3 Ups & 4 Downs From AEW Rampage (Mar 10)
AEW's opener saves it; ROH belts get vacated; Rampage takes the p*ss out the indy scene.
Revolution encapsulated everything that's right about AEW, but weekly TV often lets the side down. Character development has become a foreign concept to Tony Khan outside a few notable examples, and that makes both Dynamite and Rampage tougher to watch than they should be/were before.
Even this week's 'Ups' feel slightly generous, and probs only exist because the All Elite boss knows he can rely on his roster to deliver the goods during matches.
Friday's show was bookended by two very competitive bouts that proved this: Sammy Guevara vs. Action Andretti and Nyla Rose vs. Riho. Both had their flaws, but they were great fun overall. Elsewhere, All Elite's pesky problems popped up yet again - how much of this milquetoast booking can hardcores be expected to stomach?!
Some characters are going absolutely nowhere, and others appear be heading backwards. Even more annoyingly, the meagre scraps of story development TK is dishing out rarely get followed up on for weeks/months. Why?! Move this stuff along, for crying out loud.
Here's all the good and bad from another so-so edition of Rampage.