3 Ups & 4 Downs From AEW Rampage (Feb 24)

Lance Archer returns; AEW refs need help from Tony Khan; Rampage lacks real star power.

Chris Jericho Sammy Guevara Daniel Garcia JAS
AEW

It was all smiles for JAS on Friday's Rampage, but Tony Khan must've been doing anything but when the numbers rolled in for last week's episode. Sure, fingers were pointed at basketball to explain low ratings, but nobody who pays close attention to the show weekly was really fooled by that.

Rampage has been an afterthought (some weeks have been exceptions) for the longest time. Could this latest edition pull the nose up and rescue things? In a word, no. There was some good stuff here, but then...there always is, especially in-ring. That's AEW's core strength.

It's the storytelling and general use of crucial TV time outside the ring that's problematic. Too many characters are bland, lack direction and heat up then cool down with alarming speed. Although those who have been there since the start, like this writer, will remain, TK's concern should be growing the audience and their interest in All Elite's product long-term.

Will some good matches and a ton of 'B'-level stories get the job done? Again, no, but that's what Tony is serving up on Fridays.

Here's all the good and bad.

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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.