2 Ups & 5 Downs From AEW Rampage (Oct 28)

by Jamie Kennedy

1. Wardlow Fights Through The Pain

Wardlow Matt Taven
AEW

Ditto for Wardlow and Matt Taven.

Everyone knows the drill with Wardlow by now. He's a big, rugged machine of a man who rarely shows weakness and might be made of titanium instead of bone. That's why his match vs. Matt Taven gets the top 'Up' here: These guys told a good story and the TNT Champ showed some fragility.

Taven attacked Wardlow's leg for a good 80% of the bout, then the champ roared back to fight through the pain and delivered his usual Powerbomb series. There was a different feel to this main event than most Wardlow matches, and that's a positive for him at this stage in his career.

Wardlow couldn't go on ploughing through all-comers like some 2022 Goldberg forever anyway. He's been working longer and longer matches this year, sure, but a sell job like this would've seemed impossible for the dude beforehand.

Solid match.

What did you think of this week's AEW Rampage? For more content, check out 4 Ups & 4 Downs From AEW Rampage (Oct 21) and 10 Times WWE Tried (And Failed) To Be Edgy!

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.