Here’s where we landed with this week’s Rampage put in the can from Boston. Curious how we rank matches? We’ve got a rubric for that.

Show Highlight—

Bandido def. Rush. Have they had better matches, certainly, but this was a high-energy throwback to the best of Nitro’s cruiserweights. Rush played a slimey heel blending power maneuvers with a high-flying offense, and the heel heat was great to deny the audience of the counting, suspended suplex. What hurt this match was the silly distraction finish. They were trying to protect Rush but that only makes him look like a derpy turd to go out in a WWE-fill-a-segment-what-whatever-means. And yipes, did the lack of Preston Vance/Ten mean this program must continue?

What Worked—

Change of pace. Every once in a blue moon you want to open with a promo, and with Christian being perhaps the biggest name (one could argue) on the show, it shouldn’t kill the viewership. The change of format signals to the audience that this is something different, and it gives Luchasauras and “Jungle Boy” Jack Perry a little extra nudge of importance.
Hook gets a quality program! About time! Hook versus Lee Moriarty will be great!
House of Black vignette. Baptism symbolism, rebirths, not sure what this is but it looked sweet. That’s enough!

What Didn’t Work—

But IS Bandido All Elite? Goddamn, after having the dirt sheets say this guy was signed for weeks and weeks, make something of that interest and give the guy a damn moment after his win with the screen showing he’s All Elite. Was there a lot going on there, sure, they were trying to make a moment of Bandido getting a flukey win to protect Rush, keep that dreadful feud with Dark Order still simmering when in reality its long sense boiled over and messy, so adding the insert on the screen one could argue would be too much. But fuck it, it’s a feel good moment, it’s AEW’s thing, we can cut Gorillaz-ass Jake Hager and put that on Dark instead.

Show Cringe—

Nyla/Jade. It’s not their fault. There’s no other program building to Full Gear that has been hemorrhaged for time like this rivalry has. You have two of the most unique, dynamic personalities in wrestling and it’s not on the screen. For a company that absolutely adores worked shoots, let their damn Twitter personas do business for you. They’re funny and clever and have great followings, have that translate into the ring. Instead, it's the same old shit. The stealing the belt bit is fine, it’s just how you do it. And having an open challenge—again with the open challenges—is dumb when Jade or a Baddie much less, doesn’t answer it. In kayfabe, if any jobess raises her hand and said she wanted a title shot, would they have the ovaries to stand up to Jade? No. Could’t have Jade retained the legal services of Smart Mark Sterling to demand a forfeiture of stolen property, or at the very least, gotten a contract signed for this match instead? Jesus, make some fun with Nyla purposely selecting someone beneath everyone as her chosen “number one contender,” we all love Bret Hart in this promotion, give yourself to the opportunity to have Nyla justify the title defense by homaging the famous Bret promo with, “Who are you to doubt, (Insert Female Wrestler’s Name)?” With that all being said, holy fuck, Jade’s outfit was money.

AEW Rampage 11/11/2022 Match Ratings and Commentary

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