AEW Rampage Notes: TNT title, more matches set for Dynamite

April 14, 2023 John Kleinchester NEWS, Show Reports
Photo Courtesy: AEW

April 14, 2023
Milwaukee Panther Arena – Milwaukee, WI

By: John Kleinchester

Rampage started with Aussie Open defending their newly-won IWGP Tag Team Championships against Best Friends. The story in this match was centered on Aussie Open having just won the titles a week prior (in reality, 4 days prior to this taping) in Japan. Aussie Open won a competitive match with their Coriolis finisher and would go on to face TMDK on April 29th in Japan.

During the opening match, the announce team noted that Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite would be “Live Coast to Coast” at 8pm Eastern and Rampage would air Saturday 4/22  at 10pm.

Backstage Mark Briscoe was complaining to Sonjay Dutt that they tricked him and he didn’t want to team with Jarrett, Lethal, and Singh. Dutt had a shirt with all their faces on it to seal the deal, but Mark tossed it as the segment ended.

Tony Schiavone introduced the new AEW Tag Team Champions who came out to the ring to a big pop. Cash Wheeler announced they are staying with AEW for four more years and were “done with wrestling” after that. Dax said that this was their redemption story and it was time to repay the fans with every ounce of blood sweat and tears they have.

The Hardys were interviewed backstage with Hook and the “Moan Man” Isiah Kassidy. Jeff Hardy said that he had been slowly crawling out of his own personal hell for the last nine months. He said there were three things he needed to do: “the conviction, the eye surgery, and my return to AEW”. Matt clarified that when they defeat The Firm Matt and Private Party will finally be free of their Firm contracts. Matt then said that the four of them would be taking on Ethan Page, Big Bill, Lee Moriarty, and Stokely Hathaway at the Hardy Compound in “The Firm Deletion”. 

A promo package featuring Powerhouse Hobbs and Wardlow aired announcing their TNT Championship match for this Wednesday in Pittsburgh. 

Next up were Jeff Jarrett, Satnam Singh, Jay Lethal, and their unwilling partner Mark Briscoe taking on The Spanish Announce Project and Manscout Jake Manning. Mark Briscoe scored the pinfall with the Froggy Bow but was visibly frustrated after the match.

A recap of last week’s escalation in the feud between The Elite and the Blackpool Combat Club was shown, including a graphic image of the gash in Don Callis’ forehead. 

Next on the show, Taya Valkyrie took on Emi Sakura. During the match, Jade Cargill and Leila Grey came out and Jade said she was watching Taya. Valkyrie won a hard-fought battle with the Road to Valhalla. After the match, Leila Grey got the finishing maneuver as well. Finally, Jade removed her shoes and started brawling with Valkyrie. Taya almost hit her finisher on Jade as well but Grey jumped her, allowing Jade to hit Jaded and get the faux three-count.

A video aired with Jose the Assistant issuing a challenge from Dralistico to Hijo del Vikingo for the AAA Mega Championship. A graphic aired announcing that it was made official for Rampage next Saturday night. 

Jake Hager, Daddy Magic, and Cool Hand Ang performed an in-ring rap and claimed that “rapping is very easy”. The Acclaimed interrupted and were about to do their own rap but Caster said “forget it” and attacked the trio instead. Caster and Bowens held Daddy Magic and said “Let’s see how hard your nipples really are” with Daddy Ass brandishing a pair of actual scissors. Luckily Magic was pulled from the ring before any nipples were harmed. The Acclaimed then issued a challenge for this coming Wednesday on Dynamite.

The pre-main event promo featured Shawn Spears returning announcing that he had a baby boy and he was no longer friends with MJF. He said that he doesn’t have a problem with MJF yet but he and Jungle Boy are both chasing the same thing: the AEW Championship.

Shawn Spears came out to the ring via the babyface tunnel and was leaning into his “10” gimmick more than the last time he was on television; including revealing a laminated sheet of paper that said “10”.  The crowd chanted “welcome back” and he took a bow. Jungle Boy won a close match with a roll-up and offered a handshake and a hug to Spears after the match.

Announced for Dynamite “Live Coast to Coast” Next Week at 8pm in Pittsburgh:

  • TNT Championship: Powerhouse Hobbs vs. Wardlow
  • The Acclaimed & Daddy Ass vs. Daddy Magic, Cool Hand Ang, and Jake Hager
  • Jay White vs. Komander

Announced for Rampage Next Saturday at 10pm:

  • AAA Mega Championship: Hijo del Vikingo vs. Dralistico

AEW Rampage Results:

  • IWGP Tag Team Championship: Aussie Open over Best Friends in 9:29
  • Jeff Jarrett, Satnam Singh, Jay Lethal, and Mark Briscoe over The Spanish Announce Project & Manscout Jake Manning in 2:00
  • Taya Valkyrie over Emi Sakura in 8:32
  • Jungle Boy Jack Perry over Shawn Spears in 9:03
About John Kleinchester 155 Articles
New Jersey born and raised. Wrestling fan since Lex slammed Yokozuna on the deck of the USS Intrepid. Favorite Wrestler of all time is Owen "The Rocket" Hart.
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