Sanders’ AEW Rampage Review 12.1.23

Happy Fantastic Friday, everyone! Lee Sanders is here for tonight’s AEW RAMPAGE live coverage and Saturday’s AEW Collision, as Theo will be off for the weekend for well-deserved rest. I hope you have all been well. Let’s jump right into the action!

Location: Minneapolis, MN
Venue: Target Center
Commentators: Excalibur, Tony Schiavone

MATCH 1: Evil Uno, Matt Menard, Angelo Parker, Alex Reynolds vs Orange Cassidy, Danhausen, Trent Beretta, HOOK

Heels jump on the baby faces from behind as our match finally begins. Uno is working on Danhausen in the corner, whipping him powerfully into another corner. Hausen rebounds with a kick to the midsection as HOOK is tagged. All eight men enter the ring; all chaos erupts again. The referee has no control over this one whatsoever. There was about to be a group hug when Dark Order denied them. The best friends rebound to go for a victorious hug on the second try. Menard has a backbreaker on HOOK as Parker follows up with a knee to the face—Beretta with a jumping knee strike to Parker as Menard gets him in a powerbomb. Cassidy lands a DDT on Menard as Uno chops Cassidy to the ground! Danhausen with a release German suplex as Reynolds cracks him across the jaw! HOOK comes in with the t-bone suplex on him and Parker! HOOK can even get one off on Uno to make the fans pop! Wheeler Yuta crashes the scene as Menard blindsides HOOK! Menard with a suplex as Parker and Menard gang up on him. Uno is in with the tag as he’s rammed into the corner, where it’s an all-out assault on HOOK. Reynolds with the cover as HOOK kicks out. We are back as Beretta got the tag in briefly as Cassidy soon comes in stomping a mudhole in Reynolds and Uno! Spinning DDT blocked as Cassidy settles for the stun dog millionaire. Evil Uno counters Cassidy’s next move with a spinning-inverted ddt. Reynolds charging at Cassidy as he tries setting him up on the ropes. Beretta comes in for the save with a release German suplex! Danhausen tags himself in as he and Menard start trading trash-talking. Danhausen curses him as he reaches into his groin and pulls out Jake Hager’s favorite hat! Hager is livid as he charges after Danhausen and is sent fumbling over the top rope. HOOK with the REDRUM on Parker as Danhausen gets a rollup on Menard for the win.

Winner:HOOK and Best Friends (13 minutes)
Rating:**
Decent opener. Parker and Menard can’t catch a break for the life of them. I’m curious where this leads, as we’ve seen Menard have some breaking points with Daniel Garcia weeks prior. Is it even possible Menard could grow frustrated and start lashing out at Parker?

Rene Paquette is with Ruby SoHo, Saraya, and Anna Jay as Saraya is ecstatic over Anna Jay offering her services to them for their tag match later tonight. Parker arrives at the scene rather quickly as he tries to holler at Ruby. Saraya isn’t having any of it as she rushes away with Ruby after Anna tells him she doesn’t want him, Hager, and Parker at ringside during her match. Tony Schiavone is bringing Sting and Ric Flair to the ring elsewhere. The backstage promo from Dynamite this Wednesday wasn’t good for Tony Khan, as we’re doing a second take. Sting is happy to be back in Minneapolis, as he has many favorite memories. He thanks Schiavone, Tony Khan, fans, and Ric Flair. Speaking of Ric Flair, he’s on the mic now talking about how much fun he’s had in his career. Flair also discusses his best friends, including Ricky Steamboat, Dusty Rhodes, and the Icon Sting. I was ready for Flair to mention Triple H and Hulk Hogan, but not this go-round. Flair promises they’ll be going out AEW strong style as the hype for Sting’s final match at Revolution continues.

We are back as Rene is with Statlander, Shida, and Skye Blue as she gets their thoughts on the recent setbacks they all have faced. Skye and Statlander trash-talk one another as Shida tries to be the voice of reason. Shida tells them to put their differences aside and come together as a team. Speaking of group, it’s time for our next match.

MATCH 2: Takeshita, Powerhouse Hobbs, Kyle Fletcher vs Dead Meat 1, 2, and 3

Blink, and you missed it!

Winner:Don Callis Family (30 seconds)
Rating:NR
SQUASH…SQUASH…SQUASH!!

Prince Nana is backstage with Brian Cage, as he’s allowing Henry and Drake to see if they can come through for him. If they do, they may just have a shot at joining the Mogul Embassy.

MATCH 3: Ruby SoHo, Saraya, Anna Jay vs Skye Blue, Shida, Kris Statlander

Shida going for a cover early on as Anna kicks out. Skye is tagged in briefly as Statlander tags herself back in. Skye tags herself back in as Statlander does it again before Shida tags herself in. Enziguri on Saraya as Shida follows up with a torture rack. Shida suplexes Ruby onto Saraya as Skye is tagged as we head into our next set of commercials. We are back, as tags are made on both sides. Anna Jay with a backheel kick on Statlander as Saraya comes in with a running knee to the face. Anna with the cover as Statlander kicked out. Anna tries for Queenslayer, but Statlander counters with a side-back suplex. Ruby with an STO on Statlander as Skye Blue superkicks Ruby’s head off! Saraya with a big kick as Shida comes off the ropes with a jumping knee. Anna Jay takes down Shida with a kick and catches Statlander with the flatliner! Ruby gets the tag as Anna connects with the Jay kick on Statlander. Ruby goes in for a superkick as Statlander pulls Anna into the crosshairs, and she’s kicked instead! Smart move by Statlander, who tags Skye Blue and puts Ruby over her shoulders. Statlander plants her face first into the canvas as Skye comes in for the code blue for the win.

Winner:Shida, Skye Blue, Kris Statlander (9 minutes)
Rating:**
A bit off in a few areas, but a decent women’s match. The real story here is Ruby Soho is just not able to do right as Saraya continues showing her tough love. If this is how Ruby ultimately turns babyface, then I’m okay with this angle, as I’ve been calling for Tony Khan and AEW to invest more in long-term storytelling.

MATCH 4: Brian Cage & The Workhorsemen vs Penta El Zero Miedo, Komander, Vikingo

Cage and Komander kick things off as Penta gets tagged in, and he goes for a successful diving crossbody onto Cage. Brian Cage tries for a spinning clothesline and misses as Penta hits him square in the jaw with a thrust kick. Vikingo and Henry are tagged as Vikingo gets him in the corner and connects with an implosion dragoncarana, followed by a corkscrew kick! Drake is tagged on now as he calls for Vikingo to chop him. Drake takes two right to the chest like a champ! Drake tries to go for a chop of his own and misses but catches Vikingo as he grounds him! Vikingo with a leg scissors tag down as Penta launches Komander in the air, which sets up Komander for a big dropkick on Cage! All three Lucha do leap off the top rope except for Vikingo, who botches it big time as we head into our final set of commercials. We are back as Penta connects with a ddt on the workhorsemen and a superkick to Cage. Komander is tagged as he hits a dropkick on Drake.
Meanwhile, Henry is launched in the air by Penta as Vikingo catches him in midair with a knee strike. Komander stepping off the back of Penta to dropkick to Drake! Everyone gangs up on Cage, but somehow, he kicks out despite being hit by all three Luchadors. Cage sets up Komander with a monkey flip into Drake, who connects with a powerbomb as he slingshots Komander into Henry, who superkicks him! Henry to the top and gets in a double stomp as Vikingo breaks up the pin attempt. Penta with a thrust kick to Drake as Cage hits him with the F5! Vikingo hits Cage with a DDT from over the top rope as Henry hits him with a piledriver—Penta with the made in Japan as Drake hits Penta next. Komander with the back he’ll kick as Henry accidentally hits Cage. Cage is pissed as he unleashes a spinning clothesline on Henry. Drake goes after Cage as Cage pushes him and heads for the showers. Henry is left alone as Penta hits him with the fear factor! Komander follows up a move from the top rope as Vikingo hits the 630 senton for the win.

Winner:Vikingo, Penta, Komander (10 minutes)
Rating:**
Gotta be honest, I was bored out of my mind with this match. No disrespect to Penta, Vikingo, and Komander but this was nothing more than a spot fest of moves. Yep, a spot fest of moves involving a team that has barely gotten any AEW TV time in recent weeks. Can’t believe this was a main event as it should’ve maybe gone to the women instead.

End of Show

For more great talk of all things wrestling and beyond, be sure to follow me on Twitter @THERCWRSHOW and check me out on YouTube.com/thercwrshow Enjoy the weekend y’all!

5.0

The final score: review Not So Good

The 411

A forgettable episode in all honesty. For me the highlights of the night was the women’s tag match. Beyond that this was a snoozer episode. You would think that after a weekend in which AEW was upstaged, as my friends in the podcasting world best part it, AEW would have all hands, all talent available to bring the quality on all their shows. Instead it’s just about the Continental tournament, and all these titles I couldn’t even name without looking at a cheat sheet. To my point as some missed it in the comments, even if there’s certain aspects of their tournament I don’t like, it creates buzz, and interests. One or two of those matches should’ve been on this Rampage, honestly. Rampage was so much more enjoyable the last week and the week prior. Rampage needs to be about key individuals as I for one can go with less Orange Cassidy. I like that kid but unless he’s defending that Intercontinental Championship, let’s have someone else slide in there for Rampage episodes. AEW was finally starting to find a good groove in recent weeks and it feels like they’ve scaled back with this episode. Sadly an unforgettable episode. My rating may be too low for some but I’m sticking to it. Convince me otherwise 411Maniacs! For more great talk of all things wrestling and beyond, be sure to follow me on Twitter @THERCWRSHOW and check me out on YouTube.com/thercwrshow Enjoy the weekend y'all!