4/22 AEW RAMPAGE TV RESULTS: Moynahan’s report on Cole vs. Iishii, Kingston vs. Garcia, Hook speaks, Archer vs. Serpentico

AEW RAMPAGE TV REPORT
APRIL 22, 2022
RECORDED AT THE PETERSEN EVENTS CENTER IN PITTSBURGH, PA.
AIRED ON TNT
REPORT BY PATRICK MOYNAHAN, PWTORCH CONTRIBUTOR

Announcers: Excalibur, Taz, 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) ADAM COLE vs. TOMOHIRO ISHII (w/Orange Cassidy & Rocky Romero) – Owen Hart Cup Qualifying Match

Both men were already on the ring as we kicked things off. Ishii was joined at ringside by Orange Cassidy and Rocky Romero. Ishii took Cole down with a shoulder tackle, which sent Cole to the outside. Cole took it to Ishii, then played to the crowd. Ishii came up from behind and leveled him with a huge chop. Cole rolled to the outside and Ishii followed.

Ishii laid in a series of chops but missed one and collided with the ring post. Cole threw Ishii back into the ring, then leveled him with a number of rights. Cole synced in a headlock as he slowed things down to his favor. Ishii tried battling out but Cole kept the advantage. Cole slapped Ishii across the face, which seemed to wake him up. Cole landed a few forearms but Ishii took each and continued to walk toward Cole. Ishii leveled Cole again with one shot to the face to knock him down. Ishii hit a big powerslam as Cassidy tried rallying the crowd. Ishii hit a backdrop suplex for a two count. Each man missed a few moves until Cole finally picked up Ishii and dropped him to the mat. [c]

Cole was perched on the top rope as Ishii climbed up to meet him. Ishii took Cole down with a superplex, but could only manage a two count. Ishii missed a sliding lariat and Cole caught him with a superkick. Coke exposed the knee but missed the Boom. Ishii hit the sliding lariat on the second attempt for another two count. Cole hit a pump kick, then dropped Ishii with a suplex across his knee. Cole covered for two.

Cole missed the Panama Sunrise but caught Ishii with a kick. Ishii fired and up both men went back and forth until they knocked one another to the mat. Ishii hit aheadbutt but Cole fired back with a superkick. Ishii came right back with a huge clothesline. Jay White ran down to ringside and took out Romero. Ishii was distracted, as was the ref, which allowed Cole to hit a low blow, then lowered the boom for the win.

WINNER: Adam Cole in 12:00

(Moynahan’s Take: Great opening match with a lame finish. I’m such a fan of Ishii, I found myself watching more of this one than typing. I’m hoping to see more of Ishii on AEW TV.)

– The Jericho Appreciation Society was shown trying to enter the arena earlier tonight but security told them they couldn’t be there due to tonight’s main event stipulation.

– Lexy Nair tried interviewing HOOK backstage until Danhausen was shown ruining a big bag of chips. HOOK pushed him against a wall and said “You want my attention? You’ve got it now.”

(Moynahan’s Take: HOOK SPEAKS!)

(2) LANCE ARCHER (w/Jake Roberts) vs. SERPENTICO

Serpentico attacked Archer before the bell but it didn’t work out too well for him. Archer perched Serpentico on the top rope and hit the Blackout for the win.

WINNER: Lance Archer in 0:30

– After the match, Archer chokeslammed Serpentico multiple times until suddenly stopping as the crowd was starting to enjoy it.

(Moynahan’s Take: Typical squash which sets Archer up nicely for his Dynamite match against Wardlow this week.)

– A vignette aired showing Mark Sterling and Tony Nese’s new partnership.

(3) EDDIE KINGSTON vs. DANIEL GARCIA – Everyone Banned from Ringside

Kingston started things off by striking Garcia multiple times and driving him into the corner. Kingston followed up with a running boot to the face. Both men went outside and Kingston laid in a few chest chops, then threw Garcia into the metal steps. Garcia moved and Kingston went into the steps. Both men rolled back inside as Garcia was able to take the offensive advantage.

Garcia concentrated on Kingston’s left arm and ribs as he kept Kingston on the mat. Kingston fought his way back as Garcia continued to lay in shots. Garcia pounded away at Kingston in the corner, then started biting his head. Kingston bit Garcia right back until Garcia hit him with a low kick to the midsection. Kingston rolled outside and Garcia followed. Garcia rammed Kingston shoulder-first into the post. [c]

Both men were standing toe-to-toe in the center of the ring as they traded chops. Garcia hit Kingston with a series of uppercuts but Kingston came right back with a knee to the stomach. Garcia kept targeting Kingston’s ribs as he locked in an abdominal stretch. Garcia hit a Dragon Suplex for a two count. Garcia stomped away at Kingston’s ribs. As Garcia charged toward Kingston, Kingston got his foot up in time.

Kingston went for a DDT but Garcia countered into a Boston Crab. Garcia changed course and went for a Sharpshooter but Kingston was able to reach the ropes for the break. Kingston hit an enziguri for a close count. Kingston showed signs of going for the spinning back fist but instead hit a backdrop. Kingston hit the back first for the win.

WINNER: Eddie Kingston in 12:00

– After the match, Kingston removed his belt and began whipping Garcia. He stopped, took the mic, and spoke to Chris Jericho directly into the camera. Kingston said he was saving some of the whipping for Jericho.

(Moynahan’s Take: I really enjoyed this match, which came off more like a battle really. Garcia continues to look great in nearly every match, and his chemistry with Kingston was clear. I wasn’t initially clear on who I thought would win this one, but I think the right man won.)

– Tony Schiavone was backstage with Swerve and Keith Lee. Lee said he wanted to annihilate Starks and Hobbs. As Lee was getting fired uop, he stopped himself and let Swerve speak. Swerve said the war was far from over. Starks was briefly shown at the announce table with a response.

– Tony Schiavone was backstage with Dr. Britt Baker, Jamie Hayter, and Toni Storm. Schiavone said one of these ladies could go on to win the Owen Hart Foundation Cup. Storm told Baker to shut up, said she’d see Hayter in the first round, then said she may also see Baker in the tournament “if she makes it that far.”

– Excalibur ran down the card for this week’s Dynamite. A quick video aired of FTR discussing their upcoming 1-1 match in the Owen Hart Cup Tournament.

– Mark Henry was backstage on split screen with tonight’s main event’s competitors. Cargill was looking at her phone as Henry spoke. She completely disregarded Shafir as a serious competitor. Sterling said they already had plans for Cargill’s 30th win celebration after tonight’s match, which ticked Shafir off. Henry announced that it was “time for the main event.”

(4) JADE CARGILL vs. MARINA SHAFIR – TBS Championship

Both women met in the center of the ring. Shafir missed a punch attempt but jumped on Cargill’s back until Cargill shrugged her off. Cargill hit Shafir with a fall-away slam, then clotheslined her over the top rope. Both women were outside as Cargill threw Shafir into the barrier. Red Velvet and Keira Hogan were at ringside and helped Cargill attack Shafir as the ref was distracted by Sterling.

Both women made their way back into the ring as Cargill maintained control. Cargill hit a back suplex and covered for a two count. Cargill mounted Shafir and nailed her with a series of punches. Shafir caught Cargill’s leg and took her down. Shafir locked in a front facelock but Cargill slowly fought out of it and turned it into a powerslam. [c]

Shafir took Cargill over then went right back to focusing on her left knee. Shafir synched Cargill in a leg lock in the center of the ring as Cargill slowly made her way to the ropes for the break. Shafir wrapped Cargill’s knee around the post, then went over to Sterling and took him down with a takeover. As Shafir was telling off the Baddies, Cargill hit Shafir with a pump kick. Cargill rammed Shafir into the apron, then chokeslammed her into the side of the timekeeper’s table. Cargill returned Shafir to the ring, then gloated by her Baddies Section. Cargill attempted a one-foot pin but Shafir kicked out and again locked in an ankle lock on Cargill. Cargill tried fighting out of it and was finally successful. Cargill hit Jaded for the win.

WINNER: Jade Cargill in 12:00

(Moynahan’s Take: A fine main event, with a nasty table bump as for some reason Cargill decided to slam Shafir down on one side of the table instead of the middle. I liked how they played the build up for this one, as it did throw me off the scent of an otherwise obvious Cargill win.)

FINAL THOUGHTS: Another solid episode of Rampage this week, as has been the trend in the last month or so in my view. As a fan, I felt like this show gave me a little bit of everything as far as in-ring styles go, and I appreciated main eventing with the TBS Championship match. Go out of your way to see the Cole/Ishii opener as well as the Garcia/Kingston match, which I think was clearly the match of the night. While I’d love to be in person for next week’s Dynamite/Rampage in Philly, looks like I’ll be missing it this time around. Until next week, stay safe everyone!