ITS A SQUASHFEST - AEW RAMPAGE REVIEW 19/07

Welcome guys to this weeks episode of Rampage. We have 5 matches so let’s kick things off with some trios tag action.

MATCH 1: KYLE O’REILLY, ORANGE CASSIDY, TOMOHIRO ISHII VS RODERICK STRONG, MATT TAVEN, MIKE BENNETT

Strong and Reilly clash in this opener, exchanging holds and reversals. Cassidy and Taven are tagged as Cassidy connects with a couple of arm drags. Taven is sent into the ropes as Ishii is tagged and hits everyone with shoulder tackles. Bennett and Taven end up jumping him from behind. They try to hit a double suplex as Cassidy and Reilly come in to save him. Cassidy & Friends reverse and hit them with a back-body suplex! Ishii, with a pinfall attempt after a setup by Cassidy, only gets a near fall.

Strong hits a backbreaker on Ishii. Strong follows up with chops and right hands to the face. Taven is tagged as he hits a snapmare and is distracted when he turns his back on his opponent. Ishii is able to hit a German suplex to tag in Reilly. All men are in the ring as it’s pure chaos! The referee can not get control as he’s letting a lot slide. A sick kick and the proton pack only get the Kingdom a near fall. Strong continues to punish Ishii as Cassidy tags himself in and sends Bennett and Taven over the ropes. Cassidy tries to dive between the ropes to crash into both men. They end up catching him and sending him crashing into the barricades. Roderick Storm hits a dropkick between the ropes, sending Cassidy staggering. We have more commercial breaks, folks. We are back, as during the commercial break, Kingdom isolated Cassidy. Strong misses a running knee as Ishii is tagged! Suplex on Bennett! Super brainbuster on Taven as Strong breaks up the pin! Strong and Reilly are exchanging shots now. Everyone is hitting their moves on one another as Cassidy is tagged. Cassidy is sent into the ropes by Bennett as Cassidy counters with a DDT. High and low from Cassidy and Reilly! Cassidy, with the orange punch on Taven, secures the win!

Here is your winner: Cassidy, Ishii and O’Reilly

A solid opening match but this story line is going on a bit now with no real purpose.

MATCH 2: CHRIS JERICHO AND BIG BILL VS THE OUTRUNNERS

A clear plan for this one. Jericho is not dressed to wrestle so Big Bill will do all the work. Big Bill is destroying the Outrunners. Big Bill splashes to both men, followed by high boots. Floyd hit with a chokeslam as Jericho comes in waving and hits a cocky pin over with a foot on Floyd’s chest for the win all whilst wearing the FTW title.

Here is your Winner: Chris Jericho and Big Bill

An absolute squash yes but this is a squash with a purpose. Jericho once again reinvents himself and makes it work.

MATCH 3: MINORU SUZUKI VS BUTCHER

Suzuki demands Butcher chop him silly as the first few chops do nothing. Suzuki laughs in his face as Butcher puts more stank on the next one to stagger Suzuki. Butcher tries for a half-Nelson suplex, but Suzuki reverses it into a sleeper. Suzuki hits his trademark piledriver for the victory.

Here is your Winner: Suzuki

Ok so the last match was a squash with a purpose. This one was just a pointless squash match. Butcher is a legit beast and you’re having him lose like this.

MATCH 4: KRIS STATLANDER VS SYDNI WINNELL

Spinning clothesline connects on Winnell as Statlander follows up with strikes and stomps in the corner. Back suplex follows. An uppercut connects as Sydni returns with a couple of clotheslines until she’s caught from the ropes. Winnell was looking for a crossbody as Statlander hit The Staternight Fever to end this match.

Here is your Winner: Statlander.

Oh another squash. Three in a row. What is the point of Rampage right now.

MATCH 5: REY FENIX & PENTA MIEDO VS PRIVATE PARTY

Fenix and Kassidy open as Fenix connects with his trademark kicks before Kassidy hits a few of his own. Kassidy misses a cutter as Quen is tagged. Quen tries for a rollup, and there’s a kickout when Penta is tagged. Everyone is in the ring now, hitting superkicks and dives from the top rope. All four men are laid out.

Kassidy hits the silly strong on Penta. Private Party hits a neckbreaker combo on Fenix. Kassidy tries covering Fenix but can’t close the deal as he kicks out! Quen tagged as they were thinking gin & juice but no mas! Penta hits a couple of sling blades as Private Party hits gin & juice on Fenix! The cover attempt is made as Penta hits a destroyer on Kassidy to interrupt the attempt. Lucha brothers with a pair of stereo kicks on Private Party. Fear factor & stomp combo on Marq Quen secures the victory.

Here is your Winner: Lucha Brothers

Well Atleast this wasn’t another squash. Two of the best teams in AEW right now and it worked. Enough to save this episode? Absolutely not but was an OK main event.

So this episode was 3 squash matches sandwiched in between two ok matches. Rampage needs help.

Thanks for joining me this week guys. See you tomorrow for Collision.