Pantoja’s AEW Rampage: The First Dance Review 8.20.21

who watched from the rafters with Sting. Punk vs. Allin got confirmed for All Out and everyone got free ice cream bars on their way out. What a special moment.

Backstage, Christian Cage fired up Jurassic Express and sent a warning to Kenny Omega.

AEW World Tag Titles No. 1 Contender’s Eliminator Tournament Semi-Finals: Jurassic Express (9-2 in 2021) vs. Private Party

I reviewed this after watching the show so I don’t remember all of the W/L records. The Young Bucks were on the ramp to take this one in. It’s wild to think that Private Party beat the Bucks early on in AEW’s run. Jungle Boy and Kassidy had a classic indy-style standoff before this broke down into the expected tag tropes. That included Jungle Boy taking the heat through a commercial break. Almost as soon as they returned, he got going and made the hot tag to Luchasaurus, who cleaned house. He really is the biggest dude in the tag division. They did some sick spots, including a Destroyer off of Luchasaurus’ shoulders, though it didn’t get the reaction you might expect. Matt Hardy tried to get involved and Marko Stunt went after him, only to get flung off the apron. That set up a near fall with a handful of tights before Private Party had Gin n Juice cut off. Jurassic Express hit the awesome looking Thruassic Express to advance in 10:21. Good match and the right team won. [***¼]

Don Callis and Kenny Omega looked greasy backstage as they were interviewed. Kenny blamed Christian for ruining things and said he’d retire him for another seven years.

Jade Cargill (10-0) vs. Kiera Hogan (0-2)

This got a short video package though we all knew it wouldn’t be too competitive. Hogan got in a few shots before Cargill hit a big boot and planted her with the Glam Slam in 1:07. Total squash like it needed to be. [NR]

Daniel Garcia and 2.0 got the split-screen interview gimmick with Jon Moxley, conducted by Mark Henry. Garcia promised to choke him out and a pissed off Moxley said that he had a better chance of getting him pregnant than doing that.

Daniel Garcia (2-0?) vs. Jon Moxley (36-3-1)

Moxley came out aggressively and beat the hell out of Garcia. He responded by finding creative ways to take down Moxley and trap him in various submissions, even if every spot didn’t come off too cleanly. It still worked for what it was. The best moment came when Moxley hit two German suplexes and Mark Henry deadpanned on commentary, “He’s not even German.” Garcia escaped the Paradigm Shift and turned it into a submission, which Moxley countered into his own to choke him out in 4:06. Not a squash but a dominant win for Moxley and it was entertaining. [**¼]

2.0 and Garcia jumped Moxley and Eddie Kingston after the bell until Allin and Sting made the save. We got a Stinger Splash, Scorpion Death Drop, and Coffin Drop before the babyfaces posed to end the show

8.0

The final score: review Very Good

The 411

That may seem like a high score but this show was expertly done. You had the HUGE Punk moment to start that gave us a rare special moment in wrestling. Then, you add in a good tag match, squash for a rising powerhouse talent, and a dominant win for a top star in the main event.