{"id":129882,"date":"2021-12-16T20:14:18","date_gmt":"2021-12-17T02:14:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/recovery\/?p=129882"},"modified":"2021-12-16T23:05:54","modified_gmt":"2021-12-17T05:05:54","slug":"aew-rampage-hits-misses-12-10-tag-team-championship-match-a-hit-hook-shines-in-debut-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2021\/12\/16\/aew-rampage-hits-misses-12-10-tag-team-championship-match-a-hit-hook-shines-in-debut-more\/","title":{"rendered":"AEW RAMPAGE HITS &#038; MISSES 12\/10: Tag team championship match a hit, Hook shines in debut, more"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-1142284419\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><p><strong>Lucha Brothers defeated FTR in a AEW Tag Team Championship Match: HIT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Very good match. A nice mix of styles with a healthy dose of high-spot athleticism and psychology. The finish was much better than what we saw in at Full Gear. I\u2019d much rather have a very good match with a decent finish instead of an excellent match with a weird finish.<\/p>\n<p>This match really should have been the main event of the show. I don\u2019t like how they just skipped straight to ring introductions without even airing entrances for such a championship match.<\/p>\n<p>Part of me is just glad to see the conclusion of this feud. I haven\u2019t been emotionally invested in either team for a while now. FTR comes across like they are just playing the role of heel and Lucha Brothers\u2019 promo segments are basically the same from opponent to opponent. Penta is usually very good at deep storytelling, but in AEW he just hasn\u2019t had a chance or been encouraged to flex those muscles.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Bunny, Penelope Ford, and Nyla Rose defeated Ruby Soho, Anna Jay, and Tay Conti: MILD HIT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This match was pretty solid in terms of in-ring action. Nothing off-the-charts, but just solid. The Bunny in particular was better than usual tonight, and I loved the fact that Nyla Rose got the win.<\/p>\n<p>However, my main issue is the realization of how much less I care for Anna Jay and Tay Conti than I used to. Regarding Tay Conti, I think the fact that she had no verbal follow up to her loss against Baker at Full Gear really bugs me. and this is the first time I\u2019m seeing her after that Pay Per View match (not even coming out to her own music) is a big injustice.<\/p>\n<p>With Anna Jay, the problem is much worse. She\u2019s not gelling with me as a babyface at all. Much like babyface Sammy Guevara, there\u2019s very little that makes her stand out. I miss the badass edge she used to have as a heel enforcer of the Dark Order.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-1717240815\" class=\"pwtor-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p><strong>Sting, Darby Allin and FTR Backstage Segment: IT HAPPENED<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Another day, another Sting promo that isn\u2019t meant to be. I think FTR attacking them provides a good indication of their next rivalry, but the reason for it seems to just be Tully Blanchard wanted to have at it with Sting \u201cone more time.\u201d Fans with WCW nostalgia probably loved this. I personally haven\u2019t been trained to see Blanchard as a wrestler, so him being able to wrest Sting away from punching on FTR came off quite implausible.<\/p>\n<p>In any case, if this results in a tag-team feud, I\u2019m curious what the outcome is. Neither team can afford another loss. However, the idea of a Tully Blanchard vs. Sting match should intrigue some old school fans.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Hook defeated Fuego Del Sol: HIT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I fit right into the age bracket that should be able to understand social media\u2019s obsession with Hook before he even had his first match. I think I am happy to just join the boomers who don\u2019t understand the hype and let cooler people than me speak for him:<\/p>\n<p>Hook did look pretty good here, and he got a decent crowd reaction, though not as loud on TV as some of the on-site reports suggested. Given AEW\u2019s track record with Britt Baker and Cody Rhodes, I don\u2019t expect them to add any extra dose of nastiness to his character to ramp up crowd heat, nor a babyface turn. We\u2019re just going to have to put up with another wrestler whose crowd response is dissonant with the way he is portrayed, and whose matches most people view from a detached, \u201centertain me,\u201d point of view. Alternatively, maybe this crowd investment will die down over time.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, remember back in August when we were supposed to emotionally invest in Fuego getting an AEW contract despite not having a clue who he is? I remember a large chunk of a Rampage show being dedicated to signing him. Well, we\u2019ve now had two follow-up appearances. One was another loss to Miro, and now to a debutant. The least they could have done is given him some quick victories on Dynamite leading into this match.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Main Event Interview: MISS<\/strong><\/p><div id=\"pwtor-1527920373\" class=\"pwtor-content-1 pwtor-entity-placement\"><!-- Tag ID: pwtorchcom_test_300x600 -->\r\n<div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __300x600\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>Adam Cole had nothing of substance to say and Wheeler Yuta only spoke one word. Orange Cassidy, the guy whose gimmick is that he rarely speaks, carried Yuta\u2019s end of the promo. We also got a hint of tensions within Best Friends with Trent demanding attention for saving them on Dynamite.<\/p>\n<p>Also, I\u2019m sorry but who is Wheeler Yuta? How did he meet Best Friends and start hanging out with them? Why do I know more about Reggie in WWE despite rarely watching WWE programming? Yuta has absolutely no identity of his own; in fact, he comes out to Orange Cassidy\u2019s old theme song despite showing no similar mannerisms.<\/p>\n<p>In addition, why are they pushing toward a Trent heel turn? The comedy stuff may not be everyone\u2019s cup of tea, but his mom and the minivan elicit some of the best reactions I\u2019ve seen on AEW, even among \u201ccasual\u201d fans. Probably not the wisest move to turn this guy heel, but let\u2019s wait and see.<\/p>\n<p>By the way, this is the second straight Adam Cole promo I have had to assign a \u201cMISS\u201d to. I don\u2019t like doing it, but something\u2019s gotta give with this guy. I don\u2019t mind him staying in the mid-card for a while, but he needs a feud that he can really sink his teeth into.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Adam Cole defeated Wheeler Yuta: MILD HIT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>After Adam Cole\u2019s entrance, it seemed as though the crowd was getting ready to pack up and leave. The match itself was solid, but I just couldn\u2019t bring myself to care. This would have worked much better as the opening match of the show.<\/p>\n<p>After the match, the Super Clique beat down Best Friends and nailed a BTE Trigger on Trent. I don\u2019t know where this is going, but let\u2019s just wait and see.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Commentary: HIT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>On its own, the commentary was probably more of MILD HIT. However, the two-man booth of Excalibur and Tazz was so refreshing to hear after several weeks of an overcrowded desk. Please continue to keep Jericho and Starks away from full-time commentary.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Overall Show: MILD HIT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The only thing worth going out of your way to see is the Hook match. The opening match was very good but not something worth banking extra time for, and everything else was skippable.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>CATCH-UP:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2021\/12\/15\/12-15-aew-dynamite-results-kellers-detailed-report-and-analysis-on-winter-is-coming-special-with-hangman-vs-danielson-wardlow-vs-sydal-mjf-vs-dante\/\">12\/15 AEW DYNAMITE RESULTS: Keller\u2019s detailed report and analysis on \u201cWinter is Coming\u201d special with Hangman vs. Danielson, Wardlow vs. Sydal, MJF vs. Dante<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-1703473766\"><div id=\"pwtor-3399509057\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>Lucha Brothers defeated FTR in a AEW Tag Team Championship Match: HIT Very good match. A nice mix of styles with a healthy dose of high-spot athleticism and psychology. The finish was much better than <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2021\/12\/16\/aew-rampage-hits-misses-12-10-tag-team-championship-match-a-hit-hook-shines-in-debut-more\/\" title=\"AEW RAMPAGE HITS &#038; MISSES 12\/10: Tag team championship match a hit, Hook shines in debut, more\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":103586,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[52,28,27],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-129882","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opnionandanalysis","category-specialists_hitsandmisses","category-specialists"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2020\/08\/FTR_BlanchardTully_AEW_3x2_600.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/129882","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=129882"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/129882\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":129883,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/129882\/revisions\/129883"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/103586"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=129882"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=129882"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=129882"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}