AEW Rampage 7/21/2023

AEW Rampage 7/21/2023

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2023/07/aew-rampage-7142023.html

AEW TNT Title #1 Contendership Royal Rampage Match

Darby got the win here over Swerve. It was long at close to 30 minutes and opening matches that are super long like that aren't good as it makes it hard for others to get over. The big guys were made to look like doofuses like usual and they had a real dumb spot where 4 people just somehow couldn't throw out the 150lb Darby. Prince Nana hit Darby with a skateboard in front of the ref and didn't get DQ'd for it which was bad as this was not a No DQ match (and if it was, everyone was dumb for not bringing in a chair) It wasn't the worst battle royale or anything but they could have shaved 10 minutes off of this and not lost much. And for Swerve being someone they want to push, this dude loses all the time.

Billy Gunn & The Acclaimed (Anthony Bowens & Max Caster) vs. QTV (Aaron Solo, Johnny TV & QT Marshall) (w/Harley Cameron)

QT and Billy go at it. Billy does the "suck it taunt" and drops him with a punch. Bowens hits a top rope crossbody on Johnny then Bowens hits an over the back leg drop on QT's neck. QT is then lariated over the top. We go to PiP break and return.

Billy gets the hot tag in and punches the heels. Bowens hits punches on Johnny and sends him over the top. Bowens hits a million elbows on QT then superkicks Johnny. Bowens is sent over the rails outside then QT cutters Billy. Solo top rope double stomps Billy for 2. Solo takes some moves and then takes a top rope elbow drop for The Acclaimed win.

What we got of this outside of the break was short. Nothing wrong with it, but it didn't get that much time.

Bowens says he and his crew will take home trios title gold on Collision. 

TBS Title - Kris Statlander vs Marina Shafir

Kris shoulders her over then MS hits kicks and palm strikes. MS hip throws her and backdrops her. MS hits kicks on her as she is down. Kris electric chair drops her on her chest. Kris hits a jumping knee then delay suplexes her. MS does a standing figure four variation then Kris spinning lariats her. Kris hits a package tombstone and wins it.

Shafir's style rarely works on television and this was one of those examples. The match wasn't that interesting and nobody cared.

Overall thoughts: Battle royales are rarely ever great and the battle royale here took up most of the show. The trios match was okay but the women's match wasn't much.