{"id":131461,"date":"2022-01-17T13:36:32","date_gmt":"2022-01-17T19:36:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/recovery\/?p=131461"},"modified":"2022-01-17T13:36:32","modified_gmt":"2022-01-17T19:36:32","slug":"aew-rampage-hits-misses-1-14-baker-adds-to-coles-aura-main-event-misses-due-to-dark-order-comedy-more","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2022\/01\/17\/aew-rampage-hits-misses-1-14-baker-adds-to-coles-aura-main-event-misses-due-to-dark-order-comedy-more\/","title":{"rendered":"AEW RAMPAGE HITS &#038; MISSES 1\/14: Baker adds to Cole&#8217;s aura, main event misses due to Dark Order comedy, more"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-1357150981\" 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>Adam Cole defeated Trent Beretta: HIT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>From the entrance alone, Adam Cole felt more like a top tier star than he has since his AEW debut. The company of Britt Baker, the Young Bucks, and Red Dragon really added to his aura.<\/p>\n<p>The match was solid. The only weak point was the brawl before the finish, which felt a little contrived. Trent Beretta is a much more compelling personality since his return than any other member of Best Friends. The AEW graphics department also removed the question mark from his first name, but Justin Roberts clearly hasn\u2019t received the memo yet.<\/p>\n<p>Britt Baker\u2019s mannerisms at ringside were entertaining, but I don\u2019t know about having the Women\u2019s World Champion escorting her husband to the ring when he\u2019s really just in a mid card feud. I\u2019d be okay with it if it\u2019s just a one-time thing before the mixed tag match, otherwise I\u2019d like to see Adam Cole come out with her during her matches as well.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Thunder Rosa and Mercedes Martinez video package: NARROW MISS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I like that AEW is starting to do more of these. However, this one was a bit tonally off. While it makes sense for Thunder Rosa to be angry at Mercedes Martinez for screwing her out of the TBS championship, I don\u2019t understand why Martinez is expressing the same level hatred right back at Rosa. It\u2019s not like Rosa has done anything really bad to her yet, or that they have a past grudge. I think \u201csmug\u201d might have been a better emotion for the heel to display in this context.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Shawn Spears defeated Andrew Everett: IT HAPPENED<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A one-minute squash against a local talent with supposedly \u201c17 years of experience.\u201d I like AEW talking up their enhancement talent more than other companies; it\u2019s a good thing to do. And I suppose Spears needs a victory to have some credibility against Punk.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-1007944997\" 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>Post-Match Promo: MISS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This was a miss for me, I\u2019m sorry. AEW can\u2019t possibly expect us to buy into Spears as a logical next challenger after Wardlow. He was defined down since his PPV confrontation with Dustin Rhodes, and AEW hasn\u2019t done a good job (on television) of building him back up at all. A one-off squash followed by a promo that began with meta commentary about his lack of push doesn\u2019t help his case. Put him in some television singles feuds to build up his \u201ccomplex\u201d chairman character, then maybe you\u2019ll have something.<\/p>\n<p>The only good thing about this promo was Wardlow\u2019s look of contempt in the background while Spears talked, as well as the passive-aggressive digs Spears took at him, such as \u201cone-move wonder.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Acclaimed Rap: HIT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>I enjoyed this \u201cbattle rap\u201d on Sting and Darby, if you can call it that. I didn\u2019t understand half the jokes, but it\u2019s entertaining to see this variety of presentation and production energy put into showcasing AEW\u2019s wrestler\u2019s talents.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Bunny, Penelope Ford, and Nyla Rose defeated Kris Statlander, Red Velvet, and Leyla Hirsch: HIT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The tension between Kris Statlander and Leyla Hirsch is something we\u2019ve been able to follow easily via television, and that\u2019s a good thing. It started on Rampage, continued into Dark, and we were shown highlights of all relevant Dark happenings on television. While the acting is a little weak, I think we should be thankful for getting another women\u2019s midcard rivalry that we\u2019re actually able to follow on TV. That\u2019s an important first step.<\/p>\n<p>As far as the match itself goes, it was good action. Difficult to judge these with a lengthy commercial break in the middle. Good to see Nyla Rose continue to be featured on TV instead of disappearing for months after a major loss. I also envy Penelope Ford\u2019s flexibility. Simply amazing. If her ring psychology gets better, she can be a very effective submission wrestler one day.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-1137286358\" 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><strong>Men of the Year Video Promo: HIT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Like last week, this was a good promo reminding us of Scorpio Sky\u2019s credibility to challenge for the TNT title. The post-produced sound effects added a lot to the delivery, and Lambert being quiet for a change was a nice change of pace. I\u2019m actually glad Sky is willing to let Guevara and Rhodes \u201cfigure out\u201d the messy title situation for the moment, as that isn\u2019t something that he should get his hands dirty with.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Jay Lethal\/Team Taz Segment: HIT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>This was good. Starks cut a nice promo calling out Lethal for interrupting Hook\u2019s match last week, and Lethal presented himself as a dignified babyface challenger for the FTW championship. I hope AEW explains Lethal\u2019s background a little more in the weeks ahead.<\/p>\n<p>It must be weird being a member of the live crowd during these Team Taz bits as they can\u2019t hear Starks or Taz. Would it hurt to have a microphone at the announce table?<\/p>\n<p><strong>Main Event Interview: MISS<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Yes, I laughed at the kazoo, but John Silver continues to heavily underplay the seriousness of any match he is in. It felt like he was challenging Jurassic Express to a game of paint ball. I get that his comedy is part of his charm, and I love a lot of what he does, but there are moments where he goes out of his way to do little things that make the whole occasion feel like a complete joke. You get the sense that his life will be perfectly fine even if he loses his championship match tonight. So why should we care about his title pursuits at all? Why should need to take 15 minutes out of my Friday evening to watch this match. I\u2019m sure the match will be entertaining, but there\u2019s no shortage of entertaining, athletic contests in AEW right now.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Jurassic Express defeated John Silver and Alex Reynolds to retain the AEW Tag Team Championships: HIT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>As anyone would expect, this this was a good, athletic contest to close out the show. I\u2019m not going to lie and say I was at all emotionally invested in the outcome of this match. However, had plenty of story advancement this week on AEW television, so I think a nice spot fest isn\u2019t a bad way to close out the week.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Commentary: HIT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>A better-than-average week for the four-man booth. They added to the show at times.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Overall Show: MILD HIT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Like last week, a good show. A good mix of story advancement and ring action.<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p><strong>CATCH-UP:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2022\/01\/14\/1-14-aew-rampage-tv-results-moynahans-report-on-jungle-boy-luchasaurus-vs-silver-reynolds-for-the-aew-tag-team-titles-cole-vs-barretta-statlander-velvet-hirsh-vs-bunny-ford-rose-s\/\">1\/14 AEW RAMPAGE TV RESULTS: Moynahan\u2019s report on Jungle Boy &amp; Luchasaurus vs. Silver &amp; Reynolds for the AEW Tag Titles, Cole vs. Barretta, Statlander &amp; Velvet &amp; Hirsh vs. Bunny &amp; Ford &amp; Rose<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-1128675503\"><div id=\"pwtor-79502899\"><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>Adam Cole defeated Trent Beretta: HIT From the entrance alone, Adam Cole felt more like a top tier star than he has since his AEW debut. The company of Britt Baker, the Young Bucks, and <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2022\/01\/17\/aew-rampage-hits-misses-1-14-baker-adds-to-coles-aura-main-event-misses-due-to-dark-order-comedy-more\/\" title=\"AEW RAMPAGE HITS &#038; MISSES 1\/14: Baker adds to Cole&#8217;s aura, main event misses due to Dark Order comedy, more\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":96507,"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":[6121,6558,6120],"class_list":["post-131461","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-opnionandanalysis","category-specialists_hitsandmisses","category-specialists","tag-aew","tag-aew-rampage","tag-all-elite-wrestling"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2020\/04\/ColeAdam_3x2_600WK.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/131461","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\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=131461"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/131461\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":131462,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/131461\/revisions\/131462"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/96507"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=131461"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=131461"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=131461"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}