The Ramage era officially begins in Pittsburgh. Excalibur, Taz, Chris Jericho and Mark Henry are your commentary team for the debut edition.
Impact World Championship: Kenny Omega vs Christian Cage
This had a big fight feel to it and the crowd were on board before the bell even rang. It’s a stalemate at first with the first big spot coming when Kenny would push Christian from the top of the ring post and sending him crashing to the outside. Mark Henry brings up Christian’s prior injuries and being away from the ring for seven years. Kenny is in control with Christian every now and then getting in some hope only for Omega to take it away from him. The momentum changes when Christian hits a sunset bomb from the top turnbuckle. If you’re a Christian or Kenny Omega fan, then this is a match you’re going to enjoy with both getting in their signature moves but countering each other finishers along with some close near falls. The ending comes when Don Callis distracts the referee for what seemed like a long time, allowing Kenny to take advantage and hit a low blow on Christian. The Young Bucks make an appearance throwing in a chair for Kenny, who sets it up and is about to finish Christian with a One-Winged Angel to it, but Christian fights out of it and hits the Killswitch to Kenny on the chair for the one, two, three.
Post-Match we see Jurassic Express make their way down to the ring to celebrate with Christian. Impact EVP Scott D’Amore also joins them to congratulate his new champion. After a commercial, Mark Henry is in the back with Christian and Jurassic Express as they continue their celebrations with a little bit of the bubbly. Christian says that Kenny Omega is the real deal and that it’s going to be near impossible to beat him at All Out, but by getting a win over him he is in Omega’s head.
We got a nice video package before the upcoming match with Fuego promising that God’s favourite champion would be baptized by fire.
TNT Championship: Miro vs Fuego Del Sol
This was short match which was expected but still enjoyable. It was built around two big moments with Fuego catching Miro off-guard by immediately hitting him with a Tornado DDT, followed up by a second. Miro rolled out to the floor where the referee began a ten count. Miro only just made it back to the ring on nine. I don’t think anyone believed that Miro would be getting pinned, but many in the crowd bit on the possibility of a count out finish. Fuego hits another Tornado DDT, and this results in a big near fall. Fuego’s momentum though ends there as Miro recovers and shortly after locks Fuego in the Game Over for the win. After the match Miro rips up the AEW contract for a full-time spot on the roster that Fuego was fighting for.
As we come back from the commercial, Sammy Guevarra makes his way out onto the stage with Tony Khan who hands Sammy a clipboard. Fuego is still in the ring as Sammy talks about his friendship with him, how even though he has a poor win/loss record, it doesn’t matter because the fans love him. Sammy reveals that the clipboard that Tony gave him has a contract attached to it and officially welcomes Fuego to All Elite Wrestling. It was a heart-warming moment for fans of Fuego Del Sol and those that have been following his journey,
We see Sting and Darby Allin standing in the rafters which then cuts to a video hyping up next week’s Rampage from the United Center in Chicago which focus on Darby’s ‘best in the world’ comment.
There’s a split screen interview with Britt Baker and Red Velvet in different areas backstage, with Mark Henry in the middle of the screen conducting it. They both hype up the upcoming main event with Red Velvet showing more of an aggressive edge. Britt Baker reassures us that at the end of the day she will still be AEW Women’s Champion.
AEW Women’s World Championship: Britt Baker vs Red Velvet
I thought both worked hard and the crowd were obviously invested in it with being in Britt’s hometown. But I felt like the face/heel dynamics of the match at times didn’t click. During the commercial break it’s Britt that is getting the heel heat on Red Velvet, with Rebel getting some shots in but they were both being cheered for it. When we come back from the break, Red Velvet starts a fiery babyface comeback only to be booed for it. I feel like the match could’ve been better if Britt played more of a traditional face with Velvet going more heel. I actually think this could’ve been a great place to have had the Britt Baker vs Nyla Rose match instead. Technically it was a good match which gave Red Velvet her biggest spotlight thus far and I think she lived up to it. Britt Baker without Pittsburgh is already feeling like one of the biggest stars in AEW but adding in the audience that adores her made both her appearances tonight and early in the week on Dynamite feel very special.
They build nicely to a great finish that revolved around the Lockjaw. Velvet went for the Lockjaw herself looking to defeat Britt with her own move, but Britt is able to hold on. Velvet begins hammering on Britt’s injured wrist, but Baker eventually applies the Lockjaw to get the submission victory and retain the AEW Women’s World Championship.
After the match we see a shot of Britt Baker’s parents celebrating her win in the crowd. Britt continues the attack on Red Velvet which prompts Kris Statlander who had been in the crowd watching the match to get up and hit the ring for the save. A mystery woman then appears and takes out Statlander who is revealed to be the returning Jamie Hayter with a new look. Rampage goes of the air with Britt Baker and Jamie Hayter confirming their new alliance and standing tall over the fallen Red Velvet and Kris Statlander while planting the seeds for a potential future match between Baker and Statlander.
Overall Thoughts: I thought it was a fun first show. It didn’t feel at all too different from Dynamite except for the new colours, logo, and theme music. The four-man commentary booth didn’t seem click but Mark Henry was only there for the first match, and I would assume Chris Jericho is only going to be there for the short term. Taz is an excellent colour commentator and brings a lot to the broadcast. It didn’t feel as monumental compared to the first Dynamite, but if the rumours of CM Punk come true then next week’s First Dance Rampage should be a massive show and could be what defines Rampage as must watch television. But if you’re looking for a solid hour of professional wrestling in front of a lively audience then Rampage was a hit.