The Day AEW Rampage Died
Some of the matches were very good and well thought-out - Darby Allin Vs. The Butcher from March 16 boasted a unique finish, rich continuity, some creative limb work and a wonderful, gnarly mauling - but it wasn't so massive or great as to be appointment viewing.
The trend continued as, all the while, Bryan Danielson, CM Punk, and MJF rarely if ever featured on what was increasingly becoming the B-show. Every week followed a certain pattern that inspired apathy. Sometimes it's all too easy to sour on something if it isn't amazing for a few weeks - the best match of the year, Jon Moxley subverting his entire act to put Wheeler YUTA over, took place on Rampage - but Rampage became a 7/10 show every single week. It's always a joy watching the Blackpool Combat Club, but Matt Sydal and Dante Martin stood absolutely zero chance against them. Eventually, every last match was entirely predictable, even if they were good to very good, and with fewer and fewer people watching, nothing of true narrative significance actually happened. Vince Russo is the single dumbest f*ck to have ever been involved with wrestling and his approach to the form should never again be emulated, but being able to put a fortune on every winner, and never once being stunned by a story beat, is the opposite end of his extreme - and that's no place to be, either.
The third hour of Dynamite now feels closer to Dark: Elevation. It's the home of bizarre and unwanted experimental fare, like the Trust Busters. It's the home of the least essential chapter in the Blackpool Combat Club Vs. Jericho Appreciation Society saga, which is becoming passé, and Rampage is such an inessential show that they're actually running Sammy Guevara and Tay Melo Vs. Ortiz and Ruby Soho back.
AEW Rampage died on a day that no episode of Rampage was broadcast.
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