daniel Garcia! They definitely hate The Death Riders! Rocky Romero is here to represent Conglomeration! Shibata joins in! Wait, wait, the spotlight finds Christian Cage watching from the upper deck! And he smiles, because all this chaos simply benefits him and his Casino Royale contract. MORE security and now Christopher Daniels head out here, the Fallen Angel wants to restore order! The Death Riders find an opening to slip away, and they grab a pipe!?

Pac uses that pipe to SMASH at the control board at ringside! They’re trying to end the show by any means necessary!! Pac BREAKS the board, and 75% of the lights go out! The brawling continues in the darkness, but it is clear the Death Riders are in retreat! Marina makes sure a cameraman follows them, too. They head right for the exit, Moxley says he’s done with this s*it. Things slowly calm down in the ring, and we stick with the Death Riders… as they get into the production truck?! Moxley shoves the head producer and mockingly asks how anyone’s supposed to do their jobs with all this chaos going on!

Moxley says, “They’re all fighting for scraps! But I will put an end to the chaos on December 28th, and I will clear the playing field, and I will bring peace to my people! And right now, what I’m gonna do is I’m gonna put an end to Rampage. CUT IT! CUT IT RIGHT NOW!” The team does as told, and we’re off the air. If this is how Moxley plans on running things, is AEW only going to fall apart under his rule? Or can Cassidy, White and Hangman free AEW from his reign of terror?

My Thoughts:

An awesome Rampage here, especially when this is to be the last Rampage for the foreseeable future. I do like how they kayfabe’d it to be Moxley cancelling the show, not a corporate decision to focus more on Dynamite, Collision, and even ROH. It parallels how Jericho was the kayfabe reason for Collision being made, not the combination of Warner Brothers Discovery giving AEW more and CM Punk needing a place to go that was separate from The Elite.

They did a great job with how they “shut down” Rampage, though. Well, first they give us another kayfabe attempt at murder, and this is actually the second time Darby Allin has been kicked down stairs in AEW. The Men of the Year, Scorpio Sky & Ethan Page, did that to him in 2020, and now The Death Riders have done it here. Obviously this is to make it seem like Darby Allin won’t be around for Worlds End, but I bet he does show up in an attempt to keep Claudio, Yuta & Pac from screwing over Cassidy, White & Hangman. I could just feel Moxley’s promo leading to a huge brawl, and it was a really fun one because we also got women involved going after Marina and each other.

Fun fact: Christian Cage opened the first episode, and he helped close the last episode. Speaking of Christian, and therefore The Patriarchy, very good match from Hook VS Nick Wayne, great bit of overbooking, including Shibata bringing out the Hacksaw Jim Duggan wood. Great win for Hook, and I’m pretty sure the story continues so that Hook stops Christian from his cash-in at Worlds End, setting up their own 1v1 match. Private Party’s match was so quick, but then it worked out that we got brawling from them with Lio & Action, and even with Darius & Dante. The tag champs are oddly taking Worlds End off, but we are seeing Top Flight and Lio & Action in the Zero Hour, so maybe the tag title match is going to be on Fight for the Fallen or even “Maximum Carnage” near the end of January.

Good segue from Private Party’s stuff with Top Flight to give us Leila VS Rosa, and that was really good match. Rosa of course won, but I’m still not confident in her chances of beating Mariah May. At best, it is 50-50 because the Tijuana Street Fight will allow them both to go wild, but with Toni Storm’s story going on, it’d be natural if they wanted Rockstar Toni to become a contender. Then we would see if Toni Time really did reset or if it’s all an act. And while Mercedes Mone has a busy next couple of weeks with Kris Statlander and their TBS Championship rematch, then WrestleKingdom/WrestleDynasty next week, I could see Rosa shift gears and finally get that TBS Championship should Mone retain through Worlds End.

Another interesting fact is that Jericho was on the first Rampage as “Le Champion” commentator Jericho, and he opens this last Rampage with a full-on “King of New York” gimmick, even though AEW is gonna leave New York. We still got great stuff out of The Acclaimed and their dysfunction. Caster was both helping and not helping Bowens, and so naturally Bowens loses. Jericho moves on, waiting for Bandido to be okay from that concussion he suffered at Final Battle (landing out of a springboard missile dropkick), and maybe biding his time with some other good midcard Faces at the same time. As for Acclaimed, Caster could try and apologize, or maybe he tries and brushes this off. Either way, Bowens gets mad at Caster, and the team is right on the edge of breaking up.

RIP Rampage, you served us well for the 177 or so episodes you had.

My Score: 8.9/10