Honorable Mention: Swerve Strickland, Anna Jay and Orange Cassidy. Dustin Rhodes was interviewed about AEW’s return to Texas when Brian Cage attacked him and Swerve and Nana joined. Swerve said he didn’t forget about him and he’d see him in 2 weeks as Keith Lee came to Dustin’s defense as The Mogul Embassy walked away. If this hadn’t been going on so long in such an inconsistent way I might be more exicted for it but at this point I just want Swerve v. Lee announced already. Give them the spot on a Double or Nothing card that looks like it’ll be heavy on 4+ person matches and let them steal the show! Though Swerve does look cool with a faction behind him. Anna Jay questioned what happened to Julia Hart as they showed multiple pictures of them together pre-House of Black. Jay hates what she’s become and is ready to end her and their clash on Dynamite was announced immediately following this. In a video package Daniel Garcia talked about taking advantage of an injured Orange Cassidy during their International Title match and an uncharacteristically talkative Cassidy said he’s hurt but he’s been hurt for every defense he’s had so it won’t matter.
5. Chris Jericho. In the back Lexy Nair knocked on Jericho’s door and after being assured it was her her he cautiously opened it and somberly apologized for not being able to commentate tonight due to the “unprovoked” attack by Adam Cole. He needs some assurances that Cole won’t be in the same building as him from now on when he’s working and he’s working on that. This made me grin and also felt like a possible not so subtle joke about the Punk and AEW Collision rumors. Either way it was some progression for he and Cole which I didn’t mind. Despite having no interest in this feud initially and still wanting Cole with somebody fresher and newer this was still an enjoyable, old school cowardly heel move.
4. Jade Cargill made short work of the debuting Gia Scott; winning with the Jaded almost immediately. Despite having no time to do anything Scott was funny in how exaggerated her facial recation and screaming was when Jade had her up and that alone makes me feel like she should get another shot. I’m still not sure what they have in mind for Jade, if it’s Statlander, a debuting Mercedes Mone or somebody coming out of the Originals and Outcasts feud but I’m totallt fine with her just continuing a Goldberg like streak despite a lot of fans hating it. It’s unique to women’s wrestling and the matches are usuallt quick, inoffensive ans kept low enough on the card that it never feels like a chore to me.
3. Mark Briscoe. Mark was interrupted backstage by Sonjay Dutt and company trying to make sure FTR accepts their tag title challenge. Mark wouldn’t answer for them but said they’ve never back down from a fight. Lethal asked him to be sure FTR did the right thing but Mark was more concerned about his upcoming match with Preston Vance. “Perro Peligroso” After a back and forth affair Vance nailed Mark with a low blow as the ref was distracted by Jose The Assistant wielding a chair. It wasn’t enough to put Mark away though as he won with a Jay Driller. After the match Mark’s family came in the ring to celebrate. The match wasn’t bad but it felt like a missed opportunity as I thought for sure we’d see LIJ get involved and Dutt’s crew come out to try to help Mark and curry favor with him however disingenusous the attempt. It could have even given us a fun TV filler match of Jarrett & Lethal v. Rush & Dralistico or Jarrett, Lethal & Mark v. LFI. Though I get them not wanting to do heel v. heel. I guess with them assuming their shot is coming there’s no need to protect Mark at the moment though. I’m hoping FTR say no and we get even more of them trying to woo Mark so he convinces FTR to give them a shot. There’s meat on this bone.
2. The Lucha Bros. & El Hijo del Vikingo. Cinco de Mayo started off fittingly with the trio of Mexican stars The Lucha Brothers and Vikingo taking on Powerhouse Hobbs, QT Marshall and Aaron Solo. There were all the flips and high flying action you’d expect from the lucha trio but Vikingo had an impressive show of strength where he caught Solo coming off the ropes with a crossbody attempt. Vikingo hit QT with a Canadian Destroyer off the ropes and on to the apron and Marshall fell on to a table he and Hobbs had set up earlier but QTV documentarian Harley Cameron pulled him off before Vikingo could do his signature 630 through the table. Vikingo had another power spot when he took Solo from am electric chair position to a German suplex without him touching the floor. On the outside Hobbs took out Alex Abrahantes as the Lucha Bros. hit the Fear Factor on Solo for the win but the table prevented Hobbs from breaking up the pin in time. This was a fun opener that showed a different side of Vikingo, used a table creatively and added to the story of QTV holding Hobbs back. Solid all around.
1. Matt & Jeff Hardy, Isiah Kassidy & Hook. The main event was the first cinematic match in AEW in a long, long time and in being such naturally didn’t have the 3 box nor did it have any video package before it. Instead we opened on a car driving down a road. The Firm hopped out and took a bat to Matt’s mailbox before the gate swung open. Vanguard (1?) was back! And told The Firm they were “Rude AF” before a projection of Matt told them their lives were going to flash before their eyes and after a literal flash it was night time. Matt, Kassidy, Jeff and Hook shot fireworks at The Firm. There was commentary from Excalibur and Tony Schiavone at times which was a little odd. Members of both teams did some wrestling moves in the woods. After Page hit Matt with a branch the ref, clearly not a usual AEW official, asked Matt if he was okay before counting a 2. Stokely Hathaway was in his Nation of Domination gear and had flashbacks to everyone backstage laughing at him before he barely avoided Matt’s sons Maxel and Wolfie trying to run him down in a gold cart type vehicle they were driving. Matt and Page made their way to the arena section of the Hardy compound and fought in the ring. Hook and Moriarty followed suit but Hathaway showed up and got in the ring to try to take advantage of the numbers game before Hook got the better of him. Page hit a running powerslam on Matt through a table set up in the ring. Caprice Coleman was randomly the ref in the ring for Page and Hardy’s exchange. I later saw on Twitter he said he initially started as a ref for the Hardy’s OMEGA promotion which is cool if that’s true. Big Stoke managed to get inside the house and while he didn’t turn over light he did enter the theater room where he checked for Coming to America before being intereupted by “Gothic Baby” Hathaway said he’s “Gothic Man” and wasn’t scared but Reby showed up ranting at him in Spanish and asking what he was doing there. Stoke didn’t know what she was saying but took it as a sign of disrespect and wasn’t going to tolerate it. Senor Benjamin then showed up behind him and tased him as Matt’s kids jumped on Hathaway and he yelled that Tony Khan would pay for his crimes. Outside the arena Page poured gasoline on the Hardys and Big Bill lit a torch but we started hearing moaning and Kassidy was shown on top of the Deletion Dome and called “Brother Zay” by Excalibur before he dove off on to everyone else. He yelled with glee ans humped the ground. Matt said “orgasmic Isiah, I knew you’d come” as Kassidy moaned again. Reby and Benjamin brought Hathaway down to the ring and Maxel hit a Swanton off the middle rope and did the “delete!” taunt before Reby told him it was time for bed. Back outside Hook sent Moriarty through a table with a suplex and “Brother Zay” hit Big Bill with a classic Hardy leg drop through a table. Matt brought Page into the ring where all 4 faces surrrounded Page and took turns hitting him with their offense. Matt said it was a shame and other different circumstances they could have been great friends. Matt hit a Twist of Fate and Jeff yelled “Goodbye Ego!” before hittinf a swanton followed by a Matt Hardy cover for the win as Excalibur told us The Firm was deleted and it was OVAH! Jeff walked off and Matt called “Brother Nero!” Jeff went outside and with his teammate surrounding him yelled “Thank you God!” as he lit a giant symbol cut into the grass on fire. I’m not sure if this was supposed to be a new Willow symbol, a mew character’s symbol or just Jeff being artsy but it was a cool image to close on. This wasn’t as fun as the Impact Hardy Compound stuff but was still a ton of fun and probably a bit better than WWE’s attempt at doing Broken Matt. These are always ridiculous but such fun and visually such a change of pace and I adore that the Hardy Compound is now canon across the top 3 American wrestling promotions. My only slight complaint is I wish there was more Stokely and some more call backs to past Hardy compound stuff like the Dilapidated Boat and Lake of Reincarnation but I’d love to see it come back again in AEW with those elements revisited. It hit me as I wrote this but I would 100% be here for Dutt’s crew v. Hardy’s crew at The Compound. If they ever did Blood & Guts in a place where they can’t hang the cage doing that match before it could be a fun way to buy time. I’m just happy to have a Rampage episode that was fun, different and somewhat meaningful! Hopefully it’s not the last time.
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