8 Ups & 3 Downs From IMPACT Wrestling (12 August)

6. Rampage's Maiden Voyage

That Kenny Omega vs. Christian Cage will go down as AEW Rampage's inaugural match is pivotal for the show's success; the IMPACT World Championship being defended there is merely a bonus.

Both Omega and Cage were given promo time last night, with Kenny - well, Don Callis, really - cutting the standard Kenny and Don IMPACT promo. They've been sabotaged, Scott D'Amore and Tony Khan are in cahoots, there's a campaign against them, et al. It was fine because it's Omega and Callis cutting it; they make it work.

As for Christian Cage, things were a bit more intense. 'The Instant Classic' noted how when he came to IMPACT in 2005, they put him in World Championship matches when no one else would. He became a better wrestler as a result. Thus, he feels it's right to return to IMPACT, saying how he'd be in the IMPACT Zone for the 19 August broadcast.

It's key to note that IMPACT has since confirmed their World Champion will be in attendance for next week's show, whether that's Omega or Cage. Cage surely isn't winning the title, but he could still be there. It'd provide that sort of surprise that the Forbidden Door is missing. Regardless, this was a class promo.