With REVOLUTION 2024 just two days away, this Friday night’s edition of RAMPAGE comes your way from the Great Southern Bank Arena in Springfield, MO, and drops at 10pm ET/9pm CT on TNT! The BCC and CMLL battles continue on as Claudio Castagnoli battles Rugido, the original AEW Women’s World Champion returns to take on rising star Trish Adora, The Righteous and Lance Archer will be in Trios action ahead of Archer participating in Sunday’s Meat Madness, and Rugido’s tag team partner Magnus will also be in action as he takes on Matt Sydal for a spot in the All-Star 8-Man Scramble on Sunday night!
Before the action begins, drop by the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW’s assorted social media sites, to catch up on highlights from this week’s DYNAMITE, as well as previous episodes of RAMPAGE, COLLISION, and the latest CONTROL CENTER! All roads lead to REVOLUTION 2024 this Sunday night LIVE on pay-per-view beginning at 8pm ET/7pm CT, with the ZERO HOUR launching on the aforementioned YouTube channel roughly an hour before showtime!
BCC VS. CMLL…
Claudio Castagnoli vs. Mexican National Tag Team Champion Rugido
One-half of the Mexican National Tag Team Champions as Los Depredadores (The Predators) with Magnus, Rugido (Roar) comes to AEW with a style described as technical with a dash of high-flying, a description that could also be applied to the man welcoming Rugido to AEW: The Blackpool Combat Club’s Claudio Castagnoli!
Though Claudio has his plate quite full with the impending FTR tag Sunday night at REVOLUTION 2024, not to mention the tremendous trios fight he experienced on DYNAMITE against FTR and Eddie Kingston, Claudio is never one to turn down a challenge, especially not if it gives him another opportunity to put down a CMLL luchador. The BCC have clearly made it a point to engage the CMLL contingent at every possible opportunity, taking affront to their mere presence in All Elite Wrestling, and even heading to Mexico in full force on March 29th with intent to infiltrate CMLL’s HOMENAJE A DOS LEYENDAS event for an Eight-Man 2/3 Falls bout against Blue Panther, Mistico, Ultimo Guerrero, and Volador Jr.
This is just the latest battle in the bitter war that’s erupted between The BCC and CMLL, one that has largely tilted in favor of Blackpool Combat Club thus far, but can Rugido be the first of his lot to score victory over a BCC member?
ALL-STAR 8-MAN SCRAMBLE QUALIFIER…
Mexican National Tag Team Champion Magnus vs. Matt Sydal
The other half of the Mexican National Tag Team Champions will also be in action this Friday night when Matt Sydal steps up to the plate against CMLL’s Magnus! Cousin of Mistico, the man who beat Sydal three weeks ago on RAMPAGE, Magnus has been fighting inside the squared circle for fifteen years despite being just thirty-one years of age. During that time he’s largely called CMLL his home, but has also competed across Mexico for various independent companies, partook of February’s FANTASICA MANIA 2024 tour with New Japan Pro Wrestling, and was even featured on a reality TV show called El Luchador that aired on A&E Latinoamericano.
He’s a powerful man, and Matt Sydal is going to have his work cut out for him with this battle, but if Sydal has proven anything, it’s that he does not back down from a fight. He gave Mistico everything he had three weeks ago, and he will do the same thing with Magnus this Friday night on RAMPAGE! Outside of BCC members, Matt Sydal has been the only man to step up to the CMLL crew in singles competition, something that speaks strongly to his character and desire to stand up for AEW, perhaps this fight with Magnus will pay off where the Mistico one did not!
And now the payoff has been boosted because, with the postponement of the Meat Madness match, an All-Star 8-Man Scramble Match has been announced for REVOLUTION 2024, six of the competitors have already been set, and the winner of this bout will earn the seventh spot in that fracas!
ONE-ON-ONE…
Riho vs. Trish Adora
The AEW faithful have not seen the original AEW Women’s World Champion since WORLDS END 2023 where she fell to Toni Storm in their title fight, but this Friday night on RAMPAGE, Riho is back home with All Elite Wrestling!
For her return to the fold, Riho is not taking it easy either, instead she’s stepping into the ring with the perpetually-improving Trish Adora! They first battled way back on the 11/22/21 edition of DARK: ELEVATION, a bout Riho won in 135 seconds, but to say that version of Trish Adora was unprepared for what the bright lights of AEW would bring was clearly an understatement. In the time since, Adora has grown immeasurably as a competitor, found support in The Infantry of Capt. Shawn Dean and Carlie Bravo, and has been working tirelessly to build her name both in AEW and Ring of Honor competition.
Though she just found herself eliminated from the ROH Women’s World TV Championship Tournament by Mercedes Martinez, Adora doesn’t plan to stew on that elimination, instead looking to this fight with a former AEW Women’s World Champion, the original champion at that, as a means to show and prove. This could be the biggest night in Trish Adora’s AEW career…
ALSO FEATURING:
-Lance Archer & The Righteous (Dutch & Vincent) IN TRIOS ACTION!
Springfield, MO and the Great Southern Bank Arena play host to Friday night’s edition of RAMPAGE, the last one before REVOLUTION 2024 and it comes to you beginning at 10pm ET/9pm CT on TNT! In addition to the return of former AEW Women’s World Champion Riho, we will also see The Righteous and “The Murderhawk Monster” in Trios competition as well as two AEW versus CMLL clashes! In one, Claudio Castagnoli takes on half of the Mexican National Tag Champions with Rugido, while in the other contest it will be Rugido’s partner Magnus fighting Matt Sydal one-on-one!
Before the first bell rings to start the show, drop by the official AEW YouTube channel, as well as AEW’s assorted social media platforms, to catch up on highlights from this week’s DYNAMITE, as well as previous episodes of RAMPAGE and COLLISION, plus the latest CONTROL CENTER! Then be sure to join us Saturday night for COLLISION and, most importantly, this Sunday night on PPV for REVOLUTION 2024 where we bid farewell to the in-ring career of “The Icon” Sting!
Ego Nwodim Interview by Big Gold Belt Media as apart of the @theaafcachannel2297 Roundtable interview-Synopsis:Ego Nwodim returns to “Saturday Night Live” for her sixth season as a cast member.Nwodim has entertained viewers with her standout impression…
Tonight’s special episode of AEW DYNAMITE was broadcast live from the Fort Bend Epicenter in Rosenberg, TX!
Excalibur, Tony Schiavone, and “The Human Suplex Machine” Taz were the broadcast team for tonight’s event.
It’s Wednesday night and you know what that means!
Penta El Zero Miedo (with Alex Abrahantes)
vs.
“Switchblade” Jay White (with Bullet Club Gold)!
“Massive reaction for Penta here tonight,” said Taz.
Jay White walked out wearing the championship he stole from rightful AEW World champion MJF.
Penta wiped out Bullet Club Gold, jumping over the top rope and crashing onto them as they made their entrance. Penta followed up with a sling blade to Jay White! Penta El Zero Miedo crushed White with a diving double foot stomp for a near fall.
Jay White spiked Penta El Zero Miedo with a DDT. Jay White hit a snap suplex on Penta El Zero Miedo. Penta connected with a thrust kick. Penta was looking for a monkey flip in the corner, but Jay White dodged it and then chopped Penta, sending Penta crashing to the arena floor.
Penta El Zero Miedo retaliated with two consecutive sling blades to Switchblade! Penta jumped over the top rope, landing on Jay White on the arena floor! Back in the ring, Penta and White exchanged chops. Penta planted Jay White with a spinning Death Valley Driver! Penta was looking for the package piledriver, but Jay White countered with a uranage.
Jay White drilled Penta El Zero Miedo with a brain buster for a two-count. Jay White nailed Penta with a sleeper suplex. Penta countered the Blade Runner with Made in Japan for a two-count! The Gunns distracted the ref while Juice clocked Penta with the left hand! Jay White smashed Penta with the Blade Runner and pinned him!
Jay White: “Cut my music! You know who sucks? It’s MJF. Because where is MJF? He’s not here. But you know who’s here? J-A-Y. Because I’m a real world champion. I’m a truly elite world champion. And Max, I’m still waiting on your answer to my very generous offer. I’m assuming you can’t find anyone who wants to team up with you to try to take back the Bang Bang Belt. Until then, I’ll lead by example.”
Juice Robinson: “Spoiler alert! Tonight, in your main event, the ‘stray bullet’ Juice Robinson is going to win the battle royal. After I win the right to face MJF for this Dynamite Diamond Ring, we’re taking his ring and we’re going to pawn it and I’m getting another gold tooth!”
Renee Paquette was backstage with the AEW World Champion MJF!
MJF: “I could have run out there like every single dumb good guy in the history of pro wrestling. But I’m not a good guy. I’m a scum bag. Jay White, I will get back my Triple B before Full Gear. Juice Robinson, I pray to God that you win tonight because next week it’ll be your left hand of God against the right hand of the devil!
“As far as an update on Adam Cole—”
AEW Trios Champs The Acclaimed and Daddy Ass interrupted the interview.
Max Caster: “If you want your world title back from Jay White, they said an 8-man tag, us three and you, we’ll get all the belts and we’ll scissor after we win.”
MJF: “How about no.”
Max Caster: “Then how about I get in the Dynamite Dozen Battle Royale, win that, and then next week I’ll win your ring and you’re gonna have to put a ring on it!”
Daddy Ass: “That guy is such a scumbag.”
Max Caster: “Yeah, but he’s my scumbag.”
World Title Eliminator Match! “Student vs. Teacher”!
AEW Women’s World Champion Hikaru Shida
vs.
Emi Sakura!
Sakura ambushed Shida as Shida was entering the ring. Sakura collided into Shida with a shoulder tackle. They traded chops in the center of the ring. Sakura went for a running cross body, but Shida countered with a knee strike.
Sakura dropkicked Shida in the face while Shida was on her knees. Sakura splashed Shida in the corner with a running cross body press. Sakura sent Shida crashing to the floor after a running cross body as Shida was standing on the ring apron. Shida took down Sakura with a hurracanrana. Shida followed up with a missile dropkick for a near fall.
Emi planted Shida with a Tiger Driver for a two-count! Shida dodged a moonsault and blasted Emi with the katana! Sakura nailed Shida with a back breaker. Shida fired back with a Falcon Arrow for a near fall. Shida rocked Emi with a knee strike and pinned her!
Earlier in the day, the “Rated R Superstar” Adam Copeland was backstage with Renee Paquette and gave his Rated- R Rebuttal to TNT Champion Christian Cage!
Adam Copeland: “Things have not been going smoothly. I don’t understand what’s happened. The whole idea in coming here was to end my career with Christian Cage and team with him. And he sounded on board with that until it got real.
“I sat down this week and began replaying my relationship with him over the years. We’ve known each other since the 6th grade. We were best friends in high school and in college. We both entered an essay contest to get into wrestling school. I wrote in and he didn’t. Fast forward and I got the dream gig and I always said, to whoever would listen, you’ve gotta see my friend.
“For whatever reason, over the years, it’s always been Adam and Jay. And it’s stuck with him, and I feel it’s frustrated him. He said I had a rocket strapped to my back, but I worked hard. I’m surprised that this keeps repeating at this stage in our lives. He’s riding high right now. He came here first, and I didn’t intend to take away his spotlight. I don’t want his TNT Title. I’m not going to fight him. What that means for me, I don’t know. One thing I do know is eventually Nick Wayne and Luchasaurus are going to leave him high and dry. And I’ll be there to pick him up.”
Wardlow vs. Ryan Nemeth!
Nick charged at Wardlow but Wardlow powerbombed him. The ref stopped the match after a single powerbomb!
Tony Schiavone entered the ring to interview Wardlow.
Schiavone: “Everyone knows your back, but what are you back for?”
Wardlow held up his fist and showed off his wrist tape, which had the letters “MJF” written on it.
Schiavone: “Whoa. That says MJF.”
Wardlow left the ring, bumping into Tony and knocking him to the mat.
Renee Paquette was backstage to interview Kenny Omega ahead of his match tonight against Kyle Fletcher.
Kenny said maybe soon we’d soon the Kenny of old and he’d go after the World Championship.
AEW World Champion MJF walked onto the set.
MJF: “Kenny Omega, the measuring stick. World Champion, MJF. I’ve always been a massive fan of Kenny Omega.”
Omega: “I appreciate it.”
MJF: “So I just wanted to say I’d love to shake your hand.”
MJF leaned in as he shook Omega’s hand and whispered, “13 days, bitch.”
Omega: “13 days, huh? We’ll see about that.”
Footage was shown from earlier in the day from Roderick Strong’s humble abode!
Mike Bennett was playing the bongos. Matt Taven was listening with his plush giraffe, and Roderick Strong was resting on the other couch. Adam Cole brought Roderick Strong coffee.
Strong took a sip and spit it out, saying Adam knew that he hates hot coffee! Strong apologized and asked Cole to make them PB&J sandwiches. Strong then complained that Adam Cole left the crust on the sandwich.
Cole: “I have done everything I can to possibly help you! I haven’t talked to Max in weeks practically. And I need to get surgery. I’m done with this!”
Adam Cole left. Roderick Strong turned to the Kingdom and said he knew what he was going to have to do to get his best friend back. “I guess I’m going to have to be nice to that scumbag MJF.”
Tony Schiavone was in the ring to interview Don Callis!
Callis walked to the ring with Powerhouse Hobbs and Takeshita!
Don Callis: “I’ve got something to say. Last week the Don Callis Family made history. Because in over 30 years in one of the greatest careers of all time, Chris Jericho has never been manhandled like he was last week. Because last week Will Hobbs broke Chris Jericho in half.”
Powerhouse Hobbs: “February 22nd, 1998, was supposed to be the greatest day of my life. I had the chance to meet my hero, Chris Jericho. My grandmother got me front row tickets to meet you. And you walked past that old lady, told her to shut up, and looked at me and told me to sit down. 25 years, Chris, I held on to frustration. I swore the day I got to whoop you, I was going to hurt you over and over and over.
“As I looked at you, Chris, you were lifeless. So, what did I do. I picked you up and gave you spinebuster after spinebuster after spinebuster. I loved it!”
Don Callis: “All Will Hobbs’ life, he’s been told by people who supposedly love him to bottle up the hate and violence. Well now Will has a new family, and we don’t tell you to bottle it up. We tell you to be what you are. And he’s a killing machine! And we are not done with Jericho. We are going to unleash Will Hobbs on AEW! We are on a roll! We are undefeated in four months except for one match, where Sammy Guevara was hurt by Chris Jericho.
“And I had to get a replacement. I had to get a scab worker to come in, a young man named Kyle Fletcher. He let us down. He screwed the Don Callis Family.”
Kyle Fletcher came down to the ring!
Fletcher got into Callis’ face, but Hobbs squared up with Fletcher.
Callis: “No, no, I want to hear this. Say what you gotta say, kid.”
Fletcher: “As far as I can recall, I did that match for you as a favor after Will Ospreay called and said, ‘Don Callis is on his knees begging me to do this match.’ And maybe I was the weakest link that night, but tonight I have another chance against Kenny Omega one on one. And I’m going to prove to everyone, especially you, that I don’t need anybody’s help to beat Kenny Omega.”
Callis: “You know what? I like the confidence. I’ll tell you what, Kyle. You beat Kenny Omega tonight, and you and I may have an opportunity to discuss next week.”
Kenny Omega’s music began to play, and Omega made his entrance!
Aussie Open’s Kyle Fletcher vs. Kenny Omega!
Fletcher got the jump on Omega as Omega entered the ring. Kenny jabbed Fletcher with stiff shots. Omega chopped at Kyle Fletcher.
Fletcher grounded and pounded on Omega. Kenny fired back with a vertical suplex. Omega jumped over the top rope with a cross body press down onto Kyle Fletcher.
Fletcher rocked Omega with a kick, knocking Omega off the apron and onto the arena floor. Fletcher whipped Omega into the steel guardrail, sending him over the barricade. Omega nailed Fletcher with a hurracanrana. Omega was looking for the Terminator Dive, but Fletcher grabbed Omega’s ankle.
Both men traded chops outside the ring. Kenny charged at Kyle, but Kyle tripped him, and Omega crashed into the barricade. Omega wiped out Fletcher with a middle rope moonsault. Kenny clocked Kyle with a dropkick from the top rope to the lower back.
Kyle spiked Omega with a half and half suplex. Fletcher followed up with a brainbuster for a near fall. Fletcher lawn darted Omega into the turnbuckle pad. Fletcher kicked Omega in the back of the head. Omega spiked Fletcher with a reverse hurracanrana and followed up with a powerbomb and a V-Trigger for a two-count!
Kenny went for the One-Winged Angel. Fletcher countered with a dragon sleeper. Omega escaped and planted Kyle with a snap dragon suplex. Omega rammed into Fletcher with a knee strike and then pinned Kyle with the One Winged Angel!
Don Callis: “This kid is such a miserable disappointment!”
“The MurderHawk Monster” Lance Archer vs. Barrett Brown!
Archer choke slammed his opponent on the ring apron! Archer suplexed Brown. Archer smashed into his opponent three consecutive times in the corner. Archer planted Brown and pinned him!
Prince Nana and Swerve Strickland were on the streets!
Nana: “Some of the top rappers have been here. And now you get to release the remix of the Big Pressure video this Friday on YouTube. What an exciting time!”
Swerve: “Why am I not excited? Because I should be celebrating my music video along with being the TNT Champion. There’s only one reason I’m not. It’s because of you Hangman Page. It wasn’t a personal thing. It was Swerve versus the opportunity. But now it’s personal and you couldn’t leave well enough alone after I beat you at WrestleDream. Nobody cares less about life than me. Just remember this. It’s not always you that pays for your actions.”
Tony Schiavone was in the ring to interview Sting!
Sting: “Shall I say the word? Before I say the word, I want to reflect a little bit with all of you. That word makes me think about all the years traveling down the road with guys like Lex Luger, Rick and Scott Steiner, Buff Bagwell. I traveled up and down the road with these guys and we’d look at the generation ahead of us, guys like Dusty Rhodes. Dusty Rhodes being the most charismatic human being I’ve ever seen in my whole life.
“Hulk Hogan. Hulk Hogan transcended wrestling and I did learn something from the guy. But one of the guys I really want to give a lot to is the ‘Nature Boy’ Ric Flair. Thank you for all of the moments. I remember the Clash of the Champions 1988, the very first title match that I had with you, and you put me on the map. What a moment that was.
“We used to wonder though, what makes these guys want to come year after year, decade after decade, what more do they have to prove. Here I am all these years later. And I understand why they hung on. It is the roar of the fans. That’s what makes us keep coming back for more.
“So, getting back to that word. That word. It makes me, before I quite get there. I know what some of you are thinking. ‘He retired once already.’ I gotta tell you, that retirement in 2015 just didn’t sit right with me. Which brings me now to the word ‘retirement’ again.
“I want to address it live and in color on Dynamite. I started my very first match with AEW was Revolution 2021. And my very last match will be Revolution 2024. One more key thing that you all need to know. The only thing for sure about Sting is my retirement, Revolution 2024 is for sure.”
Jim Ross had a sitdown interview with Nick Wayne and Nick Wayne’s mom!
Jim Ross: “Nick, I can’t get over what you did to Darby Allin. He’s like a brother to you.”
Nick Wayne’s mom: “It was shocking to me J.R. I can’t make sense of it. Darby has been like a brother to you, Nick. This is just so out of character for you. And Christian? The things that he has said about your father, and to me! Nick, I don’t recognize you right now.”
Nick Wayne: “That’s enough! It was always about Darby Allin. I was always in his shadows. It was always him. They congratulated him for getting me here. It’s time for me to prove why I’m here. And I’m under a new father figure now. Christian Cage. A better father figure than dad ever was.”
TNT Champion Christian Cage walked onto the set and put his hand on Nick’s shoulder.
Christian Cage: “Are you ready to come home, son?”
Nick Wayne’s mom: “Nick, no!”
Nick Wayne: “Don’t touch me! You were a terrible mother!”
Nick Wayne got slapped by his mother!
She apologized and Nick said, “You’re dead to me.”
Nick and Christian left the room and Darby was there, laying them both out!
Darby hammered away at Nick, stumbling onto the stage! Luchasaurus snuck up behind Darby and cracked him with his forearm! Sting came out to even up the odds, sweeping out the leg of Christian Cage! Sting rammed Luchasaurus into the guardrail! Sting went to apply the Scorpion Deathlock on Christian in the ring, but Luchasaurus pulled Christian out of the ring to safety.
Main Event Time!
Dynamite Dozen Battle Royale!
The winner earns their shot to face AEW World Champion MJF for the Dynamite Diamond Ring.
“The Natural” Dustin Rhodes was the first participant out to the ring. AEW World Champion MJF joined the broadcast booth for the main event.
Matt Hardy slugged it out with Jake Hager. Jeff Hardy tried to hoist Juice Robinson over the top. Johnny TV and Daniel Garcia were about to have a dance off, but Menard stopped Garcia. Jeff splashed Menard in the corner.
Hager hurled Matt Hardy over the top rope and eliminated him. MJF walked to ringside. MJF offered cash to Dustin and whispered in his ear, wanting him to eliminate Juice Robinson. Dustin kicked Juice between the legs!
Komander hit a springboard dropkick to Hager. Menard and Garcia caught Komander and eliminated him. Trent suplexed Garcia. Dustin smashed Garcia with a Canadian Destroyer. Trent rammed into Hager and knocked him to the arena floor.
Menard eliminated Trent. Jeff Hardy was thrown over the top by Garcia. Daniel Garcia inadvertently collided with Menard. Garcia eliminated Dustin Rhodes. Caster tossed Garcia out of the match. Max was trying to push Juice out of the ring. Caster kicked Juice. Caster charged at Juice, but Juice speared him between the ropes.
Juice and Caster jockeyed for position on the ring apron. Juice gouged Max Caster’s eyes. Caster pushed Juice off the top rope. Caster hit the Mic Drop! Jay White ambushed MJF at the broadcast booth. They began to brawl on the ramp!
MJF grounded and pounded Jay White and got his AEW World Championship back! Jay White connected with a low blow to the champ. Juice Robinson dug into his pocket and pulled out his ring. Juice slugged Caster with the Left Hand of God with the ring on it! Juice eliminated Caster and Jay White took the championship belt back from MJF!
“Juice did it!” said Taz.
“And it is official. One week from tonight at Dynamite it’ll be Juice Robinson against MJF for the Dynamite Diamond Ring!” added Excalibur.
This Friday tune in to AEW RAMPAGE at 10pm ET on TNT featuring:
For Mexico’s Pound-For-Pound Crown!
CMLL’s World Historic Middleweight Champion, the Luchador Legend Mistico
vs.
CMLL World Historic Welterweight Champion Rocky Romero!
Catch AEW DYNAMITE on TBS next Wednesday live at 8/7ct from the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia, PA!
Don’t miss AEW Collision & Battle of the Belts VIII on Saturday on TNT at 8/7c from the FedEx Forum in Memphis, TN!
And remember…the home of professional wrestling is All Elite Wrestling!
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