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LAST STOP BEFORE GRAND SLAM: AEW RAMPAGE REPORT

It is Friday and it’s time for AEW Rampage, recorded after Dynamite from the MVP Arena in Albany NY.  Our commentary team is Excalibur, Jim Ross, Chris Jericho, and Tony Schiavone.

Matt Hardy vs Darby Allin

They lock up, collar and elbow, and Darby turns it into an arm bar.  Matt pulls in Darby for a shoulder block, and Darby is able to take Matt down with a headlock.  Matt is able to reverse it into an arm bar and works his way to his feet.  Darby and Matt then trade holds, jockeying for control. Matt calls to delete Darby and Darby gets a crucifix for a two count.  Matt is taken to the outside with a low bridge.  

They brawl on the outside and Matt is tossed into the steel steps. Darby tosses him into the ring. Darby goes to the top and goes for a senton, Matt dodges so that Darby hits the apron, which, as we are told, is the hardest part of the ring.  Matt is able to attack on the floor and he then power bombs Darbvy into the ring post as we go picture in picture.

When we return to full screen, Matt has Daerby down in the ring, and he is attacking the lower back of Darby. Darby is able to take down Matt and gets a jack knife cover for a two count. Darby goes after Matt in the corner, with each attack hurting Darby’s lower back. Matt is able oto dodge one of Darby’s attacks for a side effect and a two count. 

Matt hits a second side effect and calls for the Twist of Fate. Darby turns the Twist of Fate into a backslide for a two count. Darby is able to get a scorpion death drop and both men are down. The ref counts to 5 before Darby rolls Matt into position for the coffin drop, but Matt is able to recover. Matt is able to attack Darby in the corner, brings him out for a BT Bomb and a two count. Matt goes for a moonsault press and misses Darby.

Darby gets a Code Red for a two count. Darby locks on the Last Supper for the three count and the win.

Winner: Darby Allin

Matt shows respect as Darby walks to the back. The lights go out, and when they come back, Brody King and Julia Hart are in the. Brode clotheslines Matt and calls out Darby and Sting.

He tells them that because they cut the head off the snake, there’s not plenty of venom left?  He challenges them to a House of Black vs them in a No DQ match at Grand Slam. Brody chokes out Matt over the top rope, and the lights go out again after they accept.

Eddie Kingston talks about how he will beat down Sammy Guevara at Grand Slam.

Claudio Castagnoli is out next with Wheeler Yuta.  They meet Tony Schiavone in the ring who hands the mic to Claudio after saying he had a great match with Dax Harwood last week.  Claudio talked about how the Blackpool Combat Club makes each other better. He says Yuta will win his Ring of Honor pure title back someday soon. He then talks about how two members of the group are fighting for the World Title next week, and iron sharpens iron.

Jericho interrupts him. The crowd reminds Jericho that he tapped out. He then says the Jericho Appreciation Society is a symbol of excellence and he has never won the Ring of Honor Championship. He’s challenging for the title at Grand Slam, and Claudio accepts. 

Earlier in the day, Jade Cargill lets us know that she fired Sterling Hathaway, and Diamante challenges her and will be bringing along the baddest bitch of the 305.

Penelope Ford vs Willow Nightingale

They lock up, collar and elbow, and Ford breaks it up with a knee.  They start to run the ropes, but Willow stops when Ford drops down and gets a side headlock. Ford goes for a waistlock, and Willow stops her and starts waving Ford’s hand to the crowd.  They run the ropes again and Willow is able to drop Ford and get a pair for two count covers. Willow plays to the crowd and the camera every time she takes Ford down.

Ford is able to avoid the pounce, and follows up with a drop kick into Willow’s back as Willow is on the ropes. Ford hits a knee drop as we go picture in picture. 

Willow really feels like an old school throwback to the super happy babyface.

When we return to full screen, Willow hits a spinebuster for a two count. Ford fights out of Willow picking her up and is then able to get a stunner and a two count. Jericho says that Ford is the Sports Entertainer of the Week. Ford goes to the top for a leaping attack, and Willow dodges it and hits the pounce. Willow gets a back slide for a two count. Ford gets a pump kick, a front slam, and then she locks on the Indian Deathlock, forcing Willow to tap out.

Winner: Penelope Ford

In the back, Lexi is with Adam Page and the Dark Order to talk about the Battle Royal next week. Page apologizes to everyone.  The Dark Order says it is OK.  Andrade shows up and says he will eliminate everyone and swears at them in Spanish.

Ethan Page vs Danhausen

Danhausen is 4 and 3, with all of his wins on Dark, so his money bag is filling up. 

Page sarcastically joins in with the crowd in cheering Danhausen. He quickly takes down Danhausen and pounds him down. He then “curses” Danhausen and hits a shoulder tackle. Page hits the Ego’s Edge and covers Danhausen for the three count and the win.

Winner: Ethan Page

Ricky Starks has a pre-taped promo about how Powerhouse Hobbs has his full attention now.  

Mark Henry has his time with Samoa Joe and Josh Woods.  Mark Sterling mocks Joe for being away from AEW.  Joe says it wasn’t a vacation, it was a reprieve for them.

Next week, Rampage will be two hours and Excalibur goes down the card for next week’s shows.

Samoa Joe (Ring of Honor TV Champion) vs Josh Woods

Bobby Cruse is the ring announcer, and Ian Riccaboni joins commentary. 

The code of honor is adhered to. They lock up, collar and elbow and go to the corner for a quick break. Josh is able to get a waistlock on Joe, and Joe fights his way out of it. They go to the corner and break clean. Joe is able to grasp a headlock and JOsh is able to work out of it and take Joe down with an arm bar and moves it to a cravate. They break and then trade blows. 

Joe hits a series of jabs, and after Josh blocks a head butt and fires knees at Joe. Josh goes to the outside, yanking Joe’s arm, and as the ref is watching Josh, Tony Nese is able to yank Joe’s arm over the top rope. Josh gets a cover and a two count as we go picture in picture.

When we return to full screen, JOsh has Joe in a shoulder submission, and Joe is able to roll and pin him for a two count. Josh keeps up with hammer locks and strikes on Joe’s shoulder. Joe is able to reverse into a sleeper and Josh is able to hurt Joe’s shoulder and drop him for a two count.

Joe is brought up and fights his way free with strikes. Joe gets a big kick, a senton and then covers for a two count. Josh keeps attacking the shoulder and Joe is able to get a power slam and a two count. Joe sets Josh on the top and tries for the muscle buster, but Nese gets on the apron. This allows Sterling to get on the apron to distract Joe. Josh gets a schoolboy rollup for a two count.  

Josh is able to get Joe on his shoulders after a knee strike, and he hits an ugly GTS with a two count. Josh drives Joe to the corner and Joe hits the GTO on Josh. Nese gets on the apron and Joe just punches him down. He then puts Josh on the top for the muscle buster and the three count.

Winner and still Ring of Honor TV Champion: Samoa Joe.

Nese hits Joe with a cheap shot from behind, and Josh joins in. Sterling starts in as well, and Wardlow comes from the back to run them off.

Joe and Wardlow face off and we are desperately out of time. 

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