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AEW RAMPAGE TV REPORT
APRIL 1, 2022
RECORDED AT THE COLONIAL LIFE ARENA IN COLUMBIA, S.C.
AIRED ON TNT
REPORT BY PATRICK MOYNAHAN, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR
Announcers: Excalibur, Taz, Ricky Starks, 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, Ricky Starks, and Chris Jericho.
(1) YOUNG BUCKS (Matt & Nick Jackson) vs. TOP FLIGHT (Dante and Darius Martin)
The match kicked off right from the start of the show. Nick and Dante started things off and the two showed off their athleticism early on to the delight of the crowd. Nick attacked Darius from the apron, then tagged in Matt. Top Flight was able to double team Matt and then took out Nick as he entered the ring. The crowd was very into this match.
Darius tagged in and kept control over Matt while working over his arm. Matt hit Darius in the throat, then played to the crowd a la Rick Rude. Nick tagged in and was immediately taken out but Darius. Top Flight took out the Young Bucks, and the Bucks took some time to regroup.Nick took out Dante with a superkick, then Matt did the same on Darius. Matt was the legal man, as was Darius Martin. Matt and Nick hit each member of Top Flight with a combo as we went to break. [c]
Dante got the hot tag and took it to Matt Jackson. Dante came off the top with a shotgun dropkick as he fired up. Matt raked Dante’s eyes to slow him down. Nick tagged in but Dante evaded at first, but was met with a flatliner. Dante came right back and got a close two count. Top Flight double teamed Nick, then hit him with a German suplex for a close two count.
Dante went to the top but was pushed off to the outside. Darius and Nick were left inside the ring as they went back and forth. Darius fired away at Nick, then hit him with a thrust kick. The Young Bucks hit a Trigger on Darius, then covered him for the win.
WINNERS: Young Bucks in 11:30
(Moynahan’s Take: An awesome opening match as the Young Bucks continue their winning ways. These two teams have a lot more to show us over the coming years.)
A vignette aired showcasing Kris Statlander’s new demeanor.
– Dan Lambert, Paige VanZant, Ethan Page, and TNT Champion Scorpio Sky were in the ring. Lambert made reference to Cody and Brandi Rhodes no longer being in AEW. They took turns making fun of Tay Conti and Sammy Giuevara until Sammy and Tay appeared on screen with sledgehammers. They proceeded to smash Lambert’s car with sledgehammers.
– Tony Schiavone was backstage with HOOK. Before HOOK could speak, Danhausen came in. Danhausen tried putting a spell on HOOk to no avail, and HOOK walked away much to Danhausen’s chagrin.
(2) HOUSE OF BLACK (Malakai Black & Brody King & Buddy Matthews) vs. FUEGO DEL SOL & DARK ORDER’S EVIL UNO & STU GRAYSON
Grayson and Matthews kicked things off. Del Sol made the quick tag and came off the top but was caught and thrown into the turnbuckle. King tagged in and threw Del Sol to the outside onto Uno and Grayson. [c]
Del Sol tried making it to his corner as Matthews cut him off. Del Sol finally tagged in Grayson, who took out Matthews and Black. Uno and Grayson took it to the House of Black until King wiped out the Dark Order on the outside. Inside the ring, Del Sol faced off with Black. Matthews and King hit the ring to make it 3-1. Matthews was taken out by Grayson, and Uno took out King, which left Del Sol with Black. Del Sol hit a poison rana which riled up the crowd. Black came right back with a roundhouse kick to the face, then covered for the win.
WINNERS: House of Black in 10:00
(Moynahan’s Take: Another solid tag team match, however this was cut short due to the long commercial break. That said, House of Black looked solid, and Del Sol once again looked very good as the spunky underdog.)
– Young Bucks were backstage. They spoke as if they were mentoning FTR but clarified they were talking about themselves. They said the only thing FTR hadn’t done was defeat FTR. They said they accepted FTR’s challenge and would face them on Dynamite this coming week.
(3) JAMIE HAYTER vs. SKYE BLUE – Owen Hart Foundation Women’s Tournament Qualifier
Hayter took much of the early advantage. Excalibur mentioned Hayter being undefeated in singles competition in 2022. Blue rolled Hayter up for a close two count, then rolled her up again for another close count. Hayter came right back with a back breaker.
Blue took Hayter down, then hit a running knee strike. Blue hit an enziguri which riled up the crowd. Hayter hit a back drop driver in retaliation. Blue fought right back, then climbed to the top. Hayter cut her off and knocked Blue down. The two fought on the top as Hayter hit a suplex off the top. Hayter followed up with a brainbuster. Hayter covered for the win.
WINNER: Jamie Hayter in 7:00
(Moynahan’s Take: Really solid match between these two. The right woman won, but Skye put up a good fight.)
– Penta Oscuro was backstage with Alex Abrahantes. Penta said that House of Black shoudln’t forget about Death triangle, and that if they continue to play around with Del Sol, they’ll end up getting burnt.
– Excalibur ran down upcoming matches, including FTR vs. Young Bucks on Dynamite.
– Mark Henry was backstage on split screen with tonight’s main event’s competitors. Keith Lee told Powerhouse Hobbs that he much respect him and back in his glory. Henry announced that it was “time for the main event.”
(4) KEITH LEE vs. POWERHOUSE HOBBS
Both men locked up early, which ended in a stalemate. Both men traded shoulder blocks until Lee finally took Hobbs to the outside. [c]
Hobbs maintained the advantage as we came back from commercial break. Lee fought his way back and took out Hobbs with a clothesline, then covered for a close two count. Lee went for the Spirit Bomb but Hobbs slowly countered and dropped Lee down. Hobbs hit a powerslam for a quick two count. Hobbs missed a charge, and Lee took advantage by throwing Hobbs far across the ring.
Starks and Taz left the announce table, and Starks tried hitting Lee with a chair. Swerve came down and took out Starks. Inside the ring, Hobbs hit his finish but the ref was distracted. Lee came back and hit his power finish for the win.
WINNER: Keith Lee in 11:30
– After the match, all hell broke loose. Hobbs nailed Lee with a chair across the back, then Starks grabbed a table and Hobbs set it up in the corner. Hobbs speared Lee through the table as the show closed out.
(Moynahan’s Take: I’ve been looking forward to this one since we first got a taste a few weeks ago, and it delivered in my opinion. The ending was a bit messy but it did continue the feud between Starks/Hobbs and Lee/Swerve. The post-match beatdown was done very well, and amplified Hobbs and Starks well in my view.)
FINAL THOUGHTS: Such a solid show from start to finish, especially when considering the multiple events happening this same night. In addition to the matches we received tonight, I think AEW has done a solid job of continuing to build to the next show (and beyond) very well. Go out of your way to watch the opening match between the Young Bucks and Top Flight. Until next week, stay safe everyone!
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