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AEW RAMPAGE TV REPORT
MARCH 25, 2021
RECORDED AT THE THE H-E-B CENTER IN CEDAR PARK, TEX.
AIRED ON TNT
REPORT BY PATRICK MOYNAHAN, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
AEW Rampage Announcers: Excalibur, Taz, and Chris Jericho
Ring announcer: Justin Roberts
– The opening of Rampage aired. Excalibur welcomed us with, “It’s Friday night, and you know what that means!” Excalibur was joined by Taz and Chris Jericho.
(1) DUSTIN RHODES vs. LANCE ARCHER
Lance Archer made his way to the ring dragging one of Dustin’s students out with him to kick off the Rampage action. Dustin attacked Archer from behind on the ramp and the two battled one another at ringside. Dan Lambert attacked Dustin from behind and as Dustin went to piledrive Lambert, Archer cut him off.
The bell finally rang to start the match as the two made their way into the ring. Archer removed one of the turnbuckle pads to expose the steel corner. Dustin clotheslined Archer over the top rope, then went for a cannonball senton on the outside, but missed and hit the floor. The two made their way back into the ring as Archer mocked Dustin. Dustin tried fighting back but Archer cut him off. Dustin looked to be busted open near his ear. Archer hit a splash in the corner for a two count. [c]
Archer chopped away at Dustin’s fingers and he continued to maintain control. Dustin started firing back with clotheslines, then nailed Archer with a right to the face. Dustin couldn’t hit the powerslam, and Archer hit a suplex in retaliation. Dustin fought back again and caught Archer in the corner, then nailed him a series of rights to the delight of the crowd.
Dustin hit Cross Roads but Archer kicked out at two. Archer reversed a suplex into one of his own, then hit a full nelson slam but only managed a one count. Archer hit a chokeslam for a two count as Dustin would not go down. Archer perched Dustin on the top rope and went for the Blackout, but Dustin collapsed to the mat. Archer spotted the exposed turnbuckle, and went to throw Dustin into it but Dustin reversed and threw Archer into it, then covered Archer for the win.
WINNER: Dustin Rhodes in 9:30
– After the match, Archer attacked Dustin and ran his face into the steel steps as Dan Lambert cheered along. Excalibur noted that Archer’s loss tonight will send him tumbling from the rankings. Archer continued his onslaught as security came down the ramp but were taken out by Archer. Archer chokeslammed Dustin through the timekeeper’s table.
(Moynahan’s Take: A different style of opener for Rampage with the two big men going at it. I must admit, I was surprised by the outcome here, but it made sense for the hometown Rhodes to pick up the win. A good post match beatdown by Archer to regain some momentum after the loss.)
– Lexy Nair was backstage with Jay Lethal. She noted his recent loss to Adam Cole and asked what was next for him. Lethal said he wasn’t one to complain and noted he only has two blemishes on his record – from Adam Cole and Ricky Starks. He said they both had to cheat in order to beat him, and said they each have had chances that he has not received since beating him. Lethal said he has some thinking to do and said there had to be a better way as he stormed away.
– Fuego Del Sol was in the ring. He said he knew he would have to fight for everything when he started in AEW. He mentioned the many competitors he has taken down and how he’s made the fans chant his name, and said the crowd believed in him. He called out House of Black and said he was ready to fight in Austin, TX. The lights went out and then spotlights appeared on each member of House of Black. Malakai Black took Del Sol out with the help of Matthews, then Brody King hit a Fire Thunder Driver on Del Sol to seal the deal. As House of Black went to leave, Dark Order members came down the ramp to stare down House of Black.
– Lexy Nair was backstage again with Scorpio Sky, Ethan Page, and Dan Lambert. Lambert said the TNT Championships were no longer subject to the open challenge (yes he used the plural.) Sky said it’d been 380 since someone tried to beat him, and that if someone wanted a shot, they’d have to do it the hard way.
(2) REDRAGON (Bobby Fish & Kyle O’Reilly) vs. DARK ORDER’S ALAN ANGELS & PRESTON “10” VANCE
Angels and O’Reilly started things off for their respective teams. O’Reilly and Fish made quick tags early on until Angels was able to take Fish out, then tag 10 into the ring. 10 used his power against the smaller O’Reilly. Fish came in but 10 took them both out with a double shoulder block. [c]
O’Reilly was on the back of 10 trying to lock in a sleeper. 10 slowly made his way to the corner to tag in Angels who took out ReDragon on his own. Angels took O’Reilly down with a leg lariat as the crowd riled up. Angels hit O’Reilly with a suplex, but O’Reilly turned it into a guillotine submission. 10 came in and hit Fish with a spinebuster to break up the submission. ReDreagon pulled 10’s mask in front of his face then hit him with a double team to take him out. They then hit Angels with Chasing the Dragon, and pinned him for the win.
WINNERS: ReDragon in 7:30
– After the match, Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus hit the ring to clear ReDragon. Adam Cole ran down the ramp and stole the tag team titles, adding to his recent collection after recently stealing the ARW World Championship from Adam Page on this week’s Dynamite.
(Moynahan’s Take: A good match, which felt like it was cut short due to the long commercial break. It looks like ReDragon will be feuding for theTag Team Titles, and I did enjoy Adam Cole’s Rampage appearance, stealing the belts and adding them to his growing collection.)
– Nyla Rose was backstage with Vickie Guerrero. Rose said everyone was angry they disrespected Thunder Rosa on Dynamite, which she noted was the point of her attack. Rose said she would show us how dominant she will be. Thunder Rosa appeared on screen and said she had a lot planned for the two of them.
(3) NYLA ROSE (w/Vickie Guerrero) vs. MDADI WRENKOWSKI
Chris Jericho named Nyla Rose his Sports Entertainer of the Week, which seems to be a new running theme. Rose attacked Wrenkowski before the bell. Rose picked Wrenkowski up and slammed her hard to the mat, then hit her with a running senton. Rose hit Wrenkowski with the Beat Bomb for the win.
WINNER: Nyla Rose in 0:30
(Moynahan’s Take: Typical squash match from Rose, which should help solidify her as number one contender for the Women’s Title.)
Q.T. Marshall Gives Hook Certificate of Accomplishment
– Q.T. Marshall and Aaron Solow were in the ring. Marshall announced Hook to the ring to receive his award. Hook looked annoyed as he made his way to the ring. Marshall said normally a mentor would be jealous when his protege surpassed him but Marshall was not that kind of guy. Marshall presented Hook the award as confetti rang down on Hook. The crowd chanted “you deserve it” as he broke the award across Solow’s face, then walked out. Damhausen walked out on the ramp and tried putting a curse on Hook, who just ignored him and walked by.
– Mark Henry was backstage on split screen with tonight’s main event’s competitors. Ricky Starks said he had a problem with Swerve’s sense of entitlement. He said the last time they went at it, Starks was the one who came out on top. Swerve said he’s learned to come in and take things, and he was making Austin, TX Swerve’s house tonight. Henry cut them off and announced that it was “time for the main event.”
– Excalibur ran down the card for this week’s Dynamite, which will include Darby Allin vs. Andrade el Idolo, FTR vs. Gunn Club, The Bunny vs. a new addition to the Women’s Division in a Women’s Tournament Qualifier for the Owen Hardt Cup.
Next Friday on Rampage, House of Black will face off against Fuego Del Sol, Evil Uno, and Stu Grayson. More Dynamite and Rampage matches will be announced on AEW’s social media.
(4) RICKY STARKS vs. SHANE “SWERVE” STRICKLAND (w/Powerhouse Hobbs) – FTW Championship
The two worked the mat early on until Starks took Swerve down with an arm drag. The crowd chanted “Swerve’s House” as Swerve hit a dropkick to take Starks down. Swerve hit Starks with a big right hand, then planted a leaping stomp across the chest. The crowd chanted for each competitor. Starks threw Swerve hard into the middle turnbuckle pad. [c]
Starks hit a spinning DDT with the help of the ropes for a close two count. Swerve charged Starks into the corner, then nailed Starks with a rising knee strike to the face. Swerve came off the middle rope with a diving uppercut to the back of Starks. Swerve hit a leaping flatliner for a close two. Swerve came off the top but Starks moved out of the way in time. Starks went for his finish but Swerve successfully fought out of it. Swerve threw Starks to the outside, then followed him out with a pump kick, then a running shooting star press off the apron. Back inside, Swerve came off the top and landed face-first onto Starks. Swerve covered for a close two count. Swerve locked in a half nelson but Starks reversed into a roll up and a two count. Swerve rolled Starks up but Starks sent him to the outside. Hobbs attacked Swerve from behind, then threw him into the ring where Starks hit Roshambo for the win.
WINNER: Ricky Starks in 11:00
– After the match, Keith Lee made his way to the ramp and attacked Ricky Starks’s entourage as Starks looked on in amazement. Lee made his way into the ring and Swerve helped out by attacking Starks. Lee and Hobbs went at it as Starks and Swerve face off.
(Moynahan’s Take: Great, albeit short, main event. I need to see more between these two. And as I mentioned last week, I need to see a Lee/Hobbs match asap, please Mr. Khan.)
FINAL THOUGHTS: Is it me or did this episode of Rampage fly by? I guess that’s what happens when you’re having fun. In all seriousness, this was another solid episode of Rampage that furthered a number of feuds inside and outside of the ring. As mentioned prior, I came away wanting to see more of the Hobbs/Starks vs. Lee/Swerve feud, with Hobbs and Lee the key ingredient. In addition, I’m glad we’re being teased with a new competitor for the Women’s division as well as the start of the Owen Hart Cup Qualifying matches. Until next week, stay safe everyone!
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