2 Ups & 5 Downs From AEW Rampage (June 10)
Ups...
2. The Focus On Kris Statlander’s Strength
There weren't too many positives on this week's Rampage, sadly.
Kris Statlander's displays of strength during her match with Red Velvet could be counted as one of them though. She turned a dive into a power slam before the bell, climbed the steps/turnbuckle with Velvet on her back, and generally overpowered the heel throughout their match.
It was clever to highlight Kris' strength game when she's being lined up for Jade Cargill - power is Cargill's wheelhouse, after all. It's also nice to have some more challengers on the horizon for Jade other than Athena. The ex-NXT star is the biggest threat, but there's no harm in making others look good too.
Statlander vs. Velvet was a tidy little match that ticked a lot of boxes. It was well-worked, didn't overstay its welcome on the hour-long show and had a satisfying clean finish. AEW's post-bout booking didn't work, but the match defo did.