This review may be a day late but it isn't a dollar short. Back to the same arena for the first Rampage.
The action starts off with Rocky Romero against Hook. Hook is claiming to be the gate keeper of AEW. They start with some good technical work. The younger Hook takes an early advantage but while on the apron Rocky shows his veteran wiliness. Rocky does try hit some of his forever clotheslines before Hook reverses. Hook gets a near fall off a northern lights suplex. After taking two of Rocky's signature moves Hook is able to fight back. Hook would finish it with a Red Rum.
A first time one on one. Tie up starts the match but Kris Statlander takes control. This is a methodical start to the match. Statlander would bridge out of a pin. It took Diamante doing a double ax handle smash to Statlander's core to break that bridge. Mercedies Martinez comes out. It looks like that may be the next feud for Statlander. Two powerful women. Besides a small interference and distraction. Statlander is able to still show her power at times. Diamante would still hit here luchadora moves. Kris Statlander would win with a discus Lariat. Martinez would then jump Statlander after the match.
A squash match for the Kingdom. I didn't even get to catch the local talent's name before Matt Taven hit the Arura Borealis.
Pure Championship matches are awesome for me. Bow and Arrow by Shibata. Shibata transitioned that into a different submission before moving back into the bow and arrow. Nigel McGuinnes pointed out that the tactic is to force your opponent to use the rope breaks early in. Shibata then makes Yuta use one. Yuta then uses his one close fist to the face. Katsuyori Shibata is now on the defensive. Shibata fighting back with knife edge chops. Shibata delivers a nice snap vertical suplex and floats over for a cover. No win. Shibata locks on an ankle lock. Shibata transitions into a STF. Wheeler Yuta uses rope break number 2. Shibata hooks on a sleeper but Wheeler escapes by slinging Shibata threw the ropes. Yuta dives out after him. Once back in the ring, Wheeler low blows Shibata and DDT for the victory. Shibata does not want to do the code of honor due to the cheating. Wheeler Yuta then kicks him in the nuts again and DDT. Yuta forces Jimmy Jacobs to shake his hand.
Paired with the Rampage promo about being not in the best of moods, this is not a good start to the tournament for Garcia. Both men start by hitting the ropes and dodging each other. Castagnoli hits a tilt awhirl back braker. Garcia would get a submission on Claudio but Castagnoli would easily power out. Castagnoli would get Garcia in the corner with some chops. Garcia fights back but is taken down with a single blow. Bryce Remsberg does a fast count as Garcia has Castagnoli in a sleeper over the ropes. Garcia kissed a kid in the crowd before hitting Claudio with a kick. Claudio then does a variation of the swing slamming Garcia in the guardrails. Garcia hits a Guillotine but Claddio Castagnoli tries to power out. However. Garcia transitions to a sleeper. Claudio backs into a corner. Garcia keeps a hold of the ankle. Garcia is showing why he should be in this tournament. He is also showing why he needs the Pure Championship. Unfortunately, Claudio is able to take control and hit some hammer blows. Claudio hits a Scorpion Death Lock. Garcia escapes that by converting it into a pin. Ricolo bomb by Castagnoli gets the win. Daniel Garcia keeps proving himself week after week.
KIllswitch takes out on of the boys of Dalton Castle. Adam Copeland comes out to stop the after the match onslaught. Copeland is brutal. He punctuates his attack with a Conchairto. Until Killswitch starts to get up. Copeland then delivers a curb stomp and a second Conchairto.
All of the House of Black is in action tonight. The first is the tag duo of Buddy Mathews and Malachi Black. Gravity would deliver a German Suplex after a flying around Mathews. Tag Malachi in. Komander with a blind tag patiently waits for an optimal time to attack. This gives the two luchadors an advantage until Buddy distracts. Komander easily escaped a double suplex before tagging Bandido's brother aka Gravity in. Gravity would come in with a big cross body. Moon landing puns galore from commentary. Komander is tagged in. He uses his speed to avoid Malachi. There was a botched spot involving Malachi and Gravity. Malachi who may have taken the worse of it was okay. Komander walked from one turnbuckle to the other to leap off the ropes and take down the House of Black. The two luchadors attempt to finish the match with some top rope maneuvers but the House of Black block with their knees. Black would taunt Komander. Komander would crawl towards Black but be cut off by a stomp to his head by Buddy. Mathews would then pin for the win.
Julia Hart has a House Rules TBS championship. Lady Frost chooses no count out. Frost is following the footsteps of her Grandfather who was a staple of the Pittsburg wrestling scene back in the territories according to Kevin Kelly. This match is starting out as a slug fest. The two ladies are taking advantage of the no count out aspect. Frost was supposed to have chosen this rule to keep Hart from taking an easy retention to her title. Hart picks up a chair. Remsburg cautions Hart against using it. Lady Frost attempts a moonsault off the steps. Hart moves. Frost seems to have hurt her ankles a bit. Julia Hart would clothesline Frost before the two would get back in the ring. Julia Hart locks in the Heartless Submission for a clean win.
Vincent and Wheeler start the match. Vincent goes directly for the injured ribs of Wheeler. Dax is tagged in. Vincent is able to get Dax to his corner. Dutch tagged in. Dutch has Dax Harwood in the the corner but Dax is able to fight out. Dutch gets taken to the outside. Dax lifts Vincent over the top rope. FTR pounds their opponents on the outside. Sunset flip by Dax but Dutch tagged in. Dutch with a big powerbomb against Dax. Dutch attempts a senton but Harwood moves Vincent will tag in. Vincent would Irish Whip Harwood but with a baseball slide Dax would get the tag. Cash Wheeler takes control. Cash tries a pin on Vincent but Dutch had tagged in. A blind tag but this time by FTR. Shatter Machine secures the win for FTR.
Tiaga Style against the Limitless One. Massive size difference. Keith Lee eats several of Lee Moriatry's hits. Big Pounce by Keith Lee takes down Moriarty. Although Moriarty did get moves in, Keith Lee stayed dominate. Moriarty delivers a high knee bulldog combo to get a two count. Keith Lee does sell a arm injury from a submission. Powerslam by Keith Lee ends the match.
Eddie Kingston's graphics still show him as the Strong and RoH champion. He is technically still both but does not have possession of them. A big shoulder block rocks Eddie Kingston. Eddie then tries a few more attempting to knock Brody King down. Eddie and Brody then start trading chops. Brody will win this. Brody King delivers a cannonball into the corner onto Eddie Kingston. Brody King has a broken hand that he suffered at All In. Low Cross body by Brody King to a seated Eddie Kingston on the outside. Brody King chokes Eddie Kingston on the middle rope. King also uses the cast to rake across Eddie's face. Brody King tries to whip Kingston into a corner but Eddie Kingston just slide onto his knees. Paul Turner checks with him to see if he can continue. Eddie has found a second wind. Eddie hits Brody with some machine gun chops. Urikan out of no where for a two count. The two men would get up an trade blows. Brody King takes control. If Brody King does not make this a clean sweep for the House of Black it will be a travesty. I think the time of Eddie Kingston being the underdog and having underdog wins has passed. Eddie tries to lift Brody twice but Brody powers out. Kingston is able to hit an exploder suplex followed by a half and half then a siato suplex. Eddie Kingston gets a two count on Brody King. Brody King with a piledriver. Brody pins but Eddie Kingston's foot is under the ropes. Eddie Kingston ducks a clothesline and hits a Urikan. Brody is still on his feet. Brody hits a version of a powerbomb for the win, Brody joins Claudio Castignoli, Jay White and others in having three points.
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