Less than 48 hours before Double or Nothing we had Rampage. With so much wrestling to watch this weekend I won’t waste any more time on this intro. Let’s get ranking!
Honorable Mention: Impact Wrestling. Before I watched Rampage I checked out Under Siege from Impact and it was a BLAST! PCO is an absolute lunatic, Subculture v. ABC ruled and the whole card was a fun night.
5. Keith Lee and Dustin Rhodes. Naturally Limitless were interviewed by Lexy Nair about their problems with The Mogul Embassy and them being in the battle royal Sunday. Dustin said they’ll eliminate everyone then he and Keith will fight for the title. Lee just reaffirmed that the Embassy would be in it and said a very Bart Scott-like “Can’t wait!” AEW’s total mishandling of Lee v. Swerve still baffles me. If one of them is hurt they should be off TV not doing this awkward thing where they stand on the edge of the ropes that are double dutching this singles match and refusing to jump in. My only hope is Lee and Swerve are the final 2 in the battle royal and we get a solid few minutes of what the singles match should eventually be if/when it ever happens.
4. Ethan Page and The Gunns. The trios action wasn’t confined to the opening match as that was followed with these three facing FrescoMatic, Jeaux Braxton and Watson. The heels won when Page Irish whipped Watson into a Shatter Machine-esque assisted flatliner by the Gunns. The other 2 guys on Watson’s team never even got named on TV and I had to find it on CageMatch. Page took the mic after the match and said it’s clearly going to be 3 on 2 at the PPV. The Hardys came out and said they’re not afraid to go in 3 on 2 but Brother Zay came out in a neck brace and whispered into the mic that doctors wouldn’t clear him but he found a replacement which brought out Hook as we were told the change was official.
3. Big Bill and Lee Moriarty. Our main event once again ditched the triple box in favor of Mark Henry introducing a highlight reel for four of the men set to be in the AEW International Championship Blackjack Battle Royal Sunday. Big Bill, Lee Moriarty and the Best Friends went at it to close the night. Most of the other battle royal participants were shown in the crowd before the match started. The Lucha Bros., Komander & Bandido were in one area. The Varsity Athletes were shirtless in another. And I want to take both shots out of context and ask people who don’t watch wrestling to explain what’s happening. Things picked up when the Best Friends double superplexed Big Bill for a two count. Chuck gave Moriarty a short piledriver but ate a big boot from Big Bill and a chokeslam to give Moriarty and Bill the win. It wouldn’t be a match on tonight’s show without post-match shenanigans so Bill shoved Bandido in the crowd while walking out which lead to Bandido and everyone else jumping the barricade and brawling. Orange Cassidy came down the ramp followed by Brian Cage and Naturally Limitless. Naturally Limitless attacked Cage before Swerve entered but remained on the ramp staring down Lee. Lee lumbered up the ramp and Swerve took off to the back. All this happened as Orange Cassidy just stood in the ring looking at his title which was a funny bit. The match should be a blast Sunday although I wish Lee vs. Swerve was it’s own match.
2. Hikaru Shida and Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. Nyla Rose and Marina Shafir were the opponents for the AEW originals tonight. Shida helped Baker avoid Rose’s diving draping knee before they both low bridged Nyla out of the ring and Shida hit a Meteroa to Nyla on the floor. Baker tried for the Lockjaw which Shafir intially avoided but eventually locked in for the win after Shida hit a Kitana on Shafir while she was held in a crucifix by Baker in a spot that looked fun and brutal. The camera cut to the back where The Outcasts had taken out Jamie Hayter as Shida and Baker ran back to help. I’m still disappointed that we’re not getting the faction war of some sort at Double or Nothing. I get them maybe not wanting to double dip with Anarchy in the Arena but it would have been so much more fun than a regular singles match for the title. I’m still hoping this eventually leads to the first ever women’s Blood & Guts match. After tonight you could throw Rose & Shafir on the Outcasts which just means establishing two women for the faces (I’d say Statlander if she’s healthy and Riho if she’s available). That could make a hell of a main event to launch Collision with though I assume if that was the plan the seating chart would have to reflect it already.
1. The Acclaimed and Billy Gunn. The trio opened the night against La Faccion Ingobernable in a six man tag. Caster had a funny line about Dralistico looking like the dominatrix at a donkey show. After a back and forth match that went about ten minutes The Acclaimed and Gunn won with an Arrival and Mic Drop on Dralistico. After the match Bowens grabbed the mic and said they’ve been running through the trios division all month long. He said since they’re in Vegas maybe they should do some gambling Sunday night. The house always wins but never bet on black. Jericho then ditched any subtlety and said it sounds like they’re going after House of Black and we were shown a graphic for House of Black’s open challenge at Double or Nothing. I’ve been expecting this match for a few weeks so it was nice to see it finally become unofficially official. This is the first trio that feels like an actual threat to House of Black and I hope they have something fun in mind for their house rule.
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