It's Friday!!! And you know what that means!
Excalibur, Taz and Chris Jericho are on commentary this week.
Mark Henry with 2.0, Daniel Garcia and CM Punk. 2.0 and Garcia cut a nice little promo. Garcia is a little bland but it works with his "No nonsense attitude". Punk cuts a nice short promo as well. This was a fine little segment.
CULT OF PERSONALITY HITS!
CM Punk vs. Daniel Garcia
It's Clobbering Time! Punk in his long boi pants tonight. Garcia enters with 2.0. Slow start as both men try to out wrestle the other with basic wrestling. Punk gets the better of Garcia early on. 2.0 distracts Punk allowing Garcia to attack Punk's knee. Referee is distracted as everyone takes a shot at Punk's knee as we go to break.
We are back and Garcia is working the knee more as Punk tries to fight back. Garcia keeps going to the knee everytime Punk gets any momentum going. Garcia gets cocky and misses a dropkick in the corner. Garcia shoots for a single leg but Punk meets him with a knee. Shout-out to Nakamura vs. Sakuraba at Wrestle Kingdom 7! They trade blows with Punk taking Garcia down with a roundhouse for a 2 count. Punk starts to take over but is still selling his knee. Garcia with an Olympic Slam for 2. Punk lays in some punches and hits a Pepsi Twist. Punk goes for the GTS but Garcia counters into a Sharpshooter. Punk gets to the rope and pushes Garcia into both members of 2.0. All 3 men on the floor and Punk dives on them from the top. Punk rolls Garcia in and hits his Springboard Clothesline. Piledriver by Punk! Punk locks in the Anaconda Vice and Garcia taps! Excellent match! Punk and Garcia kept it simple and it worked because of how over Punk is. Garcia is able to out-work Punk and target his knee but the veteran Punk used his wits and experience to win in the end. Loved it!
***1/2
Tony Schiavone with Dante Martin, Matt Sydal and Lio Rush. Sydal calls Rush a "junk bonds salesman". Rush promises Sydal a match with Punk next week's Rampage to prove himself to Sydal.
Commentary says the match is officially made for next week.
The Acclaimed rap about Lucha Brothers, Arn Anderson, the local teams and Rocky. I am a sucker for these raps.
AEW World Tag Team Championship Match: The Lucha Brothers (c) vs. The Acclaimed
Acclaimed jump the Lucha Brothers on the apron during their entrance. Action gets in the ring and the Lucha Brothers get over with their amazing tag team offense. Fenix dives at Bowens, but is hit by the boombox. Caster counters Penta and hits a Fisherman Suplex to take over. Acclaimed double team Penta. Some miscommunication as Penta takes over. Fenix gets the tag and lights up Bowens with kicks. Rolling Cutter for a near-fall. Everyone hits superkicks before Fenix hits a cutter on both members of The Acclaimed. Bowens goes for the eyes of Fenix and takes over. Penta knocks Caster off the top. Double team Piledriver by The Lucha Brothers ends it. Lightning fast match and action. Acclaimed looked good but Lucha Brothers were better. Lots of good action as the Lucha Brothers continue to win as champions.
***
We get a recap of the Casino Ladder match from Dynamite.
They recap the announcement of the TBS Championship and some of the promos from the women's division about the belt.
Jade gets a split screen promo and is going to show Skye Blue why she is not worthy of the TBS Championship.
Jade Cargill vs. Skye Blue
Skye Blue is already in the ring. Skye jumps Jade but is caught by a Slam. Skye misses a double rope dive and Jade hits a pump kick. Skye tries for a roll-up by Jade catches her and hits her finisher to end it. SQUASH! Perfectly acceptable match.
N/A
Jade attacks after the bell and Thunder Rosa runs out with a chair for the save.
They run down the card for Rampage and Saturday Dynamite. Another stacked week of shows!
Mark Henry with Ricky Starks and Team Taz as well as Brian Cage. Starks cuts a great promo while Cage holds his own. Cage gets his "Who Betta?" line in. RIP Kanyon.
Philly Street Fight for the FTW World Championship Match: Ricky Starks (c) vs. Brian Cage
Starks slides in with a chair but Cage grabs him and tosses him in the corner. Multiple clotheslines before tossing Starks around. Chair shots to Starks' back. Cage tosses Starks into the crowd. No clue if that was a plant. Cage walks the dog on Starks before grabbing weapons from under the ring. Back in the ring, Starks uses a pool stick on Cage. Starks hits a nice tornado DDT as we go to commercial.
We come back with Cage working over Starks with strikes. Starks grabs a chain and punches Cage with it. Leg drop with a trash can lid for 2. Starks runs into a big kick by Cage. Trash-can shot by Cage before he Pump Handle Slams Starks onto it. Cage goes to end it but HOOK runs in. Cage clotheslines him. Superkick to Hobbs. Starks hits Cage with the FTW title. Spear! Only 2! Starks goes for another spear but misses and hits a chair in the corner. Starks comes up bloody. Discus Clothesline. Hobbs breaks up the count. Cage kicks him and goes for his corner suplex but HOOK hits a low blow! Starks hits Roshambo to end it. Nice brawl and weapons match. Starks retains with help from Team Taz. Hopefully they can do something fresh with Team Taz now.
***1/4
Team Taz celebrates on the ramp to close the show.
Another pretty solid episode of Rampage. This show has settled into its style and form. Pretty enjoyable stuff this week with no weak spots. Hopefully Team Taz vs Cage is done as the feud is doing nothing for either party. Punk continues his roll of really good TV matches with young talent. Lucha Brothers keep their momentum going as does Jade.
Follow me on Twitter @AlexKalil for more thoughts and opinions.
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