AEW Rampage 1/26/2024

AEW Rampage 1/26/2024

Last week's show is here: https://prowresblog.blogspot.com/2024/01/aew-rampage-1192024.html 

Jon Moxley vs Lee Moriarty

Mox rolls out of a wristlock. Lee does the same and bridges. Lee snapmares him. Mox backs him up and chops him. They mention that Ice Train of WCW fame passed away this week. I liked Ice Train and it's a shame they didn't get more out of him. Lee side headlocks Mox then takes him over.

Lee shoulders him over then Mox running back elbows him. Lee rolls out and kicks the rail in frustration. Shane Taylor talks to Lee outside. Mox gets up in Shane's face and Shane face shoves him. Mox throws Shane's hat.

Lee rolls him up for 2. They trade forearms and Mox hits a stiff forearm. Mo corner lariats him then hits corner punches. Mox bites the ear then Lee dropkicks him off the buckles. Lee hits corner punches then throws Mox out. We go to PiP break and return. They trade shots on the apron. Lee then pushes him back on the apron onto his arm in a hammerlock.

Lee springboards then is caught with a boot. Lee belly to belly suplexes him and armbars him. Lee delay germans him for 2. Lee runs at him and takes a lariat. Lee border city stretches him then Mox hits downward elbows. Lee splits Mox's fingers and dropkicks him into the buckles. Lee flying face kicks him and hits a strike combo. Lee does another flying face kick then lifting flatliners him.

Lee springboards and takes a forearm. Mox hits reverse curb stomps then piledrivers him for 2. Mox hits downward elbows then running face kicks him for 2. Mox hits forearms to the back of the neck then chokes him out to win it.

This went somewhere over 12-13 minutes. I don't know why. Lee has never really been protected or pushed that strong yet he's getting tons of time against one of AEW's best. Don't get me wrong, it was good at times but this should not have gone on for as long as it did. It was a good showing for Lee though.

Lee and Shane beat up Mox after, rightfully I might add too since Mox started trouble with Shane during the match. Shane hits reverse curbstomps on Mox. 

Anna Jay and Angelo Parker are interviewed. Parker says she has his support but he can't be out there. Parker says he's putting together what happened and thinks he knows who is behind this. Parker asks her if she can confirm that she had nothing to do with Harley Cameron kissing him. Anna then slaps him. She said she can't believe he asked her that after all they went through. Anna said tonight she was defending him but says she's not doing this anymore. She said this is for her tonight. She said she's tired of having everyone's back and no one having her back. She said she is done.

Konosuke Takeshita vs Christopher Daniels

Daniels hits punches, chops and forearms. KT hits a big forearm and drops him. KT flying clotheslines Daniels then corner forearms him. KT 2nd rope sentons him.

They fight on the buckles. Daniels headbutts him and hits a 2nd rope swinging flatliner. Daniels backdrops him and hits a running sto. KT hits a package tombstone then a wheelbarrow suplex. KT pumping knees him and wins it.

It was a short one but the two matched up well and kept a fast pace.

Don Callis gets on the mic after. He said The Family takes everything that can be taken. Don said Jericho took 33 years from him. Don said they took his partner and took Guevarra. He said Jericho keeps coming back and said it's time to end this. Don challenges Jericho to a match against Konosuke Takeshita. Kyle Fletcher interrupts Don on the mic. Kyle said KT and Hobbs had their shots a Jericho. He said he should get the next shot at Jericho. Don says he's right. Don says Jericho gets Kyle Fletcher next week and Takeshita in 2 weeks. This was a weird one. What if Jericho doesn't feel like wrestling two weeks in a row?

Renee interviews Top Flight, Action Andretti and Private Party. They will have a match next week. Quen says their match wasn't questionable and Zay said a win is a win. Action says Top flight are his hydro homies and said he will be in their corner making sure they don't do any funny business. Action then says it sounds like a hydration situation and Queen knocks his water away. Zay said they will beat them in New Orleans and head to Bourbon Street after. Zay invites Renee and said shots are on him. You know, you might want to ask her husband first. 

Ruby Soho vs Anna Jay

Saraya spanks Ruby on the ramp. Jay does her bow in the ring and Ruby throws her out. Ruby chops her outside and clubs her back. Anna's head is banged off the steps. Anna is thrown in and the bell rings.

Anna running boots Ruby then chokes her. Anna kicks her on the ropes then neckbreakers her over the 2nd rope. Harley and Saraya grab Anna's legs and trip her on the apron.

We go to PiP break and then full break. Anna ddt's her for 2. Harley grabs Anna's leg. Anna then forearms her outside. Saraya boots Anna then the ref sees what is going on. Saraya and Harley are kicked out of ringside. Ruby blade runners Anna for 2.

Anna 2nd rope blockbusters her then taps her out with the grounded choke.

It wasn't anything special but there were no botches or anything. 

Renee interviews Eddie Kingston. Eddie calls Bryan Danielson a tree-hugging, vegan eating, hippie. He says good luck with Nagata on Collision. Eddie said he wants to be on Collision too and challenges Willie Mack. He said he beats him, he can get a shot at his title. He said unlike Bryan, he's not afraid of people.

We get another Serena Deeb video. She says anticipation is a very powerful emotion and says the professor is ready to return. She says the wait is over.

AEW International Title #1 Contendership Freshly Squeezed Four Way Match - Kip Sabian vs Komander vs El Hijo del Vikingo vs The Butcher

Kip and Butch beat up on the faces to start. Kom and Kip go out and the faces are sent into the rails. Kip and Butch pose together then Butch stares him down. Kip then rolls him up for 2. Butch blocks a punch and goes over the top. Vik pulls Kip out then the luchadores do stereo topes. Vik spinning headscissors Kom.

Kom spinning headscissors Vik and they stand off with poses. Butch lariats both at the same time. Kom comes off the ropes, is caught and put into a texas cloverleaf. Vik superkicks Butch then Kip trips on the ropes but still lariats over Vik.

We go to PiP break and return. Kom has both opponents putting him in an armbar. Kip cannonballs Kom then Butc slingshots into a splash on Kom. Butch throws Kom into Kip's knee. Butch breaks up Kip's pin. Kip boots Butch then Butch backbreakers Kip for 2 when Vik springboard double stomps to break up the pin. Vik corkscrew kicks Butch then springboard dropkicks him.

Kip crotches Vik onto the post. Kom springboad lariats Kip, creating a Kip ddt onto Vik. Kom handsprings then hits a standing spanish fly for 2. Kom is crotched on the top rope by Vik. Vik is on Butch's shoulders. Vik suplexes Kom and Kip trips Butch for 1. Kip then rolls up his other 2 opponents. Kip puts his feet on the ropes and Alex Abrahantes knocks Kip's feet off.

Kip argues with the ref and Kom jumps off Alex's back to canadian destroyer Kip on the floor. Vik top rope moonsaults Kom and Kip outside. Vik moonsaults off the top and Kom gets his feet up. Butch sitout powerbombs Kom for 2. Vik hits kicks on Butch then running meteoras him. Vik spinning high kicks Kom. Kom spinning high kicks him then jumping poisonrana's him. Kip germans Kom for 2. Kom hurricanrana's Kip out of a suplex attempt and wins it.

It was your usual spotfest 4-way match. Kip got canadian destroyer'd on the floor and it meant nothing here. Kom and Vik didn't do a lot of their wilder spots. Kom jumping up to poisonrana Vik was something I don't think I have seen before.

Orange Cassidy comes out after and shakes hands with Komander.

Overall thoughts: Mox/Moriarty went too long and I don't get why Lee got so much in. It was a good match for the most part. Takeshita/Daniels was short but fine. Ruby/Anna was average and the main event was your usual chaotic four way with a lot of spots. I'd say this was average with some good, some bad and some average stuff.