When AEW announced the card for March 11th’s episode of Rampage, I was a little skeptical. I was sure this list was going to end up with more Lows than Highs, but then Tony Khan went ahead and booked a sleeper hit of a show. Of course, there were a couple of eye-raising moments as well, and we’ll break it all down in this week’s edition of AEW Rampage: Highs & Lows.
TONIGHT on #AEWRampage at 10/9c on @tntdrama!
–@swerveconfident makes his #AEW in ring debut vs @TonyNese
-We’ll hear from NEW TNT Champion @ScorpioSky
–@DarbyAllin vs #AFO’s @Marq_Quen
–@RealKeithLee vs #TheFactory‘s @QTMarshall
–@RealMMartinez vs @jmehytr pic.twitter.com/NA7RLgXkym— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 11, 2022
Low: AEW Rampage is HOOK’s show; and he wasn’t there last night!
Is HOOKaMania dying down? We sure hope not. Since his in-ring debut in December last year, The Handsome Devil has made quite a name for himself, running through everyone in his path. HOOK has become such a sensation, in fact, that he’s somehow the most over young wrestler in All Elite Wrestling; even more so than Dante Martin!
So it sucks that after beating QT Marshall at Revolution this past week, HOOK wasn’t booked for a match on Rampage; his show. From here on out, whenever HOOK doesn’t show up on TNT on Friday Nights, this list will have at least one low on it.
High: The Women’s Division Heats Up on Rampage with Hayter vs Martinez & Shida & Deeb
Last week, I criticized Tony Khan for not booking the tremendous wealth of female talent he has judiciously. Well, it looks like he’s taken notice. The longest-reigning AEW Women’s Champion Hikaru Shida made her return last week on Rampage. This week, she cut one of the best promos on the show, aimed at The Professor Serena Deeb.
.@shidahikaru did not forget about @serenadeeb for a moment while she was away and has a few choice words for her nemesis…
Tune in NOW to #AEWRampage on TNT! pic.twitter.com/ejN8AK4krl
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 12, 2022
Also, Jamie Hayter & Mercedes Martinez put on a brilliant hoss fight, slapping the leather off each other with stiff strikes aplenty.
.@RealMMartinez and @jmehytr going at it on #AEWRampage!
Tune in to @tntdrama to right now! pic.twitter.com/JQzB4U7EF1— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 12, 2022
Brutal backbreaker by @jmehytr! Watch #AEWRampage on TNT right now! pic.twitter.com/3jXkbIhaJT
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 12, 2022
.@jmehytr folded in half by @RealMMartinez! Watch #AEWRampage on TNT right now! pic.twitter.com/PxhstI4Le7
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 12, 2022
If Tony Khan continues booking great feuds like these, he’s going to do just fine when it comes to criticism towards his booking for the women’s roster. On the other hand…
Low: Baker vs Rosa in a Steel Cage should’ve happened at Revolution
Mr. Khan really needs to balance out his title changes, man. I get that keeping your champions strong builds your title’s prestige, but Thunder Rosa should’ve won at Revolution; and a Steel Cage match would’ve perfectly fit that victory as well. Baker vs Rosa has been a defining feud for AEW’s Women’s Roster, no doubt about that. But after their career-making performances in the Lights Out match last year, the stakes should’ve been higher last Sunday.
I get that AEW is angling for a One Year Later story here, but honestly? No, thanks. Though I’m sure that the Cage match next week is going to steal the damn show, the wind has been firmly taken out of my sails. Tony is going to have to pull out something massive if he wants me to get invested in Britt as a champ again, or pull the trigger on Rosa’s long-overdue title victory. Otherwise, he risks taking the shine off of one of his top championships.
And @thunderrosa22 is here to make a statement ahead of her steel cage match with champ Dr. @realbrittbaker for the #AEW Women’s Championship next week on #AEWDynamite! Watch #AEWRampage on TNT right now! pic.twitter.com/paCxGdncQ8
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 12, 2022
High: “Swerve” Strickland’s Debut Match at Rampage was perfect
The man formerly known as Isaiah “Swerve” Scott took on a familiar face in the main event of Rampage last night.
It’s TIME for the MAIN EVENT! @swerveconfident makes his #AEW in-ring debut against rival @tonynese NOW on #AEWRampage on TNT – Tune in! pic.twitter.com/tVINvDwH7q
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 12, 2022
“Swerve” Strickland put on a corker of a match with “The Premier Athlete” Tony Nese; reminding everyone just how under-utilized his talents were where he used to work Friday Nights.
.@swerveconfident with impressive athleticism in this main event of #AEWRampage! Tune into TNT right now! pic.twitter.com/5Ylnmbwb1I
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 12, 2022
He had an answer for everything Nese threw at him. From brawling to mat-based technicality, “Swerve” maneuvered out of everything, even kicking out of a gorgeous 450 splash from the top rope.
The #PremierAthlete @tonynese showing why he is the Premier Athlete with a picture perfect 450! #AEWRampage is on TNT right now! pic.twitter.com/Vl0hplKLBx
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 12, 2022
After 12 minutes of stellar action, he picked up the win with the Double Stomp; and looked like a million bucks doing so. Can’t wait to see where he goes in AEW.
And @swerveconfident captures his first #AEW victory in his impressive debut! What a night of action it’s been on #AEWRampage on TNT! See you next week at #AEWDynamite LIVE in San Antonio! pic.twitter.com/rgukHU8KDz
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 12, 2022
Low: AEW’s Bloated Roster Made its Presence Felt at Rampage
Look, I had to fit in 3 Lows somehow, okay, just leave me alone. But it is true. For a long time, Tony Khan has been criticized for signing up everyone in sight. And while that was necessary when the company started in 2019, All Elite Wrestling feels a lot like post-nWo WCW right now, what with its ridiculous roster size and the fact that they put on 2 extra shows on YouTube in addition to the 2 shows they air on TV.
Last night made that a lot more evident, when Andrade El Idolo- one of the biggest names in Pro-Wrestling- felt like an afterthought in a feud between The Hardy Boyz and Sting & Darby. The entire D-squad made an appearance last night, and while they’re great as muscle, with every big-name signing, AEW runs out of precious roster space they cannot afford to fill up. It looks like Mr. Khan needs to re-think his strategy on this one, what with a LOT of AEW contracts coming up for re-negotiation soon.
High: Keith Lee looked Limitless at Rampage, Took Out The Factory by Himself
On the flip side, we saw Keith Lee ran through the entire D-squad like a derailed train at the subway, so there’s that! Man, WWE dropped the ball with this guy. Just look at him!
.@RealKeithLee with a vicious double-hand chop on QT Marshall!
Watch #AEWRampage on TNT right now! pic.twitter.com/8F1SSlCsEe— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 12, 2022
Keith Lee is charisma in human form, and it was on full display last night on Rampage. QT Marshall sold his ass off for him as well, which shows just how invested AEW are in him.
.@RealKeithLee with the victory tonight but members of #TheFactory aren’t ready to accept the result of this match! Watch #AEWRampage on TNT right now! pic.twitter.com/kKsIJd4jdn
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 12, 2022
And after Lee put him down with the Big Bang Catastrophe, he took out Aaron Solow & Nick Comoroto with effortless ease. The post-match angle clearly set up Keith Lee vs Powerhouse Hobbs; and I can’t wait for that match to happen.
#TeamTaz with the assault on @RealKeithLee after the bell! Watch #AEWRampage on TNT right now! pic.twitter.com/eFjJpMowiC
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 12, 2022
BONUS: The Hardy Boyz Debut on Rampage & Scorpio Sky Drops One TNT Championship Belt
It felt like 1999 all over again when “Loaded” hit at the Hertz Arena. After a fantastic, physical, back-and-forth match between Darby Allin and AFO’s Mark Quen, The Hardy Boyz made their AEW Rampage debut.
It’s @MATTHARDYBRAND and @JEFFHARDYBRAND here at #AEWRampage coming to the aid of @Sting and @DarbyAllin! Tune in to TNT right now! pic.twitter.com/j5mjw8rOwS
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 12, 2022
They sandwiched the AFO between themselves and Allin & Sting, and it looks like Darby has his sights set on Jeff Hardy. Also, THANK YOU SCORPIO SKY FOR DROPPING THE SECOND CHAMPIONSHIP BELT. Sheesh.
Will @realwardlow be another footnote for TNT Champion @ScorpioSky‘s winning streak? We find out next WEDNESDAY on #AEWDynamite St. Patrick’s Day Slam LIVE from San Antonio, TX!
Tune in NOW to #AEWRampage on TNT! pic.twitter.com/ftJH1IMKIl
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) March 12, 2022
It made sense when Guevara carried it out once after defeating Cody Rhodes in his final AEW match. It became overkill soon after that. Now, let’s just hope The Salt of the Earth doesn’t take out his frustrations next week; because dammit, I want Wardlow to win!
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