3 Ups & 3 Downs From AEW Rampage (April 12 - Results & Review)

AEW's surprising grudge match; Rampage has no atmosphere; Tony Khan resists more CM Punk.

by Jamie Kennedy
Trent Beretta
AEW

Many in the wrestling world are still scratching their heads over Tony Khan airing security footage of CM Punk scuffling with Jack Perry backstage at All In last summer. The AEW boss teased that as the main hook for Wednesday's Dynamite, but it was a ridiculous decision that backfired and only made the company look petty.

Could Rampage get back to basics and start, y'know, promoting wrestlers who actually work for All Elite Wrestling? Yes, but it's also clear Khan has completely given up on the 'C' show as anything more than a homage to Sunday Night Heat circa 2000. Sadly, even Collision in the 'B' slot is struggling these days.

Back to Rampage.

Tony booked a blowoff (it better be) grudge match, Jay White's bid to bounce back from a Billy Gunn bout few liked, Julia Hart defending the TBS Title and more for Friday night. The opener involving Orange Cassidy and his ongoing Best Friends implosion provided arguably the best match on the show - Orange was right up for this one.

Here's all the good and bad from an episode that apparently saw AEW hand out sleeping pills before the cameras started rolling.

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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.