'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
AEW continued their Grand Slam edition tonight with an action-filled two-hour Rampage episode from Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York city. The company certainly provided a collective display of some shocking outcomes and a surprising debut.
Friday night's episode kickstarted with CM Punk facing PowerHouse Hobbs in his first match on television since 2014. In the main event, Suzuki-gun fought Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston in a Lights Out match.
After what transpired tonight, it is safe to assume that Rampage was a better-produced event than Dynamite, simply due to an exciting match card.
Now, without further ado, let's dive into the positive and negative takes from the show. If you disagree with any analysis below, do let us know in the comments section.
Trending
A female WWE star said her life is in danger. Details HERE
#5 Best: TNA veteran Homicide assisting Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston on AEW Rampage
Former X-Division Champion Homicide making his stunning AEW debut during the Lights Out match between Suzuki-gun and Moxley-Kingston was a treat for NYC fans.
Both teams delivered the bout with barbarity at its peak. From table spots to a leather strap, Minoru Suzuki and Lance Archer used every possible weapon to destroy Jon Moxley and Eddie Kingston. In fact, they dominated the majority of the match until Homicide showed up to change the outcome.
The former X-Divison Champion made Moxley's hand free from the constrict of duct tape. The aftermath saw the latter hitting Paradigm Shift to both Archer and Suzuki, thus allowing Kingston to assault them with kendo sticks to seal the victory.
It couldn't have been a more perfect way than having two local heroes in Homicide and Eddie Kingston celebrating with Jon Moxley to send fans home happy. It wouldn't be far-fetched to say that Homicide's appearance is the only surprise the company delivered this week.
#4 Worst: Ana Jay losing to Penelope Ford on AEW Rampage
Anna Jay coming up short felt absurd in her already underwhelming match against Penelope Ford on Rampage. The latter hit Jay with a brass knuckle, given to her by The Bunny.
Following the match, Tay Conti quickly ran down to the ring only to get herself hit with the same weapon from Ford. The entire playout didn't connect well with the audience.
The Brazilian star should have come earlier to even the odds, but she showed up when the damage was already done.
Post-match, The Dark Order came down in the ring after Hardy Family Office surrounded Jay and Conti. The dissension among the Dark Order members continued with Evil Uno refusing to be on the same page.
Anna Jay must receive a dominant booking since she could be the one to bring them together. However, after tonight's loss, it seems unlikely now.
#3 Best: Powerhouse Hobbs getting the spotlight despite losing to CM Punk on AEW Rampage
When CM Punk made his AEW debut, everybody knew that the younger talents would get a massive spotlight just by being in the ring with him. That proved tonight when The Straight Edge Superstar faced Powerhouse Hobbs to open the show.
Both men laid their entire arsenal on display and delivered a thrilling contest. Although the bout was nowhere near the opening match between Omega and Bryan on Dynamite this week, it served its purpose in many ways.
Punk didn't look rusty in the ring tonight, and Hobbs left no stone unturned in bringing the best out of him. Meanwhile, the Team Taz member also got the rub from the former WWE Superstar despite coming up short.
#2 Worst: Chris Jericho taking a beatdown from multiple UFC fighters
One of the biggest letdowns from the show was having Chris Jericho and Jake Hager lose to Men of the Year. Dan Lambert caused a distraction, which allowed Scorpio Sky to pick up a win with a roll-up.
Given Jericho's momentum after All Out, tonight's booking didn't make any sense. On top of that, the post-match segment that saw American Top Team with Paige VanZant, Jorge Masvidal, Andrei Arlovski, and Junior Dos Santos laying out the Inner Circle members disappointed the most. Moreover, Masvidal delivering a flying knee KO to Jericho added further insult to injury.
The UFC star recreated the same scene from a couple of years ago when he defeated Ben Askren in a record five seconds. Even if the company is looking to book a faction war pitting UFC fighters down the road, the rest of the Inner Circle members are engaged in other feuds. Even fans on social media aren't happy to see the UFC-pro wrestling cross-over.
#1 Best/Worst: Booking trios and eight-man tag team match on the same show
Despite Rampage being considerably looking a bigger show than Dynamite this week, a trios clash and an eight-man tag team match felt too much.
At this point, AEW should introduce a Trios Championship to add high-stakes to these type of matches. Bringing in a new title will give some relevancy and satisfaction to the men who are competing in trios.
Nonetheless, Superkliq facing Christian Cage and Jurassic Express was nothing short of action-packed. The same can be said for the eight-man tag team match tonight.
