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AEW RAMPAGE BLACK FRIDAY TV REPORT
DECEMBER 3, 2021
RECORDED 12/1 IN DULUTH, GA.
AIRED ON TNT
REPORT BY PATRICK MOYNAHAN, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Announcers: Excalibur, Taz, Chris Jericho, and Ricky Starks.
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 Ricky Starks.
(1) SAMMY GUEVARA vs. TONY NESE – TNT Championship Match
As Nese walked to the ring, highlights of his few matches on Dark were shown, as well as his recent beatdown of Guevara. Guevara, his ribs still taped up, attacked Nese from behind at the bell. Nese took Guevara down with a flying back elbow, then played to the crowd. Guevara fired right back with a double leg takedown.
Guevara flipped over Nese, then nailed him with a dropkick, which rocked Nese to the outside. Guevara flew through the ropes and hit a corkscrew tope, which looked extra nasty as Guevara’s knees clipped Nese right in the face. Nese was sent right into the steel steps as the two continued to battle outside. Nese was driven into the barricade, then finally thrown back into the ring.
Guevara went to the top, but Nese swept out his legs. Guevara fell ribs-first onto the turnbuckle. Nese picked him up and nailed him with a gut buster, then covered for two. Nese continued to focus on Guevara’s ribs. Nese caught Guevara with a chop to the throat, then draped Guevara throat-first over the top rope. Nese hit a moonsault press off the top for another pinfall attempt. Nese whipped Guevara hard into the turnbuckle, then flexed again for the crowd.
Guevara fought back by slapping Nese across the chest. Nese came right back and nailed Guevara in the face with a spinning back kick. Nese locked Guevara in a leg lock, which focused on his injured ribs. [c]
Both men were on their feet until Nese tripped Guevara and locked in a single leg crab. Guevara took Nese down multiple times with a series of clotheslines, then went to the corner and came off the top with a springboard cutter for a two count. Guevara picked Nese up for the GTH but Nese countered and again locked in the single leg crab. Guevara countered into a pin attempt for two. Guevara followed it up with a standing Spanish Fly for another close count.
Guevara clotheslined Nese over the top to the outside, then nailed him with a springboard moonsault. With both men back inside, Guevara went for another springboard, but Nese pushed him to the outside then hitting a flip over the top rope. Nese threw Guevara back inside and came off the top for a close count. Guevara hit a roll-through elbow, but Nese again rolled him up for a pin and then shifted things into a power bomb into the turnbuckle.
Guevara came right back with a leaping pump kick, then hit the GTH for the win.
WINNER: Sammy Guevara in 13:00
(Moynahan’s Take: An enjoyable TNT Championship match, with an exciting finish. The match started a bit slow for me, but the crowd got into things as the match went on. I will admit that I went into this expecting more from Nese, but there was nothing poor about his performance here. Guevara worked very well from underneath, selling his ribs throughout.)
– Christian Cage and Jurassic Express were backstage. Cage spoke for Jurassic Express, saying they were No. 1 contenders for the tag titles. He said momentum is great, but it could be gone just like that. He mentioned they’d be scouting tonight’s tag team championship, and said he wants to make sure Jurassic Express were the next champions. [c]
(Moynahan’s Take: There was an interesting moment where Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus looked at one another quizzically when Cage said something about them. It was a quick thing but something to keep an eye on.)
– Thunder Rosa joined the commentary team for the next match.
(2) JADE CARGILL (w/Mark Sterling) vs. JANAI KAI
As Cargill entered, Rosa mentioned that her opponent tonight, Janai Kai, was one of her own students. Kai made her AEW debut here. Kai went for a headlock, but Cargill just threw Kai across the ring. Cargill went for Jaded and won in a squash.
WINNER: Jade Cargill in 0:30
– After the match, Cargill continued to beat down Kai until Rosa ran to the ring. The two went at it until a group of referees came down to break things up. The two were broken up until Rosa ran back toward the ring and things finally calmed down.
(Moynahan’s Take: Not surprising, but a total squash. Hey, squashes can be effective when done right. I think this was, as it furthered the story between Cargill and Rosa.)
– The Young Bucks and Adam Cole were backstage. Cole was angry that Orange Cassidy interfered with his announce duties last week. Matt said they’d return to tag team action on Dynamite and told Best Friends to bring whoever they’d like. [c]
– Highlights were shown from the recent beatdowns by 2.0 and Daniel Garcia against Eddie Kingston and Chris Jericho. Kingston was shown backstage saying while he didn’t care about Jericho, that 2.0 and Garcia would reap what they sow.
– The main event between Adam Page and Bryan Danielson at Winter is Coming in a few weeks was shown, as was Danielson’s next match on this week’s Dynamite against John Silver. Highlights were then shown of Danielson’s recent heel turn and matches against the Dark Order. Danielson called Silver the best from the Dark Order. Silver said that while Danielson is usually considered the fast one, that he was show how fast he is as well. Danielson mocked Silver’s “Johnny Hungy” saying.
The rest of this week’s Dynamite card was then shown, including the Dynamite Dozen Battle Royal, Jamie Hayter vs. Riho, and the Young Bucks vs. Chuck Taylor and Rocky Romero.
– Mark Henry was on split screen with tonight’s main event opponents. PAC said he was good to go even with a patch over his right eye. FTR said they were robbed of making history twice now by Fenix and Penta. The four broke down and talked over one another until Henry stopped everyone and said it was “time for the main event.”
– FTR made their way to the ring as we went to break. [c]
(3) PAC & PENTA EL ZERO M (w/Alex Abrahantes) vs. FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood w/Tully Blanchard)
Penta and Wheeler kicked things off for their respective teams. The two jockeyed for position until Penta hit a spinning toe hold. Wheeler was able to break it and backed up into the corner to regroup. Penta removed his glove to the delight of the crowd. He tossed it to Abrahantes who caught it even though Wheeler tried to intercept it.
PAC tagged in and helped Penta take Wheeler down. Wheeler rolled to the outside, where Harwood was there to assist. Harwood tagged in and was quickly taken down by PAC. PAC hit a nasty hip toss on Harwood, then slammed him hard to the mat. PAC hit Harwood with a back body drop. Penta came off the top with a dropkick to Harwood’s tailbone as PAC held his legs. Wheeler distracted Penta, which allowed Harwood to attack him from behind and give FTR the advantage.
FTR kept Penta in their corner as they cut off the ring and hit him with a series of double team moves. Penta was able to make the hot tag to PAC who took out Harwood with spinning back kicks, then a kick to the head. PAC was on the apron and went for a springboard but completely lost his balance and took a nasty bump to the mat. [c]
Back from the commercial, Wheeler had PAC locked in a submission move. PAC flung Wheeler to the outside, but Harwood was there to throw Wheeler back in and make the legal tag. PAC was outside and Wheeler went for a double axe handle but hit the metal barrier. PAC was about to make the tag, but Wheeler pulled Penta off the apron. FTR hit a backbreaker/elbow drop on PAC for a close pin. They followed up with a second pin attempt, but PAC kicked out again.
Harwood placed PAC on the top turnbuckle and went for a super plex. PAC fought him off and knocked Harwood to the mat. Harwood tried to climb back up, but PAC knocked him off again and hit him with a shotgun dropkick. Penta finally made the hot tag and took out each member of FTR. Penta rolled through into a DDT on Harwood, then launched Wheeler into the turnbuckle. Penta came off the top with a cross body on Wheeler for a close two count. Penta hit the backstabber on Wheeler for another close count.
FTR hit Penta with a double team leg drop. Penta rolled up Harwood in a corkscrew code red pin attempt for yet another close count. PAC went to the top as Penta held Harwood. Wheeler cut them off, however, by pulling Penta outside. PAC went back up and hit Harwood with a cross body, but Harwood rolled through for a close two count. Harwood nailed PAC with a stiff right, then hit a tiger driver for (yes) another close count. Blanchard got in the face of the ref from the apron as PAC tried throwing Harwood into him. Harwood stopped in time but was rolled up by PAC for another close count. Outside, Wheeler hit Penta with a swinging DDT on the floor.
Both members of FTR were outside as PAC went to the top and nailed them both with a moonsault. Back inside, PAC was able to take out Harwood as Malakai Black came from behind and sprayed the black mist in PAC’s face. Harwood covered for the win.
WINNERS: FTR in 18:00
– After the match, FTR ripped Penta’s mask off. Black entered the ring and tried to gauge PAC’s eye out of his head.
(Moynahan’s Take: Okay, wow, there was a lot going on here, but what a great match this was. FTR came off strong with this win, but all four men looked great throughout the match. The interference by Black at the end was a great touch; I’m stoked to see Black vs. PAC already.)
FINAL THOUGHTS: A really fun show, with a strong opener, a good storyline squash match in the middle, and a great tag team main event. Not to mention, some interesting storyline developments between Black and PAC, Kingston and Jericho, and even a small seed planted for what could be the eventual heel turn of Christian on Jurassic Express. There’s much to talk about from this episode, which is great, as I just so happen to be joining Tyler Sage to discuss tonight’s show on his PWTorch post-Rampage podcast. Listen in! Until next week, stay safe everyone!
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