4 Ups & 2 Downs From AEW Rampage (Sept 9)

2. That’s How You Sell A Match

William Regal Claudio Castagnoli Dax Harwood
AEW

Mark Henry's pre-match promo bits are usually crap, but this was an exception.

William Regal's facial expressions, and the fact he spoke so openly about "pulling Dax Harwood out of obscurity 13 years ago" worked a treat. Then, Claudio Castagnoli put Dax over by saying he'd become a singles champion someday if he keeps going the way he's been going.

Closing it, Harwood admitted that the odds were against him, but said he'd fight anyone to feed his family. That, he noted, includes Regal himself. Eagle-eyed viewers would've spotted some old fire pumping through the Englishman's veins at this point - he was visibly excited by that one.

This was good stuff, and it got yours truly hyped to see the match. That's all anyone can really ask from a one-night build towards an exhibition-style title defence like this one. At least AEW tried to add in some story and rally support for Dax.

Advertisement
In this post: 
AEW Rampage
 
Posted On: 
Contributor

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.