Date: February 25, 2022
Arena: Webster Bank Arena
City: Bridgeport, Connecticut

It’s Saturday morning, and you know what that means…  it’s time for our Rampage review!

A fun show coming off a fantastic Dynamite just over a week from the Revolution PPV. 

ANDRADE VS SAMMY GUEVARA, TNT TITLE 

Story going in: After Andrade failed to recruit Darby, both declared they wanted the TNT belt.  Andrade cost Darby his shot last week, leading to a six-man at the PPV.  Dissension between Andrade & Matt Hardy.

So, we jumped straight into it, no music, no entrances but plenty of intensity.  Sammy hit a double-leg and punches to the face before both exchanged shots and each looked to end it early with their finish.  Double ‘lazy-boy’s followed as they grabbed their breath.  Andrade offered a handshake only to be flipped-off.

The TNT champ was spectacular as the pace quickened again, following up a series of flips with a Spanish fly before the challenger shoved him outside as we went to break.

Andrade was in control as we returned until he went to the top, from where Sammy hit another Spanish fly.  They exchanged slaps – not the best idea given Sammy scratched his cornea doing this last week – which degenerated into punches before both collapsed, exhausted and the ref began a double count.

Frustrated, El Idolo went to remove the turnbuckle pad.  As he was stopped by the referee, Matt Hardy jumped up and undid the adjacent one.  Which is where the action moved next as Sammy went for the GTH but Andrade rolled through into a pin with his foot on the ropes.  Only for the dastardly Hardy to push them off.  The commentators debated whether he was trying to help.

Perched on the top rope, the challenger tried for the ‘El Idolo’ DDT before Sammy countered, kicking his standing leg out and sending Andrade face-first into the exposed buckle.  The Spanish God then hit an ugly-looking top-rope cutter for the win.

This was great, a longer match and feud between these two could be classic.  Sammy is spectacular.

Afterwards, Matt Hardy attacked Sammy, but was obliterated by a Darby Allin suicide dive.  Sting, Allin and Guevara celebrated in the ring but the latter two stared holes through each other as they did so.  It seems both teams have a little mistrust heading into Revolution.

WINNER: SAMMY GUEVARA, RETAINS TITLE

QT Marshall came out.  Now, getting the audience to care about QT has been… problematic.  The solution?  ‘Send Hook!’  Marshall claimed he’d ‘made’ the youngster, who promptly massacred members of the Nightmare Factory.  Looks like we’re heading for a match between the two, possibly at Revolution?

Loud ‘We want Hook’ chants here. 

WARDLOW VS NICK COMOROTO 

Story going in: Wardlow’s on a roll, when will he snap on Spears/MJF/The Pinnacle?

The crowd was pretty dead for this until the first of the Powerbomb Symphony.  Which seems to be the case for most of the big guy’s outings lately.  For Wardlow’s sake, let’s hope it reflects the caliber of opponent rather than overall fan interest.

Afterward, Aaron Solo was about to be the victim of some extra powerbombs, before Shawn Spears hit his usual post-match chair shot, irritating the ‘Wardog’ and the crowd.

Grabbing the mic, Spears talked down to Wardlow, claiming he ‘loved him like a little brother’ and so he had to be honest, the powerbomb symphony wasn’t ‘getting over’ (could’ve done without the insider lingo) and hugged Wardlow while telling him to ‘stick to the basics.’  Wardlow looked disgusted.

WINNER: WARDLOW

SERENA DEEB VS KAYLA SPARKS, ‘PROFESSOR’S 5 MIN. ROOKIE CHALLENGE’ 

Story going in: Serena feels disrespected, wants to show how far beneath her everyone is by winning in under five minutes.

Unlike Jade Cargill, Serena is capable of having at least a solid match with almost anyone.  So, this ‘open challenge’ isn’t the worst idea.  Although between these two and Sammy, AEW might be overdoing it.

‘The Professor’ walloped Sparks with a blindside clothesline to start, used her robe to choke her, hit some strikes, mangled some joints in the ropes before looking at the clock and slapping on the Serenity Lock for the victory.

WINNER: SERENA DEEB IN 2.30

Next came a WWE staple in the contract signing between Britt Baker and Thunder Rosa.  Heading in, this match felt lackluster considering the lengthy backstory.

Rosa oozed hatred, telling Britt that the people deserved a better champ amidst some unkind words in Spanish.  ‘DMD’ responded that she was the only thing that made Rosa relevant.  Even after their match last year, Rosa might have won but all people talked about was Britt – she got the t-shirt and the action figure.  Claimed that even if Rosa won at Revolution, she’d never be a star on the same level.

Rosa attacked but was outnumbered until Mercedes Martinez made the save, sending Jamie Hayter crashing through a table.

The number one contender celebrated with Mercedes and held the Women’s title high to end the segment.  Presumably, Rosa will end Britt’s lengthy reign because, if she doesn’t, it’s hard to see who will.

ORANGE CASSIDY VS ANTHONY BOWENS, FACE OF THE REVOLUTION QUALIFIER

Story going in: Winner enters Face of the Revolution match at the PPV for a chance at the TNT title.

In the pre-match interview, Cassidy seemed to have no idea what was going on.  Hearing the word ‘ladder’, he was concerned he’d have to climb something until Wheeler Yuta explained that this was simply a qualifier.

Max Caster covered ground from Putin to racial inequality in his pre-match rap.  Not sure the current invasion of Ukraine is great ‘heel material’ and apparently the censors feel the same way since this part didn’t make air.

An early front-runner for cringe of the year, Orange followed this up by grabbing the mic and stating ‘Word to ya motha’.  Vanilla Ice references in 2022…

After distracting Cassidy early, Bowens took over and basically controlled the whole match.  Looking very good in doing so.  ‘Freshly Squeezed’ had a few flurries – including a boot to the face which Jericho compared to Masahiro Chono – but would be cut-off by his opponent or interference from Caster.

This all culminated in Danhausen distracting Caster, leading to an Orange Punch on the outside before flipping back into the ring, ducking the clothesline and hitting another Orange Punch to join Keith Lee, Starks, Wardlow and Hobbs in the ladder match at the PPV.

This was fine but the outcome was never in doubt.  Bowens continues to impress.

WINNER: ORANGE CASSIDY

GO OUT OF YOUR WAY TO WATCH…

• Sammy, Sammy, Sammy.  Honestly, you probably could’ve turned off after the TNT title match, which should’ve closed the show.  Nothing afterwards was bad; nor was it ‘can’t miss.’

Thanks for reading.  Have a great weekend!