#LAWTAKE - AEW RAMPAGE 3/20/24
In AEW’s first attempt at a three-hour show, I ran down the first ever Wednesday night episode of AEW Rampage for tonight’s #LawTake!
The Acclaimed calling out BCG was cool I guess. Billy Gunn no-showing because he was selling the headshot from the chair last week via Jay White was solid. If only this wasn’t the same company that had Darby Allin fly through a glass panel and then appear on Dynamite the next show.
Subtle “other company” references from the Acclaimed was just AEW listening to the IWC when it comes to the on-screen perception of Jay White. Anthony Bowens sliced Jay White’s whole AEW run in one sentence ala Darby Allin. How will Jay WHHHite respond to this one? I’m intrigued.
Amazed that the Acclaimed are still over with these scissors. Not amazed nor surprised that the Trios Titles are going to get merged at Dynasty.
Pockets & Trent vs Hobbs and Kyle Fletcher of the DC Family was good for what it was. You got Orange Cassidy selling his back for the last year essentially, Trent there to do Trent shit, Hobbs looking like a stud, and Kyle Fletcher to take the majority of the bumps and the pin.
Kyle Fletcher better look like a fucking gem when he defends that ROH TV Title, I’m sorry IF he defends, at the next ROH PPV. Mans is taking too many L’s.
This match went on longer than I expected tbh. Fletcher with the bloody mouth added to the severity of this Wildcard Tag Title Qualifying Eliminator Tournament for Rampage’s first night ever on TBS.
As a tune-up match before he gets to Ospreay next week, Shibata took on Kevin Matthew’s the giant jobber. No relation to Corey or Eric Matthews. This guy could probably get more in the Meat Madness Division of AEW if he had more camera time.
Shibata made quick work of duke with the “PK” running kick to the chest. More Shibata. More Okada. Less Suzuki. Less Ishiiiii.
In a tune-up match before he takes on Swerve next week, Takeshita and Rocky Romero have a NJPW-light match. Rocky Romero doesn’t win ever so Takeshita getting the dub was never in question. Swerve vs Takeshita next week alongside Ospreay and Shibata will be fucking fuegoooooooooooo despite what ratings and mic time could show.
AEW is on a roll when it comes to having really good hardcore women’s matches. Statlander & Willow vs Julia & Skye Black didn’t disappoint with the violence. Team Long Island vs Team Spooky.
More angry Willow and less oblivious huff and puff Willow.
I really don’t know who will turn first between Stat and Willow. For the sake of this tag team feud I hope neither. But for the sake of maybe continuing this 8 month long program between Willow/Julia/Skye - I’m going Willow for the non-sensical swerve so Stat can keep being a bigger babyface. Yeah. Make it make sense.
On the contrary, Willow was tied up with Skye and wasn’t able to save Statlander from Julia Hart’s BEST SUBMISSION FINISHER IN AEW after Stat went knees first from a front flip off the turnbuckle. A necessary win to keep the TBS champion strong.
Overall if this is what 3 hours of AEW program looks like on a weekly basis, I’m actually down. Eliminate Friday and give us Wednesdays 8-11 more often.
I give this Rampage a 7/10. Better than usual Rampage’s by far because of the time slot.