The John Report: AEW Rampage 09/30/22 Review
This week’s AEW Rampage featured The Acclaimed defending the Tag Team Titles in a triple threat match while Rush faced John Silver in the main event.
This is AEW Rampage from Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This was taped after Dynamite on Wednesday. Check out the AEW PPV listing archive only on TJRWrestling as well. Follow me on Twitter @johnreport.
It’s Friday night and you know what that means. Jim Ross was on commentary with Excalibur and Justin Roberts.
The Acclaimed made their entrance as the AEW Tag Team Champions. Their opponents were already in the ring. Can somebody explain why FTR hasn’t had a shot at these titles for six months as the number one ranked team, yet other teams keep getting title shots? No. Nobody in AEW will explain. I know FTR was in UK for a title match, but it doesn’t explain the booking in the last six months. Max Caster did a pre-match rap referencing Adam Levine, Matt Hardy and Ben Simmons among other things. Their “scissor” thing was popular as usual.
AEW Tag Team Championships: The Acclaimed (Max Caster & Anthony Bowens) (w/Billy Gunn) vs. Private Party (Marq Quen & Isiah Kassidy) vs. The Butcher & The Blade
There were two legal men in the match while the other four guys were on the apron. The first fall wins. Matt Hardy was shown watching his Private Party buddies.
Bowens and Kassidy exchanged some pinfalls early on as the fans chanted “oh scissor me daddy” which is awkward, but that’s pro wrestling. Kassidy got a headscissors takedown on Bowens. There was a kick from Bowens as well. Caster tagged in to kick Kassidy in the leg followed by a dropkick leading to a “scissor” with Gunn, which led to cheers from the crowd. Bowens tagged in for a backbreaker/neckbreaker combo. Quen in illegally, Caster held him and Bowens hit a leg drop around the groin. Butcher and Blade went into the ring illegally to beat up the other guys, so Blade tagged himself in. Blade pushed Kassidy out of the ring while Butcher punched Quen off the apron to the floor. Butcher and Blade did a double headbutt to Bowens. They went to a 90-second picture-in-picture break.
(Commercial)
Blade was in control of Bowens, who was the face in peril with Blade hitting a powerslam. Butcher tagged in for a double team sidewalk slam/leg drop move. Bowens hit a superkick on Blade. Butcher knocked Caster off the apron, so Bowens couldn’t make a tag and Butcher hit a back body drop. Quen tagged himself in leading to a cross body block on Blade and a moonsault onto a standing Butcher. Quen hit a dropkick on Blade. Kassidy tagged in with a neckbreaker on Butcher, Kassidy hit a corner attack on Blade and Quen hit a dive on Butcher. Kassidy went up top with a senton bomb/neckbreaker combo for two as Caster broke up the pin. Caster sent Quen over the top to the floor. Butcher with a lariat on Caster and tossed Kassidy on Blade’s leg. Blade hit a Doctor Bomb for two on Kassidy with Bowens breaking up the pin. Kassidy sent Butcher/Blade out of the ring. JR said the match had “fallen apart” which is a reference to the guys ignoring tag team rules so much. Kassidy hit a dive onto Butcher/Blade on the floor. Caster jumped off the top onto four guys. Caster sent Blade into the ring, Bowens hit the Arrival slam, Caster hit the Mic Drop elbow off the top and Bowens covered Blade for the win after 10 minutes.
Winners by pinfall: The Acclaimed (Max Caster & Anthony Bowens)
Analysis: **3/4 It was an average tag team match to put over the champions. There was no spot in the match where it looked like the champions might lose. A lot of AEW TV matches are like this with obvious match outcomes while having no story going into the match. In a title match, I’d rather see more pin attempts with guys going for the win instead of chaotic action so guys can get their flippy spots in. The champions winning was the right move.
The Firm’s Stokely Hathaway, Gunn Club and W. Morrissey were interviewed by Lexi Nair for an interview. Gunn Club trashed FTR’s three sets of Tag Team Titles and ripped on them for not making moves. Gunn Club said that they’ll leapfrog FTR to become tag team champions.
Analysis: That should lead to FTR beating Gunn Club in a tag team match.
(Commercial)
The TBS Champion Jade Cargill was backstage for an interview. Nyla Rose interrupted with Vickie Guerrero and Marina Shafir with her. Nyla wondered if Jade was scared of her. Jade said she’ll give Rose her match, but on her time.
Lee Moriarty (w/W. Morrissey & Stokely Hathaway) vs. Fuego Del Sol
Lee has green hair now that he’s a heel. I guess it’s a way to try to stand out a bit. Lee was in control after a dropkick. Lee stomped on Sol repeatedly against the ropes. Lee hit a running knee in the corner followed by an arm capture suplex. Lee picked up Sold for a sitout slam into the mat. Lee applied the crossface submission Border City Stretch for the tapout win after two minutes.
Winner by submission: Lee Moriarty
Analysis: * A squash match. Is this AEW Dark or Rampage? It bored me.
Post match, Morrissey gave Sol a huge Chokeslam and he stared into the hard camera. That’s nice of him.
The trio of “Hangman” Adam Page of Evil Uno and Ten were interviewed with Page talking about his World Title match against Jon Moxley. They were interrupted by Andrade El Idolo and Jose, who played a clip of Page ducking a Jay Lethal dropkick that led to Ten being eliminated in the battle royal. Andrade told Ten if he beats him in a match next week (on the anniversary of Brodie Lee’s last match) then Andrade gets his match. Ten shook on it. Ten said that if he beats Andrade then Andrade leaves AEW for good. Ethan Page and Stokely Hathaway walked up to Andrade saying that if Andrade owns Private Party, Ethan has noticed some contract tampering from Matt Hardy.
Analysis: This company really loves backstage interview interruptions. I think they are addicted to them. Anyway, that Andrade/Ten match is official for next week. Andrade putting his AEW career on the line is interesting. I think Andrade will win that because there’s no reason for Ten to keep wearing a mask anyway.
Jamie Hayter (w/Dr. Brit Baker & Rebel) vs. Willow Nightingale
Willow got a takedown followed by some punches. The announcers kept trying to do the “women’s division has improved” thing that they were pushing on Dynamite even though nothing has really changed at all, but keep saying it. Willow hit a body slam followed by a senton splash along with a low cross body block. Willow hit a Fisherman’s Suplex for a two count along with two chops. Willow did a cartwheel, but Hayter hit a boot to the face. Hayter hit a double knee attack in the corner as fans chanted for Hayter.
(Commercial)
Hayter hit a backbreaker with Excalibur calling the match a “war” which is a big stretch. Willow got some momentum going after running the ropes and hitting the Pounce to knock Hayter out of the ring. Willow scared Baker on the floor, so Hayter took advantage with some kicks when Willow got back into the ring. Willow hit the Death Valley Driver (DVD) for two. Baker held Willow’s boot while the referee wasn’t looking. Baker hit a German Suplex followed by a short arm lariat for the pinfall win after eight minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Jamie Hayter
Analysis: **1/4 It was decent. Typical AEW booking for a women’s match getting under ten minutes with a commercial in between while also having no story going into it. The first part of the match was boring, then it got better after the commercial and even had one good nearfall for Willow after the DVD. Hayter getting the win is good because the crowd is responding well to her.
A video aired about WAR-JOE aka the team of TNT Champion Wardlow and the ROH TV Champion Samoa Joe. They are expected to be in the Tag Team Title picture soon.
Ryan Nemeth did a promo in the ring trashing Philadelphia, so the FTW Champion Hook interrupted. Hook went into the ring and decked Nemeth with a clothesline. Hook with a hiptoss out of the corner followed by some crossfaces and the Red Rum submission to make Nemeth tap out. This whole thing was less than two minutes.
Analysis: That was quick, so that’s fine.
Ari Daivari and his Trustbusters group appeared on the stage with something for Hook, so Hook picked it up and left.
Swerve Strickland was shown hanging out with some rappers while Tony Schiavone narrated a video about how Swerve didn’t like how Billy Gunn got involved when The Acclaimed won the Tag Team Titles from Swerve In Our Glory.
(Commercial)
A video aired with promos from AEW World Champion Jon Moxley defending the title against “Hangman” Adam Page on Tuesday, October 18th. When Hangman was told their match is in Cincinnati (Moxley’s hometown), Hangman said “oh s**t.” That was unintentionally funny.
It was main event interview time with Mark Henry talking to John Silver and Rush on the split screen. Silver was excited as usual. Rush said he wasn’t there to talk, he was there to fight. Henry ended it with his “it looks like there’s been enough talk, it’s time for the main event.”
This Wednesday on the three-year anniversary of AEW Dynamite from Washington, DC:
* Daniel Garcia & Bryan Danielson vs. Chris Jericho & Sammy Guevara.
* MJF vs. Wheeler Yuta.
* Toni Storm, Athena & Willow Nightingale vs. Jamie Hayter, Serena Deeb & Penelope Ford.
* National Scissoring Day for The Acclaimed.
* Luchasaurus in action.
* Darby Allin vs. Jay Lethal.
Next Friday live on AEW Rampage:
* Ten vs. Andrade El Idolo – Ten’s Mask vs. Andrade Leaving AEW.
Next Friday live on AEW Battle of the Belts after Rampage:
* Pac defends the AEW All-Atlantic Title vs. Trent Beretta. They showed some comments from Trent about Pac hitting Orange Cassidy with a hammer.
Rush (w/Andrade El Idolo & Jose) vs. John Silver (w/Alex Reynolds)
AEW confirmed that Rush is “All Elite” now because he signed a contract with the company. That should lead to Rush winning more matches to improve his mediocre 4-4 record. Rush got a knockdown with a shoulder tackle. Silver came back with a running uppercut that knocked Rush out of the ring. Silver teased a dive to the floor, then he decided to do a Rush pose in the ring and the fans cheered. Rush went back into the ring with a forearm to the face. Rush with chops, then two straight corner clotheslines and a dropkick to the back. They left the ring with Rush sending Silver into the barricade two times. Instead of referee Bryce Remsburg counting them out of the ring, he yelled at them to go back into the ring. When they got back in the ring, Rush decked Silver with a forearm to the jaw. Rush teased a diving attack, then stopped and kicked Silver in the face.
(Commercial)
Rush went up top, he jumped off with a senton, Silver moved and Rush hit the mat hard. Silver hit a corner clothesline, Rush with a splash, Silver with a clothesline and deadlift German Supplex two times in a row. Silver caught a leaping Rush with a sitout Powerbomb for a two count. Silver with kicks, Rush with chops followed by a thrust kick and a Northern Lights suplex for two. They exchanged strikes with Rush winning that battle by knocking Rush down with a hard strike. Silver did his combination with a barrage of kicks followed by a brainbuster for two. Jose on the apron, Reynolds took care of him, Andrade distracted Silver and Rush hit Silver with a forearm. Rush hit the running Bull’s Horns dropkick in the corner for the pinfall win after 11 minutes.
Winner by pinfall: Rush
Analysis: *** A pretty good match here. Silver got that one good nearfall with a brainbuster, but other than that it was clear who was getting the win. The finish was the basic “numbers game” thing that always happens in wrestling because Silver was distracted by Andrade and that led to Rush hitting two moves to pick up the win.
Post match, the heels Andrade, Rush and Jose were attacking Silver & Reynolds, so Evil Uno and Ten made the save. And the crowd goes mild. The Butcher & The Blade joined the attack to help the heels since Andrade pays them. Hangman Page made the save by avoiding Andrade, knocking Blade down and sending Butcher out of the ring. Page wanted a Buckshot Lariat on Rush, but Rush avoided it. Page hit the Buckshot Lariat on Jose, who had to stumble into it like a dumbass. The crowd liked that. Page stared at Rush some more, so that match was added to Dynamite this coming Wednesday.
Analysis: At least there has been a bit of a build to Andrade’s match with Ten next week. I think doing Hangman vs. Rush on Dynamite next week is smart too.
Three Stars of the Show
- Rush
- The Acclaimed
- Jamie Hayter/John Silver
The Scoreboard
This Week: 5.5 out of 10
Last Week: 7.25
Final Thoughts
This was an underwhelming and average show. Last week’s episode was two hours long, so that made it one of the biggest Rampage episodes of the year. This week’s show felt like a throwaway episode with nothing that stood out. With the roster that AEW has, they should have better matches on this show. Instead, it was just average wrestling with very little story development.
The Acclaimed retaining the Tag Team Titles in the opener was okay. They could have made it more interesting with better nearfalls. Rush beating John Silver in the main event was fine and the lone women’s match was okay because it put over Jamie Hayter, who has been getting good reactions.
I want to like and be excited about Rampage all the time, but it’s too inconsistent. Hopefully it’s a better show when I’m there in Toronto in two weeks.
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John Canton
Email: mrjohncanton@gmail.com
Twitter: @johnreport