Honorable Mention: Mark Sterling and The Butcher and The Blade. Sterling revealed if Taya Valkyrie uses the Jaded/Road to Valhalla Wednesday against Jade Cargill she will be disqualified. Butcher and Blade cut a promo for their match with Omega and Takeshita. Blade called them The Midnight Riders and I actually like that name. And Omega and Takeshita could be a blast as a tag team.
5. Julia Hart. The lone female from The House of Black was in action tonight against Kiera Hogan. Hart won with a Heartless submission. After the match Anna Jay ran down and they brawled until they were pulled apart. Commentary reminded us about Hart misting Jay as Jay pointed to her own face and mouthed “You did this” Not having a clear face in this feud still makes it very, very strange. It almost feels like Jay is being positioned in that role but Jericho and the rest of the crew are as bad as ever. This whole thing is a mess and it sucks because I think both women are very capable.
4. Jon Moxley. Moxley made Christopher Daniels pass out with a rear naked choke to open the night. After the match Mox released the hold immediately and extended his hand to Daniels with Excalibur being sure to mention that he did that rather than leaving it locked in like he’s been doing. Later in an interview Daniels said he’s not here just for respect. He’s here for championships. Claudio and Yuta walked up on him and Mox backed them off and said Daniels is cool. He’s an OG. Daniels said he guesses people are wrong and Mox has some honor left in him. Mox smashed him against the locker and said they never changed. Everyone else changed. This whole thing was really odd and felt very random. I’m not sure if it’ll add to an eventual Mox turn on BCC down the road and he’s supposed to be conflicted or what? I thought the idea that Mox respects the vets and just hates The Elite interested me but that got shot down during the course of 1 show.
3. The Firm. Jeff Hardy said it’s time for him to retire…from screwing up. He’s here to end his career on a high and not a depressing low. Time will tell and the future is waiting on us to prevail. Matt grabbed the mic and was cut off by Stokely Hathaway who was pissed to the highest levels of pisstivity that Jeff didn’t answer his calls, emails, pages or even his fax trying to find out the details “Of this (The Firm Deletion) dumbass match” because he was too busy at the house with the wife and kids going “Ahhhh” (as he mimed the Hardy two finger temple point taunt) so he was instead asking Matt. Matt said he’ll let him know when the time is right. Stoke said he’s working hard to be a better man so he’s going to have some patience “God bless” as The Firm took to the ring to take out the Hardys, Hook and Kassidy from behind. Page hit Kassidy with an Ego’s Edge and The Firm pulled him up the ramp before Matt and Jeff ran them off with chairs. I really want to believe Jeff is a changed man and that he’ll finally stay clean for good this time. I appreciate him continuing to confront his issues in a public forum but I just can’t help but feel like “Fool me once…” But while he’s healthy and here I’ll enjoy this ride. I’m happy for all The Firm guys too, especially Hathaway, because this could be a chance for them to really shine and him to bring the comedic gold we know he has.
2. The strange alliance formed by Mark Briscoe of Jay Lethal, Jeff Jarrett and FTR faced The Varsity Athletes and Slim J. The story here came when Harwood had Sterling and Jarrett tried to hit him but Mark ducked and Jarrett hit Dax. Tony Nese tried to sneak out a pin but Jarrett just looked on rather than breaking it up. He shoved Dax and Dax dodged an incoming Nese allowing Double J to hit The Stroke before encouraging Dax to cover him for the win. With John Cena nowhere to be found Mark Briscoe ran out to try and play peacemaker between FTR, Jarrett and Lethal after the match. Later we’d find out Harwood and Jarrett will meet on Dynamite in a match that should be the polar opposite of tonight’s main event. I figure we’ll get an FTR v. Lethal and Jarrett match soon after that but I’m curious where this goes beyond that as far as Mark Briscoe’s involvement. Is FTR just there to help Mark see through Dutt and company or could FTR and Briscoe do more as a trio down the line?
1. El Hijo Del Vikingo. Dralistico came down with LFI to take on Vikingo for the AAA Mega Championship in our main event. In what felt like a Rampage first I didn’t recall a triple box or video package for this one. Which was odd because this is maybe the Rampage main event with the least combined prior AEW screen time between participants. LFI tossed Vikingo into a barricade and Dralistico whipped him into the stairs. Dralistico hit a middle rope moonsault to the floor. Vikingo hit a leaping Canadian Destroyer off the corner to Dralistico on the ring apron. LFI knocked Vikingo off the apron before being ejected by the ref. Darlistico hit a diving hurricanrana to Vikingo while seated on the middle rope to send him to the floor. He hit La Mistica but Vikingo escaped. A 630 later and Vikingo closed the night with the win to retain his AAA Mega Championship. After the match LFI came back down to lay out Vikingo and celebrate together. This was a blast though paced a bit more like a traditional match with most of the flips and high spots actually being saved more for later on. I don’t know if we get Vikingo v. Vance next, Rush, or both matches but this sure felt like a sign we’ll be seeing more Vikingo in AEW which I absolutely LOVE! I’m a BIG Vikingo guy!
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