AEW Rampage 12/23/2022

AEW Rampage 12/23/2022

AEW $300,000 Three Kings Trios Battle Royale

So they had a bunch of trios do a battle royale here. Some teams entered later than other teams did for unknown reasons. Preston Vance made his big debut with Rush's team here and of course was eliminated. The Spanish Announce Project also made their big tv debut to a loss. Ari Daivari may have also made his debut here on TV with Woods and Nese and of course, they lost too. I believe Mox eliminated himself and recreated the famous Mil Mascaras self-elimination at the 1997 Royal Rumble to jump onto Adam Page, who wasn't in the match and had interfered. Top Flight shockingly ended up winning this one, taking out Claudio Castagnoli. The whole thing went around 22 minutes, which is super long and as I always say, battle royales really aren't that good, so it felt extra long. You really have to give it to AEW for having three different teams job in their TV debut here. I don't know if that has ever been done before.

Eddie Kingston and Ortiz came out. Ortiz had a picture of a dog and made barking sounds. I have no idea what that was about. Eddie said the House of Black didn't sign a contract for a match with them and said he wants to fight them now. Eddie told them to hit the lights and do the creepy crap. Julia Hart pointed at the tron and HoB were in their mystery realm doing a promo. Malakai Black had some stupid line where he asked if a friend of his enemy was influenced by him, if he was an enemy too. Eddie and Ortiz were confused by this.

Daniel Garcia and Sammy Guevara were interviewed. They argued over the mic and Garcia said he didn't like Sammy being his lead. He said he was a professional and Sammy said he was tight and needed to loosen up. Sammy said Garcia needs a hug then hugged him. He said they are a family and said they would do great things in the new year.

AEW TBS Title - Eliminator - Jade Cargill vs Vertvixen

Jade won in a quick squash here. She got a slam in and we went to PIP break immediately. Jade hit a big superkick when we returned then an axe kick and a pump kick.

Ruby Soho does a promo. She said her match against Tay Melo was supposed to be the end of that story. She said Anna Jay then jumped her and now she needs help. She found Willow Nightingale to help her and they are already putting them together as an odd couple type.

Wardlow does a promo on Joe. He said he find it comical that Joe says he is dangerous yet attacks him from behind. He said Joe's crown is not his as he never beat him. He said Joe's reign as king comes to an end.

We go outside with Alex Marvez and see Hobbs threatening someone against the side of the building. It was only a few seconds long.

We get a split screen interview with The Acclaimed and Sonjay Dutt's crew. Dutt said they took out Max last time and will do the same to Bowens now. Lethal says they will prove they are better wrestlers. Billy Gunn tells them to shut up. Bowens said they will beat Jeff Jarrett's geriatric butt all over Texas and says San Antonio will show that everyone loves The Acclaimed.

Billy Gunn and Anthony Bowens vs Jeff Jarrett and Jay Lethal

Jay and Bowens trade chest slaps for punches. Jay gets cradled and they trade more chops for punches. Bowens jumping legdrops his neck from behind. JJ eye pokes Billy then back elbows him. JJ drops his body on him on the 2nd rope then is lariated. Billy falcon arrows him for 2. Jay comes off the top onto Billy but is hit in the gut. Jay takes a side facekick then is slammed by Bowens. Billy and Bowens scissor and drop a double elbow off of it for 2.

Jay misses an elbow then Bowens is lariated on the floor by JJ. We go to PiP break. We return and Bowens takes a back body drop from JJ. Bowens is gut kicked into a Lethal neckbreaker. Jay suplexes Bowens then Bowens rolls him up. Jay backbreakers him into a flatliner for 2. JJ hits some nice punches on Bowens then Bowens superkicks him.

Billy gets the hot tag in and beats up both heels. Singh gets in the ring and Billy lariats him over the top. Singh lands on his feet, Billy catches Jay's lethal injection and cobra clutch slams him for 2. Dutt is nailed by Bowens then JJ hits the stroke on Bowens. Max gets on the apron and hits JJ then JJ is thrown out. Dutt low blows Billy then Jay hits the lethal injection for the win on Billy.

This was actually a really fun tag match with some great work by the vets as you would expect. The ref was bad here though. There's no way Aubrey couldn't have seen the interference yet nothing was done about it.

Overall thoughts: I liked the main but little else here.